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Chapter 11 - Sunanda
Pahadon mein basi duniya bhi badi ajeeb hoti hai, aur usse ajeeb hote hain vahan ke raaste. Ek gaon ek pahad par basa hota hai aur doosra ek doosre saamne wale pahad par. Khamoshi itni hoti hai ke doosre pahad par koi zara chilla ke baat kare toh aapko bade aaram se apne wale pahad par sunai de jaaye.
Dekhne mein itna nazdeek ke aisa lage ke bas kadam uthane ki der hai aur pahunch gaye doosre gaon par haqeeat mein aisa hota nahi. Ek gaon se doosre gaon jana ho ya yun kahiye se ek pahad se doosre pahad jaana ho toh pehle toh aap apne wale pahad ke gol gol chakkar kaat kar neeche utariya aur phir doosre pahad ke gol gol chakkar kaat-te hue uper chadhiye. Jo fasta dekhne mein bas minute bhar ka lag raha tha use paar karne mein ghanto lag jaate hain.
Aise hi jaane kitne pahadon ke gol gol chakkar kaat-te main aur Kamini Inspector Negi urf Falana Falana ke saath police ki gaadi mein bethe us gaon mein pahunche jahan Sunanda raha karti thi.
"Wow, jagah toh bahut khoobsurat hai"
"Barsaat mein yahan ki baat hi alag hoti hai Ma'm. Har pahad jaise apne aap mein khil kar rangeen ho jata hai hai" Negi ne gaadi chalate hue muskura kar jawab diya.
"Yeah i can see that. You people are blessed that you get to live here"
"Aisa kuchh nahi hai ma'm. Har jagah ke apne pros and cons hote hain. Yahan rehne ki bhi kayi aisi baatein hain jo pareshan karti hai"
"Yeah and i am sure unmein awwal number par toh ye gol gol raaste hi honge" Is baar jawab maine diya.
"Sahi keh rahe hai sir" Negi darwaza khol kar gaadi se bahar nikalte hue bola, "Aap dono yahin rukiye, main zara gaon walon se puchhke aata hoon ke uska ghar kis taraf tha"
Ham log gaon ke bahar khade hue the. Shimla ke baad ham kuchh der tak toh main highway par hi chalte rahe aur phir pakki sadak chhodkar ek kachche raaste se hote is gaon tak pahnche the. Negi ne pehle sahi kaha tha, gaon kya bas 10-15 ghar hi the. Ek pahad ke uper pedon ke beech bane chhote chhote ghar aur unke saamne hari chadar ki tarah bichhe hue seedhi-daar ghar.
"Indeed its a beautiful place" Maine khidki se bahar dekhte hue kaha.
"Yahi sab khoosurat lagta hai tumhein, hai na?" Kamini ne thoda chidi hui aawaz mein kaha.
"Ab tujhe kya hua, abhi toh khud hi tu is jagah ki tareef kar rahi thi"
"Saamne bethi main bhi hoon tumhare. Kabhi do bol tareef ke mere liye hi bol diya karo" Kehkar vo doosri taraf dekhne lagi.
Uska ye achanak reaction mujhe kuchh samajh nahi aaya.
"Kamini yaar ham ye baat kitni baar kar chuke hain aur tu ...." Maine kehna shuru hi kiya tha ke gaadi ke window par knock hua. Maine palat kar dekha toh bahar khada Negi hamein gaadi se bahar aane ka ishara kar raha tha.
"Iske aage gaadi nahi ja sakegi Sir, paidal hi jana padega. Ghar vo vahan saamne hai" Usne thodi door bane ek chhot se ghar ki taraf ishara kiya.
Ham gaadi se nikle aur phir ek chhoti si pagdandi se pahad ke neeche ki taraf utarte hue us ghar tak pahunche. Ghar ke bahar ek pahadi kutta betha hua tha jo hamein dekh kar fauran gurrane laga.
"Koi hai?" Negi ne aawaz di.
"Haan ek minute" Ghar ke andar se aawaz aayi aur phir takreeban ek minute baad darwaza khol kar ek 50 saal ke aas paas ki aurat bahar aayi.
"Kaun chahiye" Usne bahar aate hue kaha aur phir apne saamne police uniform mein khade Negi ko dekh kar thithak gayi.
"Namaste Maan ji" Uske jhijhak ko dekh kar maine fauran muskurate hue kaha.
"Kisse kaam hai?"
"Aap hi se" Jawab Negi ne diya.
"Kis baare mein?"
"Aapki beti ke baare mein"
"Sunanda ke baare mein?"
"Haan"
"Kya?"
"Kuchh sawal puchhne hain"
"Sawal toh mujhe puchhna chahiye, kahan hai 20 saal se meri beti"
"Aapke isi sawal ka jawab main dene ki koshish kar raha hoon Maan ji" Ab tak Negi hi bol raha tha, pakke policiya andaaz mein par is sawal
ka jawab maine diya.
Kaun hai aap?" Boddhi aurat ne shakki nazar se meri taraf dekhte hue puchha.
"Ji main is case mein chhan been kar raha hoon isliye aapse baat karna chah raha tha"
"Chhan been kar rahe hain? 20 saal baad?" Vo thoda mazak sa udane wale andaaz mein boli.
"Ji haan"
"Police mein hain aap?" Usne ek baar phir Negi ki taraf dekh kar mujhse puchha.
"Ji nahi" Ek baar toh maine socha ke keh doon ke policewala hoon par phir Negi ki taraf uske ravaiyye ko dekh kar mana kar diya.
Aur vaise bhi policwalo par hamare desh mein logon ko itna bharosa hota hai ke filhal apne aapko policewala batana apne hi pairon par kulhadi maarne jaisa hota.
"Is case ko investigate karne ki zimmedari mujhe di gayi hai" Maine golmol sa jawab diya.
"Chaliye sahi hai, varna in nikamme policewalo ko toh vaise hi kuchh nahi aata sivaay ghoos khaane ke"
"Baat kar sakta hoon aapse thodi der?" Negi uski baat sunkar kuchh kehne hi laga tha ke maine usse pehle sawal daag diya.
"Mujhe jo pata tha maine tab hi police walo ko bata diya tha"
"Jab Sunanda gayab hui thi"
"Haan aur kitne chakkar kaate the maine police station ke par kahin se kuchh haasil nahi hua"
"Isi liye mujhe is case ki zimmedari saunpi gayi hai" Maine aashwasan sa dete hue kaha.
"20 saal baad kya zimmedari nibhaoge sahab, ab tak toh uski haddiyan bhi gal gayi hongi"
"Aap itne bharose se kaise keh sakti hai ke vo mar chuki hai?"
"Agar hoti zinda toh bataiye aap, kya apni boodhi maan ka haal chaal puchhne nahi aati?"
Uske is sawal ka mere paas koi jawab nahi aata.
"20 saal mein kya ek baar bhi use apni maan ka khyaal nahi aaya hoga" Usne baat jaari rakhi, "Aur agar maan bhi loon ke kahin zinda hai vo toh zaroor kisi aise narak mein hai jahan se vo majboori se bhi aur marzi se bhi mere paas aa hi nahi sakti"
Main shayad janta tha ke vo kis tarah ke narak ki baat kar rahi hai.
"Agar main ye maan bhi loon ke aapki beti ab is duniya mein nahi rahi toh kya aap jaanna nahi chahengi ke kya hua tha uske saath?"
"Usse kya meri beti vaapis aa sakegi?"
"Shayad nahi par kya aap apni saari zindagi ek bojh apni chhati par lekar jeena chahti hain? Ye nahi jaanna chahengi ke us din kya hua tha ke aapki beti ghar se nikli toh par vaapis nahi aa saki?"
Meri baat sunkar vo ek pal ke liye khamosh ho gayi.
"Jo bhi vo majboori thi ya vo jo koi bhi tha jisne aapki beti aapse chheen li, kya aap use saza milte nahi dekhna chahengi?"
"20 saal se jo koi nahi dhoondh paya vo ab aap talashne nikle hain?"
"Aisa hi kaam hai mera"
"Aur aapko lagta hai ke aapko kamyabi milegi?"
"Bina koshish kiye ye koi kaise jaan sakta hai ke koshish kaamyab hogi na na-kaamyab?"
Meri baat asar kar gayi. Uska lehza thoda naram ho gaya.
"Aaiye andar aaiye" Usne meri aur Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue ishara kiya. Ham teeno uske ghar ke andar ki taraf chale.
"Tum nahi" Usne Negi ki aur dekh kar ishara kiya, "Main poliewalo ko apne ghar mein nahi ghusne deti. Apavitra ho jata hai ghar"
Uska ye kehna hi tha ke Kamini ki hasi chhoot padi aur agle hi pal vo Negi ki taraf dekhti hui sharminda ho gayi.
"Sorry"
"Aap car mein wait kariye, main aata hoon"
Negi ko ye baat pasand toh bilkul nahi aayi thi par vo majbooran vaapis gaadi ki taraf chala gaya aur ham ghar ke andar daakhil hue.
"Kya naam hai tumhara?" Hamne ghar ke andar kadam rakha toh us aurat ne Kamini se puchha.
"Ji Kamini"
"Meri beti bhi tumhare jaisi hi thi jab aakhri baar maine use dekha tha. Shaadi shuda ho dono?"
"Ji nahi" Maine fauran kaha, "Ye meri assistant hain"
Kamini ke chehre par fauran na-pasandgi ke aasar aaye. Use shayad achha lagta agar main ham dono ko shaadi shuda hi batata.
"Aaiye bethiye" Us aurat ne hamein kursiyon ki taraf ishara karte hue kaha.
Vo ek vaisa hi ghar tha jaisa ke hamare desh mein har gareeb ka hota hai. Ek bada sa kamra jisse lagta hua kitchen tha, ek darwaza doosre kamre mein khul raha tha aur ek taraf kuchh kursiyan aur ek table rakhi hui thi.
"Chaai lenge aap log?"
"Ji nahi" Maine kaha.
"Ji zaroor, main madad karti hoon aapki" Kamini ne fauran kaha aur us aurat ke saath kitchen ki taraf chal padi.
Pahadon mein basi duniya bhi badi ajeeb hoti hai, aur usse ajeeb hote hain vahan ke raaste. Ek gaon ek pahad par basa hota hai aur doosra ek doosre saamne wale pahad par. Khamoshi itni hoti hai ke doosre pahad par koi zara chilla ke baat kare toh aapko bade aaram se apne wale pahad par sunai de jaaye.
Dekhne mein itna nazdeek ke aisa lage ke bas kadam uthane ki der hai aur pahunch gaye doosre gaon par haqeeat mein aisa hota nahi. Ek gaon se doosre gaon jana ho ya yun kahiye se ek pahad se doosre pahad jaana ho toh pehle toh aap apne wale pahad ke gol gol chakkar kaat kar neeche utariya aur phir doosre pahad ke gol gol chakkar kaat-te hue uper chadhiye. Jo fasta dekhne mein bas minute bhar ka lag raha tha use paar karne mein ghanto lag jaate hain.
Aise hi jaane kitne pahadon ke gol gol chakkar kaat-te main aur Kamini Inspector Negi urf Falana Falana ke saath police ki gaadi mein bethe us gaon mein pahunche jahan Sunanda raha karti thi.
"Wow, jagah toh bahut khoobsurat hai"
"Barsaat mein yahan ki baat hi alag hoti hai Ma'm. Har pahad jaise apne aap mein khil kar rangeen ho jata hai hai" Negi ne gaadi chalate hue muskura kar jawab diya.
"Yeah i can see that. You people are blessed that you get to live here"
"Aisa kuchh nahi hai ma'm. Har jagah ke apne pros and cons hote hain. Yahan rehne ki bhi kayi aisi baatein hain jo pareshan karti hai"
"Yeah and i am sure unmein awwal number par toh ye gol gol raaste hi honge" Is baar jawab maine diya.
"Sahi keh rahe hai sir" Negi darwaza khol kar gaadi se bahar nikalte hue bola, "Aap dono yahin rukiye, main zara gaon walon se puchhke aata hoon ke uska ghar kis taraf tha"
Ham log gaon ke bahar khade hue the. Shimla ke baad ham kuchh der tak toh main highway par hi chalte rahe aur phir pakki sadak chhodkar ek kachche raaste se hote is gaon tak pahnche the. Negi ne pehle sahi kaha tha, gaon kya bas 10-15 ghar hi the. Ek pahad ke uper pedon ke beech bane chhote chhote ghar aur unke saamne hari chadar ki tarah bichhe hue seedhi-daar ghar.
"Indeed its a beautiful place" Maine khidki se bahar dekhte hue kaha.
"Yahi sab khoosurat lagta hai tumhein, hai na?" Kamini ne thoda chidi hui aawaz mein kaha.
"Ab tujhe kya hua, abhi toh khud hi tu is jagah ki tareef kar rahi thi"
"Saamne bethi main bhi hoon tumhare. Kabhi do bol tareef ke mere liye hi bol diya karo" Kehkar vo doosri taraf dekhne lagi.
Uska ye achanak reaction mujhe kuchh samajh nahi aaya.
"Kamini yaar ham ye baat kitni baar kar chuke hain aur tu ...." Maine kehna shuru hi kiya tha ke gaadi ke window par knock hua. Maine palat kar dekha toh bahar khada Negi hamein gaadi se bahar aane ka ishara kar raha tha.
"Iske aage gaadi nahi ja sakegi Sir, paidal hi jana padega. Ghar vo vahan saamne hai" Usne thodi door bane ek chhot se ghar ki taraf ishara kiya.
Ham gaadi se nikle aur phir ek chhoti si pagdandi se pahad ke neeche ki taraf utarte hue us ghar tak pahunche. Ghar ke bahar ek pahadi kutta betha hua tha jo hamein dekh kar fauran gurrane laga.
"Koi hai?" Negi ne aawaz di.
"Haan ek minute" Ghar ke andar se aawaz aayi aur phir takreeban ek minute baad darwaza khol kar ek 50 saal ke aas paas ki aurat bahar aayi.
"Kaun chahiye" Usne bahar aate hue kaha aur phir apne saamne police uniform mein khade Negi ko dekh kar thithak gayi.
"Namaste Maan ji" Uske jhijhak ko dekh kar maine fauran muskurate hue kaha.
"Kisse kaam hai?"
"Aap hi se" Jawab Negi ne diya.
"Kis baare mein?"
"Aapki beti ke baare mein"
"Sunanda ke baare mein?"
"Haan"
"Kya?"
"Kuchh sawal puchhne hain"
"Sawal toh mujhe puchhna chahiye, kahan hai 20 saal se meri beti"
"Aapke isi sawal ka jawab main dene ki koshish kar raha hoon Maan ji" Ab tak Negi hi bol raha tha, pakke policiya andaaz mein par is sawal
ka jawab maine diya.
Kaun hai aap?" Boddhi aurat ne shakki nazar se meri taraf dekhte hue puchha.
"Ji main is case mein chhan been kar raha hoon isliye aapse baat karna chah raha tha"
"Chhan been kar rahe hain? 20 saal baad?" Vo thoda mazak sa udane wale andaaz mein boli.
"Ji haan"
"Police mein hain aap?" Usne ek baar phir Negi ki taraf dekh kar mujhse puchha.
"Ji nahi" Ek baar toh maine socha ke keh doon ke policewala hoon par phir Negi ki taraf uske ravaiyye ko dekh kar mana kar diya.
Aur vaise bhi policwalo par hamare desh mein logon ko itna bharosa hota hai ke filhal apne aapko policewala batana apne hi pairon par kulhadi maarne jaisa hota.
"Is case ko investigate karne ki zimmedari mujhe di gayi hai" Maine golmol sa jawab diya.
"Chaliye sahi hai, varna in nikamme policewalo ko toh vaise hi kuchh nahi aata sivaay ghoos khaane ke"
"Baat kar sakta hoon aapse thodi der?" Negi uski baat sunkar kuchh kehne hi laga tha ke maine usse pehle sawal daag diya.
"Mujhe jo pata tha maine tab hi police walo ko bata diya tha"
"Jab Sunanda gayab hui thi"
"Haan aur kitne chakkar kaate the maine police station ke par kahin se kuchh haasil nahi hua"
"Isi liye mujhe is case ki zimmedari saunpi gayi hai" Maine aashwasan sa dete hue kaha.
"20 saal baad kya zimmedari nibhaoge sahab, ab tak toh uski haddiyan bhi gal gayi hongi"
"Aap itne bharose se kaise keh sakti hai ke vo mar chuki hai?"
"Agar hoti zinda toh bataiye aap, kya apni boodhi maan ka haal chaal puchhne nahi aati?"
Uske is sawal ka mere paas koi jawab nahi aata.
"20 saal mein kya ek baar bhi use apni maan ka khyaal nahi aaya hoga" Usne baat jaari rakhi, "Aur agar maan bhi loon ke kahin zinda hai vo toh zaroor kisi aise narak mein hai jahan se vo majboori se bhi aur marzi se bhi mere paas aa hi nahi sakti"
Main shayad janta tha ke vo kis tarah ke narak ki baat kar rahi hai.
"Agar main ye maan bhi loon ke aapki beti ab is duniya mein nahi rahi toh kya aap jaanna nahi chahengi ke kya hua tha uske saath?"
"Usse kya meri beti vaapis aa sakegi?"
"Shayad nahi par kya aap apni saari zindagi ek bojh apni chhati par lekar jeena chahti hain? Ye nahi jaanna chahengi ke us din kya hua tha ke aapki beti ghar se nikli toh par vaapis nahi aa saki?"
Meri baat sunkar vo ek pal ke liye khamosh ho gayi.
"Jo bhi vo majboori thi ya vo jo koi bhi tha jisne aapki beti aapse chheen li, kya aap use saza milte nahi dekhna chahengi?"
"20 saal se jo koi nahi dhoondh paya vo ab aap talashne nikle hain?"
"Aisa hi kaam hai mera"
"Aur aapko lagta hai ke aapko kamyabi milegi?"
"Bina koshish kiye ye koi kaise jaan sakta hai ke koshish kaamyab hogi na na-kaamyab?"
Meri baat asar kar gayi. Uska lehza thoda naram ho gaya.
"Aaiye andar aaiye" Usne meri aur Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue ishara kiya. Ham teeno uske ghar ke andar ki taraf chale.
"Tum nahi" Usne Negi ki aur dekh kar ishara kiya, "Main poliewalo ko apne ghar mein nahi ghusne deti. Apavitra ho jata hai ghar"
Uska ye kehna hi tha ke Kamini ki hasi chhoot padi aur agle hi pal vo Negi ki taraf dekhti hui sharminda ho gayi.
"Sorry"
"Aap car mein wait kariye, main aata hoon"
Negi ko ye baat pasand toh bilkul nahi aayi thi par vo majbooran vaapis gaadi ki taraf chala gaya aur ham ghar ke andar daakhil hue.
"Kya naam hai tumhara?" Hamne ghar ke andar kadam rakha toh us aurat ne Kamini se puchha.
"Ji Kamini"
"Meri beti bhi tumhare jaisi hi thi jab aakhri baar maine use dekha tha. Shaadi shuda ho dono?"
"Ji nahi" Maine fauran kaha, "Ye meri assistant hain"
Kamini ke chehre par fauran na-pasandgi ke aasar aaye. Use shayad achha lagta agar main ham dono ko shaadi shuda hi batata.
"Aaiye bethiye" Us aurat ne hamein kursiyon ki taraf ishara karte hue kaha.
Vo ek vaisa hi ghar tha jaisa ke hamare desh mein har gareeb ka hota hai. Ek bada sa kamra jisse lagta hua kitchen tha, ek darwaza doosre kamre mein khul raha tha aur ek taraf kuchh kursiyan aur ek table rakhi hui thi.
"Chaai lenge aap log?"
"Ji nahi" Maine kaha.
"Ji zaroor, main madad karti hoon aapki" Kamini ne fauran kaha aur us aurat ke saath kitchen ki taraf chal padi.