Update 11
Ek din Pankhudi apne office ke reception desk par baithi thi ki uska phone baja. Palak ki call thi.
"Didi, maa ki tabiyat bahot kharab hai...unko subah seene me dard tha bahot tez...unhe hospital le aayi hun..." Palak ne ghabrayi hui awaz me kaha.
"Doctors kya keh rahe hai?" Pankhudi ne poocha.
"Shayad heart attack hai, doctors keh rahe hai jaldi hi angioplasty karni padegi...please ghar aa jao didi, aur ho sake to thode paise bhijwa do..."
"Main kuch karti hun, Palak, paise bhijwati hun jaldi se," Pankhudi ne kaha, "Aaj raat ki bus main baith jaungi, kal subah tak waha pahunch jaungi, maa ka khayal rakhna."
Palak ne phone kaata aur Pankhudi gehri soch me pad gayi. Uske paas ab bilkul paise nahi bache the. Jitne uske bank ke saving the woh usne apne pariwar ko naya ghar dilwane ke liye kharch kar diye. Baaki bache hue paise aur sona bechkar Raghu ka karz chukaya tha. Ab uske paas kuch nahi bacha tha. Usne calendar dekha, to mahina khatam hone abhi 4 din bache the. Usne socha ki woh apne boss se request kar ke apni salary advance me maang sakti thi jis se thodi help ho jaati.
Usne apne boss se milne ki darkhast kari.
Permission milte hi woh boss ke cabin me jaa pahunchi.
"Pankhudi," Vishal ne kaha, "Main tumhe bulane hi wala tha. Pichle 2 mahine me tumne 15 din ki chutti li hai. This is not acceptable."
"I am sorry Sir," Pankhudi ne kaha, "Mere accident ke baad, bahot saari dikkatein hui mujhe, ghar mein kuch problems thi isiliye chhutti leni padi..."
"Problems kiski life me nahi hai Pankhudi," Vishal ne kaha, "Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi hai na ki tum apni job ko seriously nahi logi..."
"Nahi Sir," Pankhudi ne kaha, "Yeh job mere liye bahot important hai...yeh meri pehli job hai aur mere ghar ki aarthik halat theek nahi hai. In fact, main aapse apni salary advance me dene ki request karne aayi hun."
"Tum mahine ke aadhe din duty se gayab rehti ho," Vishal ne kaha, "Aur salary bhi chahiye woh bhi advance me? Mazak chal raha hai yaha?"
"Please Sir meri maa beemar hai," Pankhudi ne rote hue kaha.
"Aur koi filmy bahana nahi mila tumhe?" Vishal ne kaha.
"Sach keh rahi hun Sir..." Pankhudi ne kaha, "Please meri baat par yakeen karo."
"Sach kahu to main tumhe naukari se nikaalne ki soch raha hun," Vishal ne kaha, "I need employees jo yahan kaam kare, koi charity NGO nahi khol rakha hai maine gareebon ki madad karne."
"Please Sir.." Pankhudi ne kaha, "Main poori mehnat se kaam karungi...lekin please meri salary de dijiye aaj."
Vishal ke chehre par shaitaani muskaan aayi aur usne Pankhudi ko sar ke paav tak ghoora.
"Zara aphi mehnat aur lagan ka namuna to dikaho," Vishal ne muskurate hue kaha, "Aise kaise maan lu main?"
"Kya matlab hai aapka?" Pankhudi ne poocha.
"C'mon Pankhudi," Vishal ne kaha, "Tum bacchi nahi ho, sab samajhti hun, tumhari chhati par yeh jo do bade bade maal hai, inka size to batao."
Pankhudi hairaan reh gayi Vishal ke aise ravaiye se. Kya saare mard aise hi hote hai? Pehle kabhi Vishal ne uske saath aisa bartav nahi kiya tha, lekin ab jab use uski majboori ka pata chala toh woh bhi apni asliyat par aa gaya!
"Please Sir," Pankhudi ne kaha, "Main aapki bahot izzat karti hun."
"Izaat se guzara nahi hota Pankhudi," Vishal ne kaha, "Aur tumhe karna hi kya hai, bas apni skirt aur panty utaro aur mere desk par let jao taangle kholke, baaki kaam main kar lunga, aur tumhe tumhari salary bhi mil jayegi, bonus ke saath."
Vishal ne aankh maarte hue kaha.
Pankhudi ko bahot gussa aaya. Lekin use uski majboori bhi yaad aayi. Uske mann me ek toofan tha. Uski maa kabhi nahi chahegi ki woh is tarah se compromise kare.
Achanak se Pankhudi ne apne ass par ek haath mehsoos kiya. Vishal uske bahot kareeb aa chuka tha.
"Apna skirt uthao aur apni panty dikhao mujhe," Vishal ne kaha, "Kaunse rang ki panty pehni hai aaj?"
Pankhudi ko inta gussa aaya ki usne Vishal ka haath jhatak diya aur uski aankhon me gusse se ghoorte hue ek jordaar thappad laga diya uske gaalon par.
"Aapki himmat kaise hui mujhe chhune ki," Pankhudi ne gusse se kaha, "Sexual harassment ka case kar dungi aap par."
Vishal muskuraya, aur achanank palat ke ek jordaar thappar maara Pankhudi ko. Maar itni zor se padi ki Pankhudi lagbhag zameen par gir padi. Usne jaise taise desk ka sahara lekar apne aap ko sambhala.
"Kuch keh rahi thi tum?" Vishal ne kaha.
"I am sorry, Sir," Pankhudi ne kaha. Uske itni zor se maar lagi thi ki uska hoonth kat gaya tha aur khoon behne laga tha.
"Get out," Vishal ne kaha, "You are fired."
Pankhudi rote hue Vishal ke cabin se bahar nikli. Uske collegues ko uski halat dekh kar daya aayi. Uske kuch collegues ne use kuch paise dekar madad kari. Pankhudi ne turant woh paise Palak ko bhijwa diye taaki uski maa ka ilaj shuru ho sake. Lekin uski maa ko ICU me rakha gaya tha aur uska bill bherne ke liye use bahot jyada paison ki zaroorat thi.
Use samajh me nahi aa raha ki ab woh kya kare. Nisha ki uski aakhri umeed thi. Usne Nisha ko call kiya lekin uska phone nahi lag raha tha. Rote rote, Pankhudi Nisha ke naye address par pahunchi. Lekin wahan taala laga hua tha.
"Ji, Nisha se milna hai?" Ek padosan ne khidki se jhaankte hue kaha.
"Haan, mera naam Pankhudi hai," Pankhudi ne kaha, "Nisha meri dost hai. Kuch zaroori kaam tha."
"Woh kahin ghumne gayi hai, kahin pahadon par," padosan ne kaha, "Wahan phone ka network bhi nahi aata. Lekin woh ek hafte me wapas aa jayegi. Uske aate hai main use bata dungi ki tum milne aayi thi."
"Theek hai, shukriya," Pankhudi ne kaha.
Pankhudi hataash hokar wahan se nikli. Woh rote rote bus me baithi aur apne apartment me wapas aa gayi.
Armaan ke gaadi wahin khadi thi, lekin Pankhudi itni udaas thi ki usne us gaadi ko notice nahi kiya. Armaan muskurata hua Pankhudi ko dekh raha tha. Woh rote rote apne flat me chali gayi. Armaan ke paas ek tab tha, jisme woh us camere ki footage dekh sakta tha jo usne secretly Pankhudi ke flat me lagwaye the. Usne dekha ki Pankhudi living room ke ek kone me simatkar zameen par baithi ro rahi thi.
Armaan ka phone bajne laga. Vishal ka naam dekhte hi woh muskuraya aur phone utha liya.
"Aur bhai, kya haal chaal?" Armaan ne muskurate hue poocha.
"Abe kya aag hai saali me," Vishal ne kaha, "Thappad maara mujhe usne."
"Accha?" Armaan ne haste hue kaha, "Zaroor tune kuch kiya hoga saale."
"Zara sa pichwade par haath hi to phera tha," Vishal ne kaha, "Socha behti ganga me haath dho lu, lekin saali me itni himmat thi ki haath uthaya mujhpar. Maine bhi palat ke maara kas ke. Aukaat par aa gayi."
"Bechari phool jaisi ladki pe haath uhtaya tune?" Armaan ne kaha.
"Phool jaisi?" Vishaal ne kaha, "Kabhi tere gaal pe padega ne thappad tab pata chelga. Bahot taqat hai saali ke haath me."
"Abe saale, use naukari se nikaalne kaha tha maine, uske saath yeh sab chhichorapan karne nahi," Armaan ne muskurate hue kaha, "Pankhudi gareeb aur majboor zaroor hai, lekin bahot swabhimani hai. Aise kisi aire gaire, ko chhune nahi degi woh. Tujhe kya laga main chutiya hun jo itne time se itni mehnat kar raha hun, paisa baha raha hun usko bistar tak laane me?"
"Aira gaira kisko bola be?" Vishal ne kaha, "Bhool gaya saale kitni madad kari thi maine teri."
"Kaise bhool sakta hun bhai?" Armaan ne kaha, "Chal kal shaam ko milte hai. Drinks on me."
"Arey nahi bhai, tu pehle apni chidiya ko sambhal," Vishal ne kaha, "Tootne ki kagar par hai, bechari."
"Haan dikh raha hai, sambhal lunga," Armaan ne kaha, "Thanks for your help bro."
"Don't mention it," Vishal ne muskurakar kaha, "Have fun!"
Armaan ne phone kaata aur Pankhudi ko apne tablet par camera ke through dekhta raha. Woh kaafi samay tak roti rahi. Phir usne apne aap ko sambhala aur almirah kholi. Usme se kuch paper nikale aur dhyaan se padhne lagi. Ek pen lekar kuch underline kar rahi thi.
"Kya kar rahi ho cupcake?" Armaan ne camera footage par zoom karte hue kaha. Lekin zoom karne par bhi un papers par likhi details clearly nahi dikh rahi thi.
Phir woh un papers ki photo kheenchne lagi apne phone se. Aisa lag raha tha ki woh photos kisi ko bhej rahi hai. Phir woh apne phone me kuch type karne lagi jaise koi message kar rahi ho. Armaan bahot curiously usko dekh raha tha. Woh samajh nahi paa raha tha ki Pankhudi kar kya rahi hai.
Pankhudi ne message karke phone sofa par rakh diya aur apne apartment se bahar chali aayi. Armaan ab use dekh paa raha tha.
Woh abhi bhi ro rahi thi. Rote rote woh sadak par chalne lagi. Der raat ho chuki thi aur kaafi andhera ho chuka tha. Pankhudi sunsaan sadak par rote rote bas chalti jaa rahi thi. Armaan apni gaadi me dheeme dheeme uska peecha kar raha tha.
"kahan jaa rahi ho cupcake?" usne man hi mann kaha aur uska peecha karta raha.
Pankhudi lagbhag aadhe ghante tak chalti rahi. Badal garazne lage aur aane waali toofan ki chetavni dene lagi. Tez hawa chalen lagi. Pankhudi phir bhi bas akeli chalti rahi. Tez baarish hone lagi. Pankhudi poori tarah se bheeg gayi. Armaan ne apni gaadi ke windsheild wipers on kar diye.
Tez Baarish me se woh Pankhudi ki dhundhli chabi dekh paa raha tha. Pankhudi achank se mud gayi aur raaste ke beechobeech chalne lagi. Armaan ko ab uske iradon par shak ho raha tha. Armaan ne apne rear view mirror me dekha ki ek truck tezi se uski taraf badh raha tha. Woh samajh gaya Pankhudi kya karna chah rahi thi. Woh apni gaadi se utra aur Pankhudi ki taraf dauda. Woh truck ab uske bahot kareeb aa chuka tha. Truck driver jor jor se horn baja raha tha lekin Pankhudi apni jagah se nahi hili. Armaan ne uska haath pakad kar zor se kheencha, is se pehle ki woh truck use kuchal deta. Pankhudi ko truck ke saamne se hata liya Armaan ne aur truck tezi se nikal gaya.
Pankhudi ki nazar ekdum blank thi. Woh bas Armaan ko ghoorti rahi.
"Kya karne jaa rahi thi tum?" Armaan se gusse se poocha.
Pankhudi ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh bas Armaan se lipat kar phoot phoot kar rone lagi. Armaan ne use gale lagakar shaant kiya, aur uski peeth ko pyaar se sehlaya.
"It's alright cupcake," Armaan ne kaha, "Chalo tumhe ghar le chalu."
Armaan ne Pankhudi ko apni gaadi me bithaya aur uske flat ki taraf chal diya. Pankhudi kuch bol nahi rahi thi. Armaan ne bhi use is samay sawal pooch kar tang karna theek nahi samjha. Woh uske flat par pahunche aur Armaan ne ek towel se uske bheege baal sukhaye, aur use kapde badalne ko kaha.
Pankhudi kadpe badal kar aayi, tab tak Armaan ne usi ke kitchen mein ek cup chai banai uske liye.
Armaan ne use apni goad me bithaya aur chai ka cup pakdaya. "Pi lo," usne kaha, "Aaram aayega."
Pankhudi kaanpte hue haathon se chai ka cup pakde chuskiyan lene lagi. Baarish mein bheegne ke kaaran use thand lag rahi thi, lekin chai peeke woh behtar mehsoos kar rahi thi. Armaan ne woh papers dekhte ho Pankhudi flat se nikalne se pehle padh rahi thi. Woh uske life insurance ke papers the.
"Mera kuch mahine pehle accident hua tha, meri scooty ek car se takra gayi thi, lekin main bach gayi thi," Pankhudi ne kaha, "To maine apni life insurance policy kara li thi, ki mujhe agar kuch ho jaye to mere maa aur Palak besahara na ho. Meri maa beemar hai aur mere paas bilkul paise nahi hai. Humara ghar tod diya gaya, aur karz chukane ke liye mujhe apne gehne bechne pade...Raghu ne jis tarah Palak ko dhamkaya, ab kisi aur se karz maangne ki himmat nahi ho rahi hai...socha apne haq ki tankha maang lu to mere boss ne kaha mujhe sona hoga uske saath...aur maine mana kiya to mujhe naukari se nikaal diya...mujhe koi aur raasta nahi soojh raha tha...mujhe laga mera life insurance hai...to agar main accident mein mar jau to mere gharwaalon ko 20lakh milenge...maa ka ilaj bhi ho jayega aur Palak ki padhai bhi..."
Pankhudi ka phone bajne laga. Palak ka call tha. Pankhudi ne call kaat diya. Dobara call karne lagi Palak. Pankhudi ne phir call kaati aur phone sofe par rakh diya aur rone lagi.
Armaan ne Pankhudi ka phone dekha.
"Palak ke pichle 15 min me 32 missed calls hai," Armaan ne kaha, "Kya kaha tumne us se?"
"Maine apne insurance ke details beheje aur kaha, goodbye," Pankhudi rote hue boli.
Pankhudi Armaan ki baahon mein tootkar rone lagi. Armaan ko bahot guilty feel hua ki usne Pankhudi ko iss hadd tak torture kiya ki woh suicide karne par majboor ho gayi. Usne Pankhudi ko kas ke gale lagaya. Woh us se maafi maangna chahta tha, lekin woh us kis muh se batata ki uske pariwar ko beghar karne wala, Raghu to uski behen ko dhamkane ke liye uksana wala, aur use naukari se nikalanwe wala woh khud hi tha.
"Pankhudi," Armaan ne use pyaar se gale lagate hue kaha, "Tumhari maa ko kuch nahi hoga. Hospital ka kharcha main uthaunga."
"Sach?" Pankhudi ne nam aankhon se poocha, "Aur badle me tumhe kya chahiye? Kya tum bhi mere jism ka sauda karna chahte ho?"
Armaan halke se muskuraya. "Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye Pankhudi," Armaan ne kaha, "Agar kuch kar sakti ho mere liye to bas itna waada karo ki dobara kabhi khud to hurt karne ki kosish nahi karogi. Tum bahot pyari ladki ho Pankhudi, tumhari jaan nahi lena chahta main."
Pankhudi ne Armaan ko gale lagaya. Armaan ne uske maathe ko chumkar uske shaant kiya.
Palak ka phir phone aane laga.
"Phone uthao Pankhudi," Armaan ne kaha, "Aur us se kaho ki tum theek ho aur ghar aa rahi ho."
Pankhudi ne haan me sar hilaya aur waise hi kaha jaisa Armaan ne kaha tha.
Armaan ne use bus stand tak drop kiya aur bus me bithaya.
"Sab kuch theek ho jayega Pankhudi," Armaan ne kaha.
Pankhudi use dekh kar nam aankhon se muskurai aur bus chal padi.
Ek din Pankhudi apne office ke reception desk par baithi thi ki uska phone baja. Palak ki call thi.
"Didi, maa ki tabiyat bahot kharab hai...unko subah seene me dard tha bahot tez...unhe hospital le aayi hun..." Palak ne ghabrayi hui awaz me kaha.
"Doctors kya keh rahe hai?" Pankhudi ne poocha.
"Shayad heart attack hai, doctors keh rahe hai jaldi hi angioplasty karni padegi...please ghar aa jao didi, aur ho sake to thode paise bhijwa do..."
"Main kuch karti hun, Palak, paise bhijwati hun jaldi se," Pankhudi ne kaha, "Aaj raat ki bus main baith jaungi, kal subah tak waha pahunch jaungi, maa ka khayal rakhna."
Palak ne phone kaata aur Pankhudi gehri soch me pad gayi. Uske paas ab bilkul paise nahi bache the. Jitne uske bank ke saving the woh usne apne pariwar ko naya ghar dilwane ke liye kharch kar diye. Baaki bache hue paise aur sona bechkar Raghu ka karz chukaya tha. Ab uske paas kuch nahi bacha tha. Usne calendar dekha, to mahina khatam hone abhi 4 din bache the. Usne socha ki woh apne boss se request kar ke apni salary advance me maang sakti thi jis se thodi help ho jaati.
Usne apne boss se milne ki darkhast kari.
Permission milte hi woh boss ke cabin me jaa pahunchi.
"Pankhudi," Vishal ne kaha, "Main tumhe bulane hi wala tha. Pichle 2 mahine me tumne 15 din ki chutti li hai. This is not acceptable."
"I am sorry Sir," Pankhudi ne kaha, "Mere accident ke baad, bahot saari dikkatein hui mujhe, ghar mein kuch problems thi isiliye chhutti leni padi..."
"Problems kiski life me nahi hai Pankhudi," Vishal ne kaha, "Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi hai na ki tum apni job ko seriously nahi logi..."
"Nahi Sir," Pankhudi ne kaha, "Yeh job mere liye bahot important hai...yeh meri pehli job hai aur mere ghar ki aarthik halat theek nahi hai. In fact, main aapse apni salary advance me dene ki request karne aayi hun."
"Tum mahine ke aadhe din duty se gayab rehti ho," Vishal ne kaha, "Aur salary bhi chahiye woh bhi advance me? Mazak chal raha hai yaha?"
"Please Sir meri maa beemar hai," Pankhudi ne rote hue kaha.
"Aur koi filmy bahana nahi mila tumhe?" Vishal ne kaha.
"Sach keh rahi hun Sir..." Pankhudi ne kaha, "Please meri baat par yakeen karo."
"Sach kahu to main tumhe naukari se nikaalne ki soch raha hun," Vishal ne kaha, "I need employees jo yahan kaam kare, koi charity NGO nahi khol rakha hai maine gareebon ki madad karne."
"Please Sir.." Pankhudi ne kaha, "Main poori mehnat se kaam karungi...lekin please meri salary de dijiye aaj."
Vishal ke chehre par shaitaani muskaan aayi aur usne Pankhudi ko sar ke paav tak ghoora.
"Zara aphi mehnat aur lagan ka namuna to dikaho," Vishal ne muskurate hue kaha, "Aise kaise maan lu main?"
"Kya matlab hai aapka?" Pankhudi ne poocha.
"C'mon Pankhudi," Vishal ne kaha, "Tum bacchi nahi ho, sab samajhti hun, tumhari chhati par yeh jo do bade bade maal hai, inka size to batao."
Pankhudi hairaan reh gayi Vishal ke aise ravaiye se. Kya saare mard aise hi hote hai? Pehle kabhi Vishal ne uske saath aisa bartav nahi kiya tha, lekin ab jab use uski majboori ka pata chala toh woh bhi apni asliyat par aa gaya!
"Please Sir," Pankhudi ne kaha, "Main aapki bahot izzat karti hun."
"Izaat se guzara nahi hota Pankhudi," Vishal ne kaha, "Aur tumhe karna hi kya hai, bas apni skirt aur panty utaro aur mere desk par let jao taangle kholke, baaki kaam main kar lunga, aur tumhe tumhari salary bhi mil jayegi, bonus ke saath."
Vishal ne aankh maarte hue kaha.
Pankhudi ko bahot gussa aaya. Lekin use uski majboori bhi yaad aayi. Uske mann me ek toofan tha. Uski maa kabhi nahi chahegi ki woh is tarah se compromise kare.
Achanak se Pankhudi ne apne ass par ek haath mehsoos kiya. Vishal uske bahot kareeb aa chuka tha.
"Apna skirt uthao aur apni panty dikhao mujhe," Vishal ne kaha, "Kaunse rang ki panty pehni hai aaj?"
Pankhudi ko inta gussa aaya ki usne Vishal ka haath jhatak diya aur uski aankhon me gusse se ghoorte hue ek jordaar thappad laga diya uske gaalon par.
"Aapki himmat kaise hui mujhe chhune ki," Pankhudi ne gusse se kaha, "Sexual harassment ka case kar dungi aap par."
Vishal muskuraya, aur achanank palat ke ek jordaar thappar maara Pankhudi ko. Maar itni zor se padi ki Pankhudi lagbhag zameen par gir padi. Usne jaise taise desk ka sahara lekar apne aap ko sambhala.
"Kuch keh rahi thi tum?" Vishal ne kaha.
"I am sorry, Sir," Pankhudi ne kaha. Uske itni zor se maar lagi thi ki uska hoonth kat gaya tha aur khoon behne laga tha.
"Get out," Vishal ne kaha, "You are fired."
Pankhudi rote hue Vishal ke cabin se bahar nikli. Uske collegues ko uski halat dekh kar daya aayi. Uske kuch collegues ne use kuch paise dekar madad kari. Pankhudi ne turant woh paise Palak ko bhijwa diye taaki uski maa ka ilaj shuru ho sake. Lekin uski maa ko ICU me rakha gaya tha aur uska bill bherne ke liye use bahot jyada paison ki zaroorat thi.
Use samajh me nahi aa raha ki ab woh kya kare. Nisha ki uski aakhri umeed thi. Usne Nisha ko call kiya lekin uska phone nahi lag raha tha. Rote rote, Pankhudi Nisha ke naye address par pahunchi. Lekin wahan taala laga hua tha.
"Ji, Nisha se milna hai?" Ek padosan ne khidki se jhaankte hue kaha.
"Haan, mera naam Pankhudi hai," Pankhudi ne kaha, "Nisha meri dost hai. Kuch zaroori kaam tha."
"Woh kahin ghumne gayi hai, kahin pahadon par," padosan ne kaha, "Wahan phone ka network bhi nahi aata. Lekin woh ek hafte me wapas aa jayegi. Uske aate hai main use bata dungi ki tum milne aayi thi."
"Theek hai, shukriya," Pankhudi ne kaha.
Pankhudi hataash hokar wahan se nikli. Woh rote rote bus me baithi aur apne apartment me wapas aa gayi.
Armaan ke gaadi wahin khadi thi, lekin Pankhudi itni udaas thi ki usne us gaadi ko notice nahi kiya. Armaan muskurata hua Pankhudi ko dekh raha tha. Woh rote rote apne flat me chali gayi. Armaan ke paas ek tab tha, jisme woh us camere ki footage dekh sakta tha jo usne secretly Pankhudi ke flat me lagwaye the. Usne dekha ki Pankhudi living room ke ek kone me simatkar zameen par baithi ro rahi thi.
Armaan ka phone bajne laga. Vishal ka naam dekhte hi woh muskuraya aur phone utha liya.
"Aur bhai, kya haal chaal?" Armaan ne muskurate hue poocha.
"Abe kya aag hai saali me," Vishal ne kaha, "Thappad maara mujhe usne."
"Accha?" Armaan ne haste hue kaha, "Zaroor tune kuch kiya hoga saale."
"Zara sa pichwade par haath hi to phera tha," Vishal ne kaha, "Socha behti ganga me haath dho lu, lekin saali me itni himmat thi ki haath uthaya mujhpar. Maine bhi palat ke maara kas ke. Aukaat par aa gayi."
"Bechari phool jaisi ladki pe haath uhtaya tune?" Armaan ne kaha.
"Phool jaisi?" Vishaal ne kaha, "Kabhi tere gaal pe padega ne thappad tab pata chelga. Bahot taqat hai saali ke haath me."
"Abe saale, use naukari se nikaalne kaha tha maine, uske saath yeh sab chhichorapan karne nahi," Armaan ne muskurate hue kaha, "Pankhudi gareeb aur majboor zaroor hai, lekin bahot swabhimani hai. Aise kisi aire gaire, ko chhune nahi degi woh. Tujhe kya laga main chutiya hun jo itne time se itni mehnat kar raha hun, paisa baha raha hun usko bistar tak laane me?"
"Aira gaira kisko bola be?" Vishal ne kaha, "Bhool gaya saale kitni madad kari thi maine teri."
"Kaise bhool sakta hun bhai?" Armaan ne kaha, "Chal kal shaam ko milte hai. Drinks on me."
"Arey nahi bhai, tu pehle apni chidiya ko sambhal," Vishal ne kaha, "Tootne ki kagar par hai, bechari."
"Haan dikh raha hai, sambhal lunga," Armaan ne kaha, "Thanks for your help bro."
"Don't mention it," Vishal ne muskurakar kaha, "Have fun!"
Armaan ne phone kaata aur Pankhudi ko apne tablet par camera ke through dekhta raha. Woh kaafi samay tak roti rahi. Phir usne apne aap ko sambhala aur almirah kholi. Usme se kuch paper nikale aur dhyaan se padhne lagi. Ek pen lekar kuch underline kar rahi thi.
"Kya kar rahi ho cupcake?" Armaan ne camera footage par zoom karte hue kaha. Lekin zoom karne par bhi un papers par likhi details clearly nahi dikh rahi thi.
Phir woh un papers ki photo kheenchne lagi apne phone se. Aisa lag raha tha ki woh photos kisi ko bhej rahi hai. Phir woh apne phone me kuch type karne lagi jaise koi message kar rahi ho. Armaan bahot curiously usko dekh raha tha. Woh samajh nahi paa raha tha ki Pankhudi kar kya rahi hai.
Pankhudi ne message karke phone sofa par rakh diya aur apne apartment se bahar chali aayi. Armaan ab use dekh paa raha tha.
Woh abhi bhi ro rahi thi. Rote rote woh sadak par chalne lagi. Der raat ho chuki thi aur kaafi andhera ho chuka tha. Pankhudi sunsaan sadak par rote rote bas chalti jaa rahi thi. Armaan apni gaadi me dheeme dheeme uska peecha kar raha tha.
"kahan jaa rahi ho cupcake?" usne man hi mann kaha aur uska peecha karta raha.
Pankhudi lagbhag aadhe ghante tak chalti rahi. Badal garazne lage aur aane waali toofan ki chetavni dene lagi. Tez hawa chalen lagi. Pankhudi phir bhi bas akeli chalti rahi. Tez baarish hone lagi. Pankhudi poori tarah se bheeg gayi. Armaan ne apni gaadi ke windsheild wipers on kar diye.
Tez Baarish me se woh Pankhudi ki dhundhli chabi dekh paa raha tha. Pankhudi achank se mud gayi aur raaste ke beechobeech chalne lagi. Armaan ko ab uske iradon par shak ho raha tha. Armaan ne apne rear view mirror me dekha ki ek truck tezi se uski taraf badh raha tha. Woh samajh gaya Pankhudi kya karna chah rahi thi. Woh apni gaadi se utra aur Pankhudi ki taraf dauda. Woh truck ab uske bahot kareeb aa chuka tha. Truck driver jor jor se horn baja raha tha lekin Pankhudi apni jagah se nahi hili. Armaan ne uska haath pakad kar zor se kheencha, is se pehle ki woh truck use kuchal deta. Pankhudi ko truck ke saamne se hata liya Armaan ne aur truck tezi se nikal gaya.
Pankhudi ki nazar ekdum blank thi. Woh bas Armaan ko ghoorti rahi.
"Kya karne jaa rahi thi tum?" Armaan se gusse se poocha.
Pankhudi ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh bas Armaan se lipat kar phoot phoot kar rone lagi. Armaan ne use gale lagakar shaant kiya, aur uski peeth ko pyaar se sehlaya.
"It's alright cupcake," Armaan ne kaha, "Chalo tumhe ghar le chalu."
Armaan ne Pankhudi ko apni gaadi me bithaya aur uske flat ki taraf chal diya. Pankhudi kuch bol nahi rahi thi. Armaan ne bhi use is samay sawal pooch kar tang karna theek nahi samjha. Woh uske flat par pahunche aur Armaan ne ek towel se uske bheege baal sukhaye, aur use kapde badalne ko kaha.
Pankhudi kadpe badal kar aayi, tab tak Armaan ne usi ke kitchen mein ek cup chai banai uske liye.
Armaan ne use apni goad me bithaya aur chai ka cup pakdaya. "Pi lo," usne kaha, "Aaram aayega."
Pankhudi kaanpte hue haathon se chai ka cup pakde chuskiyan lene lagi. Baarish mein bheegne ke kaaran use thand lag rahi thi, lekin chai peeke woh behtar mehsoos kar rahi thi. Armaan ne woh papers dekhte ho Pankhudi flat se nikalne se pehle padh rahi thi. Woh uske life insurance ke papers the.
"Mera kuch mahine pehle accident hua tha, meri scooty ek car se takra gayi thi, lekin main bach gayi thi," Pankhudi ne kaha, "To maine apni life insurance policy kara li thi, ki mujhe agar kuch ho jaye to mere maa aur Palak besahara na ho. Meri maa beemar hai aur mere paas bilkul paise nahi hai. Humara ghar tod diya gaya, aur karz chukane ke liye mujhe apne gehne bechne pade...Raghu ne jis tarah Palak ko dhamkaya, ab kisi aur se karz maangne ki himmat nahi ho rahi hai...socha apne haq ki tankha maang lu to mere boss ne kaha mujhe sona hoga uske saath...aur maine mana kiya to mujhe naukari se nikaal diya...mujhe koi aur raasta nahi soojh raha tha...mujhe laga mera life insurance hai...to agar main accident mein mar jau to mere gharwaalon ko 20lakh milenge...maa ka ilaj bhi ho jayega aur Palak ki padhai bhi..."
Pankhudi ka phone bajne laga. Palak ka call tha. Pankhudi ne call kaat diya. Dobara call karne lagi Palak. Pankhudi ne phir call kaati aur phone sofe par rakh diya aur rone lagi.
Armaan ne Pankhudi ka phone dekha.
"Palak ke pichle 15 min me 32 missed calls hai," Armaan ne kaha, "Kya kaha tumne us se?"
"Maine apne insurance ke details beheje aur kaha, goodbye," Pankhudi rote hue boli.
Pankhudi Armaan ki baahon mein tootkar rone lagi. Armaan ko bahot guilty feel hua ki usne Pankhudi ko iss hadd tak torture kiya ki woh suicide karne par majboor ho gayi. Usne Pankhudi ko kas ke gale lagaya. Woh us se maafi maangna chahta tha, lekin woh us kis muh se batata ki uske pariwar ko beghar karne wala, Raghu to uski behen ko dhamkane ke liye uksana wala, aur use naukari se nikalanwe wala woh khud hi tha.
"Pankhudi," Armaan ne use pyaar se gale lagate hue kaha, "Tumhari maa ko kuch nahi hoga. Hospital ka kharcha main uthaunga."
"Sach?" Pankhudi ne nam aankhon se poocha, "Aur badle me tumhe kya chahiye? Kya tum bhi mere jism ka sauda karna chahte ho?"
Armaan halke se muskuraya. "Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye Pankhudi," Armaan ne kaha, "Agar kuch kar sakti ho mere liye to bas itna waada karo ki dobara kabhi khud to hurt karne ki kosish nahi karogi. Tum bahot pyari ladki ho Pankhudi, tumhari jaan nahi lena chahta main."
Pankhudi ne Armaan ko gale lagaya. Armaan ne uske maathe ko chumkar uske shaant kiya.
Palak ka phir phone aane laga.
"Phone uthao Pankhudi," Armaan ne kaha, "Aur us se kaho ki tum theek ho aur ghar aa rahi ho."
Pankhudi ne haan me sar hilaya aur waise hi kaha jaisa Armaan ne kaha tha.
Armaan ne use bus stand tak drop kiya aur bus me bithaya.
"Sab kuch theek ho jayega Pankhudi," Armaan ne kaha.
Pankhudi use dekh kar nam aankhon se muskurai aur bus chal padi.