Zameen par padi pin jispar khun jama hua tha. Shreyas ki pith se amma ne akhri pin bahar khinchi jise khoon ka katra uchla aur wahin gir gaya. Unhone us pin ko sabhi pin ke sath rakh dia.
" amma shreyas ko abhi tak hosh kyun nahi aya " anshika ne ek pal uski taraf dekha lekin jawab na milne par vo shreyas ko hila kar use uthane ki kosish karne lagi lekin vo uth nahi raha tha " aap kuch bolti kyun nahi, shreyas uth kyun nahi raha hai " Amma anshika ki baat sun do kadam piche hatt gayi.
" nahi ye nahi ho sakta " abhi amma itna hi boli ki shreyas ne tezi se sansein lete hue ankhein khol di. Ankhein khulti vo zor-zor se sansein lene laga aur agle hi pal dard ki lehar uske dimag mein dastak dene lagi.
" aaaaaaahhhh--hhhhh " vo apne hathon ko apni pith ki taraf le jane ki kosish mein tadapne laga. Anshika ne agle hi pal uska hath pakda par uska chatpatana kam nahi hua. Uski ankh se uske sharir ka dard bahar ane laga.
" anshika aaaaaaaahhh-hhhhhhhh " vo apna sar zoron se hilane laga.
" shreyas meri taraf dekho " vo uska hath pakad kar apni aaur dhayan kichne ke liye use awaz dene lagi par dard uske badan mein is tarah daud raha tha ki uska dhayan udhar jaa hi nahi raha tha. " amma kuch kijeye.. iske dard ka koi to ilaj hoga " anshika chillai to uski ankh se ansu aa nikla. Amma anshika ki awaz sunn hosh mein ayi aur vo shreyas ko dard mein tadapta dekh bol padhi.
" han.. han.. vo us kamre mein mera banaya hua lep use jaldi lekar aa "
" shreyas, himmat rakho mein abhi tumhare dard ko tumse dur kar dungi " usne uske mathe par apne honth rakhe aur vahan se nikal gayi. Shreyas ka anshika se hath chutte hi usne table ko majbuti se pakad liya, uske pith mein gadhe ho gaye the jiske charon taraf ki khal jal chuki thi aur khoon nikal kar bich-bich mein bahar aa raha tha. Anshika bhagte hue us kamre tak pahunchi aur vo katora khojne lagi jisme amma ne lep bana kar chhoda tha tabhi uski nazar us katore par gayi jispar amma tabse kuch bana rahi thi jab vo aur shreyas use mile the. Vo use uthane ke liye jhuki to use laga jaise wahan rakhe saman ke piche koi hai lekin usne bina dhayan diye katora uthaya aur vapis shreyas ke pas bhagi.
Kamre ke andar ghuste hi usne katora amma ko diya. Shreyas abhi bhi tadap raha tha. Dard ki tadap mein uska chehra puri tarah lal ho chuka tha, thuk uske muh se nikal kar zameen par gir raha tha. Ankho mein pani bhar jane se vo lal ho chuki thi.
" hath pakad le iska " anshika ne amma ko ek nazar dekha phir shreyas ke pas pahunch kar uska hath pakad liya aur ghutne ke bal baith gayi uske chehre ke samne." shreyas sab theek ho jayega "
" ye da..rd " usne himmat karke kaha aur ise jada nahi keh paya kyun ki uske baad dard mein chilla utha. Jhakham par malham lagne ka dard bhi jhakham ke dard jitna hi hota hai. Amma ne banaya hua lep shreyas ke jhakham par lagana shuru kar dia. Anshika shreyas ki halat dekh behosh ho jati bas uske pyar ne use bacha rakha tha. Varna shreyas ki halat marne se bhi jada buri thi. Dhire-dhire kar amma ne shreyas ki pith par lep mal diya aur katora niche rakh kar khiska dia aur vo table ke niche chala gaya.
" ab ise aram mil jayega " amma ke bolte hi anshika ne uska shukriya kiya. Shreyas abhi adh-mara jaisi halat mein tha, ankhein khuli thi par takat nahi thi. " shreyas.. " anshika uske chehre ko dekh ro padi. Vo uska sar sehlane lagi, chehre par aye pasine ko pochne lagi. Amma ka kehna sahi tha, jo chehra dard mein tha uspar dhire-dhire aram ane laga.
" shreyas aur unki wife ki koi khabar ? " sharma ne ajay se phone par pucha. Vo der raat apne ghar par baitha bas yahi soch raha tha.
" nahi sir, mene unka phone bhi try kiya par vo unreachable aa raha hai " ajay jawab dekar chup hua.
" ajay kahin humne unhe vahan bhej kar koi galti to nahi kar di ? " sharma pareshan tha, zahir hai baat uspar bhi aa sakti thi.
" sir kya hume wahan jakar ek baar dekhna chahie ? " ajay thoda ruk kar bola. Sharma iska jawab dene mein hichak raha tha. Vo shreyas ki khabar lene ke liye jana chahta tha lekin uski himmat mana kar rahi thi.
" thodi der aur kosish karo aur mujhe batao " usne faisla liya.
" ok sir "
Takreeban raat ke 1:15 baj chuke the, thand ke mausam mein jahan sab apne bistar par so rahe the, usi andhere mein koi kutta roo raha tha. Uski awaz ghati mein gunjti aur phir kho jati. Asalyum mei bhi shanti thi, jal rahi lakdi ki awaz ke alawa vahan ek dum khamoshi thi. Shreyas anshika ke sath baitha hua tha, ab use bilkul bhi dard nahi tha lekin ghav bahut jada gehre aur bhayanak the. Anshika ne uska hath pakad rakha tha par bich-bich mein uski nazar uski pith par padh jati, jise dekh hi uski ruh kanp uth jati. Amma dono ke theek samne apne dande ko pakde zameen par dekhti hui gehri soch mein dubi hui thi.
" vo tujhe aur tere dard ko janta hai " amma ne apni nazre uppar uthai. Shreyas aur anshika uski baat sun usi taraf dekhne lage. " tujhe pehchanta hai, use pata chal chuka tha ki tu vahan jaa raha hai isliye "
Shreyas ne ruk-ruk kar pucha " isliye kya amma ? "
" isliye tu wahan pahuch to gaya lekin tu us jagah ke dard ko bardasht nahi paya aur vapis aa gaya " amma ki baton mein kuch aur chupa tha.
" to ? " shreyas ko ashanka ho gayi thi.
" aise koi bhi vapis nahi aa sakta. Tu zinda vapis aa gaya, ye mumkin nahi tha lekin usne "
" usne mujhe jaan kar zinda chhoda " shreyas ne amma ki baat ko pura kiya.
" par kyun ? " anshika boli.
" kyun ki vo ise aur dard dena chahta hai " amma ki nazar shreyas ki ankhon mein thi jaise use kuch samjhana cha rahi ho. Shreyas ek pal use dekhta raha aur jaise use amma ki batein samajh aa gayi lekin anshika abhi bhi iska matlab nahi samjhi thi.
" mei samjhi nahi ? " uski awaz mein ghabrahat thi.
" vo chahta hai mei ek baar phir wahi dard jhel kar uski dunia mei kadam rakhun " shreyas ne anshika ki taraf nahi dekha. Vo uski ankhon mein dekh kar ye baat nahi keh sakta tha.
Anshika ke fauran muh se nikla " nahi.. nahii.. " vo apni jagah se khadi ho gayi.
" anshika " shreyas use samajh gaya tha.
" nahi shreyas ab aap kuch nahi khaoge " uski sansein tezz ho gayi thi, sharir gharbahat ki wajah se chakar kha kar gir sakta tha isliye usne table ka sahara le liya.
" anshika iske alawa hamare pas koi dusra tarika nahi hai " shreyas bhi khada ho gaya aur uski taraf mud gaya.
" nahi shreyas " jo dil mein chal raha tha akhir usne bolna shuru kiya. " vahan tak to tab pahunchoge jab zinda rahoge, ye dard hi tumhe maar dega " kehte hi uski ankh se ansu nikal pada. Shreyas ne uske chehre se ansu hatane ke liye hath badhaya par usne chatak dia " tum kyun mujhse itni badi kurbani mang rahe ho " vo rote hue boli.
" lekin anshika vo sach janna jaruri hai, mene tumhe apne sapne mei us bangle ke andar dekha hai. Agar sapne sach hai to vo tumhe lene jarur ayega " shreyas ne use samjhane ki kosish ki.
" han to le jane do shreyas, mei is dard ko sehan nahi kar sakti " vo bachon jese rone lagi. Shreyas uske najdeek aya " anshika " vo bas uska naam hi le paya ki anshika chilla hi padi.
" abhi tak to tumhare ghav bhare bhi nahi hai to tum kaise. Mere dard ki fikar chhod do " vo uski ankhon mein dekhte hue dhire-dhire shant ho gayi.
" tum ho aur jab tak tum ho mei har dard se zinda bach sakta hun lekin agar tumhe kuch hua to is zindagi ke mayine in jhakhmon se kahin jada dard de jayenge " usne apne hath chehre par rakh use samjhaya.
" mat karo itna pyar ise jada tut nahi sakti " anshika ne uske hathon par apna hath rakhte hue kaha.
" jiske dard par tum tut rahi ho vo tumhe dard mein nahi dekh sakta anshika. Hamari kahani bina hamare dard ke khatam nahi hogi aur is baar mei tumhe vo dard nahi lene dunga " shreyas ki ankh se ansu palkon tak aakar ruk gaya tha. Ek pal dono ankhon hi ankhon mei dard bayan karte hue khamosh khade rahe aur phir amma ki awaz ne mahol ki khamoshi ko toda.
" Aaj ki raat vo andheri raat hai jab 3 baje uski shakti bahut jada hogi aur hume use pehle uski kamjori khojni hai varna vo hamare hath se nikal jayegi " amma kuch kehti use pehle shreyas ne han mein sar hila dia. Anshika ki nazar shreyas ke chehre par thi jo ladna cha raha tha phir uski nazar uske jhakhmo par gayi, shayad use samjhne vala koi nahi tha.
" amma shreyas ko abhi tak hosh kyun nahi aya " anshika ne ek pal uski taraf dekha lekin jawab na milne par vo shreyas ko hila kar use uthane ki kosish karne lagi lekin vo uth nahi raha tha " aap kuch bolti kyun nahi, shreyas uth kyun nahi raha hai " Amma anshika ki baat sun do kadam piche hatt gayi.
" nahi ye nahi ho sakta " abhi amma itna hi boli ki shreyas ne tezi se sansein lete hue ankhein khol di. Ankhein khulti vo zor-zor se sansein lene laga aur agle hi pal dard ki lehar uske dimag mein dastak dene lagi.
" aaaaaaahhhh--hhhhh " vo apne hathon ko apni pith ki taraf le jane ki kosish mein tadapne laga. Anshika ne agle hi pal uska hath pakda par uska chatpatana kam nahi hua. Uski ankh se uske sharir ka dard bahar ane laga.
" anshika aaaaaaaahhh-hhhhhhhh " vo apna sar zoron se hilane laga.
" shreyas meri taraf dekho " vo uska hath pakad kar apni aaur dhayan kichne ke liye use awaz dene lagi par dard uske badan mein is tarah daud raha tha ki uska dhayan udhar jaa hi nahi raha tha. " amma kuch kijeye.. iske dard ka koi to ilaj hoga " anshika chillai to uski ankh se ansu aa nikla. Amma anshika ki awaz sunn hosh mein ayi aur vo shreyas ko dard mein tadapta dekh bol padhi.
" han.. han.. vo us kamre mein mera banaya hua lep use jaldi lekar aa "
" shreyas, himmat rakho mein abhi tumhare dard ko tumse dur kar dungi " usne uske mathe par apne honth rakhe aur vahan se nikal gayi. Shreyas ka anshika se hath chutte hi usne table ko majbuti se pakad liya, uske pith mein gadhe ho gaye the jiske charon taraf ki khal jal chuki thi aur khoon nikal kar bich-bich mein bahar aa raha tha. Anshika bhagte hue us kamre tak pahunchi aur vo katora khojne lagi jisme amma ne lep bana kar chhoda tha tabhi uski nazar us katore par gayi jispar amma tabse kuch bana rahi thi jab vo aur shreyas use mile the. Vo use uthane ke liye jhuki to use laga jaise wahan rakhe saman ke piche koi hai lekin usne bina dhayan diye katora uthaya aur vapis shreyas ke pas bhagi.
Kamre ke andar ghuste hi usne katora amma ko diya. Shreyas abhi bhi tadap raha tha. Dard ki tadap mein uska chehra puri tarah lal ho chuka tha, thuk uske muh se nikal kar zameen par gir raha tha. Ankho mein pani bhar jane se vo lal ho chuki thi.
" hath pakad le iska " anshika ne amma ko ek nazar dekha phir shreyas ke pas pahunch kar uska hath pakad liya aur ghutne ke bal baith gayi uske chehre ke samne." shreyas sab theek ho jayega "
" ye da..rd " usne himmat karke kaha aur ise jada nahi keh paya kyun ki uske baad dard mein chilla utha. Jhakham par malham lagne ka dard bhi jhakham ke dard jitna hi hota hai. Amma ne banaya hua lep shreyas ke jhakham par lagana shuru kar dia. Anshika shreyas ki halat dekh behosh ho jati bas uske pyar ne use bacha rakha tha. Varna shreyas ki halat marne se bhi jada buri thi. Dhire-dhire kar amma ne shreyas ki pith par lep mal diya aur katora niche rakh kar khiska dia aur vo table ke niche chala gaya.
" ab ise aram mil jayega " amma ke bolte hi anshika ne uska shukriya kiya. Shreyas abhi adh-mara jaisi halat mein tha, ankhein khuli thi par takat nahi thi. " shreyas.. " anshika uske chehre ko dekh ro padi. Vo uska sar sehlane lagi, chehre par aye pasine ko pochne lagi. Amma ka kehna sahi tha, jo chehra dard mein tha uspar dhire-dhire aram ane laga.
" shreyas aur unki wife ki koi khabar ? " sharma ne ajay se phone par pucha. Vo der raat apne ghar par baitha bas yahi soch raha tha.
" nahi sir, mene unka phone bhi try kiya par vo unreachable aa raha hai " ajay jawab dekar chup hua.
" ajay kahin humne unhe vahan bhej kar koi galti to nahi kar di ? " sharma pareshan tha, zahir hai baat uspar bhi aa sakti thi.
" sir kya hume wahan jakar ek baar dekhna chahie ? " ajay thoda ruk kar bola. Sharma iska jawab dene mein hichak raha tha. Vo shreyas ki khabar lene ke liye jana chahta tha lekin uski himmat mana kar rahi thi.
" thodi der aur kosish karo aur mujhe batao " usne faisla liya.
" ok sir "
Takreeban raat ke 1:15 baj chuke the, thand ke mausam mein jahan sab apne bistar par so rahe the, usi andhere mein koi kutta roo raha tha. Uski awaz ghati mein gunjti aur phir kho jati. Asalyum mei bhi shanti thi, jal rahi lakdi ki awaz ke alawa vahan ek dum khamoshi thi. Shreyas anshika ke sath baitha hua tha, ab use bilkul bhi dard nahi tha lekin ghav bahut jada gehre aur bhayanak the. Anshika ne uska hath pakad rakha tha par bich-bich mein uski nazar uski pith par padh jati, jise dekh hi uski ruh kanp uth jati. Amma dono ke theek samne apne dande ko pakde zameen par dekhti hui gehri soch mein dubi hui thi.
" vo tujhe aur tere dard ko janta hai " amma ne apni nazre uppar uthai. Shreyas aur anshika uski baat sun usi taraf dekhne lage. " tujhe pehchanta hai, use pata chal chuka tha ki tu vahan jaa raha hai isliye "
Shreyas ne ruk-ruk kar pucha " isliye kya amma ? "
" isliye tu wahan pahuch to gaya lekin tu us jagah ke dard ko bardasht nahi paya aur vapis aa gaya " amma ki baton mein kuch aur chupa tha.
" to ? " shreyas ko ashanka ho gayi thi.
" aise koi bhi vapis nahi aa sakta. Tu zinda vapis aa gaya, ye mumkin nahi tha lekin usne "
" usne mujhe jaan kar zinda chhoda " shreyas ne amma ki baat ko pura kiya.
" par kyun ? " anshika boli.
" kyun ki vo ise aur dard dena chahta hai " amma ki nazar shreyas ki ankhon mein thi jaise use kuch samjhana cha rahi ho. Shreyas ek pal use dekhta raha aur jaise use amma ki batein samajh aa gayi lekin anshika abhi bhi iska matlab nahi samjhi thi.
" mei samjhi nahi ? " uski awaz mein ghabrahat thi.
" vo chahta hai mei ek baar phir wahi dard jhel kar uski dunia mei kadam rakhun " shreyas ne anshika ki taraf nahi dekha. Vo uski ankhon mein dekh kar ye baat nahi keh sakta tha.
Anshika ke fauran muh se nikla " nahi.. nahii.. " vo apni jagah se khadi ho gayi.
" anshika " shreyas use samajh gaya tha.
" nahi shreyas ab aap kuch nahi khaoge " uski sansein tezz ho gayi thi, sharir gharbahat ki wajah se chakar kha kar gir sakta tha isliye usne table ka sahara le liya.
" anshika iske alawa hamare pas koi dusra tarika nahi hai " shreyas bhi khada ho gaya aur uski taraf mud gaya.
" nahi shreyas " jo dil mein chal raha tha akhir usne bolna shuru kiya. " vahan tak to tab pahunchoge jab zinda rahoge, ye dard hi tumhe maar dega " kehte hi uski ankh se ansu nikal pada. Shreyas ne uske chehre se ansu hatane ke liye hath badhaya par usne chatak dia " tum kyun mujhse itni badi kurbani mang rahe ho " vo rote hue boli.
" lekin anshika vo sach janna jaruri hai, mene tumhe apne sapne mei us bangle ke andar dekha hai. Agar sapne sach hai to vo tumhe lene jarur ayega " shreyas ne use samjhane ki kosish ki.
" han to le jane do shreyas, mei is dard ko sehan nahi kar sakti " vo bachon jese rone lagi. Shreyas uske najdeek aya " anshika " vo bas uska naam hi le paya ki anshika chilla hi padi.
" abhi tak to tumhare ghav bhare bhi nahi hai to tum kaise. Mere dard ki fikar chhod do " vo uski ankhon mein dekhte hue dhire-dhire shant ho gayi.
" tum ho aur jab tak tum ho mei har dard se zinda bach sakta hun lekin agar tumhe kuch hua to is zindagi ke mayine in jhakhmon se kahin jada dard de jayenge " usne apne hath chehre par rakh use samjhaya.
" mat karo itna pyar ise jada tut nahi sakti " anshika ne uske hathon par apna hath rakhte hue kaha.
" jiske dard par tum tut rahi ho vo tumhe dard mein nahi dekh sakta anshika. Hamari kahani bina hamare dard ke khatam nahi hogi aur is baar mei tumhe vo dard nahi lene dunga " shreyas ki ankh se ansu palkon tak aakar ruk gaya tha. Ek pal dono ankhon hi ankhon mei dard bayan karte hue khamosh khade rahe aur phir amma ki awaz ne mahol ki khamoshi ko toda.
" Aaj ki raat vo andheri raat hai jab 3 baje uski shakti bahut jada hogi aur hume use pehle uski kamjori khojni hai varna vo hamare hath se nikal jayegi " amma kuch kehti use pehle shreyas ne han mein sar hila dia. Anshika ki nazar shreyas ke chehre par thi jo ladna cha raha tha phir uski nazar uske jhakhmo par gayi, shayad use samjhne vala koi nahi tha.