Thriller RAAZ ~The vampire~ completed

[Vampire____lover]

Aisi koshish main aksar ab karne laga tha. Zyada se zyada waqt Renuka aur apne bete ke saath bitane ki koshish karta. Renuka ko aksar bahar le jata aur in sab baaton ki vajah mere apne dil mein chuupa chor tha. Main jaise apne andar hi andar koshish kar raha tha ke Renuka par shak karne ke apni galti ke liye khud ko maaf kar sakun. Jaisa bhi bartav maine Renuka ke saath un dino kiya tha use theek kar sakun.

Cheezen dheere dheere phir se theek ho rahi thi aur meri shaadi shuda zindagi ek baar phir khush-haal hone lagi thi. Renuka ne bhi mere andar aaye is badlaav ko mehsoos kar rahi thi aur phir se khush rehne lag gayi thi.

"Finally i have my husband back" Vo aksar kehti, "Kya ho gaya tha itne din se?"

"Kuchh nahi" Main sirf itna kehkar muskura deta.

Maine Renuka ka cell try kiya toh vo switched off mila. Use surprise dene ke liye maine raaste se kuchh phool kharide aur dopahar ke waqt uske office ja pahuncha. Reception par bethi ladki mujhe shakal se pehchanti thi.

"Phool laaye vo toh theek hai par galat jagah le aaye" Jab maine Renuka ke baare mein puchha toh usne haste hue jawab diya.

"Kya matlab?"

"Matlab ye ke aapko ye phool apne ghar le jaane chahiye the, aaj shayad aapki biwi ko inki zaroorat bhi hai"

"Main samjha nahi"

"Renuka Madam aaj jaldi ghar chali gayi, unki tabiat theek nahi thi toh office aane ke thodi der baad hi vo nikal gayi thi"

"Tabiat theek nahi thi? Kya ho gaya tha, anything serious?"

"I dont know really, vo kuchh sar mein dard hai bolkar chali gayi thi" Usne kandhe uchkate hue jawab diya.

Jabse main Renuka ko janta tha kabhi aisa hua nahi tha. Unless kuchh bahut hi badi baat ho, vo kaam chhod kar kabhi ghar nahi jaati thi. Uska kehna tha ke agar vo is tarah chhoti chhoti baat par chhutti lene lagi toh uske neeche kaam karne wale log bhi uski dekha dekhi aisa hi karne lagenge aur phir vo chah kar bhi unhein mana nahi kar sakegi.

Ye baat soch kar main ghabra utha aur fauran phone nikal kar phir Renuka ka number milaya. Cell ab bhi switched off tha. Maine phool pichhli seat par rakhe aur tezi se gaadi chalata hua ghar pahuncha.

Ghar pahuncha toh maan tab ghar par nahi thi. Vo shayad mere bete ke saath kahin bahar gayi hui thi. Renuka bedroom mein leti bekhabar so rahi thi.

"Hey are you ok? What happened?" Main uske kareeb bed par jakar betha aur uske baalon mein haath phirta hua bola.

Uski neend khuli aur apne saamne mujhe dekh kar vo chaunk si padi.

"Hi" Mera haath apne haath mein leti hui vo boli, "What are you doing home this time?"

"Tumhare office gaya tha, i though we will have lunch together but vahan se pata chala ke tumhari tabiat theek nahi aur tum ghar aa gayi. Everything ok?"

"Yeah everything is fine" Vo uthkar beth gayi, "Aise hi zara theek sa nahi lag raha tha, sar mein dard ho raha tha kaafi"

"Do you want to go to a doctor?"

"Nahi aisa kuchh nahi hai. Delivery ke baad se hi aksar aisa hota hai, kabhi kabhi jee bada kachcha sa hone lagta hai aur kuchh karne ka dil nahi karta. I feel like throwing up"

"I think we should consult a doctor if it has happened more than once"

"Dont worry about it, i will talk to him when we visit him next. Tumne kuchh khaya?"

"Nahi office se sidha yahin aa gaya tha"

"Abhi office jana hai vaapis?"

"Nahi ab nahi jaoonga, ab mera bhi mood nahi hai vaapis kaam par jaane ka"

"Let me fix you something to eat"

"Arrey nahi, tum aaram karo. Bahar se order kar lete hain kuchh"

"Nahi, tum change kar lo. Main kuchh bana leti hoon" Kehkar vo bed se uthi aur kitchen ki taraf badh gayi.

Maine apne kapde change kiye aur bathroom mein jakar haath munh dhoya. Bedroom mein bethe hue maine apne joote vahin bed ke paas hi utaar diye the. Bathroom se nikal kar maine joote lene ke liye bed ke kareeb aaya taaki unhein stand par le jakar rakh sakun. Jaise hi main unhein uthane ke liye jhuka, meri nazar bed ke neeche ek laal rang ki cheez par padi. Maine haath badha kar vo cheez uthayi aur ulat palat kar dekha.

Ek pal ke liye toh samajh nahi aaya ke vo kya hai aur jab aaya toh gusse ke maare mera khoon khaul pada. Vo ek condom ka aadha phata wrapper tha.

Jabse maine Renuka aur us ladke ko hotel ke bahar dekha tha tabse meri aur Renuka ki sex life bahut kam ho gayi thi aur uske pregnant hone ke baad toh maine kabhi uske kareeb gaya hi nahi tha. Delivery ke baad jab cheezen kuchh theek lagne lagi thi toh maine do teen baar raat ko uske nazdeek hone ki koshish ki par usne mana kar diya ye kehkar ke delivery ke baad vo thoda waqt chahti hai. Maine uski marzi ko izzat di aur use kabhi force nahi kiya.

Doosri baat ye ke main jis company ka condom use karta tha ye uska wrapper nahi tha. Jab bhi main aur Renuka saath the, maine hamesha aur hamesha sirf ek hi company ka condom use kiya tha aur vo ye nahi tha. Maine zindagi mein kabhi ye condom nahi kharida tha, aur haal filhal toh bilkul nahi.

Ek pal ke liye main bas khamosh khada us wrapper ki taraf dekhta raha. Phir maine aage badhkar room mein rakhe dustbin ka dhakkan khola toh vo khaali tha. Hamare yahan maid hamesha shaak ke waqt aati thi aur us waqt sab kamron ke dustbins khaali karti thi. Subah jab main office ke liye nikla tha tab mujhe achhi tarah yaad tha ke maine usmein kuchh purane papers phaad kar daale the. Maid abhi tak uske baad aayi nahi thi aur uske bavajood dustbin khaali tha. Maid kal shaam aayi thi aur vo hamesha poora ghar achhe se saaf karti thi, bed ke neeche bhi toh is baat ka sawal hi paida nahi hota ke ye wrapper kuchh din se yahan pada ho. Mujhe aur Renuka ko saath hue kayi mahine beet chuke the. Maine is company ka condom use kiya hi nahi tha aur agar kiya bhi tha toh ye mumkin nahi tha ke ye yahan itne mahino se pada ho.

Bimari ka bahana, Renuka ghar par akeli, Mobile switched off, dopahar ke waqt is tarah sukoon se bekhabar neend, bed ke neeche condom ka aadha phata wrapper, khaali dustbin aur mujhe ghar par dekh kar yun chaunkna. Mere dimag ne fauran 2 aur 2 jod kar chaar kar liye. Vo dopahar ke waqt yahan ghar par kya kar rahi thi ye samajh paane ke liye koi bada dimag lagane ki zaroorat nahi thi.

Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ke kya karun. Vo kitchem mein khadi khana bana rahi thi aur mera dil kar raha tha ke uske baal pakad kar ghaseet-ta hua ghar ke bahar dhakka de kar aaoon. Meri biwi, meri apni biwi jise main jaan se zyada chahta tha vo mere peeth pichhe mere hi ghar mein, mere hi bedroom mein, mere hi bistar par is tarah mere pyaar ka gala ghont rahi thi. Had darja gussa hone ke bavajood bhi meri aankh se ek aansoo nikal kar mere gaal par ludhak gaya. Aakhir kahan kami reh gayi thi mujhse. Main kareeb aata toh bachche ki delivery ka bahana hota aur yahan hamare bedroom mein kisi gair mard ko bula kar ayyashi.

"Roti khaoge ya paranthe banaoon?" Kitchen se Renuka ki aawaz aayi toh mera dhyaan toota.

"Jo tum theek samjho" Main sirf itna hi keh saka aur apne gaal se aansoo ponchh diya.

Us incident ke baad ek baar phir vahi kissa shuru ho gaya jo kuchh din pehle chal raha tha. Mere aur Renuka ke beech phir ek doori si ban gayi. Main phir har waqt bas uski jasoosi mein laga rehta par kisi bhi tarah ye pata nahi chal raha tha ke vo ladka aakhir hai kaun aur na hi kabhi main use range haath pakad paya. Kuchh incidents uske baad aam ho gaye jaise aksar mujhe uska mobile phone switched off milta. Main uske office phone karta toh mujhe bataya jata ke madam is waqt kahin bahar gayi hain.

Raat ko kabhi kabhi neend mein mujhe aisa mehsoos hota ke vo kisi se halki aawaz mein baat kar rahi hai. Main uske sim ka jo clone mere paas tha us phone ko check kiya magar koi call nahi mili. Ek jankar ke zariye maine uske phone records nikalvaye par sab numbers meri jaan pehchan ke log the, zyadatar rishtedaar aur ladkiyan. Kuchh calls uske apne maan baap ko hoti thi, kuchh doston ko aur kuchh meri doston ko jaise ke Kamini par zyadatar sab ladkiyan hi thi aur jo ladke the unke saath uska kisi bhi tarah ka affair hone ka sawal hi paida nahi hota tha.

Is baat ne mujhe ye sochne par majboor kar diya ke ho na ho, uske paas ek doosra phone aur hai jiska mujhe pata nahi aur jiska istemaal vo apni ayyashi ke liye kar rahi hai mujhse chhupa kar. Maine poora ghar chhan maara, Renuka ka saman idhar udhar kar dala par vo phone bhi mujhe mila nahi.

Jahan ek taraf mujhe apni shaadi barbad hone ka gham khaaye ja raha tha vahan doorsri taraf jab bhi maine apne bete ki taraf dekhta toh dil mein sawal ye uthta ke kya sach ye bachcha mera hai ya Renuka ki ayyashi ka nateeja hai? Kya ye mera apna khoon hai ya kisi aur ka paap hai jise main apna naam dekar paal pos raha hoon. Ye sab sochte sochte main itna pagal ho chuka ke us masoom ke chehre mein ye talash karne laga ke uski shakal mujhse milti hai ya kisi aur se? Koi aisa jise main janta hoon aur shayad is tarah mujhe pata chal jaaye ke uska baap kaun hai?

Renuka ne bhi phir se mehsoos kar liya tha ke main usse door hota ja raha hoon. Shuru shuru mein toh vo mujhse puchhti rehti ke main is tarah behave kyun kar raha hoon par phir dheere dheere usne bhi puchhna band kar diya. Ham dono ke beech ek anjaan si deewar khadi ho gayi thi. Kabhi kabhi din beet jaate the ham dono ko ek doosre se baat kiye hue aur jo baat ham karte vo mere maan baap ke chalte bas naam bhar ke liye karte.

"Koi aur pasand aa gayi hai kya? Kya koi doosri aurat hai tumhari zindagi mein jiski vajah se mujhse door door rehte ho?"

Vo aksar mujhse ye sawal karti par mujhe hamesha uska puchhne ka andaaz aisa hi lagta jaise vo mujh par shak nahi balki khud apni bewafai ko justify karne ki koshish kar rahi ho. Jaise khud apne aapko vo dilasa de rahi ho ke kyunki uska pati bhi kisi aur ke saaath so raha hai toh uska bhi aisa karna jaayaz hai.

"Isse pehle ke main aapko results bataoon, agar aap bura na maanein toh kya main ek baat puchh sakti hoon?" Mere saamne bethi Doctor ne mujhse puchha.

"Puchhiye"

"Is test ke karane ki vajah?"

"I think iski vajah saaf hai. Main na bhi jawab doon toh aap jaanti hain ke main ye test kyun kara raha hoon"

"Sahi keh rahe hain aap. Main jaanti hoon par mera sawal asal mein ye tha ke is shak ki vajah?"

"Vo meri personnal life hai, hai mere paas kuchh vajah varna aisa shak apne aap hi kisi ko nahi ho jata" Maine jawab diya.

Kuchh din pehle mere bete Vikram ko bukhar aaya tha jiski vajah se Dr. ne uske blood tests kiye the. Doctor meri pehchan ka tha isliye Vikram ka ek blood sample main usse lekar Delhi se door ek Jaipur ke hospital mein aaya jahan main ye test kara sakta tha ke bachche ka baap main hoon ya nahi. Jaipur mein aane ki vajah sirf yahi thi ke main ye test ek anjaan shehar mein karana chahta tha jahan mujhe koi nahi janta.

"I am sorry, you are right par phir bhi main kehna chahungi ke is tarah ke shak married life kharab kar dete hain. Ab aap dono akela nahi, ek nanhi si jaan bhi aapke saath judi hui aur aap aur aapki biwi jo bhi karenge, uska sidha asar aapke bete par padega"

"I know" Maine sapat se lehze mein jawab diya, "Can i know the results now please?"

"Sure" Vo ek file meri taraf sarkati hui boli, "Bachcha aapka apna hai"

Mujhe samajh nahi aaya ke ye khabar sun kar main khush hua ya udaas. Samajh nahi aaya ke main asal mein sunna kya chahta tha? Ye ke bachcha mera hai ya ye ke bachcha kisi aur ka hai? Jahan ek taraf maine Vikram ke apna hi khoon hone par tasalli ki saans li vahin doosri taraf afsos bhi hua kyunki Renuka par anguli uthane ka ye mauka mere haath se nikal gaya tha.

Aur uske kuchh baad mujhe phir uski bewafai ka saboot apne ghar mein mila. Uske kapdo ke beech chhupaya hua ek condom ka packet jo usi company ka tha jiska phata hua wrapper kuchh din pehle bed ke neeche pada mila tha.

Hairat ki baat ye thi ke iske baad bhi main Renuka ko kuchh keh na saka. Pehle jahan is baat ka darr tha ke agar mera shak galat nikla toh kya hoga vahin ab mere masoom bachche ka chehra mujhe kuchh bhi karne se rok leta tha. Main faisla hi nahi kar pa raha tha ke Renuka se alag ho jaoon ya phir apne bete ki khatir ek bewafa aurat ke saath zindagi bitana shuru kar doon

 

[Vampire____lover]

Chapter 16 - Kanha


Liyaqat se kaafi kuchh nayi information mili thi. Sabse zaroori baat ye ke ab Sunanda ka gayab hona Ravi ke case se alag nahi tha. Dono ghatna aapas mein judi hui thi aur dono ke lapata hone ki vajah ek hi tha. Agar dono mein se kisi ek case ka bhi koi sira haath lag jata toh poore mamle ko udheda ja sakta tha. Par problem sirf yahi thi ke ab tak mere haath aisa koi sira aaya nahi tha. Jo mila tha sirf information thi jiski bina par na toh kisi par anguli uthayi ja sakti thi aur na hi kisi pukhta nateeje par pahuncha ja sakta tha.

Liyaqat ke jaane ke thodi hi der baad Kamini bhi laut aayi.

"Badi jaldi aa gayi, mila kuchh?"

"Haan milta agar ham ek do saal pehle gaye hote"

"Matlab?"

"Buddha marne ko hai, bol hi nahi sakta kuchh. Use toh khabar bhi nahi ab ke uske aas paas kaun hai, baat kya karega kisi se"

"Toh matlab kuchh pata nahi chala"

"Nahi"

"Uske ghar mein aur koi?"

"Dono baap bete hi the bas. Kanha eklauta beta tha uska, aur aage pichhe koi nahi" Vo fridge se pani ki bottle nikalti hui boli.

"Ye kya hai?" Maine ek newspaper mein lipti cheez ki taraf ishara kiya jo Kamini ne lakar table par rakhi thi.

"Photo hai?"

"Kiski?"

"Kanha ki"

Maine newspaper khola aur tasveer bahar nikali. Vo ek vaisi hi photo thi jo ke aksar gharon mein kuchh waqt pehle tak deewar par tangi hui milti thi. Ek badi si lakdi ke frame mein band photo jismein ek 24-25 saal ka ladka ek park jaisi jagah mein khada tha. Photo shayad holi ke din ki thi kyunki background mein jo bhi log the sabke chehron par rang laga hua tha. Khud Kanha ke chehre par bhi halka sa laal rang aur maathe par bada sa teeka tha.

"Ye kahan se mili?"

"Kanha ke ghar se"

"Ye kyun utha laayi"

"Hamari paas Kanha ki koi tasveer nahi thi, socha shayad tumhein zaroorat ho toh main le aayi"

"Kisse?"

"Ghar mein ek buddhe se uncle the jo Kanha ke baap ki dekhbhal kar rahe the. Unhone puchha ke main kaun hoon, main kaha ek kitaab likhne wali aur phir vahi jhooth bola jo tumne kaha tha. Uske baad aadhe ghante tak vo Kanha ki tareefon ke pul jodte rahe ke kaise ko kitna achha ladka tha, kaise jawani mein bhagwan kyun kisi ke saath aisa karta hai vagerah vagerah. Jab main aane lagi toh khud hi bole ke kitaab mein chhapne ke liye mujhe Kanha ki koi tasveer chahiye? Ab main kya kehti, maine bhi bol diya haan. Deewar par ye photo tangi thi, unhone akhbaar mein lapetkar mujhe thama di. Kehne lage ke vaise bhi ab is ghar mein koi rahega nahi, saman ka pata nahi kya hoga toh kam se kam tasveer ka toh koi achha istemaal ho"

"Hmmmm" Maine tasveer side mein ek table par rakhte hue kaha, "Matlab sivaay is baat ke Kanha kaisa dikhta tha, ham kuchh nahi jaan sake"

"Yep" Vo sofe par aaram se let si gayi, "Any luck with Liyaqat?"

"Oh yes, lots of luck" Kehkar maine Liyaqat se hui poori baat use batayi.

"Wow, that is certainly a lot of information. Liyaqat bhai kaafi kuchh dil mein dabaye bethe the"

"Right, ab finally ugla kambakht ne"

"so whats next now?"

"Khana kha lete hain filhal uske baad ek baar phir Sunanda ke ghar"

"Sunanda ke ghar?"

"Yep"

"Kyun?"

"Uski maan ka phone aaya tha mere paas"

"Chaai pe bulaya tumhein?" Vo hasti hui boli.

"Shut up, keh rahi hai ke Sunanda ka koi letter vagerah mila hai"

"Letter? Kaisa letter?"

"Kaisa letter toh nahi pata par i am hoping ke uske lover ka koi lover letter type hi ho, kaafi kuchh sulajh jaayega agar aisa hua toh"

"Ok, and how do you want to go? Inspector Falana Falana?"

"Nahi soch raha hoon ke ham log khud hi chale jaate hain. Kab tak Mr. Falana Falana ko takleef dete rahenge"

Maine Liyaqat ko phone kar khana bhijvane ke liye kaha jo ke 15 min baad hi aa gaya. Ham bethe kha hi rahe the ke darwaze ki ghanti baji. Maine darwaza khola toh bahar Inspector Falana Falana khada tha.

"Negi bhai aap yahan?"

"Haan idhar se guzar raha tha toh socha ke aapse milta chalun. Kaise hain aap?"

"Andar aaiye" Main darwaze se hat-ta hua bola, "Ham toh theek hi hain par aapki umar kaafi lambi hai"

"Achha, kyun?"

"Abhi aapko yaad hi kar rahe the. Vo Sunanda ke gaon ki taraf jana hai phir se toh socha ke aapko saath lete chalen"

"Haan bilkul sir, aap jab kahen" Negi ek baar phir hamesha ki taraf fauran madad ke liye taiyyar ho gaya.

Asal mein ham log toh abhi soch rahe the" Maine Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha.

"Haan toh abhi chal sakte hain, meri gaadi bahar hi khadi hai"

"Theek hai phir aap bethiye 10 min, min taiyyar ho jata hoon"

Takreeban 15 min baad ham Negi ki gaadi mein bethkar ek baar phir Sunanda ke gaon ki taraf chale. Maine aage Negi ke saath betha hua tha aur Kamini pichhli seat par.

"Sir agar aap bura na maanein toh ek personnal sa sawal puchhun?"

"Bura mannne wali kya baat hai" Maine muskura kar raha, "Aap toh already meri itni help kar rahe hain. Puchhiye"

"And ma'm aap?" Usne review mirror mein Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha, "Sawal asal mein aap dono ke baare mein hai"

Main samajh gaya ke vo kya puchhna chahta tha par ye samajh nahi aaya ke uske puchhne ke baad jawab kya doonga. Kamini ke saamne agar main saaf saaf use ye kehta ke ham sirf dost hain toh yakeenan use bura lagta.

"Main jaanti hoon aap kya puchhna chahte hain" Mere se pehle Kamini haskar bol padi, "Ham dono ke beech aisa kuchh nahi hai, we are just good friends. Actually toh bachpan se saath mein hi rahe ham dono, since we were kids"

"Aah tabhi" Negi ne bhi haskar jawab diya, "Tab hi aap logon ki chemistry aapas mein itni achhi hai kyunki itne saalon se jaante hain ek doosre ko. Saamne wala toh ek pal ke liye yahi sochega ke aap pati patni hain"

"Aapas mein itna time saath raho toh ek doosre ke baare mein pata chal hi jata hai" Kamini ne kaha.

"Sahi keh rahi hain madam. Aap logon ko aapas mein dekhke lagta hai ke kaafi comfortable hain aap saath mein isliye main puchh betha. I hope aapko bura nahi laga"

"Nahi koi baat nahi" Kamini ne jawab diya, "We are just good friends"

Aur tab pehli baar jaane kyun mujhe uska ye kehna ke ham sirf achhe dost hain, achha nahi laga. Aaj se pehle kabhi aisa nahi hua tha aur na jaane kyun main ye ummeed kar raha tha ke vo Negi se ye kahegi ke ham dono dost se zyada hain, ke ham log saath hain. Main khud bhi ye baat nahi janta tha ke mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai kyunki agar Kamini na bolti toh Negi ke sawal ka jawab main bhi vahi deta jo Kamini ne diya. Phir bhi dil mein kahin uska ye kehna ke ham sirf dost hain mujhe kuchh bura sa laga.

Gaadi ham logon ne phir vahin chhodi jahan pehle chhodi thi aur pagdandi par utarte hue Sunanda ke ghar ki taraf badhe. Negi hamse thoda aage chal raha tha, uske pichhe Kamini aur sabse pichhe main.

"Thanks" Maine pichhe se Kamnini ko kaha.

"For what?" Vo chalte chalte palti.

"Negi ke sawal ka jawab dene ke liye, i mean for understanding"

"Understanding what? Sidha sa sawal tha, sachcha sa jawab de diya maine. Vaise bhi ham dono dost hi toh hain"

"Haan vo toh hai magar mujhe laga tha ke ....."

"Ke main uske saamne dhindhora pitungi ke main tumse pyaar karti hoon aur tum nahi?" Vo ruk kar thoda talkhi bhare andaaz mein boli, "Thodi self respect hai mere andar bhi. Apne beizzati karana ka koi shauk nahi mujhe uske saamne"

"Arrey mera vo matlab nahi tha yaar"

"Phir kya matlab tha?" Chalte chalte vo palat kar khadi ho gayi aur meri taraf dekhne lagi.

"Koi matlab nahi tha meri maan" Maine haath jodte hue kaha, "Galti ho gayi mujhse. Maaf kar de aur chal aage ko"

"Maan hogi tumhari maan" Usne meri taraf jeebh nikali aur phir palat kar aage chalne lagi.

Ghar ke bahar bandha kutta ek baar phir hamein dekh kar gurrane laga. Pichhli baar ki tarah is baar vo bandha hua nahi tha aur use dekh kar ham teeno ghar se door ek jagah par hi ruk gaye. Kutte ke bhaunke ki aawaz sun kar Sunanda ki maan ghar se bahar nikli.

"Aaiye Sahab" Kehti hui vo kutte ke kareeb aayi aur use pakad kar baandh diya, "Andar aaiye"

Hairat ki baat ye thi ke is baar Negi bhi hamare saath andar aaya par us aurat ne use mana nahi kiya.

"Vo aapne kaha tha na ke agar kuchh mile toh aapko phone karun?" Hamare bethne ke baad usne hamein pani pilaya aur phir khud ek kursi par bethte hue boli.

"Ji haan, aap keh rahi thi ke koi letter vagerah mila?"

"Haan ye" Kehte hue usne side mein rakhi table ka drawer khola aur kuchh papers ke tukde hamari taraf badhaye, "Vo aapne jab mere se Sunandi ki photo maangi thi pichhli baar, toh uske baad mujhe yaad aaya ke uski ek badi photo bhi thi jo maine frame karvayi thi. Pehle Sunanda ke kamre mein hi deewar par tangi rehti thi par baad mein maine phir uske saman ke saath baandh kar rakh di thi kyunki vo tasveer har waqt mujhe uski yaad dila kar rulati rehti thi. Aapke jaane ke baad maine socha ke vo tasveer nikal loon. Saman khola toh frame ka sheesha saman mein dab jaane ki vajah se toot gaya tha. Maine frame khol kar uski photo bahar nikali toh frame ke andar se ye 2 cheezen nikli. Shayad jab vo zinda thi toh us waqt usne frame mein chhupa kar rakha hoga aur uske baad bas isi mein rakha reh gaya"

 

[Rahul]

wonderfull updates bhai ji waiting new update

 

[Vampire____lover]

Maine unke haath mein thaame dono paper ke tukde liye. Dono hi fold kiye hue tha. Maine pehle paper ko khol kar dekha. Utsuktavash Kamini aur Negi bhi meri bagal mein khisak kar dekhne lage.

Vo koi letter tha aur kagaz ki halat dekh kar hi andaza ho raha tha ke kaafi purana tha. Jaane kabse yun fold kiya hua rakha tha. Itne time se rakha hone ki vajah se kagaz kaafi jagah se gal chuka tha aur mujhe kholte hue kaafi saavdhani baratni padi ke kahin se phat na jaaye. Paper par kayi jagah paani gira hua tha jiski vajah se kagaz ki halat aur bhi kharab ho chali thi. Maine dheere dheere kagaz ko khol kar sidha kiya aur ek nazar padte hi saari aashaon par pani phir gaya.
Kagaz ki likhai ink pen se thi jo pani girne ki vajah se buri tarah phel gayi thi. Is had tak ke kuchh bhi padh pana na-mumkin tha.

"Kya hai ye?" Kamini ne puchha.

"By the way it was hidden, i am guessing its must be a letter secretive in nature" Maine english mein jawab diya taaki Sunandi ki maan ko meri baat samajh na aaye.

"Secretive?"

"Yeah, else why take the pain of hiding it in the photo frame?"

"You mean love letter?"

Hamare saamne bethi aurat bhale hi ek chhote se gaon ki anpadh aurat thi par love letter aisa shabd hai jise sunke chhote se bachche ke bhi kaan khade ho jaate hain. Vo fauran samajh gayi ke ham kis baare mein baat kar rahe hain.

"Aapko lagta hai ye us ladke ne diya tha Sunanda ko?"

"Shayad, ho sakta hai"

"Kuchh bhi samajh toh aa hi nahi raha hai" Negi meri bagal se jhankta hua bola.

"I know, agar samajh aa jata toh kaafi baatein pata chal sakti thi"

"Vo shayad ghar ki chhat vagerah chune ki vajah se deewar se hokar frame mein pani chala gaya hoga" Sunanda ki maan ne kaha, "Photo bhi kaafi kharab ho gayi thi"

Unhone Sunanda ki vo photo nikali jo us frame mein thi. Saamne se toh photo theek thaak hi thi par pichhe se vo bhi kaafi gal chuki thi. Pani ka kiya nuksaan jo us letter par dikhai de raha tha vahi Sunanda ki tasveer par bhi tha.

"Ye ham log ek baar Shimla gaye the toh vahan ek photographer se khinchvayi thi" Uski maan bade shauk se boli.

Photo black and white thi aur usmein ek badi aam si shakal soorat wali ladki kisi photographer ke studio mein bethi thi. Pichhe ek bageeche ka scene tha jo shayad us studio ki deewar par bani ek painting thi.

"Vo doosra kaga kya hai?" Negi ne doosre paper ki taraf ishara kiya jo abhi bhi folded hi rakha tha.

Vo kagaz bhi poori tarah gal chuka tha. Maine use utha kar ehtiyaat ke saath dheere se kholna chaha. Jahan pehla paper thodi mashakkat ke saath khul gaya tha vahin ye paper andar se aapas mein chipka hua tha isliye halka sa zor dete hi laga ke phat jaayega.

"Its stuck" Maine kaha.

"I think its a photo" Kamini boli.

"Photo?"

"Yeah, photo ke andar ka hissa dekha hai ka kaisa chikna sa hota hai par agar aapas mein fold kar do, i mean anadar ki taraf se hi toh dono taraf se vo chipak jata hai"

"I think you are right" Maine jawab diya, "Dekhne mein kagaz lag bhi thoda mota sa raha hai"

"Aur photo aadha hai shayad" Negi bola.

"Aadha?"

"Haan ye side se dekhiye" Usne ek taraf ishara kiya jahan dekh kar saaf pata lagta tha ke photo ko phaada gaya tha.

"Kiska photo lagta hai?" Negi ne puchha.

"Pata nahi"

"Us ladke ka hoga" Sunanda ki maan beech mein boli.

"Ho sakta hai par bina dekhe kuchh bhi keh pana mushkil hai. Main ye dono rakh sakta hoon?"

"Haan bilkul" Vo fauran boli.

Unke yahan thodi der aur beth kar ham vahan se nikle. Vo sara waqt hamein yahi batati rahin ke kaise aakhri kuchh dino mein Sunanda kaafi khush thi, shaadi ki baatein kiya karti thi par har baar ladke ke baare mein puchhne par baat taal jaati thi. Uska kehna tha ke ladke ke baare mein batane ka abhi sahi waqt nahi hai, jab waqt aayega toh vo ladka khud chal kar unke ghar Sunanda ka haath maangne aayega, use kuchh batane ki zaroorat hi nahi padegi.

"Ab kya?" Bahar aaye toh Kamini ne puchha.

"I dont know but i cant give up on this without trying. Ghar jakar koshish karte hain photo kholne ki"

"Aur vo letter?"

"Kuchh bhi padh pana impossible lag raha hai. Tasalli se beth kar andaza hi lagana padega ke bikhar chuki ink ke neeche kaun se words chhupe hue hain"

 

[Vampire____lover]

Chapter 18 - The Mute Brother

Agle din subah Liyaqat ke knock karne par maine darwaza khola. Ghadi mein subah ke 8 baj rahe the. Mujhe laga ke shayad vo breakfast lekar aaya hoga isliye darwaza kholkar main palat kar washroom ki taraf badh gaya.

"Breakfast tabee par rakh do" Maine bina uski taraf dekhe kaha.

"Sir actually main breakfast nahi laya" Pichhe se uski aawaz aayi toh main palta.

"Toh le aao yaar, bhookh lagi hai"

"Vo Raj Sahab ne aapko bulaya hai"

"Itni subah?" Maine ek baar phir ghadi ki taraf dekha.

"Ji haan, vo keh rahe hain ke aaj subah ka nashta aap unke saath karen"

Main janta tha ke der sawer Raj se meri baat toh honi hi thi aur asal mein toh main khud bhi usse baat karna chahta tha.

"Theek hai, kahan?"

"Vo use guest house ke paas jahan Ravi Sahab rehte the"

"Theek hai, main 15 minute mein aata hoon"

"Ji" Kehkar vo jaane ke liye palta.

"Aur suno, Memsahab ke liye nashta toh le aao. Main Raj ke saath kha loonga par ye toh yahin khayengi"

"Ji zaroor" Kehkar vo chala gaya.

Main fresh hua, Kamini ko jagaya aur taiyyar hokar phir usi guest house par pahuncha jahan Ravi pehle raha karta tha. Aasman mein halke badal the aur dhoop ka kahin naamo nishan nahi tha. Kul milakar kaafi pleasant mausam tha.

Raj guest house ke bahar khule garden mein ek chhoti si table aur chair dalkar betha hua apne laptop par kuchh kar raha tha.

"Hello Mr. Rana" Maine kareeb aakar uski taraf apna haath badhaya. Yun achanak apni taraf aaye haath ko dekh kar vo ek pal ke liye chauka.

Bethe bethe hi usne ek nazar meri taraf daali aur badi bedili ke saath is tarah mujhse haath milaya jaise koi ehsaan kar raha ho. Abhi tak vo apne raat ke kapdon mein hi betha hua tha. Mujhse haath mila kar usne mujhe apne table ke doosri taraf rakhi ek kursi par bethne ko kaha.

"Thank you" Kehkar main beth gaya.

Yun toh usne mujhe breakfast ke naam par bulaya tha par table par khaane ke liye kuchh bhi nahi tha. Sirf ek laptop jispar Raj kuchh kar raha tha aur ek aur wireless keyboard.

"Maine asal mein aapse khud bhi baat karna chah raha tha, par aapne khud hi yaad kar liya" Maine kaha par usne jaise meri baat suni hi nahi. Main bol kar chup ho gaya aur vo usi taraf laptop mein laga raha.

Phir achanak mujhe yaad aaya ke vo na toh bol sakta tha aur na hi sun sakta tha.

Kuchh der main bhi yun hi khamosh betha raha phir usne nazar utha kar meri taraf dekha. Paas mein rakhe keyboard ka wireless receiver usne USB port mein laga aur laptop ka rukh meri taraf ghuma diya.

Laptop ki screen par ek notepad khula hua tha. Raj ne keyboard apne saamne kiya aur uspar kuchh type kiya.

"Tum yahan kar kya rahe ho?" Laptop par khule notepad mein ye message type ho gaya.

Main samajh gaya ke hamare beech jo baat hogi vo isi tarah hogi. Message type karne ke baad mujhe laga ke shayad vo keyboard meri taraf badhayega par aisa hua nahi. Main intezaar mein uski taraf dekhta raha aur vo bhi mera confusion samajh gaya. Usne phir keyboard par anguliyan daudano shuru ki.

"You can talk. I cant hear you but i can read your lips. Try to talk a little slow please"

"Aap jaante hain main yahan kya kar raha hoon. Your mother hired me to find your brother" Maine dheere dheere kaha. Vo gaur se mere honthon ki taraf dekh raha tha.

"My brother is dead" Usne laptop mein type kiya.

"You seem pretty certain"

"Yes i am"

"Well then i am here to find the reason of his death"

"Whatever the reason was, its long gone"

"Your mother would still like to know what it was"

"I dont"

"Then you are talking to the wrong person about. You need to discuss it with your mother. I am here only per her wish and instructions"

"Exactly, and that is the reason why i am letting you be here. Else i dont like cheap strangers poking their nose in my business"

Uske cheap kehke se mere andar tak aag lag gayi. Main samajh gaya ke iske saath yun sharafat se baat karke koi fayda nahi.

"Lets cut the bullshit Mr. Rana" Maine bhi saaf baat kahi, "Why have you called me here?"

"Have you found out anything yet?" Usne notepad par type kiya.

"No, not yet"

"How long do you think you are going to be poking your nose around here?"

"I dont know, could take me a while. And while we are still at it, i would like to talk to you as well"

"About what?"

"About your brother of course"

"What about him?"

"Jahan tak mujhe pata chala hai, us din you were with you mother for most of the day, correct?"

"Are you interrogating me?"

"No i am simply trying to put together that day's events"

"I dont feel obliged to answering any of your questions"

"Well than maybe you will talk to your mom about it"

"Are you threatning me of my own mother?" Likhte hue uske chehre par hasi phel gayi.

"No i am only saying that i will let her know that you are refusing to talk to me about the very same concern that she called me here for"

Mere kehne ke baad uske chehre par bade hi serious bhaav aa gaye. Kuchh der chup rehne ke baad usne phir se type kiya.

"You should know ke main tumhein yahan sirf apni maan ki vajah se bardasht kar raha hoon"

"Fair enough, shall we begin?"

"Puchho"

Maine table par hi rakha ek kagaz ka tukda uthaya aur Raj ke pen ki taraf ishara kiya.

"May i borrow your pen?"

Usne sehmati mein apna sar hila diya.

"As i was saying, you were with your mother that day, correct?"

"For most of the day, yes. We left for Solan at around 12"

"Usse pehle?"

"Usse pehle main ghar par hi tha. I wasnt feeling too well, didnt even have breakfast. It was just one of those days when you just dont feel good, even though there is nothing physically wrong with you"

"Yeah happens sometimes" Maine sehmati jatayi.

"That was the reason mom asked me to come with her, thiking that it might just cheer me up"

"Ok, uske baad aap log vaapis kitne baje aaye?"

"Takreeban 5"

"Phir?"

"Phir main ghar ke andar aaya hi tha ke Ravi paon gusse mein patakta hua bahar nikal gaya. Andar pahuncha toh maan ne mujhe ishare se use bula kar laane ko kaha aur main uske pichhe pichhe ghar se nikal gaya"

"Kya lagta hai ke kis baat par naraz the aapke Bhai?"

"Please dont ask me questions you already know the answer to. Maan tumhein bata chuki hain ke vo batware ko lekar dad se jhagad raha tha"

"I am sorry, i just wanted to hear it from you. Phir kya hua?"

"Phir main uske pichhe pichhe gaya. Bahar ghane badal chhaye hue the, neeche tak badal utar aaye the isliye aisa lag raha tha jaise har taraf kohra sa chha gaya ho. 5 baje hi andhera ho chuka tha. Main bahar aaya par mujhe Ravi kahin dikhai nahi diya, jaise gayab hi ho gaya tha vo"

"Phir?"

"Main bahar nikla, thoda aage tak gaya par vo kahin dikhai nahi diya. Phir main ghar ki taraf vaapis palta aur aate hue gate ke paas mujhe Ravi mila. Vo ghar vaapis ja raha tha"

"Kitni der ki baat hai ye? I mein kitne time baad"

"Takreeban aadha ghanta"

"Aadha ghanta? Abhi toh aapne kaha ke aap sirf thoda aage tak gaye the?"

"Thats right. You may not have not noticed but i am handicapped. Ek taang kharab hai meri. Vo thoda aage tak jaakar aane mein hi mujh langde ko aadha ghanta lag gaya"

"Sorry" Maine maafi maangne wale andaaz mein kaha, "Phir gate par aapko Ravi mile"

"Correct"

"Then?"

"Then maine usse puchha ke vo kahan tha aur kyun aise papa se jhagad raha tha par uska dhyaan hi kahin aur tha"

"Kahin aur?"

"Haan jaise kahin khyaalon mein khoya sa hua tha. Meri baat toh usne jaise suni hi nahi aur khud badbadane lag gaya"

"And what was he saying?"

"Ye ke vo ek kayar hai, vo kuchh nahi kar saka. Vo darr gaya aur is darr ki vajah se kisi ki maut ki vajah ban gaya. That he is equally to be blamed for the murder. That how could he let this happen, how could he have someone's blood on his hands"

 

[Vampire____lover]

"Who do you think he was talking about?" Maine puchha

"I dont know really, bada ghabraya hua sa tha vo, jaise kahin bhoot dekh liya ho"

"Phir?"

"I tried to calm him down, asked him what happened but he wouldnt listen. Aur vo ghar ke andar ki taraf chala gaya"

"Aur aap?"

"I thought i will ask the guard at the gate if he had seen anything but i couldnt find him, there was no one at the gate. So i went looking for the guard and found him a few steps away, he went over to take a leak. I asked him if he saw something or someone but he hadnt"

"And all this while Ravi was still inside?"

"Yeah. Then i thought i will walk a few steps and see what happened. Maybe he saw an accident or something but i found nothing at all"

"And then?"

"Then i came back to the house. I went to Ravi's room to talk to him but he wasnt there so i went to my room. After a while i Came downstairs for dinner but Ravi wasnt there on the table and he hasnt been ever since"

"What time did he leave the house?"

"No one knows"

"The guard?"

"Says he didnt see Ravi sneaking out. He was a very lousy guard, we fired him after a few days"

"You ever told this to anyone?"

"Yeah the cops knew about it all"

"Sunanda case ke baare mein toh aapko pata hi hoga?"

"Kaun Sunanda?"

"Aap abhi thodi der pehle khud hi bol rahe the ke aise sawal nahi puchhne chahiye jinka jawab pata ho" Maine muskurate hue kaha, "Mujhe poora yakeen hai ke aap jaante hain kaun Sunanda"

Vo kuchh pal tak khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha.

"All rght, i have heard that name. What about her?" Kuchh der baad usne type kiya.

"Ek baar phir vahi baat Rana Sahab. Aap jaante hain ke mera ishara kis taraf hai, kyun aise sawal puchhne jisse baat sirf kuchh palon ke liye tale"

"That actually depends on how much you know" Thodi der pehle tak jo attitude mujhe vo dikha raha tha vo ab khatam ho chuka tha aur ab vo poori tarah mere saath co-operate karte hue mere har sawal ka jawab de raha tha.

"All right, then let me ask direct questions. Sunanda aapke bhai ke lapata hone se ek hafta pehle gayab hui thi. Mujhe bataya gaya hai ke theek us din jab aapka bhai gayab hua ...."

"Liyaqat ne tumhein bataya ke usne subah Sunanda ko dekha tha aur phir Ravi ko uske pichhe jaate dekha" Usne meri baat poori kar di.

"So you knew"

"As i said, depends on how much you know"

"Why dont we both tell each other what we know and bring us both on the same page?"

"Listen, if you are trying to imply that Ravi kidnapped ....."

"I didnt say that" Maine baat beech mein hi kaat di.

"Oh come on dont bullshit me, i knew thats where you were going with this. Its not possible ke Ravi use kidnap karke laya aur ek hafte tak yahan chhupaye raha. Aisa nahi ho sakta"

"Kyun nahi?"

"Kyunki ek ladki ko hafte bhar tak is ghar mein baandh kar rakh pana mumkin nahi hai, poora parivaar rehta tha tab yahan hamara"

"Vo guest house?" Maine us guest house ki taraf ishara kiya jahan Ravi raha karta tha.

"Still not possible, he couldnt have gotten a girl in there against her wish without anyone noticing it. There is a guard at the gate, he couldnt have sneaked past him"

"You said the guard was lousy"

"Not all of them, and even if he did manage to get the girl in here its impossible to keep a person hidden for a week without getting noticed. There was an army of servants here back then. That guest house was cleaned everyday and servants went in there to serve Ravi food. If there was a girl tied up in there, someone would have seen her"

"Hmmmmm" Uski baat mein dam tha, "What is your theory around this Mr. Rana"

"Blackmail i think"

"Blackmail?"

"Yep, she was a whore, a prostitute and Ravi was a young man. He must have gone with her sometime and she somehow must have found a way to blackmail him"

"That still doesnt explain the other facts"

"Yes it does, if you look closely at it. She was blackmailing Ravi, son of the most powerful man in this region. He must have threatened her back so she disappeared herself, to keep her safe. Then she met Ravi that morning but ho sakta hai baazi ulti pad gayi, use khud hi vahan se bhagna pada. Shaam ko vo Ravi se milne phir aayi hogi blackmail ke liye par is baar bhi baazi ulti padi"

"Aapke kehne ka matlab ke Ravi ne Sundanda ko?"

"Aur isliye hi vo yun ghabraya hua vaapis aaya tha" Raj ne jawab diya.

"You are saying you think your brother murdered a girl?"

"No i am saying that my brother murdered a blackmailer. If you ask me, i would call it self defense. She was a prostitute and Ravi i am sure must have paid her well. She had no right to go sneaking into people's personnal lives and blackmail them. As they say, you push someone too far and they will retaliate. Thats what happened. Ravi's life was at stake and he took it back"

"Hmmmm" Main gaur se uski baat padh raha tha.

"Aur shayad yahi vajah thi ke Ravi ghabra kar Papa se batware ki baat kar raha tha. Vo ek shareef aadmi tha aur jaanta tha ke agar aisi koi bhi baat pheli toh papa ki kitni badnami hogi, khandaaan ki kitni badnami hogi. Isliye vo alag hona chah raha tha ke agar kuchh badnami aaye bhi toh uspar aaye"

"Usne aapse is baare mein kabhi kuchh discuss nahi kiya tha?"

"Nahi, afsos isi baat ka hai. Ham dono kaafi kareeb the par usne kabhi bataya hi nahi. Mujhe kuchh din se lag toh raha tha ke kuchh gadbad hai par kabhi usne kuchh kaha nahi"

"Sunanda ke baare mein aap pehle se jaante the?"

"Nahi, Liyaqat ke munh se hi pehli baar suna tha. Tab mujhe us shaam ka scene yaad aaya. Ravi ek sidha sa ladka tha, bhale hi usne gusse mein kisi ki jaan le li ho, bhale hi vo ek blackmailer ko maarke aaya ho par tha toh ek shareef aadmi hi na. Uski reaction vaisi hi thi jaisi kisi bhi normal insaan ki hoti hai, murder ke baad ghabrahat"

"Thats true"

"And i am sure you know about the 15 crores, right?" Raj ne puchha.

"Yes i do"

"Why do you think he was puttting that money aside? Because he was getting blackmailed by that prostitute. That money was never recovered"

"But that still doesnt explain your brother's disappearance. How do you put that in your theory"

"Ek yahi point hai jahan par aakar meri soch ruk jaati hai. Ravi kyun gayab hua, iske baad kya hua ye aaj tak kabhi pukhta taur par apne dimag mein decide nahi kar paya main. Bas ek hi theory samajh aati hai"

"And what is that?"

"Ab vo ek prostitute thi toh mawali type ke logon mein toh uthna bethna raha hi hoga uska. Ek mamuli prostitute 15 crore akele nahi daba sakti, itna bada game uske akeli ke bas ka tha hi nahi. We are a very powerful family here aur itne bade pariwaar ko blackmail karne ki sochna ek mamuli gaon mein dhandha karne wali ladki nahi soch sakti"

"So you think she had an accomplice"

"Or maybe an entire gang behind he whole thing"

"And they were all blackmailing Ravi. Us shaam Ravi killed Sunanda aur uske baad Sunanda ke saathiyon ne Ravi ko maar diya"

"Exactly"

"Interesting" Main sirf itna hi keh paya. Uski theory mein bahut dam tha aur is baat ne meri ab tak ki poori progress ko doubt mein daal diya tha.

"And i dont suppose the cops or anyone else knew what you just told me or what Liyaqat told me earlier?" Maine kaha.

"About Sunanda?"

"Yes"

"No of course not" Usne fauran jawab diya, "To reference a prostitute's name in our family's affairs? Its a disgrace, total disgrace. We would have lost our respect and place here if people found out that my brother was being blackmailed by a prostitute or that he was going to a prostitute. People would have laughed at us"

"But you do realise that it may as well have saved your brother's life if you have told the cops all this in time"

"Yes it may have but the cost was tooo high. Nothing is over honor, not even my brother's life"

Ham dono kuchh der tak khamosh bethe rahe aur phir main chair se utha.

"Well Mr. Rana, it was nice meeting you. I am starving now and think i should head back to the guest house for some breakfast"

"Wait"

"Ji kahiye"

"Listen, i know we got off on wrong foot but i need you to know that i have no hard feelings for you. The only reason i was so apprehensive in involving you was because of privacy reasons. But then i though that this matter was so public and so many people have looked into this that it wouldnt harm to let another one try. I didnt mean to offend you in any way and please forgive me if i did"

"Dont worry Mr. Rana, feeling is mutual. No offense taken"

Main palat kar jaane hi laga tha ke phir ruk gaya.

"Ek baat aur Mr. Rana" Main uske saamne aakar bola taake vo mere lips read kar sake, " You just told me that no one ever knew about what you and Liyaqat told me"

"Correct"

"There were people hired before me but no one could reach a conclusion"

"Correct, and there is a reason to that"

"What was that reason?"

"We didnt want anyone to know. Father and i knew the entire story but whoever was hired was because of my mother. But we alwas ensured that whoever came, just killed some time around here and went back telling that they couldnt find anything"

"Correct"

"For 20 years?"

"Correct. In a way, you are the first person who we have actually hired to look into the disappearance of my brother"

"So all those people were fake?"

"They were not fake, they were real detectives but they were well instructed that they are not suppose to do anything. They just came here for a vacation that we paid them for"

"And all this just to show your mother that you tried"

"Correct. We didnt want anyone to know what happened between my brother and that prostitute"

"Because of honor?"

"Correct"

"Then why tell me? why the sudden change of heart?"

Vo kuchh der tak chup raha auur phir kuchh soch kar type karne laga.

"Well i guess there is no harm in telling you this. My mother has a neurological illness that can not be cured. There is a vein in her brain that is about to burst open"

"I am sorry to hear that"

"Thanks. She has already been through one surgery and now doctors say that its too much stress on her body and brain to have her
undergo another procedure. Plus the success rate is very low. She may just die on the table itself"

"How long does she have"

"Actually thats where our hopes are. She may just keep on living for another 10 years or may just die today itself. No one can say for certain"

"And now i am here because you want to fulfill your dying mother's wish"

"Correct. Too long we have kept a curtain on what happened to my brother but i guess its time to raise that curtain. If his name is to be taken with a prostitute, then so be it"

"Ek baat samajh nahi aati" Maine sochte hue kaha, "To be with a prostitute or be a womaniser, its not really much of a disgrace, at least not as big as you are making it. Rich kids do that and everyone knows it"

Meri baat sunkar vo khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha.

"There is something else you havent told me yet, right?" Main phir se uske saamne beth gaya.

"Dont get me wrong, i really wanted to but just couldnt say it"

"Please tell me Mr. Rana, what is it?"

"My brother was a gay"

 

[Vampire____lover]

What?" Mujhe laga ke shayad maine galat sun liya.

"Yeah i know"

"You said your brother was ......"

"Yep" Usne haan mein gardan hilate hue type kiya.

"Are you sure?"

"100%"

"And you know this how?"

"He told me"

"Ravi himself"

"Correct"

"When?"

"Actually doubt toh mujhe kaafi pehle ho gaye the, when we were just 17-18. Mujhe uske kamre mein ek porn magazine mili thi, gay porn magazine actually. Us waqt Indian mein ye sab milna almost impossible hi tha, before the age of the internet. Maine usse puchha toh usne haske baat taal di par phir maine ek din use ek ladke ke saath dekha"

"You mean.....?"

"Oh no no, kuchh karte hue nahi. Dono aise hi bethe baat kar rahe the par jis tarah se vo dono ek doosre ke saath behave kar rahe the, it looked weird. You mean what i mean, baat karne ka andaaz, baat karte hue ek doosre ko chhuna, baar baar haath pakadna. Ravi us ladke ke saath aise pesh aa raha tha jaise vo koi ladka nahi balki ladki ho"

Mujhe kuchh samajh nahi aaya ke kya kahun.

"Aur ek do aur incident hue jisse mujhe shak ho gaya aur phir ek din usne mujhe khud hi bata diya"

"Ke vo gay hai?"

"Right. Ham dono kaafi close the"

"Close?"

"What? COME ON !!!, not that way. Just brotherly and friendly close. Jahan tak mera andaza hai vo shayad kaafi din se mujhe batane ki koshish kar raha tha par shayad sharam ki vajah se keh nahi pa raha tha. Ham aapas mein ek doosre ko sab kuchh bataya karte the, bhaiyon se zyada achhe dost the ham. Aur phri ek din usne mujhe bataya ke use ladkiyan nahi ladke pasand hain"

"Aapka reaction?"

"Vaisa hi jaisa kisi bhi normal insaan ka hoga. Pehle samajh nahi aaya ke kya kahun, phir laga ke mazak kar raha hai, phir use samjhaya, phir taane maare, phir usse jhagda kiya, phir mom dad ko batane ki dhamki di par aakhir mein phir maine hathyaar daal diya. Kudrat ne use aisa banaya tha toh ismein uski bhi kya galti thi"

"Hmmmm" Maine sochte hue kaha, "Was Kanha his?"

"Lover? No i dont think so"

"Why not?"

"I dont know. Kanha never seemed gay type and i never saw the two of them treating each other any different, like gays you know. They just seemed normal friends"

"Did Kanha know that Ravi was gay?"

"That i dont know but considering that both of them were pretty close, i would guess that Ravi must have told Kanha"

"Was Ravi seeing anyone?"

"You mean like a guy?"

"Yep"

"Lover guy, his boyfriend?"

"Right"

"I actually dont know that but there was this one guy who i think could be Ravi's boyfriend"

"Who?"

"Vahi ladka jiske saath Ravi ko dekh kar mujhe pehli baar shak hua tha"

"Kaun tha vo ladka?"

"Ravi ke saath music classes leta tha, he was a drummer i think and both of them were thinking to start a band together"

"Is this guy still around? Do you know where he lives?"

"I am not sure. You may want to check with the folks at Music Academy in Shimla. Vahan student tha vo"

"Do you remember his name?"

"Yep. Aadesh Mehra"

"Wow" Maine lambi si saans chhodte hue kaha, "You know this kind of changes everything. All the theories that i made up in this case so far"

"I am sure it does"

"Did anyone else knew?"

"I cant say how many people did Ravi tell"

"Your parents?"

"Not at all"

"Liyaqat?"

"Of course not"

Raj se milkar main vaapis guest house pahuncha. Dimag ghoom chuka tha. Ab tak jo kuchh bhi maine information ikatthi ki thi usse pata toh kaafi kuchh chal chuka tha par sab kuchh ek saath fit nahi beth raha tha. Aisa lag raha tha jaise ek tasveer ke bikhre hue tukde hain jinhein main saath betha kar poori tasveer nahi bana pa raha hoon.

Is poore taane baane ka vo sira ab tak nahi mila tha jiske khinchte hi poora jhamela udhad jaata aur sach saamne aa jata. Jis ek baat ka ab mujhe bhi yakeen ho chala tha vo ye thi ke Ravi mar chuka hai. Ye mumkin nahi tha ke vo 20 saal se kahin chhupa betha ho, zinda ho.

 

[Vampire____lover]

Chapter 19 : The Academy

Main, Kamini aur Inspector Negi urf Falana Falana Shimla mein ek building ke bahar khade the.

"Creative Arts, Academy of Music" Negi board padhta hua bola, "Ham yahan kya kar rahe hain sir?"

Aane se pehle maine use bataya nahi tha ke ham Shimla kya karne ja rahe the. Use toh saath laane ka asal mein plan hi nahi tha par pata nahi kaise ek baar phir, jab main aur Kamini Shimla ke liye nikal hi rahe the vo ek baar phir darwaze par aa khada hua. Hamne kaha Shimla ja rahe hain toh bina kuchh puchhe saath ho liya. Chail se Shimla tak ka safar bhi hamne uski gaadi mein hi kiya tha.

"Sahab ko baja bajane ka shauk chadha hai, isliye seekhne aaye hain" Jawab Kamini ne diya.

"Shut up" Main uski taraf dekhta hua bola aur phir Negi ki taraf palta, "Ye vahi academy hai jahan Ravi music seekhne aaya tha"

"Aur yahan ham uske aur Sunanda ke baare mein pata karne aaye hain"

"Haan vo bhi"

"Vo bhi matlab? Aur kisi ke baare mein bhi pata karna hai"

Maine ab tak Negi ko apne aur Raj ke beech hui baat ke baare mein kuchh nahi bataya tha. Vo Ravi ke gay hone ke baare mein kuchh nahi janta tha.

"Haan ek baat aur pata karni hai, aao"

Ham teeno academy ke andar daakhil hue. Saamne ek bada sa hall tha jismein aur bhi kayi gates khul rahe the. Bethne ke liye cushions lage hue the aur kamre ke ek taraf reception bana hua tha. Dekhne mein koi academy kam, five star hotel zyada lag raha tha. Par us waqt reception hall mein koi nahi tha.

"Yahan toh koi nahi hai, band hai kya?" Negi ne puchha.

"Band hota toh main gate kyun khula hota" Kamini ne jawab diya.

"Point"

Tabhi ek gate khula aur ek ladka 16- 17 saal ka daakhil hua. Ek nazar usne ham par daali aur phir main gate ki taraf badh chala.

"Excuse me" Maine use roka, "Aap bata sakte hain ke mujhe student information kahan se mil sakti hai?"

"Dude" Vo mujhe dekh kar aisi shakal banate hue bola jaise abhi abhi gobar soongh liya ho, "Do i look like a receptionist to you. I dont know, let me go" Aur kandhe uchka kar vo chal diya.

"Aey" Pichhe se Negi ne policiya andaaz mein kaha, "Idhar aa"

Ladka vahi buri si shakal banate hue vaapis aaya. Negi us waqt saade kapdo mein tha.

"Kya naam hai tera?"

"Why?"

"Abe why chhod aur naam bata varna vo baja bajaoonga tera ke rattu tote ki tarah ga gakar sunayega"

"Are you a cop?" Us ladke ko shayad Negi ka andaaz dekh kar lag gaya tha ke vo policewala hai.

"Let him go" Maine beech mein bola, "Jao tum"

Aur vo ladka phir buri si shakal banata hua chala gaya.

"Aajkal ki generation" Negi uski taraf dekhta hua bola.

"Main washroom hokar aati hoon" Kamini ne kaha aur reception mein ek gali ki aur badh gayi jahan par washrooms ka board laga hua tha.

Main aur Negi vahin sofe par bethkar receptionist ka intezaar karne lage"

"Negi Bhai" Thodi der baad main bola, "Shaadi hui aapki?"

"Arrey kahan sir, ladki koi dhang ki milti hi nahi"

"Kya baat kar rahe ho, pahadi ladkiyan toh maine suna hai ke kaafi sundar hoti hain"

"Haan hoti toh hain par koi apne type ki nahi milti"

"Kis type ki chahiye aapko?" Maine haste hue puchha.

"Thodi sundar si, thoda shararti hi" Vo bhi mere saath hasta hua bola, "Koi phuljhadi type"

"Phuljhadi?" Kamini hamare pichhe se aati hui boli. Usne Negi ki baat sun li thi, "Tumne shaadi karni hai ya us ladki ke pichhwade mein aag lagake diwali manani hai?"

Uske kehte hi Negi khisiyana sa ho gaya aur main zor se has pada.

"Nahi mera vo matlab nahi tha" Vo sirf itna hi keh saka.

"Yaar koi yahan reception par bethta nahi kya? Andar chal kar dekhen?" Maine chaaron taraf nigah ghumate hue kaha.

"Saamne dekho" Kamni ishara karte hue kaha.

Maine uski anguli ka pichha kiya toh vo reception ke pichhe lage hue ek board par thi. Vo shayad us academy ke principals ki list thi, jismein sabse aakhir naam Aadesh Mehra ka tha.


"Hmmmm" Maine board padhte hue kaha, "Student ab yahin ka principal ho gaya hai, interesting"

"Now all we need to do is find the principal's office" Kamini boli.

Tabhi Negi ka cell-phone bajne laga.

"Hello" Usne call receive ki.

"Yes Sir, Good Afternoon Sir"

"Nahi Sir, main is waqt Shimla mein hoon"

"Kuchh personnal kaam se aaya tha Sir"

"Haanji"

"Haanji"

"Theek hai Sir"

"Jaise aap theek samjhe Sir"

"Ok Sir"

"Jai Hind Sir"

Call disconnect karke usne cell apni jeb mein rakha aur hamari taraf palta.

"DCP sahab ka phone tha, mujhe jana padega"

"Sab theek?" Maine puchha.

"Haan vo headquarters bulaya hai kuchh kaam se, kuchh official kaam hai"

"Theek hai" Maine kaha, "Aap nikal jaaiye"

"Mujhe thoda waqt lag sakta hai"

"Dont worry about it. Ham yahan se nipatne ke baad aapko call kar lenge. Agar aapka kaam khatam ho gaya ho toh saath chal lenge vaapis nahi toh ham koi cab vagerah karke nikal jaayege"

"Sorry Sir, office ka kaam hai toh mana bhi nahi kar sakta"

"Arrey koi baat nahi, aap niklo"

"Main free hote hi aapko phone karta hoon"

Negi ke jaane ke baad main phir reception ki taraf ghooma. Hairat ki baat thi ke ab tak koi reception par nahi aaya tha. Kamini abhi bhi main gate ki taraf hi dekh rahi thi jahan se kuchh pal pehle Negi bahar gaya tha.

"Aise kya dekh rahi hai?" Maine puchha.

"Tumne ek baat notice ki" Vo kuchh shakki si aawaz mein boli.

"Kya?"

"Ye aadmi almost har jagah hamare saath hota hai"

"Kaun Negi?"

"Haan"

"Toh?"

"Toh ye ke is case ke baare mein jitna bhi ham jaante hain utna hi ye bhi janta hai, kuchh baaton ko chhod kar"

"Kehna kya chah rahi hai?"

"Ye kehna chah rahi hoon ke ye har jagah hamare saath chal deta hai, bina kuchh kahe sune. Khud hi aage aage rehta hai madad karne ko"

"Haan toh achhi baat hai na. Some local help is always good and if the local help is of a cop then what else can be better?"

"I agree, but still. There is a difference between being of help and being over-willing to help. Abhi bhi Shimla aane se pehle hamare plan banane ke 15 minute baad hi ye aa pahuncha aur isne puchha tak nahi ke ham Shimla kya karne ja rahe hain. Chup chap paaltu kutte ki tarah hamare saath ho liya"

"You think he is observing us? Shadowing us?" Mujhe samajh mein aaya ke vo kya kehna chah rahi thi.

"Its not impossible"

"Baat mein dam toh hai teri but why would he do that?"

"Maybe someone asked him to"

"Hmmmmm" Maine sochte hue kaha, "It is strange, i think we need to check the guest house as well"

"Guest house?"

"Haan. Jaise ke tune kaha ke ye hamare plan banane ke 15 minute baad hi aa pahuncha aur isne puchha tak nahi ke ham Shimla kyun ja rahe hain, as if he already knew"

"You think that guest house is bugged?"

"I dont know but it could be. Ek baar dekh lenge"

Ham abhi baat kar hi rahe the ke ek darwaza khula aur vahan se koi 50 saal ke kareeb umar ka ek aadmi bahar aaya.

"Can i help you?" Usne hamein vahan khade dekh puchha.

"Yes, please" Maine fauran muskurate hue jawab diya, "We have been standing here for a while and there is no one at the reception"

"Oh i am sorry about that. Actually aaj academy closed hai toh isliye koi hai hi nahi yahan"

"Oh" Maine mayusi se kaha. Academy band hai matlab Princial bhi nahi hoga yahan. Itni door aane bekaar saabit hua.

"Can i be of any help?" Us aadmi ne phir puchha.

"We were actually looking for one Mr. Aadesh Mehra" Maine kaha aur phir board ki taraf ishara kiya, "And from that board i understand he is someone of importance here"

"Yes he is indeed is, he is the principal here. How can i help you?" Usne phir puchha.

"We wanted to talk to him, Mr. Aadesh Mehra"

"Oh i am sorry" Vo fauran haste hue bola, "I should have introduced myself rather than just nodding my head. I am Aadesh Mehra, the princial here"

Kehte hue usne apna haath milane ke liye aage kiya.

 

[Vampire____lover]

Vo mujhe aur Kamini ko lekar apne office mein aaya.

"Main asal mein aapke ek do students ke baare mein kuchh information chahiye thi" Main uske office mein bethta hua bola.

"Information?"

"Yes, any information that you may have on your records"

"Are you a cop?" Usne sawaliya andaaz mein meri tarf dekhte hue puchha.

"No"

"Are these students you are enquiring about your relatives? Or related to you in any way?"

"No, no family connections"

"Then i am sorry Sir but i must disappoint you. Students information is confidential and i cant release any"

"Student I am enquiring about is Ravi Rana" Maine uski baat ko nazar-andaaz karte hue, "And i am requesting this information on behalf of his mother Mrs. Bela Rana. Agar aap chahen toh unse phone par verify karte hain"

Jaisa ki mujhe ummeed thi, Rana khandaan ka naam aaya toh uske haav=bhaav fauran badalte chale gaye.

"Mrs. Rana?"

"Yes"

"And you are enquiring about her son Ravi Rana, the gentleman who disappeared 20 years ago"

"Precisely"

"I am not sure ke hamare paas itne purane records abhi bhi available honge. Mujhe check karna hoga"

"Asal mein main records wali information ki baat nahi kar raha"

"Phir?"

"Main us informaiton ki baat kar raha hoon jo aap mujhe de sakte hain" Main table par apni kohniyan rakh kar aage ko jhukta hua bola, "I have been made to believe that you and Ravi were quite close"

"By whom?" Uske chehre ke bhaav ek baar phir badle. Saaf zaahir ho raha tha ke use meri baat pasand nahi aayi thi.

"By his own brother, Raj Rana"

"What do you mean by close?"

Ek pal ke liye toh mere dil mein aaya ke keh doon "lovers type close" par ye baat maine apne dil mein hi rehne di.

"Good friends close. You guys were planning to start a band together close"

"Oh yes" Chehre ke bhaav ek baar phir badle. Ab vo us chhote bachche ki tarah lag raha tha jiski chori almost pakdi gayi thi aur vo baal baal bach gaya "We did talk about that a few times"

"Ravi's disappearance must have been quite a shock to you"

"Not really" Usne kaha, "I mean ham log koi aise khaas close nahi tha. Vo guitar achha baja leta tha aur main drums toh ham dono ki pehchan bas yahin tak thi. Kabhi kabhi saath saath practice karte the aur tab hi ham aapas mein band shuru karne ki baat karte the"

"Kitne waqt se jaante the aap Ravi ko?"

"Takreeban ek saal se"

"Would you know of any reason, uske is tarah gayab hone ke pichhe?"

"As i said, main bas use is school ki deewaron ke pichhe hi janta tha"

Usne ye baat kahi hi thi ke uska cell phone baj utha.

"Haan hello" Usne call receive ki.

"Kab?" Vo ekdam shocked si aawaz mein bola.

"Oh god !"

"Main 10 minute mein pahunch raha hoon"

"Dont worry"

"Main bas abhi pahunch hi gaya"

Bahut hi excitement aur pareshaani ke bhaav chehre par liye usne phone kaata.

"I am sorry, i will have to run. Some emergency. Can we continue this another time?"

"I hope everything is ok?"

"Oh yeah yeah, nothing to worry about. I hope you dont mind but i really will have to go?"

"Sure no problem"

"Here is my card" Usne apni jeb se card nikal kar table par rakha, "Please do give me a call and we can continue this conversation"

"I will" Maine card uthaya, "Thank you"

Vo hamare saath hi academy ke saath saath bahar aaya aur hamse vida lekar apni car mein gadhe ke sar se seengh ki tarah gayab ho gaya.

"Do cheezen toh saaf hain" Kamini uske jaane ke baad boli.

"What is that?" Maine puchha.

"Ek toh ye ke ye gay hai" vo boli

"How do you know that?"

"Is poore waqt isne ek baar bhi meri taraf nahi dekha. Usually mard ke saamne agar ek ladka khada ho aur saath mein ek khoobsurat ladki ho toh vo ladke se mile na mile, ladki se zaroor milta hai"

"Wow" Maine haste hue kaha, "You do have a neck for praising yourself"

"Shut up" Vo mujhe kohni maarte hue boli, "Chalo maan ke main khoobsurat nahi aur usne meri taraf isliye nahi dekha ke main pasand nahi aayi par ek common courtsey hoti hai saamne khade insaan se baat karna. Is poore dauran isne meri taraf dekhna toh door ki baat hai, Hi Hello tak nahi ki. Poore waqt tumse hi baat kar raha tha aur tumhari hi taraf dekh raha tha. Mujhse haath tak nahi milaya. As if i wasnt even there"

"Baat toh sahi hai teri"

"Poore waqt uska dhyaan bas tum par hi focussed tha. I think he liked you" Usne aankh maarte hue kaha.

"Shut up" Is baar kohni maine maari, "Aur doosri baat"

"Kuchh aisa hai jo Ravi ke baare mein ye janta hai par hamein batana nahi chahta"

"And how do you know that?"

"Jis tarah se ye Ravi ke baare mein baat shuru karte hi bidak kar bhaga hai usse"

"Vo bidak kar nahi bhaga, phone aane par gaya hai"

"There was no emergency and there was no phone call" Vo muskurate hue boli.

"What do you mean?"

"Jab tum usse Ravi ke baare mein baat kar rahe the aur uska poora dhyaan uski taraf tha toh mera dhyaan uske haathon ki taraf chala gaya"

"Haathon ki taraf?"

"Yep. Uska ek haath table par tha aur doosra jeb mein"

"Toh?"

"Toh ye ke aisa Ravi ke baare mein baat shuru karne ke baad hua. Jab tumne Ravi ka topic chheda toh usne apna ek haath jeb mein dala, usi jeb mein jismein ke uska mobile rakha tha"

"Toh?"

"Toh i am guessing ke usne andaaze se apne cell phone menu mein jakar koi ek music play kiya jisse hamein laga ke uska cell baj raha hai. Uske baad usne call receive ki aur uthkar chalta bana but call asal mein aayi hi nahi thi koi"

"Andaaze se jeb mein cell phone par ring tone play karna?"

"Mushkil hai but if you have had a cell phone long enough, it can be done. I do it jab mujhe koi call fake karni ho ya kisi ko avoid karna ho"

"Wow"

"And that is not all. Usne kaha ke emergency hai aur jab tumne puchha ke anything serious, toh vo kehta hai ke nothing to worry about. Jhooth ki pehli nishani. Agar sach bol raha hota toh fauran hamein bata deta ke kya emergency aan padi hai ya ye kehta ke kuchh zaroori kaam hai. Par usne jawab vo diya jo aam taur par ek aam aadmi ki natural reaction hoti hai, ke nahi koi baat nahi, nothing to worry about"

"Wow" Maine hairat se uski taraf dekha, "You are awesome !!!!"

Ham dono abhi tak academy ke gate ke bahar hi khade hue the ke tabhi pichhe se kisi ki aawaz aayi.

"Hello, i didnt expect you to find here" Academy ka gate khol kar Sakshi Rana bahar aate hue boli.


And i certainly didnt expect to find you here" Maine muskurate hue usse haath milaya.

"Well it seems we both surprised each other"

"We sure did, and this is Kamini" Maine use Kamini se milvaya, "A friend of mine"

"Oh so you must be that beautiful girl living with him" Sakshi Kamini se haath milate hue boli.

"How did you know that?" Main puchhne hi wala tha ke mujhse pehle Kamini ne sawal daag diya.

"Its a very small town sweety, aur jis ghar mein aap log thehre hue hain vo meri Bua ka hai. Pata chal jata hai"

"Yeah she is kind of also helping me on the case" Maine muskurate hue kaha.

"Ek se bhale do, aap log yahan kya kar rahe hain vaise"

"Aadesh sahab se milne aaye the"

"Aadesh se, kis silsile mein?"

"Case ke silsile mein"

"Aadesh ka is mamle se kya lena dena?" Usne hairani se meri taraf dekha aur phir ishare se hamein apne saath chalne ko kaha.

"Mujhe pata chala ke Aadesh aur Ravi mein kaafi achhi dosti thi toh socha ke shayad kuchh information mil jaaye"

"Oh yes" Sakshi aur main aage aage chal rahe the aur Kamini ham dono ke pichhe aa rahi thi, "I remember now. They used to practice together"

"And i heard ke kaafi achhi dosti thi dono ke beech"

"Vo toh main nahi jaanti par haan dono aksar saath practice karte the. They had plans to start a band together"

"Yeah i heard that too toh yahi sochkar aaaya tha ke shayad Aadesh Sahab ke paas koi jaankari ho"

"Toh mili koi jaankari?"

"Baat ho hi nahi paayi dhang se. Abhi baat shuru hi hui thi ke unhein koi phone aa gaya aur unhein jaldi mein jana pada"

"Pity"

"Yeah i know. Phir kabhi phone karke aaoonga dobara"

"Koi zaroorat nahi" Sakshi ne kaha. Ham log chalte chalte ek kaale rang ki BMW tak aa pahunche.

"Ji?"

"Mera matlab aapko aane ki koi zaroorat nahi. Aapke paas jab bhi waqt ho bata dijiyega, main Aadesh ko aapke paas hi bhej doongi"

"Main samjha nahi"

"I am his Boss. Ye academy yun samajhiye ke meri hi hai" Usne haste hue kaha.


"Wow, thats news. Nobody ever told me that"

"Not many people know this actually. Ye academy aur yahan ke kayi aise schools and inistitutions ek club dwara chalaye jaate hain, rich man's club you can say. Main aur Dad us club ka hisssa hain aur ye academy main hi run karti hoon"

"Wow, beautful and intellectual, thats a rare combination"

"Flattery haan? Good. Vaise aap log ja kahan rahe hain?"

"Filhal toh Shimla hi vaapis jaane ka plan hai"

"Toh aaiye main chhod deti hoon. Aapki friend kahan hai?"

Sakshi boli toh maine palatke dekha. Kamini ka kahin ata pata nahi tha.

 

[Vampire____lover]

Abhi toh yahin thi" Maine ghoom kar chaaro taraf nazar daudayi par vo kahin dikhai nahi di, "Hamare pichhe hi toh aa rahi thi"

"She cant have lost her way" Sakshi ne bhi meri taraf aas paas nazar ghumana shuru kiya, "We just walked around the corner"

"Ek min" Mujhe andaza ho gaya ke kya hua hoga. Sakshi ko maine vahin rukne ka andaza kiya aur phir dobara chalta hua Academy ke gate ke paas pahuncha.

Vahin mushkil se 2 kadam aage ek bus stand tha. Kamini bus stand par bethi hui thi.

Main uske naZdeek pahuncha toh usne ek nazar mujhe dekha aur phir doosri taraf nazar ghuma li.

"Natak ho gaya ho toh ab chalein?" Maine kaha.

"Nahi tum us chhammak chhallo ke saath itna busy the toh maine socha ke kuchh privacy de doon. Tum chale jao uske saath, main bus se aa jaoongi" Vo munh banate hue boli.

"Drama chhodo aur chalo" Maine uska haath pakda aur lagbhag khinchte hue phir Sakshi ki car tak laya.

"Aap kahan reh gayi thi?" Sakshi use dekh kar muskurate hue boli.

"Madam pichhe ek shop mein chali gayi thi" Maine bahana mara.

Ham log Sakshi ki car mein hi Shimla se Chail tak aaye. Poore raaste main aur Sakshi idhar udhar ki baatein karte rahe par Kamini munh banaye bethi rahi.

"Why dont you come over for a cup of tea?" Ham Chail mein ghuse toh Kamini ne puchha.

"Nahi phir kabhi" Maine mana karte hue kaha. Kamini ko mera Sakshi ke saath baat karna pasand nahi aa raha tha aur main use aur zyada upset nahi karna chahta tha.

"Phir kabhi kyun, aaj hi chal lijiye" Sakshi zor dalkar hamein apne ghar le aayi.

Sakshi ya phir yun kahiye ke uske baap Pratap Rana ka ghar bhi lagbhag Mrs. Bela Rana ke jaisa hi tha. Pahadon ke beech ek purane zamane ki castle ki tarah bana hua behad khoobsurat ghar jiske har kone se paise ki khushbu aa rahi thi.

Pratap Rana bhi us waqt ghar par hi tha aur mujhe dekh kar kaafi khush hua. Us din subah sadak par pehli aur behad ajeeb mulaqat ke baad ham dono ki ye doosri mulaqat thi.

"Aaj aap mere mehmaan hai, aaj aap par goli nahi chalaoonga main" Ham log bethe toh usne mazak karte hue kaha.

"Vo ek galat fehmi thi Sir" Main jhenpta hua bola.

"Goli?" Sakshi ne hairani se ham dono ki taraf dekha. Jab Pratap Rana ne use us din ka kissa sunaya toh kamre mein har koi dil khol kar hasa aur main dil khol kar jhenpa.

"So you found out about Ravi then?" Chaai ke baad main aur Pratap drawing room mein bethe ek cigar ke kash laga rahe the toh usne puchha. Kamini ko Sakshi apne saath apne kamre mein le gayi thi isliye drawing room mein bas main aur vo akele hi bethe the.

"Not yet, trying my best" Maine cigar ka lamba sa kash lagaya. Vo ek mehengi cuban cigar thi aur main zindagi mein pehli baar cigar pi raha tha, "This tastes good"

"I am sure it does, cubans are the best" Pratap ne jawab diya, "And i didnt mean to say ke you found out Ravi ke saath kya hua. I meant ke you have found out he was gay"

"How did you know?" Main lagbhag kursi se gir hi pada.

"You went to meet Aadesh, iski sirf ek yahi vajah ho sakti thi"

"Ye bhi toh ho sakta hai ke main aise hi baat karne gaya tha"

"Par kya really aap aise hi baat karne gaye the?"

"Nahi" Main vaapis kursi se tek lagata hua bola, "How did you know that he way gay?"

"He was my nephew, my family" Usne jawab diya, "I saw that kid growing up. Pata chal jata hai. You know i wanted to marry Sakshi to him?"

"Really? Marry Sakshi to him?"

"Yes"

"Marry her to your own sister's son?"

"You sound surprised"

"Yes i am. Arent they cousins?"

"Yes they are, but cousins mein shaadi hamare desh mein koi nayi baat nahi"

"Yes i am sorry. I know ke aisa hona kaafi aam baat hai, dont know why i was surprised. Did Sakshi know?"

"Yes she did, actually everyone did. Meri behen bhi yahi chahti thi. And Sakshi was madly in love with Ravi"


"Did she know that Ravi was ....?" Maine puchha

"No she did not"

"What did you tell her?"

"I didnt tell her anything, Ravi did. He told he they are cousins, he has always considered her as a sister and is not comfortable getting married to her"

"I think i would have done the same thing"

"You mean if you were gay?"

"No i mean if someone asked me to get married to one of my cousins" Maine haste hue kaha, "Sakshi must have been heart broken"

"Yes she was indeed" Pratap ne us kamre ki taraf dekhte hue kaha jismein Sakshi aur Kamini the, "Bachpan se hamesha yahi sunti aayi thi ke uski shaadi Ravi se honi hai. Vo toh intezaar kar rahi thi ke kab vo yahan se shift hokar apni bua ke ghar jaaye. Aur phir jab Ravi ne mana kar diya toh dil toot gaya bechari ka. Kaafi udaas rahi kaafi din tak"

"Do you think that is why her marriage did not work?"

"It is possible, i cant say for sure. She never talked to me much on this topic"

"How did she take it after Ravi disappeared?"

"She took it really bad. Asal mein us incident ke baad hi iski shaadi hui thi. Are you married?" Achanak baat ka rukh meri taraf mud gaya

"I was"

"Divorce?"

"No she died"

"Oh I am sorry, any kids?"

"Yeah, a son"

"Death in child delivery?"

"Yes" Maine bhi jhooth bol diya.

"You see that tree out there?" Pratap ne bahar ek neem ke ped ki taraf ishara kiya. Kaafi bada ped tha.

"Yeah, its quite large. Must be very old"

"It is. 20 saal purana ped hai" Usne meri taraf dekh kar kaha.

"20 saal"

"Yes. Ravi ke gayab hone ke baad Shakshi ne uski yaad mein lagaya tha. Kahin mannat maan kar aayi thi uski vaapsi ki, ye ped laga kar roz iske aage ek diya jalati thi. Pata nahi kisne keh diya ke ek ped lagane se insaan laut aayega aur ye ek padhi likhi ladki maan bhi gayi. Aakar ye ped lagaya aur Ravi ka intezaar karne beth gayi. Ravi toh nahi lauta par haan ye ped khasa bada ho gaya"

"Desperation does get us to do weird things" Main ped ki taraf dekhta hua bola.

"Indeed" Pratap ne sirf itna hi kaha.