vah dor tk ]sao doKta rha. "yah tao basa hI lagatI hO laoikna ABaI tao basa ka Ta[ma huAa nahIM." vah kuC saaoca maoM pD, gayaa "@yaa Ta[ma huAaÆ"
"Aaz caalaIsa."
"tba tao basa ka Ta[ma nahIM hO. laoikna hO yah basa hI."

tBaI gaaD,I pasa Aa[- tao hmanao doKa vah vaastva maoM basa hI qaI. laoikna iksaI TUirsT saovaa kI p`a[vaoT basa qaI.
"ba%tI doKkr Aap kOsao jaana laoto hOMÆ"
"ijaMdgaI maoM yahI ikyaa AaOr saIKa hO." ]sanao kha.

vah kuC dor SaaMt rha tao maOMnao ]sao kuroda¸ "Aap bata rho qao ik Aapnao ek T/aMsapaoT- kMpnaI maoM naaOkrI kr laI."
"haM. laoikna tIna–caar saala maoM hI maora mana ]sasao ]caT gayaa. mahInaaoM @laInar AaOr holpr ko saaqa rat–idna T/k pr hI gaujaarnaa pD,ta. kBaI–kBaI tao T/k Kraba hao jaanao pr k[-–k[- idnaaoM tk saunasaana saD,k pr Akolao rhnaa pD,ta jahaM Kanao–pInaa ka BaI kao[- p`baMQa nahIM haota. [saI sabasao }bakr maOMnao ek idna vah naaOkrI CaoD, dI. kuC idna baokar rha tba pNajaI maoM ek TUirsT basa saiva-sa maoM D/a[var kI naaOkrI kr laI."
"yah naaOkrI AcCI qaI. saubah Aaz bajao ek sqaana sao TUirsTaoM kao laokr inaklata AaOr ]nhoM lavasa- Pvaa[MT¸ dixaNa gaaovaa ko igarjaaGar¸ saI–baIca¸ maa[ma¸ gaaovaa¸ majagaaMva Da@sa¸ faoT- AgaaoMda vagaOrh Gaumaato hue Saama kao vaapsa laaOT Aata. vahIM pNajaI maoM hI ek iËiScayana pirvaar maoM po[Mga gaosT banakr rhnao lagaa."

kula tIna janaaoM ka pirvaar qaa vah. baUZ,o maaM–baap AaOr ]nakI ek baoTI. ek baoTa BaI qaa phlao laoikna gaaoAa kI AajaadI kI laD,a[- ko daOrana vah maara gayaa qaa. iDsaUjaa pirvaar qaa vah. laD,kI jaUlaI iDsaUjaa mauJasao Aayau maoM ek–dao vaYa- kma hI rhI haogaI. vah bahut AcCa DaMsa krtI. igaTar AaOr ipyaanaao BaI bajaatI.
"QaIro–QaIro hma daonaaoM ek–dUsaro ko bahut inakT Aa gae AaOr jaUlaI ko maaM–baap kI rjaamaMdI sao ek idna hmalaaogaaoM nao caca- maoM jaakr ivavaah kr ilayaa.

maorI isagaroT samaaPt hao ga[- qaI. "khIM isagaroT imalaogaI yahaMÆ" maOMnao ]sasao pUCa.
"kh nahIM sakta." ]sanao kha "cailae calakr doKto hOM."

saaOBaagya sao qaaoD,I dUr pr hI ek dukana KulaI imala ga[-. isagaroT laokr hma vaapsa ]saI sqaana pr Aa gae.
"Aap kh rho qao Aapnao caca- maoM jaakr SaadI kr laI." maOMnao ]sao kqaa ka CUTa huAa saU~ yaad idlaayaa.
"haM." ]sanao kha "SaadI krnao ko baad hmalaaoga Aarama sao ]saI makana maoM rhnao lagao. tBaI Ch saala ko AMdr hmaaro tIna baoTo pOda hue. tInaaoM hI ek sao ek KUbasaUrt. maOMnao mana maoM tya ikyaa ik maOM tInaaoM kao pZ,a–ilaKakr baD,a AadmaI banaa}Mgaa. laoikna maoro baoTaoM kao ek hI Qauna qaI. maaoTr D/a[varI krnao kI. AaiKr jaba phlao baoTo nao baD,o haokr bahut ijad kI tao jaUlaI kI raya sao hmanao Apnaa makana igarvaI rKkr ]sao ek TO@saI idlaa dI AaOr vah TO@saI calaanao lagaa. tba tk dUsara baoTa BaI baD,a hao gayaa qaa. Aba daonaaoM ]saI TO@saI kao baarI–baarI sao calaanao lagao. laoikna TO@saI kao laokr ]namaoM JagaD,a haonao lagaa. AaOr dUsaro baoTo nao BaI TO@saI kI maaMga kI. Aba dUsarI TO@saI laonao kI takt mauJamaoM nahIM qaI. At: maOMnao saaf manaa kr idyaa. [sa pr dUsara baoTa ek T/aMsapaoT- kMpnaI maoM D/a[var hao gayaa. 
maOMnao ]sao bahut samaJaayaa ik yah bahut kizna ijaMdgaI hO laoikna vah nahIM maanaa. tBaI ek duGa-Tnaa GaT ga[-."
"@yaaÆ" maOMnao pUCa.
"maora sabasao baD,a baoTa ek idna ApnaI TO@saI pr kuC savaairyaaoM kao laokr pNajaI sao maMgalaaOr jaa rha qaa. 

tBaI ]sakI TO@saI ek T/k sao Tkra ga[-. mausaaifraoM kao tao kao[- caaoT nahIM Aa[- laoikna maoro baoTo kI duGa-Tnaasqala pr hI maR%yau hao ga[-. yah lagaBaga vahI sqaana qaa jahaM phlaI baar basa duGa-Tnaa ko samaya maOM poD, kI Dala sao laTkta huAa payaa gayaa qaa. ]sa samaya maoro baoTo kI ]mar qaI to[sa saala gyaarh mahInao AaOr torh idna." 

"bahut Afsaaosa huAa mauJao saunakr" maOMnao kha.
"mauJao BaI bahut sadmaa phMucaa. maOMnao Apnao dUsaro baoTo kao samaJaayaa ik vah T/k calaanaa CaoD, do. laooikna ]sakI baat tao dUr rhI maora tIsara baoTa ijad krnao lagaa ik maOM duGa-Tnaaga`st TO@saI kao jaldI sao zIk kra dMU taik vah ]sakao calaa sako."

"[sa baIca jaUlaI ko maata–ipta kI maR%yau hao caukI qaI. ]sao BaI Apnao baD,o baoTo kI maR%yau ka bahut sadmaa qaa laoikna vah maorI trh AMQaivaSvaasaI nahIM qaI AaOr ]sanao sabasao CaoTo kao TO@saI zIk kranao ko ilae ]pyau> Qana do idyaa. Aba maMJalaa baoTa T/k AaOr CaoTa baoTa TO@saI calaanao lagaa. tBaI dUsarI duGa-Tnaa GaTI."

maOMnao AaScaya- sao ]sakI Aaor doKa.

"huAa yah ik maora maMJalaa baoTa KalaI T/k laokr maMgalaaOr sao pNajaI Aa rha qaa. tBaI lagaBaga ]saI sqaana pr jahaM baD,o baoTo kI maR%yau hu[- qaI ]saka T/k saD,k pr ifsalaa AaOr naIcao KD\Do maoM jaa igara. @laInar kao basa maamaUlaI caaoToM Aa[-M laoikna maoro baoTo nao vahIM dma taoD, idyaa." vah ek xaNa $ka tba baaolaa¸ "jaanato hOM ]sa samaya maoro baoTo kI ]ma` @yaa qaIÆ"
"@yaaÆ" maOMnao pUCa.
"to[sa saala gyaarh mahInao AaOr torh idna." ]sanao kha.

ek xaNa hma daonaaoM hI KamaaoSa rho. tba ]sanao Aagao khnaa Sau$ ikyaa¸ "[sako baad tao maora idmaaga hI Kraba hao gayaa. jaUlaI BaI bahut pCta[- ik ]sanao maorI baat @yaaoM nahIM maanaI AaOr [saI gama maoM vah pagala hao ga[-. mauJao ]sao pagalaaoM ko Asptala maoM BatI- kranaa pD,a. saaqa hI tIsaro baoTo kao laokr maoro mana maoM AaSaMkaeM ]Barnao lagaIM ik yah kaOna saI SaOtanaI Sai> qaI jaao [tnaI inad-yata sao maoro baoTaoM kao mauJasao CIna rhI qaI. maOMnao tya ikyaa ik kuC BaI hao Aba maOM maa[kola kao TO@saI nahIM calaanao dMUgaa. jaI haM¸ maaa[kola maoro sabasao CaoTo baoTo ka naama hO. maOMnao ]sao bahut samaJaayaa laoikna vah nahIMM maanaa. AaiKr ek idna maOMnao ]sao jabardstI kmaro maoM baMd kr idyaa AaOr tba tk baMd rKa jaba tk TO@saI maOMnao baoca nahIM dI. [sako baad maOMnao ]sao kmaro sao baahr inakalaa AaOr ]sao Apnao pasa ibazakr samaJaayaa ik TO@saI maOMnao baoca dI hO Aba [na pOsaaoM sao jaao BaI QaMQaa vah krnaa caaho kro. vah kuC nahIM baaolaa AaOr pOsao mauJasao laokr jaoba maoM rKkr Gar sao baahr calaa gayaa."
"maOM samaJata qaa vah caar–Ch GaMTaoM maoM laaOT Aaegaa laoikna ek idna gaujara¸ dao idna gaujaro AaOr ifr saPtah AaOr mahInao gaujarnao lagao magar vah laaOTkr nahIM Aayaa. Aaja tk nahIM Aayaa."

"Aaja tk nahIM AayaaÆ"
"haM. maOM barabar ]sakI tlaaSa maoM hMU. Aaja sa~h tarIK hO na."
"haM." maOMnao kha.
"Aaja vah ApnaI ijaMdgaI ko to[sa saala gyaarh mahInao AaOr Aaz idna pUro krogaa. paMca idnaaoM maoM vah [Qar ja$r Aaegaa. caar idna baad maOM ]sa sqaana phMuca jaa}Mgaa jahaM phlaI duGa-TnaaeM GaT caukI hOM. hr gaaD,I kao raokMUgaa maOM. jaOsao BaI hao ]sao tlaaSa k$Mgaa. mauJao Baraosaa hO maOM ]sao bacaa laMUgaa."
"Aapka #yaala hO vah ApnaI Aayau ko to[-sa vaYa- gyaarh mahInao AaOr torhvaoM idna vahaM ja$r phMucaogaa."
"maora mana khta hO AaOr maOM ApnaI pUrI kaooiSaSa k$Mgaa ]sao bacaanao kI."
"AapkI p%naIÆ"
"]sao dubaara pagala Kanao maoM BatI- kranaa pD,a. vah BaI idna igana rhI hO. ]sao Dr hO ik maa[kola bacaogaa nahIM laoikna maOM ]sasao vaayada krko Aayaa hMU ik maOM ]sao bacaa}Mgaa. jaOsao BaI hao , , , laIijae AapkI basa Aa rhI hO."

maOMnao doKa saD,k pr dao baD,I–baDI bai%tyaaM camak rhI qaIM. gaaD,I inakT Aanao pr ]sanao saD,k pr KD,o haokr haqa ihlaanaa Sau$ kr idyaa "e@sap`osa basa haqa ihlaanao sao hI yahaM $ktI hO." ]sanao kha.

basa Aakr jaaoraoM ko ba`ok ko saaqa $k ga[-.
"Aa[e." ]sanao kha.
maOM ATOcaI laokr basa pr caZ, gayaa.
"namaskar." ]sanao kha.

basa calaI tao vah dor tk hvaa maoM haqa ihlaata rha.

]sanao zIk hI kha qaa. phlao vaalaI basa mauJao rasto maoM ek jagah KD,I imalaI. Agar maOM ]sao pkD,ta tao ATk hI jaata. [sa basa nao mauJao samaya sao phMucaa idyaa AaOr mauJao pNajaI vaalaI basa Aarama sao imala ga[-. pNajaI jaato samaya jaba hmaarI basa ]sa sqaana sao gaujarI tao maOMnao doKa vah ]saI cabaUtro pr baOza qaa. Akolaa.

rasto Bar maOM ]sako baaro maoM saaocata rha. Agar ]sanao mauJasao kuC $pe Aaid maaMgao haoto tao ek baar mauJao yah BaI lagata ik vah khanaI gaZ, rha qaa. laoikna eosaa kuC nahIM qaa.

pNajaI phMucakr maOM GaUmanao–ifrnao maoM laga gayaa. ek p`kar sao maOM ]sako baaro maoM saba kuC BaUla hI gayaa qaa. tBaI ijasa idna mauJao vahaM sao laaOTnaa qaa AaOr maOM Apnao haoTla ko laa]Mja maoM baOza pNajaI kI AMitma caaya pI rha qaa¸ Acaanak maorI inagaah AKbaar maoM p`kaiSat ek samaacaar pr pD,I "T/k duGa-Tnaa maoM D/a[var kI maR%yau."

maOMnao AKbaar ]za ilayaa. hoiDMga ko naIcao ilaKa qaa "kla maMgalaaOr sao pNajaI Aato hue lagaBaga AaQao rasto pr baIca saD,k pr KD,o ek baUZ,o vyai> kao bacaanao ko p`yaasa maoM ek T/k KD\Do maoM jaa igara. @laInar kao maamaUlaI caaoToM Aa[-M laoikna D/a[var kI duGa-Tnaasqala pr hI maR%yau hao ga[-. D/a[var ka naama maa[kola iDsaUjaa qaa. ]sakI Aayau lagaBaga caaObaIsa vaYa- qaI."

maOM sakto maoM Aa gayaa. tao @yaa ]sao bacaanao ko ca@kr maoM ]sanao hI ]sako p`aNa lao ilae.

maO pUrI taOr sao naaistk hMU. iksaI dovaI Sai> maoM maora kao[- ivaSvaasa nahIM hOM. tba [sao @yaa khMUÆ saMyaaogaÆ yaa inayait yaa , , , , Aap hI bataeM.

³vaagaqa- sao saaBaar´