Update 09
Rajat aur poori family finally gaon jaane ke liye nikal padhi. Raat ka waqt tha, car highway pe tez bhaag rahi thi. Rajat ekdum excited tha, uske dimaag mein sirf ek cheez chal rahi thi—apne maa-baap se milna, ghar wapas jaana.
Reeti window ke paas baithi thi, uske mann mein ek ajeeb si ghabrahat thi. Yeh gaon kabhi uska ghar tha, lekin ab jab woh wapas ja rahi thi, toh sab kuch alag lag raha tha. Naina bhi side mein thi, usne apni maa ki tension ko mehsoos kiya.
"Maa, sab theek hoga. Papa already plan bana chuke hain," Naina ne dheere se kaha.
Reeti ne sir hila diya, lekin uska mann ab bhi bhatak raha tha. Rajat excitedly car ke windshield se bahar dekh raha tha.
"Gaon pahunchne mein kitna time hai?" Rajat ne Rohan se pucha, jo driving kar raha tha.
"Bas ek ghanta aur," Rohan ne calmly bola.
Jaise jaise gaon nazdeek aa raha tha, Reeti ka dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha. Uske husband ne plan bana diya tha—sabko kehna tha ki Garima Kumbh Mela gayi hai, aur phir kuch mahine baad announce karna tha ki woh wahaan kho gayi.
Lekin sab itna smooth chalega?
Pura gaon use jaanta tha, agar kisi ne pehchan liya toh?
Ek ghanta baad, car gaon ke andar enter hui.
Rajat ekdum excited tha.
"Wapas aake kitna acha lag raha hai! Yeh wahi jagah hai jahan main bada hua tha!"
Reeti ne ek gehri saans li, usne ek baar phir gaon ke galiyon ko dekha. Itne saalon baad yahaan wapas aana… ab sab kuch ek ajeeb tension ke saath tha.
Ghar ke samne gadi ruk gayi. Rajat bina time waste kiye utar gaya, uska chehra ekdum excited aur happy lag raha tha.
Duaari par khade Pita ji unka intezar kar rahe the.
"Papa!" Rajat ne tez kadam badhaye aur apne pita ke gale lag gaya.
Pita ji ne bhi use zor se gale laga liya, lekin unki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si tension thi.
"Beta, itni der laga di aane mein?" unhone emotionally kaha.
"Bas papa, busy tha… par aaj wapas aa gaya!" Rajat ne haste hue kaha.
Tabhi Rajat ne idhar udhar dekha, jaise kisi ko dhoond raha ho.
"Maa kahan hai?"
Pita ji ek second ke liye chup ho gaye.
Naina aur Reeti andar hi andar dar rahi thi.
Pita ji ne ek gehri saans li, phir ek calm tone mein kaha,
"Beta, teri maa yaha nahi hai."
Rajat shock ho gaya. "Kya matlab? Maa kahan hai?"
Pita ji andar chale gaye, Rajat bhi unke peeche peeche gaya. Sab log andar aa gaye, ghar ka mahaul ekdum serious ho gaya.
"Papa, sach batao, maa kahan hai? Main unse baat karne aaya hoon!"
Pita ji ek second ke liye chup rahe, phir dheere se kaha,
"Teri maa kuch dino pehle Kumbh Mela gayi thi… aur ab tak wapas nahi aayi."
Ekdum se pura ghar silent ho gaya.
Rajat ekdum shock mein tha. "Kya?! Maa Kumbh Mela gayi thi? Mujhe kyun nahi bataya?!"
"Beta, hum bhi bas 2-3 din pehle tak wait kar rahe the ki shayad wapas aa jaaye… par ab tak nahi aayi."
"Aur phone?! Unka phone kahan hai? Maine itne calls kiye, ek bhi nahi uthaya!"
Pita ji ne acting ki, "Phone toh wahin chhod gayi thi beta… unka plan tha ki sirf ek hafte ke liye jayengi, par ab tak wapas nahi aayi."
Rajat pura hil gaya.
"Matlab maa kho gayi hai?!"
Reeti ka dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha, lekin usne apna expression normal rakhne ki koshish ki.
"Hum abhi tak dhoond rahe hain beta… par ab tak koi pata nahi chala."
Rajat ke aankhon me aansu aa gaye, usne apne baal jhatke se peechhe kiye.
"Papa, mujhe waha jaana hai! Mujhe Kumbh Mela jaana hai! Main maa ko dhoondunga!"
Naina ekdum beech me boli, "Arey Rajat, itni badi jagah hai, waha jaake kya hoga?"
Pita ji ne Rajat ko samjhane ki koshish ki.
"Beta, hum already security officer me report likhwa chuke hain. Waha jaake koi fayda nahi hai. Hum wait kar rahe hain, agar kuch khabar aayi toh tujhe bata denge."
Rajat ab bhi believe nahi kar pa raha tha.
"Maa… maa aise kaise kho sakti hai?"
Reeti ek kone me khadi thi, uski aankhon me aansu the.
"Mujhe laga tha yeh sab asaan hoga… lekin Rajat ki aankhon me jo dukh hai, use dekh kar lag raha hai ki shayad yeh sab ek badi galti hai…"
Rajat ne ek gehri saans li, phir dheere se bola,
"Main yaha rukunga… jab tak maa nahi milti, main kahin nahi jaane wala."
Sab ek dusre ki taraf dekhne lage.
Ab yeh sab aur bhi zyada complicated ho gaya tha.
Rajat ka dimaag ab sirf ek hi cheez soch raha tha—maa kahan hai? Woh ghar ke andar idhar-udhar chalte hue kabhi apne pita ko dekhta, kabhi Naina ki taraf, aur kabhi Reeti ki taraf, jo ab tak ek kone me chup khadi thi.
"Papa, mujhe sach sach batao… kya aapko lagta hai ki maa waapas nahi aayegi?" Rajat ki aankhon me ek ajeeb sa dukh tha.
Pita ji ne ek gehri saans li, phir acting karte hue kaha, "Beta, hum bhi shock me hain. Garima ka bina bataaye chale jaana… ab tak koi contact na karna… yeh sab ajeeb lag raha hai. Shayad woh waha kisi aur jagah chali gayi ho… shayad wapas aana hi na chahti ho."
Rajat ekdum tense ho gaya. "Maa aisa kyun karegi? Woh hamesha humse pyaar karti thi… kya pata kisi ne unko force kiya ho? Koi unhe kidnap kar ke le gaya ho?"
Pita ji ne uski baat kaat di, "Nahi beta, agar aisa hota toh hume koi report milti. Humne security officer ko inform kar diya hai. Tum yeh tension mat lo."
Rajat apne baal jhatak ke sofa pe baith gaya, uske mann me ek ajeeb si ghabrahat thi.
"Mujhe yakin nahi ho raha ki maa bina bataye chali gayi… Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha."
Naina ne Pita ji ki taraf dekha, jaise samjhane ki koshish kar rahi ho ki ab kya kehna hai.
"Bhai, maa strong hai. Shayad unhone koi naya decision le liya ho."
"Kya decision, Naina? Kya tu kehna chahti hai ki maa ne hum sabko chhod diya?"
Rajat ka mood ab aur bigadne laga tha.
Tabhi Reeti ne himmat karke pehli baar bola,
"Rajat, mujhe lagta hai ki tumhe thoda relax karna chahiye. Tum bohot zyada stress le rahe ho."
Rajat ne ekdum uski taraf dekha.
"Relax? Tum keh rahi ho ki main relax karu? Tum samajhti bhi ho ki yeh mere liye kya matlab rakhta hai? Tumhe kya lagta hai, koi bhi meri maa ki jagah le sakta hai?"
Reeti ke dil me ek jhatka laga.
"Agar Rajat ko pata chalega ki main hi Garima hoon… uska reaction kya hoga?"
Pita ji ne baat ko control karne ke liye kaha, "Beta, tum yeh sab soch ke apne dimaag par stress mat lo. Tum yaha aaye ho, thoda aaram karo. Raat ho gayi hai, kal subah aur sochenge."
Rajat ne ek gehri saans li, phir dheere se bola,
"Main yahaan tab tak rahunga jab tak mujhe maa ke baare me kuch na kuch pata nahi chal jata."
Yeh sunte hi, Reeti ka dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya.
"Agar Rajat yahaan rukega, toh sab kuch aur bhi mushkil ho jayega. Agar kisi ne pehchan liya toh?"
Pita ji ne Rajat ke kandhe pe haath rakha, "Beta, tu jitna chahe yaha ruk sakta hai. Lekin yeh yaad rakh, kuch cheezein hum control nahi kar sakte. Ho sakta hai, Garima khud koi faisla le chuki ho."
Rajat ne aankhein neeche karli, jaise andar hi andar kuch samajhne ki koshish kar raha ho.
"Agar maa ne sach me hume chhod diya hai, toh main unse kabhi baat nahi karunga."
Reeti ka dil phir se dukh gaya.
Ab sab kuch aur bhi zyada complicated ho chuka tha.
Raat ho chuki thi. Sab apne apne kamron me chale gaye the, lekin Reeti ka mann ab bhi shant nahi ho raha tha. Yeh pehli raat thi jab woh phir se apne purane ghar me thi, lekin ek naye roop me.
Woh dheere se chalti hui verandah me aayi, jahan Pita ji pehle se baithe the. Unhone uski aahat mehsoos ki, lekin pehle kuch nahi bola.
Reeti ne dheere se kaha, "Aapko lagta hai yeh sab sahi ho raha hai?"
Pita ji ne ek gehri saans li.
"Pata nahi, Reeti… ab tak jitne decisions maine liye hain, unme yeh sabse mushkil hai."
Reeti ne chhup chaap unki taraf dekha.
"Main yeh sab sirf isliye kar raha hoon kyunki tum yeh chahti ho… aur Rajat bhi."
"Lekin kya yeh galat hai?" Reeti ki awaaz me confusion thi.
Pita ji thoda gusse me aaye, "Tumhe ab yeh sawal karne ka koi haq nahi hai, Reeti. Tumne apni choice khud banayi hai. Tumne khud kaha tha ki tumhe Rajat se pyaar hai, ab tum aise sawal kyun pooch rahi ho?"
Reeti ne aankhein neeche karli.
"Bas… Rajat ko dekhkar lagta hai ki yeh sab ek sapna hai. Woh itna bechain hai, maa ke bina jeene ki soch bhi nahi sakta. Agar use sach pata chalega toh kya hoga?"
Pita ji thoda chup rahe, phir dheere se bole,
"Wahi hoga jo hone wala hai. Tumne faisla le liya hai, ab sirf us faisle par tikna hai."
Reeti ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye.
"Agar koi aur ladka hota, toh shayad mujhe itna darr nahi hota. Lekin yeh Rajat hai… mera apna beta tha… kaise main yeh accept kar lun ki ab woh mera pati banne wala hai?"
Pita ji ne haath jod ke kaha,
"Ek baat bata, agar koi ajnabi ladka tumse shaadi karta, toh kya woh tumhe itna samajhta jitna Rajat samajhta hai?"
Reeti ne chup rehkar sir hilaya, "Nahi."
"Kya woh tumhari fikr karta? Tumhare har emotion ko mehsoos karta?"
"Nahi."
"Toh phir? Agar tumhe yeh sab mil raha hai, toh tum itni pareshaan kyun ho?"
Reeti ne apni aankhein band karli.
"Kyunki yeh sab samajh se bahar hai."
Pita ji ne ek chhoti si hasi di, "Samajh se bahar hone ka matlab yeh nahi ki galat hai, Reeti."
Ek lamba silence raha.
Phir Pita ji ne dheere se kaha,
"Jab bhi ready ho, mujhe bata dena. Main tumhari aur Rajat ki shaadi kara dunga."
Reeti ka dil ek pal ke liye ruk gaya.
Ab yeh sirf ek soch nahi thi. Yeh ek sach banne wala tha.
Raat beet chuki thi, lekin Reeti ke mann mein halchal ab bhi barqarar thi. Yeh gaon, yeh ghar, jo kabhi uska apna tha, ab uske liye ek naye pehchaan ka saboot banne wala tha.
Subah ki pehli roshni jese hi aangan me padi, ghar me ek ajeeb si shanti thi. Rajat abhi tak apne kamre me so raha tha, Naina bhi abhi uthne wali thi, lekin Reeti ne raat bhar aankh nahi jhapi. Uske mann mein sirf ek sawal ghoom raha tha—kya woh sach me is rishte ko ek naya roop dene ke liye tayar hai?
Woh chhup chaap verandah me aayi, uski aankhon me neend nahi thi, sirf uljhan thi. Usne ek gehri saans li, aur dheere se apne haath jod liye.
"Agar yeh sab likha hai, toh shayad yeh hone hi wala hai…"
Tabhi uske peechhe se ek aawaz aayi.
"Maa…?"
Reeti ek jhatke se palti.
Rajat wahan khada tha, abhi abhi so kar utha tha, lekin uski aankhon me ek ajeeb si udaasi thi.
"Mujhe pura raat neend nahi aayi, maa ki yaad aayi… pata nahi woh kahan hai."
Reeti ka dil ek pal ke liye kaanp gaya. Woh uski taraf dekh rahi thi, lekin uski aankhon me sirf dukh tha.
"Main soch raha hoon ki ek baar Kumbh Mela jaane ki koshish karu. Ho sakta hai wahaan koi mila ho jo maa ke baare me jaanta ho?"
Reeti ne ek jhatke se uske haath pakad liye.
"Nahi Rajat, tumhe wahaan jaane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai!"
Rajat chok gaya.
"Par kyun? Mujhe maa ko dhoondhna hai!"
Reeti ne apni saansein control ki.
"Papa keh rahe hain ki security officer already dhoond rahi hai, tum waha jaake kuch nahi kar paoge."
Rajat ne gusse se kaha, "Mujhe kuch bhi ho sake, main jaan’na chahta hoon ki maa kahan hai! Main bina unse mile wapas nahi jaane wala!"
Reeti ka dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha.
"Agar yeh wahaan gaya toh sab sach jaan lega! Sab kuch khatam ho jayega!"
Naina, jo abhi abhi waha aayi thi, ne turant kaha, "Bhai, please samajhne ki koshish karo! Maa agar kho gayi hoti toh hum tak koi na koi news aa chuki hoti! Tum wahaan jaake sirf pareshaan hoge!"
Rajat ab bhi gusse me tha, lekin uski behen aur Reeti ki baat sunke thoda shaant ho gaya.
"Toh kya main bas aise hi wait karu?"
"Haan, Rajat," Reeti ne dheere se kaha, "Kabhi kabhi wait karna hi behtar hota hai."
Rajat thoda shaant ho gaya, lekin ab bhi uske chehre par bechaini thi.
"Theek hai, main yaha rukunga… jab tak mujhe maa ka koi pata nahi chalta."
Reeti aur Naina ne ek dusre ki taraf dekha.
Ab yeh sab aur bhi zyada complicated ho chuka tha.
Kayi din guzar gaye.
Rajat, Pita ji, aur gaon ke kuch log har jagah Garima ko dhoondhne ki koshish kar rahe the. security officer se poocha, Kumbh Mela ke records check kiye, har kone me jaake logon se pata kiya, lekin kahi koi bhi nishaan nahi mila.
Rajat ka dukh din-ba-din badh raha tha. Uski aankhon me ek alag si bechaini thi, har raat usse sirf ek hi sawaal tadpa raha tha—maa kahan chali gayi?
Ek din shaam ko, jab Rajat aur Pita ji security officer station se wapas aaye, toh unke chehre pe nirasha thi.
Pita ji chup chaap aangan me baith gaye, unhone apni chhati pe haath rakha aur ek thandi saans li.
"Kuch bhi nahi mila," Rajat halki si awaz me bola.
Sab log chup the.
Naina ek kone me baithi thi, usne Reeti ki taraf dekha. Reeti ne apni aankhein neeche kar li, uska dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha. Yeh moment aane hi wala tha…
"Papa…" Rajat ne dheere se kaha, uski awaaz thodi bhari thi.
Pita ji ekdum chup rahe, phir dheere se bole,
"Beta… shayad hume yeh maan lena chahiye ki Garima ab nahi rahi."
Ek dum se ghar me ek ajeeb si shanti chha gayi.
Rajat ek second ke liye kuch bol nahi paya.
"Nahi papa… ho sakta hai ki ab bhi koi ummed ho… ho sakta hai ki kisi din maa wapas aa jaye…"
Pita ji ne Rajat ke kandhe par haath rakha.
"Beta, kabhi kabhi hume zindagi me kuch cheezein accept karni padti hain… agar Garima wapas aani hoti toh woh kab ki aa chuki hoti."
Rajat ka dimaag ab bhi yeh accept nahi kar paa raha tha.
Uske aankhon se aansu nikal aaye.
"Maa… aap sach me mujhe chod ke chali gayi?"
Naina ne apni aankhein band kar li. Yeh moment jitna difficult Rajat ke liye tha, utna hi Reeti ke liye bhi tha.
Usne dheere se apni saans andar kheench li, uska dukh ab bhi uske chehre pe tha, lekin uske mann me ek ajeeb sa sukoon bhi aa raha tha—ab koi Garima ko nahi dhoond raha tha.
Pita ji ne ghar ke sabhi logon ko dekha,
"Aaj ke baad, hume is sach ko accept karna hoga… Garima ab hume kabhi wapas nahi milegi."
Sab log ek dusre ki taraf dekhn lage.
Rajat ab bhi chup tha, lekin usne dheere se apni aankhon ke aansu poch liye.
"Agar maa chali gayi… toh mujhe unki yaad me jeena hoga."
Us raat, pehli baar ghar me koi maa ke baare me baat nahi kar raha tha.
Garima officially gayab ho chuki thi.
Raat ka waqt tha.
Reeti window ke paas baithi thi, uske mann mein ek ajeeb si ghabrahat thi. Yeh gaon kabhi uska ghar tha, lekin ab jab woh wapas ja rahi thi, toh sab kuch alag lag raha tha. Naina bhi side mein thi, usne apni maa ki tension ko mehsoos kiya.
"Maa, sab theek hoga. Papa already plan bana chuke hain," Naina ne dheere se kaha.
Reeti ne sir hila diya, lekin uska mann ab bhi bhatak raha tha. Rajat excitedly car ke windshield se bahar dekh raha tha.
"Gaon pahunchne mein kitna time hai?" Rajat ne Rohan se pucha, jo driving kar raha tha.
"Bas ek ghanta aur," Rohan ne calmly bola.
Jaise jaise gaon nazdeek aa raha tha, Reeti ka dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha. Uske husband ne plan bana diya tha—sabko kehna tha ki Garima Kumbh Mela gayi hai, aur phir kuch mahine baad announce karna tha ki woh wahaan kho gayi.
Lekin sab itna smooth chalega?
Pura gaon use jaanta tha, agar kisi ne pehchan liya toh?
Ek ghanta baad, car gaon ke andar enter hui.
Rajat ekdum excited tha.
"Wapas aake kitna acha lag raha hai! Yeh wahi jagah hai jahan main bada hua tha!"
Reeti ne ek gehri saans li, usne ek baar phir gaon ke galiyon ko dekha. Itne saalon baad yahaan wapas aana… ab sab kuch ek ajeeb tension ke saath tha.
Ghar ke samne gadi ruk gayi. Rajat bina time waste kiye utar gaya, uska chehra ekdum excited aur happy lag raha tha.
Duaari par khade Pita ji unka intezar kar rahe the.
"Papa!" Rajat ne tez kadam badhaye aur apne pita ke gale lag gaya.
Pita ji ne bhi use zor se gale laga liya, lekin unki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si tension thi.
"Beta, itni der laga di aane mein?" unhone emotionally kaha.
"Bas papa, busy tha… par aaj wapas aa gaya!" Rajat ne haste hue kaha.
Tabhi Rajat ne idhar udhar dekha, jaise kisi ko dhoond raha ho.
"Maa kahan hai?"
Pita ji ek second ke liye chup ho gaye.
Naina aur Reeti andar hi andar dar rahi thi.
Pita ji ne ek gehri saans li, phir ek calm tone mein kaha,
"Beta, teri maa yaha nahi hai."
Rajat shock ho gaya. "Kya matlab? Maa kahan hai?"
Pita ji andar chale gaye, Rajat bhi unke peeche peeche gaya. Sab log andar aa gaye, ghar ka mahaul ekdum serious ho gaya.
"Papa, sach batao, maa kahan hai? Main unse baat karne aaya hoon!"
Pita ji ek second ke liye chup rahe, phir dheere se kaha,
"Teri maa kuch dino pehle Kumbh Mela gayi thi… aur ab tak wapas nahi aayi."
Ekdum se pura ghar silent ho gaya.
Rajat ekdum shock mein tha. "Kya?! Maa Kumbh Mela gayi thi? Mujhe kyun nahi bataya?!"
"Beta, hum bhi bas 2-3 din pehle tak wait kar rahe the ki shayad wapas aa jaaye… par ab tak nahi aayi."
"Aur phone?! Unka phone kahan hai? Maine itne calls kiye, ek bhi nahi uthaya!"
Pita ji ne acting ki, "Phone toh wahin chhod gayi thi beta… unka plan tha ki sirf ek hafte ke liye jayengi, par ab tak wapas nahi aayi."
Rajat pura hil gaya.
"Matlab maa kho gayi hai?!"
Reeti ka dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha, lekin usne apna expression normal rakhne ki koshish ki.
"Hum abhi tak dhoond rahe hain beta… par ab tak koi pata nahi chala."
Rajat ke aankhon me aansu aa gaye, usne apne baal jhatke se peechhe kiye.
"Papa, mujhe waha jaana hai! Mujhe Kumbh Mela jaana hai! Main maa ko dhoondunga!"
Naina ekdum beech me boli, "Arey Rajat, itni badi jagah hai, waha jaake kya hoga?"
Pita ji ne Rajat ko samjhane ki koshish ki.
"Beta, hum already security officer me report likhwa chuke hain. Waha jaake koi fayda nahi hai. Hum wait kar rahe hain, agar kuch khabar aayi toh tujhe bata denge."
Rajat ab bhi believe nahi kar pa raha tha.
"Maa… maa aise kaise kho sakti hai?"
Reeti ek kone me khadi thi, uski aankhon me aansu the.
"Mujhe laga tha yeh sab asaan hoga… lekin Rajat ki aankhon me jo dukh hai, use dekh kar lag raha hai ki shayad yeh sab ek badi galti hai…"
Rajat ne ek gehri saans li, phir dheere se bola,
"Main yaha rukunga… jab tak maa nahi milti, main kahin nahi jaane wala."
Sab ek dusre ki taraf dekhne lage.
Ab yeh sab aur bhi zyada complicated ho gaya tha.
Rajat ka dimaag ab sirf ek hi cheez soch raha tha—maa kahan hai? Woh ghar ke andar idhar-udhar chalte hue kabhi apne pita ko dekhta, kabhi Naina ki taraf, aur kabhi Reeti ki taraf, jo ab tak ek kone me chup khadi thi.
"Papa, mujhe sach sach batao… kya aapko lagta hai ki maa waapas nahi aayegi?" Rajat ki aankhon me ek ajeeb sa dukh tha.
Pita ji ne ek gehri saans li, phir acting karte hue kaha, "Beta, hum bhi shock me hain. Garima ka bina bataaye chale jaana… ab tak koi contact na karna… yeh sab ajeeb lag raha hai. Shayad woh waha kisi aur jagah chali gayi ho… shayad wapas aana hi na chahti ho."
Rajat ekdum tense ho gaya. "Maa aisa kyun karegi? Woh hamesha humse pyaar karti thi… kya pata kisi ne unko force kiya ho? Koi unhe kidnap kar ke le gaya ho?"
Pita ji ne uski baat kaat di, "Nahi beta, agar aisa hota toh hume koi report milti. Humne security officer ko inform kar diya hai. Tum yeh tension mat lo."
Rajat apne baal jhatak ke sofa pe baith gaya, uske mann me ek ajeeb si ghabrahat thi.
"Mujhe yakin nahi ho raha ki maa bina bataye chali gayi… Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha."
Naina ne Pita ji ki taraf dekha, jaise samjhane ki koshish kar rahi ho ki ab kya kehna hai.
"Bhai, maa strong hai. Shayad unhone koi naya decision le liya ho."
"Kya decision, Naina? Kya tu kehna chahti hai ki maa ne hum sabko chhod diya?"
Rajat ka mood ab aur bigadne laga tha.
Tabhi Reeti ne himmat karke pehli baar bola,
"Rajat, mujhe lagta hai ki tumhe thoda relax karna chahiye. Tum bohot zyada stress le rahe ho."
Rajat ne ekdum uski taraf dekha.
"Relax? Tum keh rahi ho ki main relax karu? Tum samajhti bhi ho ki yeh mere liye kya matlab rakhta hai? Tumhe kya lagta hai, koi bhi meri maa ki jagah le sakta hai?"
Reeti ke dil me ek jhatka laga.
"Agar Rajat ko pata chalega ki main hi Garima hoon… uska reaction kya hoga?"
Pita ji ne baat ko control karne ke liye kaha, "Beta, tum yeh sab soch ke apne dimaag par stress mat lo. Tum yaha aaye ho, thoda aaram karo. Raat ho gayi hai, kal subah aur sochenge."
Rajat ne ek gehri saans li, phir dheere se bola,
"Main yahaan tab tak rahunga jab tak mujhe maa ke baare me kuch na kuch pata nahi chal jata."
Yeh sunte hi, Reeti ka dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya.
"Agar Rajat yahaan rukega, toh sab kuch aur bhi mushkil ho jayega. Agar kisi ne pehchan liya toh?"
Pita ji ne Rajat ke kandhe pe haath rakha, "Beta, tu jitna chahe yaha ruk sakta hai. Lekin yeh yaad rakh, kuch cheezein hum control nahi kar sakte. Ho sakta hai, Garima khud koi faisla le chuki ho."
Rajat ne aankhein neeche karli, jaise andar hi andar kuch samajhne ki koshish kar raha ho.
"Agar maa ne sach me hume chhod diya hai, toh main unse kabhi baat nahi karunga."
Reeti ka dil phir se dukh gaya.
Ab sab kuch aur bhi zyada complicated ho chuka tha.
Raat ho chuki thi. Sab apne apne kamron me chale gaye the, lekin Reeti ka mann ab bhi shant nahi ho raha tha. Yeh pehli raat thi jab woh phir se apne purane ghar me thi, lekin ek naye roop me.
Woh dheere se chalti hui verandah me aayi, jahan Pita ji pehle se baithe the. Unhone uski aahat mehsoos ki, lekin pehle kuch nahi bola.
Reeti ne dheere se kaha, "Aapko lagta hai yeh sab sahi ho raha hai?"
Pita ji ne ek gehri saans li.
"Pata nahi, Reeti… ab tak jitne decisions maine liye hain, unme yeh sabse mushkil hai."
Reeti ne chhup chaap unki taraf dekha.
"Main yeh sab sirf isliye kar raha hoon kyunki tum yeh chahti ho… aur Rajat bhi."
"Lekin kya yeh galat hai?" Reeti ki awaaz me confusion thi.
Pita ji thoda gusse me aaye, "Tumhe ab yeh sawal karne ka koi haq nahi hai, Reeti. Tumne apni choice khud banayi hai. Tumne khud kaha tha ki tumhe Rajat se pyaar hai, ab tum aise sawal kyun pooch rahi ho?"
Reeti ne aankhein neeche karli.
"Bas… Rajat ko dekhkar lagta hai ki yeh sab ek sapna hai. Woh itna bechain hai, maa ke bina jeene ki soch bhi nahi sakta. Agar use sach pata chalega toh kya hoga?"
Pita ji thoda chup rahe, phir dheere se bole,
"Wahi hoga jo hone wala hai. Tumne faisla le liya hai, ab sirf us faisle par tikna hai."
Reeti ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye.
"Agar koi aur ladka hota, toh shayad mujhe itna darr nahi hota. Lekin yeh Rajat hai… mera apna beta tha… kaise main yeh accept kar lun ki ab woh mera pati banne wala hai?"
Pita ji ne haath jod ke kaha,
"Ek baat bata, agar koi ajnabi ladka tumse shaadi karta, toh kya woh tumhe itna samajhta jitna Rajat samajhta hai?"
Reeti ne chup rehkar sir hilaya, "Nahi."
"Kya woh tumhari fikr karta? Tumhare har emotion ko mehsoos karta?"
"Nahi."
"Toh phir? Agar tumhe yeh sab mil raha hai, toh tum itni pareshaan kyun ho?"
Reeti ne apni aankhein band karli.
"Kyunki yeh sab samajh se bahar hai."
Pita ji ne ek chhoti si hasi di, "Samajh se bahar hone ka matlab yeh nahi ki galat hai, Reeti."
Ek lamba silence raha.
Phir Pita ji ne dheere se kaha,
"Jab bhi ready ho, mujhe bata dena. Main tumhari aur Rajat ki shaadi kara dunga."
Reeti ka dil ek pal ke liye ruk gaya.
Ab yeh sirf ek soch nahi thi. Yeh ek sach banne wala tha.
Raat beet chuki thi, lekin Reeti ke mann mein halchal ab bhi barqarar thi. Yeh gaon, yeh ghar, jo kabhi uska apna tha, ab uske liye ek naye pehchaan ka saboot banne wala tha.
Subah ki pehli roshni jese hi aangan me padi, ghar me ek ajeeb si shanti thi. Rajat abhi tak apne kamre me so raha tha, Naina bhi abhi uthne wali thi, lekin Reeti ne raat bhar aankh nahi jhapi. Uske mann mein sirf ek sawal ghoom raha tha—kya woh sach me is rishte ko ek naya roop dene ke liye tayar hai?
Woh chhup chaap verandah me aayi, uski aankhon me neend nahi thi, sirf uljhan thi. Usne ek gehri saans li, aur dheere se apne haath jod liye.
"Agar yeh sab likha hai, toh shayad yeh hone hi wala hai…"
Tabhi uske peechhe se ek aawaz aayi.
"Maa…?"
Reeti ek jhatke se palti.
Rajat wahan khada tha, abhi abhi so kar utha tha, lekin uski aankhon me ek ajeeb si udaasi thi.
"Mujhe pura raat neend nahi aayi, maa ki yaad aayi… pata nahi woh kahan hai."
Reeti ka dil ek pal ke liye kaanp gaya. Woh uski taraf dekh rahi thi, lekin uski aankhon me sirf dukh tha.
"Main soch raha hoon ki ek baar Kumbh Mela jaane ki koshish karu. Ho sakta hai wahaan koi mila ho jo maa ke baare me jaanta ho?"
Reeti ne ek jhatke se uske haath pakad liye.
"Nahi Rajat, tumhe wahaan jaane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai!"
Rajat chok gaya.
"Par kyun? Mujhe maa ko dhoondhna hai!"
Reeti ne apni saansein control ki.
"Papa keh rahe hain ki security officer already dhoond rahi hai, tum waha jaake kuch nahi kar paoge."
Rajat ne gusse se kaha, "Mujhe kuch bhi ho sake, main jaan’na chahta hoon ki maa kahan hai! Main bina unse mile wapas nahi jaane wala!"
Reeti ka dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha.
"Agar yeh wahaan gaya toh sab sach jaan lega! Sab kuch khatam ho jayega!"
Naina, jo abhi abhi waha aayi thi, ne turant kaha, "Bhai, please samajhne ki koshish karo! Maa agar kho gayi hoti toh hum tak koi na koi news aa chuki hoti! Tum wahaan jaake sirf pareshaan hoge!"
Rajat ab bhi gusse me tha, lekin uski behen aur Reeti ki baat sunke thoda shaant ho gaya.
"Toh kya main bas aise hi wait karu?"
"Haan, Rajat," Reeti ne dheere se kaha, "Kabhi kabhi wait karna hi behtar hota hai."
Rajat thoda shaant ho gaya, lekin ab bhi uske chehre par bechaini thi.
"Theek hai, main yaha rukunga… jab tak mujhe maa ka koi pata nahi chalta."
Reeti aur Naina ne ek dusre ki taraf dekha.
Ab yeh sab aur bhi zyada complicated ho chuka tha.
Kayi din guzar gaye.
Rajat, Pita ji, aur gaon ke kuch log har jagah Garima ko dhoondhne ki koshish kar rahe the. security officer se poocha, Kumbh Mela ke records check kiye, har kone me jaake logon se pata kiya, lekin kahi koi bhi nishaan nahi mila.
Rajat ka dukh din-ba-din badh raha tha. Uski aankhon me ek alag si bechaini thi, har raat usse sirf ek hi sawaal tadpa raha tha—maa kahan chali gayi?
Ek din shaam ko, jab Rajat aur Pita ji security officer station se wapas aaye, toh unke chehre pe nirasha thi.
Pita ji chup chaap aangan me baith gaye, unhone apni chhati pe haath rakha aur ek thandi saans li.
"Kuch bhi nahi mila," Rajat halki si awaz me bola.
Sab log chup the.
Naina ek kone me baithi thi, usne Reeti ki taraf dekha. Reeti ne apni aankhein neeche kar li, uska dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha. Yeh moment aane hi wala tha…
"Papa…" Rajat ne dheere se kaha, uski awaaz thodi bhari thi.
Pita ji ekdum chup rahe, phir dheere se bole,
"Beta… shayad hume yeh maan lena chahiye ki Garima ab nahi rahi."
Ek dum se ghar me ek ajeeb si shanti chha gayi.
Rajat ek second ke liye kuch bol nahi paya.
"Nahi papa… ho sakta hai ki ab bhi koi ummed ho… ho sakta hai ki kisi din maa wapas aa jaye…"
Pita ji ne Rajat ke kandhe par haath rakha.
"Beta, kabhi kabhi hume zindagi me kuch cheezein accept karni padti hain… agar Garima wapas aani hoti toh woh kab ki aa chuki hoti."
Rajat ka dimaag ab bhi yeh accept nahi kar paa raha tha.
Uske aankhon se aansu nikal aaye.
"Maa… aap sach me mujhe chod ke chali gayi?"
Naina ne apni aankhein band kar li. Yeh moment jitna difficult Rajat ke liye tha, utna hi Reeti ke liye bhi tha.
Usne dheere se apni saans andar kheench li, uska dukh ab bhi uske chehre pe tha, lekin uske mann me ek ajeeb sa sukoon bhi aa raha tha—ab koi Garima ko nahi dhoond raha tha.
Pita ji ne ghar ke sabhi logon ko dekha,
"Aaj ke baad, hume is sach ko accept karna hoga… Garima ab hume kabhi wapas nahi milegi."
Sab log ek dusre ki taraf dekhn lage.
Rajat ab bhi chup tha, lekin usne dheere se apni aankhon ke aansu poch liye.
"Agar maa chali gayi… toh mujhe unki yaad me jeena hoga."
Us raat, pehli baar ghar me koi maa ke baare me baat nahi kar raha tha.
Garima officially gayab ho chuki thi.
Raat ka waqt tha.
