maaM ka caohra ]nhoM Aba BaI barbasa yaad Aa jaata hO.  Anna ko iktnao BaI mahIna danao haoM  , , ,fTkto¸ sauKato¸ pkato yaa praosato hue ]nako jamaIna pr igar jaanao sao vah ek–ek kao manaaoyaaoga sao caunanao laga jaatI qaI¸ jaOsao vao Anna ko nahIM maaotI ko danao haoM.  baad maoM BaUK nao ]nhoM BaI samaJaa idyaa qaa ik yao danao sacamauca maaotI sao khIM AiQak Anamaaola hOM.

baoTo javaana hao gayao qao¸ yaaoM vao BaI baUZ,o nahIM qao.  baoTo maanato qao ik vao Sahr maoM rhkr BaI dohatI–gaMvaar hI rh gayao.  kdaicat yah saca qaa ik gaaMva AaOr BaUK kI saaohbat ka [tnaa gaaZ,a rMga caZ, gayaa qaa ]nako idmaaga pr ik Sahr AaOr Sahr ko BarpoT Baaojana ka kao[- p`Baava vahaM iTk hI nahIM payaa.  vao saba kuC saIKkr BaI haoiSayaarI AaOr ma@karI nahIM saIK sako.  [sao hI ]nako baoTo A@lamaMdI khto AaOr [saI A@lamaMdI ko ABaava maoM ]nakI baataoM ka Gar maoM kao[- tvajjaao nahIM.  baoTo ApnaI marjaI ko maailak qao AaOr kuC BaI krnao ko ilae Aajaad.  [sa AajaadI maoM ]nakI jaao hrktoM haotIM¸ ]nhoM doKkr vao hOrana rh jaato  , , ,lagata hI nahIM ik yao baccao ]nako Gar¸ gaaMva¸ janapd AaOr maulk ko hOM.  lagata ik [nakI rhna–sahna¸ caala–calana¸ Kana–pana saba kuC ekdma Anaicanha¸ Anaphcaanaa hO.  pta nahIM iksa duinayaa–jahana kI yao nakla kr rho qao  , , ,lagaBaga raoja ]%sava¸ paTI-¸ naaca¸ gaanaa¸ QaUma¸ QaD,aka  , , ,.  ]nako ilae pOsaaoM ka yahI baohtr sadupyaaoga qaa.  drbaarI p`saad jaOsao ek hI Gar maoM rhkr BaI ek Alaga TapU bana gayao.  pOsaaoM ko sadupyaaoga kI pirBaaYaa yahaM ekdma Alaga qaIM.  caMUik ijaMdgaI ko kkhro nao ]nhoM ekdma dIgar trIko sao sabak isaKayaa qaa.  vao caahto qao ik pOsaaoM kao sabasao phlao duinayaa kI BaUK AaOr baImaarI imaTanao maoM Kca- haonaa caaihe.  caaho vao pOsao iksaI ko Wara BaI Aija-t ikyao gayao haoM.  yah pUrI duinayaa Agar bahut baD,I lagatI hao tao ]samaoM kma sao kma Apnao najadIkI irStodaraoM kao hI Saaimala kroM.  Agar yah BaI galao sao na ]tro tao ifjaUlaKcaI- AaOr babaa-dI ko gaunaah sao tao Kud kao bacaa laoMÑ

ipClao C: mahInao maoM gaaMva sao dIdI kI C: ica{I Aa caukI hOM¸ jaao syaahI sao nahIM AaMsauAaoM sao ilaKI hu[- hOM.   dIdI kI ek ikDnaI Kraba hao gayaI hO¸ ]sao Aa^proSana krko baahr inaklavaanaa hO¸ nahIM tao dUsarI BaI saMËimat hao jaayaogaI.  ]sanao iksaI trh dsa hjaar $pyao jaugaaD, ikyao hOM¸ paMca hjaar ]sao AaOr caaihe.  Gar ko sakla Aaya–vyaya ka iva%tmaM~I ]naka baD,a baoTa du@Kna p`saad AaOr mau#ya salaahkar CaoTa baoTa Bau@Kna p`saad hOM.  ³daonaaoM kao hI yao naama ibalkula naapsaMd hOM AaOr vao Kud kao DIpI evaM baIpI khlavaanaa psaMd krto hOM. jabaik drbaarI nao yao naama [sailae idyao qao ik duK AaOr BaUK kao vao ApnaI najaraoM ko saamanao hr pla yaad rKoM.  magar yao laD,ko Apnao naama kI vyaMjanaa sao ibalkula ]lTa ivacaar rKto qao.´

drbaarI p`saad nao CzI baar ]nhoM yaad idlaayaa¸ "baoTo¸ pOsao Baoja dao.  dIdI maorI sagaI hO¸ ]sako bahut ?Na hOM maoro }pr.  ?Na na BaI haoto ifr BaI Baa[- haonao ko naato [tnaI saI madd tao fja- hO hmaara."
du@Kna nao CzI baar ]saI javaaba kI AavaRi%t kI jaao phlaI baar ]sanao idyaa qaa¸ "Aapnao kh idyaa¸ Aba mauJa pr CaoD, dIijae.  maOM [Mtjaama haoto hI Baoja dMUgaa."

[sa '[Mtjaama' Sabd ka rhsya ]nhoM ekdma samaJa maoM nahIM Aayaa.  Gar maoM paiT-yaaM cala rhI qaIM  , , ,AjaIba–AjaIba trh ko  baomatlaba saamaana Aa rho qao¸ ijanako ibanaa na iksaI kI CatI maoM dma GauT rha qaa¸ na iksaI ko galao maoM inavaalaa ATk rha qaa.  kalaInaoM  , , ,ibanaa fTo hI puranao pdo- kI jagah nayao pdo-  , , ,ibanaa iksaI KrabaI ko puranao TIvaI AaOr Aa^iDyaao isasTma ka e@caoMja  , , ,maa[Ëaovaova Aaovana  , , ,vaO@yaUma @laInar  , , ,TolaIfaona [MsT/U,m,aoMT ko zIk–zak rhto hue BaI ka^D-laosa ]pkrNa  , , ,Gar maoM dao–dao baa[k ko rhto hue BaI ek tIsara baa[k  , , ,saaiD,yaaM¸ kpD,o AaOr baoDSaIT Aaid ko baomatlaba badlao jaanao kI tao KOr kao[- iganatI nahIM.

drbaarI kI AaijajaI baZ,tI jaa rhI qaI¸ laoikna vao ]nhoM barjanao kI yaaogyata nahIM rKto¸ yah ehsaasa ]nhoM bahut phlao kra idyaa gayaa qaa.  vao daonaaoM kmaa} AaOr ]nasao k[- gauNaa baohtr evaM sammaainat pdaoM pr qao.  laD,ko maMuh sao kuC baaolato nahIM qao laoikna ]nako AavaBaava sao yah Qvaina spYT fUTtI p`tIt haotI qaI ik kmaato hma hOM tao Kca- caaho kOsao kroM¸ Aapkao kYT nahIM haonaa caaihe AaOr Aap baap hOM tao @yaa huAa Aaja ko jamaanao maoM A@lamaMd ³haoiSayaar AaOr ma@kar´ haonaa [sasao BaI baD,I baat hO.

zIk hO¸ ApnaI kmaa[- caaho jaOsao ]D,ayaoM¸ drbaarI p`saad kao [sa pr kao[- ]ja` nahIM qaI¸ ]ja` tba haotI jaba eosaI hI AajaadI ]nhoM nahIM dI jaatI.  vao ApnaI kmaa[- ko pOsao Apnao Anausaar Kca- nahIM kr sakto¸ caMUik bajaT banaanao ka hk isaf- iva%tmaM~I kao qaa.  drbaarI p`saad nao zana ilayaa ik Aba ]nhoM ek sa#t ivapxa kI BaUimaka maoM Aa jaanaa haogaa.

]nhaoMnao bahut naaraja BaMigamaa banaakr pUCa du@Kna sao¸ "@yaa maOM jaana sakta hMU ik dIdI kao Baojanao ko ilae [Mtjaama iktnaa Aagao baZ,a.  @yaa yah [Mtjaama dIdI pr kuC Aaft TUT jaanao ko baad pUra haogaaÆ"
"saa^rI baa]jaI¸ maOM batanaa BaUla gayaa.  fuAa kao pOsao tao maOMnao Baoja idyao¸ k[- idna hao gayao."
]nako mana nao KT sao kha ik eosaI baat BaUlanao kI nahIM hao saktI.  ja$r kao[- Baod hOM¸ ]nhaoMnao pUCa¸ "iktnao $pyao BaojaoÆ"
"ek hjaar."
"ek hjaarÆ  magar maOMnao tao kha qaa ik ]sao paMca hjaar kI ja$rt hOMÑ"
"Aba ja$rt kI kao[- saImaa tao haotI nahIM hOM¸ baa]jaI.  maaMganao maoM iksaI kao @yaa jaata hO¸ ijatnaa mana ikyaa maaMga ilayaa.  magar donaovaalao kao tao Apnaa ihsaaba–iktaba BaI doKnaa pD,ta hO.  [sasao jyaada donaa saMBava nahIM qaa."

ekdma caohra bauJa gayaa drbaarI p`saad ka.  krahto hue kha¸ "@yaa maOM iksaI baImaarI maoM iGar jaa}M AaOr ]samaoM dsa–baIsa hjaar lagaanao pD, jaayaoM tao yaaoM hIM CaoD, daogao mauJao marnao ko ilaeÆ"
"baa]jaI¸ Aap khaM kI tuk khaM jaaoD,nao laga jaato hOMÑ  iktnaI baar kha ik Apnao KMDhr AtIt sao inakilayao baahr AaOr Apnao [maaoSaMsa–saoMTImaoMT kao nayao saMdBa- sao jaaoiD,yao.  fuAa kao[- laavaairsa nahIM hOM¸ ]nako Apnao pirvaar hOM  , , ,baoTo hOM  , , ,damaad hOM."

drbaarI p`saad kI AaMKoM AaMsauAaoM sao DbaDbaa gayaIM  , , ,lagaa ik Aaja BaI vao ]tnao hI baobasa hOM¸ ]tnao hI BaUKo hOM ijatnao gaaMva maoM qao.  fk- isaf- [tnaa qaa ik BaUK kI vaodnaa Aba AaMt maoM nahIM ijagar maoM qaI.  dIdI ]nako ilae KUna kI irStovaalaI isaf- ek saamaanya bahna nahIM qaI.  bailk ]nakI BaUK AaOr Baaojana sao ]sakI k[- maaima-k yaadoM jauD,I qaIM.  dIdI ]sao BarpoT iKlaanao ko ilae hr samaya ]tavalaI rhtI qaI.bahut saMudr qaI dIdI¸ [sailae ]saka byaah ek AcCo Kato–pIto pirvaar maoM hao gayaa qaa.  bagala ko hI haoma–Ta]na navaada maoM ]saka jaoz naaOkrI krta qaa.  ]sako Doro pr A@sar gaaMva sao laaogaaoM ka Aanaa–jaanaa lagaa rhta.  kaoT-–kcahrI¸ SaadI–gaaOnao kI KrIdarI AaOr baImaarI kI dvaa–da$ ko ilae.  dIdI BaI iksaI kI sauEauYaa krnao yaa Kud ka [laaja krvaanao yahaM AatI rhtI.  gaaMva sao navaada jaanaa tba bahut Aasaana qaa.  gaaMva ko pasa hI isqat sToSana pr jaanao ko ilae idna Bar maoM dao baar rolagaaD,I $ktI qaI AaOr Aanao ko ilae tIna baar.  [namaoM safr ko ilae iTkT laonaa kBaI–kBaI hI ja$rI haota qaa.  drbaarI ha[- skUla maoM pZ, rha qaa AaOr GaUmanao–doKnao ko ilae daostaoM ko saaqa baajaar jaanao lagaa qaa.  baa]jaI nao ek idna kha ik jaba navaada jaato hao tao jara dIdI ka BaI samaacaar lao ilayaa krao.

drbaarI calaa gayaa ek idna.  dIdI yahIM qaI.  ]sao doKkr ekdma iKla ]zI.  qaalaI maoM panaI laakr ]sako pOr Qaaoyao ³[sa Aqa-tM~ maoM BaI Baa[- kI inaQa-nata AaOr fTohalaI ko gaiNat sao dIdI kao kao[- matlaba nahIM qaa´ ifr kha¸ Kanaa lagaatI hMU jaldI sao Ka laao.  ]sanao naIcao baaoro ka Aasana ibaCa idyaa AaOr panaI ka jaga evaM igalaasa rK idyaa.  drbaarI naIcao baOz gayaa.  Baaojana kI qaalaI AayaI tao ]sao doKkr ]sakI AaMKoM camak ]zIM.  [tnaa baiZ,yaa Kanaa ]sanao kba Kayaa qaa¸ yaad krnao kI kaoiSaSa kI¸ laoikna yaad nahIM Aayaa.  Bar qaalaI Baat¸ Bar kTaora Jaaoladar maClaI¸ papD,¸ AMcaar AaOr salaad.  Apnao Gar maoM BaI ]sanao Baat Kayao qao AaOr maClaI BaI  , , ,magar eosaa Baat¸ KuSabaUdar¸ $[- ko faho kI trh maulaayama evaM laMbao–laMbao.  ]sanao baD,a saa kaOr maMuh maoM Dalato hue pUCa¸ "yah kaOna–saa Baat AaOr kaOna–saI maClaI hO dIdIÆ"
dIdI ]sako saamanao hI baOzI qaI¸ kha¸ "[sao baasamatI caavala khto hOM AaOr maClaI ka naama raohU hOM."
dIdI nao Aagao kha ik ]sako jaoz Kanao–pInao ko bahut SaaOkIna hOM¸ hmaoSaa maaMsa–maClaI AaOr eosaa hI ]mada iksma ka mahMgaa caavala Kato hOM.  drbaarI nao phlaI baar yah jaanaa qaa ik AadmaI–AadmaI maoM fk- kI trh caavala–caavala maoM [tnaa fk- hao sakta hO.  ]sanao KUba Ckkr Kayaa AaOr ifr dIdI kao bahut kRt& nao~aoM sao inahara.

dIdI ]sao [sa trh baosauQa haokr Kato doK Kud BaI ek Aa*laad sao BartI rhI.  ]sanao maaM–baa]jaI ka samaacaar pUCa.  duKI hu[- jaanakr ik vao phlao kI trh hI baImaar AaOr duba-la hOM.  Aagao yah BaI pUCa ik [sa samaya Gar maoM Kanao ko ilae @yaa hOÆ

drbaarI nao batayaa¸ "Aaz idna phlao tao kuC nahIM huAa qaa¸ ABaI–ABaI maDuAa kTa hO tao rat–idna maDuAa kI raoTI cala rhI hO."

dIdI kao kao[- tajjauba nahIM huAa.  vah jaanatI qaI ik yahI haota rha hO  , , ,Qaana kI fsala haonao pr jaba tk caavala K%ma na hao jaayao rat idna Baat  , , ,gaohMU kI fsala haonao pr jaba tk gaoh\MU K%ma na hao jaayao rat idna gaohMU kI raoTI  , , ,[saI trh canaa¸ mak[- AaOr KosaaD,I Aaid ko saaqa BaI haota qaa.   dIdI ko caohro pr ek maayaUsaI ]Bar AayaI.  ]sanao drbaarI ko maaqa kao sahlaato hue kha¸ "sabaka idna ifrta hO maunnaa doKnaa¸ tumhara BaI ifrogaa ek idna.  KUba mana lagaakr pZ,ao¸ ja$r tumhoM kao[- AcCa kama imala jaayaogaa." 
vah dIdI ka maMuh doKta rh gayaa qaa¸ @yaa sacamauca eosaa haogaaÆ
dIdI nao Aagao batayaa qaa¸ "maOM ABaI caar–Ch mahInaoo yahIM rhMUgaI.  jaozanaI kao laD,ka huAa hO.  Gar ka saara kama maoro hI ijammao hOM  , , ,Kanaa banaanao sao laokr ]naka badna maailaSa tk.  krnaa pD,ta hO¸ tumharo jaIjaa BaI baoraojagaar hOM na AaOr sabakao maalaUma hO ik maOM bahut garIba Gar sao AayaI hMUÑ"  dIdI ko caohro pr ek qakana AaOr baobasaI JaaMk gayaI qaI.  ]sanao ifr kha¸ "tuma kma sao kma hr [tvaar kao Aa jaayaa krao.  jaoz jaI ABaI Kanaa Kanao AayaoMgao¸ tuma ]nasao baiZ,yaa sao p`Naama–pait krko baaolanaa–baityaanaa."

jaoz Aayaa tao mana na haoto hue BaI ]sanao ]sako pOr CUkr p`Naama ikyao.  dIdI nao jaoz kao saunaato hue kha¸ "Aaja yahIM $k jaaAao drbaarI¸ kla saubah calao jaanaa."

drbaarI nao jaoz ko caohro doKo¸ kao[- Aapi%t nahIM qaI vahaM.  pOr CUnao ka Saayad Asar huAa.  $k gayaa vah¸ laalaca tao qaa hI ik dao–tIna Saama AaOr AcCa Kanaa imala jaayaogaa.

iksaI Sahr maoM rat gaujaarnao ka yah ]sako ilae phlaa maaOka BaI qaa.  Kasakr ek eosao @vaaT-r maoM jahaM [k{o saba kuC ]plabQa haoM¸ TayalaoT¸ baaqa$ma¸ ibajalaI¸ panaI  , , ,.

bahut majaa Aayaa ]sao¸ mana hI mana ]sanao p`aqa-naa kI¸ ' ho BagavaanaÑ  @yaa hmaoM BaI eosaI ijaMdgaI nahIM imala saktI hOÆ"

@vaaT-r ko pasa hI [sa Sahr ka [klaaOta isanaomaa ha^la sarsvatI Ta^ikja qaa.  ]sanao Aba tk isanaomaa nahIM doKa qaa¸ haM ek hsart sao [sa ha^la kao ]sanao k[- baar baD,I dor tk KD,o hao–haokr doKa qaa.  Kasakr Saao ko Ta[ma hao jaanao pr iTkT ko ilae macaI ek Afra–tfrI doKkr ]sako mana maoM ek jaaordar kaOtUhla hao ]zta qaa ik ja$r yah isanaomaa ek eosaI caIja hO jaao sabakao sahja ]plabQa nahIM hao sakta.  vah ha^la ko SaIYa- pr rKo laa]DspIkr ko caaoMgao sao bajato nayao–nayao iflmaI gaanaaoM kao baD,o Qyaana sao saunata AaOr saMtaoYa kr laota.

jaba maOiTnaI Saao ka Ta[ma haonao lagaa tao laa]DspIkr kI Aavaaja @vaaT-r maoM hI Aanao lagaI.  iKD,kI ko pasa baOzkr ]sanao kana [Qar hI lagaa idyao.  AanaMd kI ek ihlaaoroM ]znao lagaIM ]sako mana maoM.  zhro hue¸ izzko hue gaaMva kI tulanaa maoM Sahr iktnaa calaayamaana AaOr gaMujaayamaana haota hO naÑ

dIdI ko jaoz jaba Saama kao Aa^ifsa sao vaapsa Aayao tao saaqa maoM k[- trh kI saibjayaaM AaOr fla BaI laoto Aayao.  dIdI ]nako Aanao ko zIk phlao ikcaona maoM calaI gayaI jahaM sao xauQaa–ga`Miqa kao jaaga`t kr donao vaalaI KuSabaueM AanaI Sau$ hao gayaIM.  qaaoD,I hI dor maoM ]sanao ek garmaagarma PlaoT laakr idyaa ijasamaoM doKto hI Kanao ka AamaM~Na samaayaa qaa.  PlaoT kI ek saamaga`I hlavaa kao vah phcaanata qaa¸ dUsarI ka naama dIdI nao pnaIr pkaOD,a batayaa.  gajaba ka svaad qaa ]samaoM.  [sao Kanao ko baad caaya dI gayaI.  rat ko Kanao maoM GaI sao caupD,I hu[- capaityaaM AaOr dao–tIna trh kI baohd laja,Ija, saibjayaaM qaIM.  rat maoM laga hI nahIM rha qaa ik khIM sao BaI AMQaora hoM.  Gar–baahr hr jagah toja raOSanaI fOlaI qaI AaOr saarI caIjaoM idna kI trh idKa[- pD, rhI qaIM.  gaaMva ko GaraoM maoM tao iTmaiTmaato dIe kI xaINa AaOr mairyala raOSanaI ko Alaavaa hr jagah AMQaora hI AMQaora ibaCa haota hOM.  ]sao AcCI naIMd nahIM AayaI  , , ,basa saaocata hI rh gayaa ik [sa ek duinayaa maoM iktnaI Alaga–Alaga duinayaa hOM AaOr [namaoM rhnaovaalao laaoga iktnao Alaga–Alaga hOM.

saubah SaaOcaalaya jaanao maoM ]sanao KUba fUtI- mahsaUsa kI.  gaaMva maoM laaoTa laokr kma sao kma ek maIla tao pOdla jaanaa hI pD,ta qaa.  Agar khIM jaaor laga gayaa tao isavaa iksaI trh raok rKnao ka dUsara kao[- ]paya nahIM.  ]sanao Aaja Qaaonao maoM Zor saara panaI ka [stomaala ikyaa.  ek laaoTo panaI sao Qaaonao maoM ]sao hr baar lagata qaa ik yah bahut kma hOM.  eosaa hI ]sanao nahanao maoM BaI ikyaa.  }pr fvvaara qaa¸ drvaajaa baMd krko ]sanao jaaor sao calaa idyaa.  [sa trh baMd kmaro maoM Akolao naMgao haokr nahanao ka yah ]saka phlaa Avasar qaa.  halaaMik Kud sao BaI laaja laga rhI qaI ]sao.  ]sanao AcCI trh pUrI doh maoM dao baar saabauna lagaayao.  pta nahIM iktnao idnaaoM baad Aaja vah saabauna lagaa rha qaa.

kpD,o Aaid ]sanao phna ilayao tao dIdI nao kha¸ "naaSta laa rhIM hMU¸ Ka laao."

]sanao qaalaI AaOr kTaoro maoM pUD,I¸ sabjaI AaOr KIr laa dI.  drbaarI Kato hue ek raomaaMca sao gaujarta rha ik yah kOsaa saaOBaagya hO ik rat–idna maoM yahaM caar–caar baar laaoga Ka rho hOM AaOr caaraoM hI baar Alaga–Alaga trh kI caIjaoMÑ  jabaik ]sao ek hI trh ka $Ka–saUKa dao baar BaI inayaimat nahIM imalaa krta.  ]sanao saunaa Bar qaa ik Alaga–Alaga samaya ko Kanao ka Alaga–Alaga naama haota hO – ba`ok fasT¸ laMca¸ snaO@sa¸ iDnar  , , ,Aaja ]sanao cairtaqa- haoto doK ilayaa.

naaSta krko ]sanao sToSana ko ilae inakla jaanaa caaha¸ laoikna dIdI nao kha¸ "Kanaa Kakr baarh bajaovaalaI pOsaoMjar sao calao jaanaa.  jaoz jaI maaMsa laanao gayao hOM."

maaMsa ko naama sao ]sako Kanao kI tlaba maoM ek AQaOya- samaa gayaa AaOr maMuh maoM Zor saarI laar Bar AayaI.  Apnao Gar maoM maaMsa Kayao ]sao na jaanao iktnao mahInao hao gayao.  $k gayaa vah AaOr jaI Barkr maaMsa–Baat Kayaa.

dIdI nao calato hue ]sakI mau{I maoM paMca $pyao pkD,a idyao AaOr kha¸ "[tvaar kao Aa jaayaa krnaa drbaarI."

Aagao—