PEHALI BAAR (STORY)

“Smuggy!! Smuggy Where are you?  smuggy!!“.

Haaye!! Itni nzakat se usne awaz lgaai ki clean bold ho gya.

Waakai clean bold ho gya.Mai toh hairan hota hu  ki 50000 ki audience ke beech players concentrate kaise krte hain. Yahan mujhse ek awaz nahi sambhali jati. Waise sambhalna kise hai? Mera bas chale toh catch out, run out, LBW sab ek saath hi ho jaun.

Ary Naa naa!! Cricket ka koi craze nahi hai.

Ary haan haan!! Indian toh hun. Par sach me cricket ka koi craze nahi hai. Wo toh bhala ho sharma uncle ka,wahi Sharma uncle jo samne rehte hain.Yellow building,top floor.

 Kyaa? Maine apko unke bare me kabhi btaya hi nahi??

 Oh haan haan, aaj tak btane layak koi kaam hi kahan kiya tha unhone. Par iss baar kiya hai na. Apni bhateeji, bole toh niece, Pratima ko jo lekar aaye hain. Isiliye Now onwards, sharma uncle , my Guardian Angel.

Waise bittu bata raha tha ki 2 mahino ka koi crash course hai uska. PMT ya AIEEE ya kuchh aur, bittu ko jyada nahi pta. Arrey mera nanha jasoos abhi 3^rd class me hi hai. Nursery KG ka swal thodi naa hai jo puri info hack kr lega. Pmt EEE ke nightmare toh abhi dur ki kaudi hain . Barhaal mudde pr aate hain.

PRATIMA!! Naam lete hi aankhein khud-b-khud band ho jati hain aur chehare pe ek saatwik si muskaan tairne lagati hai.Arey waisi hi jaise Ramanand Sagar ke serial me vishnu bhagwan smile karte hain.

Maine bhi note nahi kiya tha. Mai toh feeling lene mein busy tha naa yar. Bittu batata hai. Tabhi toh mai use jasoos kahta hun.

Mai apko ye nahi btaunga ki Pratima dikhti kaisi hai. Baat aisi hai ki mujhe aur compitition nahi chahiye. Par itna jarur kahunga ki jabse usko dekha hai, mujhe old songs samajh aane lage hain. Saahir ludhianavi, mazrooh sultanpuri, itne complicated naam bhi yaad ho gye hain. Chhoo lene do nazuk hontho ko, kuchh aur nahi hain jaam hain ye….nice song.

Pratima se baat nahi kar paya hun abhi tak. 3 hafte.Koi mauka nahi. koi tareeka nahi, bahana nahi. Aisa kyun hota hai? Do logon ke aapas ki baat bas unhi do logon ke bich kyun nahi ho pati?

“Smuggy!! Smuggy Where are you?  smuggy!!“.

Well !! Smuggy!! Full name Smuggler!!

Uske kutte ka naam hai. You know doggy. Boww!! Boww!!. White Pomeranian. To make it more clear, Tuffy, hum aapke hain kaun ka actor.Haan wahi.Bahut pyara hoga usko. Tabhi toh sath laai thi. Par mujhe kutte nahi pasand. Bachapann mein 3 haadse jhel chuka hun.  Kutton ka naam aate hi bas ek hi khayal zehan me ubharta hai- “I hate dogs”.

2^nd year me hu. BBA 4^th semester. 8 hafto ki Industrial training kar raha hun ajkal. Company ka naam btakar mai unki advertisement nahi karne wala. Naaaa!! Kadaapi nahi!!

Mera Naam Arjun hai. Par aaj tak Arjun wala koi kaam kiya nahi. Dost pyar se maddy kehte hain aur padosi gusse se. Halanki ye naam mujh par jyada sateek hai.

“Smuggy!! Smuggy!!”

Maine charo taraf nazar ghumaai. No smuggy.

 Fir maine uper dekha. Meri maasoom si Pratima.

Maine dobara charo ore dekha. No smuggy.

Dobara maine uper dekha.

Aaiin!! Ab ye kahan chali gyi??

Pratima apni building ke gate se baahar aati dikhaai di. Humare samne se bhi guzri. Magar puchha kuchh nahi. Haan ek swal Aradhana aunty se jarur kiya. Par jawab mein afsos hi haath laga. Mai use kis qadar ghur raha tha iss baat ki bhanak lagne me mujhe kafi der ho gai.

Ball mere hath me thi. Dheeraj,viraj,ansh sab mujhe dekh rahe the.

Isse pehle ki wo mujhse kuchh puchhte maine sawaal daag dia.

“kisi ne dekha smuggy ko?? ” swal behadd keemti tha mere liye.Magar lehza ekdum beparwaah.

“Kaash dekha hota bhaiya.Ghar tak drop karta” viraj ne thandi aanhein bharte hue kaha.

Maine use ghoora. Usne aankh maari.

Maine socha yahi mauka hai hero banne ka.

Barbas hi mere muh se nikla “chalein dhundne ??”

Wo 3no toh jaise issi taak me the. Bas fir kya tha. The great Indian players ne bat ball ko pavilion bhejha aur chal pade padosi dharam nibhaane. Pehle humne apni building chhaan maari. Fir sath wali galiyaan aur market wale raste. Puchha kisi se kuchh nahi. Siwaye seediyon ke sath wale panwadi ke. Halanki use bhi kuchh nahi pata tha. Tab tak Pratima aati dikhaai di. Meri dhadkanein fir tez ho gai. Uska chehra murjhaya hua tha. Usne hume aate dekh lia tha . Shayad isiliye jab wo humaare samne se guzari uski nazrein jhuki hui thi. Yaa yun kaho yahan wahan har disha me dekh rahi thi lekin humse hi bach rahi thi.

“mila smuggy??” mera swal. Jaise arjun ki kamaan se teer chhoota ho. Pehla teer. Bakiyon ko toh chhodiye ekbargi toh khud mujhe yakeen nahi aya apne yudh-koshal par.

Wo ruki. Nazar utha kar upar dekha. Par range me Viraj aaya. Bijali se bhi tezz raftar se Viraj ke right hand point finger ne meri taraf ishara kar diya.

Usne meri taraf dekha. Itne kareeb se pehli baar.

Pehli baar hamaari aankhein takraain. Mere liye toh jaise waqt wahin tham gaya.

Usne naa me sir hilaaya. “ Pata nahi kahan chala gaya.”

Maine uski nazuk si awaz suni. Itne kareeb se pehali baar.

“Aap bhi usi ko dhundh rahe ho??” usne masoomiyat se puchha.

Isse pehale ki main kuchh keh pata. Viraj bol pada “ ji nahi hum ball dhundh rahe hain.”

Satyaanaash tera!! Mere mann me bas ek yahi khayal aya.

“Par ab lagta hai ki ball se bhi jyada jaruri cheezein hain dhundhne ke liye” iss baar dheeraj tha.

Bas issi ki kami thi.

 Ansh ne meri taraf dekha. Maano keh raha ho “Mujhe kuchh nahii kehna.”

“Aap ghar jao hum dhundte hain” maine saari baatein sametate hue kaha.

“Arey nahi koi baat nahi. Aap kyu takleef uthaate ho. Chacha ji bas aane wale hain.” Usne itni jaldi kaha mano hum bina uski baat puri sune “smuggler khojo mission” par nikalne wale ho.

“ Uncle ko kyu takleeef deni. Chlo saath milkar dhundhte hain. Ball bhi toh dhundhni hai” ansh ne aakhiri sentence ko daanto se peeste hue kaha.

Dheeraj,viraj aur ansh. Gaandhi ji ke inn 3 bandaro me se aaj ansh hi tha jisne “bura mat bolo” ko represent kiya. Maine ye baat tahedil se mehsus ki.

Pratima ne hum charo ki taraf dekha. Hume scan kia. Phir dheere se sir hila kar boli “theek hai”.

Maine Viraj aur Dheeraj ko park ka chakkar laga kar aane ko kaha.

Maine ye baat unhe pratima ke samne iss tarah se kahi ki wo 2no chahkar bhi mana nahi kar paye. Bujhe mann se 2no park ki taraf chal pade, smuggy ko dhundne.

 Ansh mere sath hi tha. “Bura mat bolo”. Mujhe yakeen tha wo mere liye koi museebat khadi nahi karega. Mera bas chalta toh mai use bhi bhej deta par sawaal comfort level ka bhi tha jara. Pratima ko shayad ye thik nahi lagta.

“yahin kahin hoga. You don’t worry.” Maine use dilasa dete hue kaha.

Wo ek feeki si muskan muskurai. Par ek lafz bhi nahi kaha.

Maine ansh ki taraf dekha. “Bada mushkil hai isko ptaana” hum 2no ne aankhon-aankhon me yahi kaha.

Kafi der tak idhar udhar dhundhne ke baad maine kaha “ek baar chachi ji ko call krake puchh lo kahin smuggler pahunch toh nahi gya”.

“Ohh shit!! Mai cellphone nahi laai. Ab wo mujhe dhundh rahe honge” usne apna sir pakad lia.

Uff yaar!! Uski har ada mere hosho-hawaas ko jakajhor rahi thi. Preshan hote hue bhi koi itna haseen lag sakta hai mujhe andaza nahi tha.

“Hum jyada durr nahi aayein hain.chinta ki koi baat nahi hai.Aap mere num se call kar lo”.kehte kehte Maine apna cellphone nikaal kr uske aage kr dia.

Usne kuchh socha aur number dial kr dia. Chachi ka shayad.

Ye iklauta mauka tha jab maine uski baatein nahi suni. Kyunki mai mann hi mann bhagwan ka laakh laakh shukar kr rha tha ki aaj mere phone me balance tha. Varna phone me balance toh mere liye Eid ka chaand hi hota hai.

Usne call cut ki aur phone mujhe pakdaya. Shayad usne thanks kaha. Kyunki yahi waazib tha. Par Maine ye bhi nahi suna. Iss baar phone mujhe pakadaate waqt uske hath ne mera hath jo chhoo lia tha. Halka sa. Itna halka ki shayad use pata bhi naa chala ho. Par mujhe pata chala tha. Maine rooh tak kampkapi mehsus ki. Pehli baar. Iss ehsaas me mai khud ko bhi bhul gya tha. 

Pehali baar mujhe pata chala ki doob jana kya hota hai,kho jana kya hota hai.

Kho jane se yaad aya ‘Ye smuggler kahan chala gaya yaar!’.

Viraj ki call. “Alfa to delta. Alfa to delta . Kutta mila? Over!”

“Nahi”. Mera napa-tula jawab.

“ Alfa to delta. Alfa to delta.kutte ke maalik se baat karwaao. kutte ki details chahiye. Hume uski shaqal yaad nahi hai.Over!!” Viraj aur Dheeraj mujhe chidaana chahte the.

“Uska naam smuggler hai.Pyar se smuggy kehte hain.kripya zor zor se chillayein. Wo khud aapko pehchan lega. Dhanyawad!! over!!” iss over ke sath maine call bhi cut kar di.

Pratima ne meri taraf dekha. Chehare par sawaliya nishaan tha, question mark. Maine dono kandhe uchaka diye aur ek smile use di. Jawab me uski wahi feeki muskaan, fir se.

Smuggy!! Smuggy!!

Ansh aur Pratima awaz laga rahe the. I hate dogs. Magar Smuggy special banta ja raha tha. Kareeb 300 metre ke radius me hum lagbhag har jagah dekh chuke the. 1 hour ho chala tha. Smuggy ka koi ata pta nahi tha.Naa hi Viraj aur Dheeraj ka . Dono nikamme kahin udanchhoo ho gye the. Chalo jaan toh chhooti.Shaam dhalne lagi thi.Lekin Pratima aur meri koi quality chat nahi hui thi. Ab hero banna hai toh heroine se baat toh karni hi padegi naa.

“Smuggler naam kisne rakha?” maine yunhi puchh lia.

Wo hans padi. Iss baar sachmuch hans padi.

Uske gaal halke se laal ho gye. Sharmate hue boli “Jab wo chhota sa tha (hathon se shape banakar) ,bahut chhota , tab wo bahut pyara tha. Ab bhi pyara hai lekin tab bahut-bahut pyara tha. Usne mera dil chura liya tha . Toh maine uska naam Smuggler rakh diya.” Dil churane wali baat bolte bolte wo hans padi.

Full loaded answer. Uske muh se nikla. Pehali baar.

Abhi aur bhi tha.

“ Pehale uska naam Smuggler rakha tha. Fir smuggly rakha. Par bahut jaldi badal kar Smuggy bhi kar dia. Puchho kyu?” Btate btate uski aankhein chamak rahi thi.

Ansh ne mujhe kohni maarte hue kaha “Pucho kyu”

Kyu?? Maine pucha.

“Kyunki isme ugly lgta hai na. Par mera smuggy toh bahut cute haii.” Wo usi chamak ke sath muskurate hue boli. Use nahi pata tha ki aisa kehte hue wo khud kitni cute lag rahi thi.

Par jitni tezi se wo khush hui thi, utni hi tezi se murjha bhi gai.

Maine uski maayusi ko bhaanpte hue kaha “Tumhe pata hai tumhara Smuggy mujh par bahut bhaunkta hai.” Aap se tum. Well done hero. Well done.

“Taank-jhaank karne walo par bhaunkna banta hai”

Kaato toh khoon nahi. Kya ise pta hai??

Ansh apni hansi rokne ki koshish kar rha tha. Nakam koshish.

Maine puchh hi lia “Kya tumhe pta tha??”

Jawab mai wo sirf muskuraai. Par iss baar lehza meri pehchaan me nahi aya.

Mai uski muskurahat ko suljhaane me hi laga tha.

“Ladkiyon ko samjh pana mere liye bahut mushkil hai.” Nahi ye maine kaha nahi sirf socha.

“Ball ghum nahi hui thi. ” Hero bante hue maine apni heroine se kaha. Ek sach.

Pehale wo boli “oh!”

Phir boli “Toh??”

“Taank-jhaank karte hue maine paya ki tum muskurate hue bahut achhi lagti ho.Isiliye jab maine tumhe preshan dekha toh mujhe mehsus hua ki ye tension wala expression tum par bilkul suit nahi karta.” Hero banu na banu mai filmy jarur banta ja raha tha.

“Muskurate hue toh sabhi ache lagte hain.” Wo tapaak se boli. Jaise ki taiyar baithi ho.

(yaar koi ise bata do ki ye heroine hai, Villian nahi)

“ Hmmm!!! (maine gehri saans li) Muskurate hue sabhi ache lagte hain. Waise sach baat toh ye hai ki tum tension me bhi bahut achhi lagti ho.” Maine kaha toh wo jhenp gai.

Usne meri tarf dekha .Fir ansh ki taraf. Ansh ne nazrein churaai aur awaz lgaai “Smuggler!! Pyare Smuggy!! Kahan ho??”

Wo jameen pr dekh kar chal rahi thi. Mai use dekh kar . Ansh hume dekhkar.

Viraj ki call. “Alfa to delta.Alfa to delta.Kya mai brigadier maddy sharma se baat kar skta hu?? Over!.”( Mera surname Jaswal hai. Sharma Pratima hai.)

“Speaking. over!!” Mera jawab.

“Pichhle 1 ghante se kutte ko pakad kar baithe hain sir!! Aage ke kya orders hain?? Kyaa aaj hum apne watan laut paayenge??” Viraj ne ekdum kadak jawan ki tarah pucha.

Samne Pratima nahi hoti toh mai shartiya hans hans kr lot-pot ho chuka hota. Barhaal maine seedhi saadi jubaan me sirf itna kaha “Jawan!!Smuggy ko ghar pahuncha do.”

Over viraj ne kaha aur call cut kar di.

Mai pratima ki ore muda. Wo mujhe aise dekh rahi rahi thi mano kehna chahti ho “Maine sahi suna na!!”

“Hanji sahi suna aapne. Smuggy mil gya.” Maine confirm karte hue kaha.

Wo khushi se uchhal padi. Filmo me aise mauko par heroine hero ke gale lag jati hai lekin afsos ye koi film nahi thi. (Waise mai Hero bhi kahan hun, par wo jarur heroine hai.)

Aur agle hi pal usne ek gehari saans li. Raahat ki saans. Kisi khoye hue ko paane ki raahat. Waise paa toh maine bhi kaafi kuchh liya tha.

Saare raaste wo chehakte hue aayi. Khilkhilaate hue. Raaste bhar pata nahi kitni baar hum sabka shukriya ada kia. Kitna bolti hai ye ladki mujhe ab pta lag raha tha. Par mujhe waakai acha lag rha tha uski baatein sunna. Pure raaste usne Smuggy ke bare me itni baatein btaai ki rasta agar thoda aur lamba hota toh mai Pratima se jayada shayad Smuggy ko jaanne lag jata .

Pratima ka yun hansa,muskurana,khilkhilana mujhe uske aur kareeb le ja rha tha. Kheenchkar! Mai chahta toh nahi tha ki ye safar kabhi khatam ho par agle suraj ke liye ek raat jaruri hoti hai. Halanki humne (Ansh aur maine) puri koshish ki wapisi ke raste ko lambe se lamba karne ki. Lekin kabhi naa kabhi toh hume uss yellow building ke samne pahunchana hi tha.

Hum apne thikaano tak pahunch chuke the.Par yun lag raha tha maano manzil toh kahin aur hi hai. Ab hume juda hona tha. Suraj doob chuka tha aur mera dil bhi dooba ja raha tha. Mujhe nahi pta tha ki agli subeh wo mujhe pehchanegi bhi ya nahi. Mujhe nahi pta tha ki agli subeh wo mujhe dekhkar muskurayegi bhi ya nahi. Isliye mai bas iss lamhe ko rok kar rakhna chahta tha. Jitni der bhi ho sake.

Ansh ja chuka tha. Ek aur samajhdar dost.

Humne ek dusre ka naam tak nahi puchha tha abhi tak. ‘Aap’ ‘Tum’  ke alawa ek dusre ko kuchh kaha hi nahi tha. Halanki mujhe uska naam pata tha magar abhi tak maine use uske naam se pukara nahi tha. Ab itni der baad sahi rahega bhi ya nahi mai aisi hi kisi soch me pada tha. Fir bhi maine kaha.

“Milkar acha lga. Pratima.” Maine kaha.

“Mujhe bhi...” Mujhe laga jaise wo mera naam lene wali ho.Mujhe laga jaise use mera naam pta ho.

“Arey haan.Aapka naam??” Usne jhijhkate hue puchha.

Maine uske aankhon me chhipe chor ko pakadane  ki koshish ki. Nakamyab koshish!!

“Arjun” maine kaha.

Wo muskuraai. Iss baar lehza shararti tha.

“Toh fir Maddy kaun hai??” Wo fir muskura di.

Aur iss bar aankhon me chhipe chor ko usne khud pakdwa diya. Mai bhi muskuraye bina nahi reh saka.

Baatein toh bahut thi magar waqt ijaazat deta nahi balki ijaazat leta rehta hai.

Aur fir wo waqt bhi aya jab uske aur mere bich sirf ek rasm baki reh gai thi. Alvida ki.

Shayad Hum dono ko hi rukne ka bahana chahiye tha. Par wo muraad hi kya jo mann me naa thehare.

“Mai chalti hun. Der ho gayi hai.” Usne kaha, magar uski aankhon ne izazaat maangi.

Mujhe alvida nahi kehna tha. Mai chupchap use dekhta rha.Aur yunhi chupchap Meri aankhon ne use izazat de di.

Usne thodi der meri taraf dekha aur dheere se boli.

“Fir milenge”

“Fir milenge” Uske kahe lafz maine hu-ba-hu dohra diye.

Jyada dur nahi jana tha use.

Ek pal wo bhi aya jab wo nazaron se ojhal ho gai.

Par chhod gayi kuchh meethi yaadein. Kuchh muskurahatein.Dil ke galeecho par kuchh aahatein.

Yellow building se Smuggler ke bhaunkne ki awaz ayi. Boww! Boww!

 Anayas hi mere muh se nikla “I love dogs.” Pehli baar.