faona iDsknao@T haoto hI maOMnao AaproTr sao¸ ide gae nambar pr maOsaoja do donao ko ilae kh idyaa. qaaoD,I hI dor maoM AaproTr nao knfma- kr idyaa – maOsaoja do idyaa hO.

halaaMik vah saurIlaI Aavaaja kafI dor tk kanaaoM maoM gaMUjatI rhI¸ laoikna kama¸ vyastta AaOr koibana maoM Aanao–jaanao vaalaaoM kI gahmaa–gahmaI maoM faona kI baat jaldI hI idmaaga sao ]tr ga[-.

tBaI saoËoTrI nao [nTrka^ma pr batayaa¸ "gyaarh bajao ko Apa[nTmaoMT vaalaI paTI- Aa[- hu[- hO."

]nhoM Andr Baojanao ko ilae kha hI hO ik vahI imaEaIvaalaa faona bajaa. mauskurayaa maOM¸ Aba Saayad raMga nambar na khnaa pD,o. vahI hO. maorI Aavaaja saunato hI baaolaI¸ "Aapka bahut–bahut SauiËyaa. maOM kba sao proSaana hao rhI qaI. Aapnao baat kra dI." Saayad vah kuC AaOr khnaa caahtI hO. Saayad maOM BaI kuC AaOr saunanaa caahta hMU. laoikna ivaijaTr Aakr baOz cauko hOM. maOM ]sa kNa-ip`yaa sao khta hMU¸ "[sa samaya qaaoD,a vyast hMU¸ @yaa Aap mauJao baad maoM faona kr laoMgaI¸ yahI kao[- tIna–caar bajao."
"naovar maa[MD" ko saaqa hI laa[na kT ga[- hO.

AcCa nahIM lagaa¸ laoikna isqait hI kuC eosaI hO.
savaa tIna bajao. vahI faona. maOM isagaar ko kSa laota huAa koibana kI hvaa kao baaoiJala banaa rha hMU.

"haM¸ kihe¸ ]sa samaya @yaa khnaa caah rhI qaIM AapÆ"
"kuC nahIM¸ isaf- ek AcCo AadmaI kao Qanyavaad donaa caah rhI qaI." vah sacamauca bahut maIza baaolatI hO. [saka naama tao maRduBaa haonaa caaihe¸ saaocata hMU maOM.
"AcCa AadmaI. hma AcCo AadmaI kba sao hao gaeÑ" maOM Anajaana bana jaata hMU. ]sakI saUrt kI klpnaa krta hMU.
"Aapnao maoro ilae [tnaa kYT ikyaa. maOMnao [tnaI baar Aapkao ibanaa vajah iDsTba- ikyaa¸ laoikna Aap jara BaI naaraja nahIM hue. k[- laaoga tao dUsarI baar BaI vahI nambar imalanao pr icallaanao lagato hOM¸ jaOsao faona pr hI haqaa–pa[- Sau$ kr doMgao."

[tnaI ]jalaI Aavaaja kao dor tk saunanaa AcCa lagata rha¸ vah BaI ApnaI tarIf maoM. baat jaarI rKnao maoM kao[- hja- nahIM lagaa.
"[samaoM SauiËyaa kI @yaa baatÑ Agar Aap maorI jagah haotIM tao Aap BaI tao yahI krtIM naÑ" Aavaaja sao tao lagata hO¸ tIsa–ba%tIsa kI haogaI.
"haM¸ krtI tao maOM BaI yahI. [saIilae tao Aapkao faona ikyaa."
"AcCa lagaa. ek baat khMU¸ Aap baura tao nahIM maanaoMgaIÆ" mauJasao kho ibanaa rha nahIM gayaa.
"baura maananao laayak sambanQa BaI jaaoD, ilayaa Aapnao¸ Ba[- vaahÑ"

vah iKlaiKlaa[-. lagaa¸ saccao maaoityaaoM kI maalaa ka Qaagaa TUT gayaa hao AaOr saaro maaotI saaf–sauqaro fSa- pr PyaarI–saI Aavaaja krto ibaKr gae haoM.
"AapkI Aavaaja maoM gajaba kI imazasa hO." fa[laoM inapTato–inapTato maOMnao kha. saaocaa¸ khIM jaanatI tao nahIM mauJao¸ yaMU hI galat nambar ka bahanaa banaakr mauJao hI faona kr rhI hao AaOr AbaÆ
"tao yaMU kihe na¸ maorI Aavaaja ifr saunanao kI [cCa rKto hOM¸" ]sanao trora.
"Aro nahIM¸ maora matlaba yah kt[- nahIM qaa¸" maOM sakpkayaa¸ "sacamauca tarIf krnao laayak hO AapkI Aavaaja." maOMnao mana kI baat kh hI dI. caahnao tao maOM BaI lagaa hMU¸ yah Aavaaja saunata rhMU.
"AcCI baat hO. maana laoto hOM. qaOM@sa vansa Agaona." saMgaIt kI lahiryaaM baja ]zIM. dor tk caaogaa haqa maoM pkD,o saaocata rh gayaa. Arsao baad kuC gaunagaunaanao ka mana huAa. laoikna faona ABaI iDsknao@T nahIM ikyaa gayaa qaa.
maOMnao hI isalaisalaa Aagao baZ,ayaa¸ "jaana sakta hMU¸ iksasao baat kr rha hMUÆ"
"nahIM¸" Aaosa kI ek baMUd Jap sao JarI SaaMt jala maoM.
"kao[- kama krnao ko pICo tao vajah hao saktI hO¸ na krnao ko pICo kOsaI vajahÆ"

Aavaaja maoM Sarart hO. lagaa¸ fusa-t maoM hO AaOr mauJao BaI fusa-t maoM maanakr cala rhI hO. k[- kama maora [ntjaar kr rho hOM. dUsaro faona GanaGanaa rho hOM. maOM [saI faona kao qaamao baOza hMU.

"@yaa saaoca rho hOM Aap¸ yah tao pICo hI pD, ga[- hO. laIijae band kr rhI hMU." AaOr ]sanao faona rK idyaa.

bahut Asao- baad¸ barsaaoM baad iksaI nao¸ vah BaI Apiricat nao sahja AaOr khIM sao jaaoD,tI–saI baat kI hO. saara idna yasa sar¸ yasa sar saunanao ko AadI kana yah saba kuC kao BaUla cauko hOM. sambaaoQana sao pro BaI baat kI jaa saktI hO¸ yah Aaja hI mahsaUsa hao rha hO. Aavaaja ka irStaÑ AcCa lagaa. ifr sao klpnaa krnao lagaa¸ kaOna haogaI¸ kOsaI haogaIÑ iksa ]ma` kI haogaI¸ @yaa krtI haogaI. ApnaI [sa falatU kI ]%saukta pr hMsaI BaI Aa[- AaOr maja,a BaI. jamao rhao EaImaana saaomaond`naaqaÑ p`tIxaa kraoÑÑ ifr Aavaaja dogaI vahÑÑÑ

Agalao tIna idna ]sa Aavaaja nao dstk nahIM dI. hao sakta hO¸ dI BaI hao AaOr maOM maIiTMga vagaOrh maoM baahr gayaa hao}M. bahrhala [sa Aaor jyaada saaocanao kI fusa-t BaI nahIM imalaI. Kud sao hI pUCta hMU – @yaaoM [ntj,aar kr rha hMU ]sako faona ka. mauJao ]sakI Aavaaj,a nao baaMQa ilayaa hO¸ ja$rI qaaoD,o hI hO ]sao BaI maorI Aavaaja¸ baatcaIt AcCI lagaI hao. jaOsao ]sao AaOr kao[- kama hI na hao¸ ek Anajaana AadmaI sao baat krnao ko isavaa. hmaara pircaya hI khaM hOÆ ek dUsaro ka naama BaI nahIM jaanato¸ doKa tk nahIM hO¸ isaf- Aavaaja ka pulaÑ k[- trh ko tk- dokr ]sako #yaala kao Baulaanao kI kaoiSaSa krta hMU¸ ifr BaI hlkI–saI ]mmaId jagaae rhta hMU. vah ifr faona krogaI.

caaOqao idna saubah hI vah faona bajaa. maorI saaMsa ekdma toja hao ga[-. faona tao vah ipClao caar idna sao baIca–baIca maoM bajata hI rha hO. ]zayaa BaI hr baar maOMnao hI hO. baIca maoM dao–ek baar ]sakI Aavaaja, kI ]mmaId BaI kI hO. laoikna hr baar ibajanaosa ka^la hI Aae hOM. Aba laga rha hO¸ vah haogaI. qaaoD,I dor bajanao idyaa¸ ifr Aavaaja kao baohd santuilat krto hue 'hOlaao' kha.
"kOsao pta calaa¸ maOM baaola rha hMUÆ" pUC baOza.
"Agar Aap isaf- 'hMU' hI khto¸ tba BaI mauJao pta cala jaata." ]sakI Aavaaja maoM inaiScaMtta hO.
"AavaajaaoM kI bahut phcaana hO AapkaoÆ" maOMnao prKa.
"AavaajaaoM kI nahIM¸ AapkI Aavaaja, kI hao gayaI hO." vah AaSvast hO.
"kOsaoÆ" maOMnao kuroda.
"vaayasa Aa^f ek naa[sa maOna hMUÆ" pUCnaa tao yah caahta hMU¸ caar idna khaM rhI¸ laoikna baat kao Aagao baZ,to doK saba` ike hMU.
"kao[- ja$rI hO¸ hr baat ko ilae saiT-ifkoT idyaa jaaeÆ" ]sanao ina$%tr kr idyaa. ]saka faona naMbar pUCnao kI [cCa hao rhI hO¸ ifr kao[- BaarI baat kh dI taoÆ
"maOMnao prsaaoM BaI faona ikyaa qaa. iksaI nao ]zayaa nahIM."
'Aaoh tao yah baat hO'¸ maOMnao ApnaI KuSaI dbaayaI.
"haM¸ Saayad maOM khIM baahr gayaa hao}Mgaa¸ saolsa ko isalaisalao maoM." maOMnao ek javaana–saa JaUz baaolaa.
"@yaa baocato hOM AapÆ kCuAa Cap macCr Agarba%tIÆ" hMsaI ka toja fvvaara BaItr tk iBagaao gayaa.
"Aro nahIM¸ drAsala" maOM hklaayaa¸ "maOM saolsa [MjaIinayar hMU. ek kmPyaUTr kmpnaI maoM." maOMnao phlao vaalao JaUz kao kpD,o phnaae. SauË hO¸ eosaI laa[na batayaI¸ ijasakI mauJao AcCI jaanakarI hO¸ varnaa , , ,khIM ifr Gaor lao¸ @yaa pta.
"AcCaÑ ibaka kao[- kmPyaUTr ]sa idnaÆ" ]sanao maoro JaUz ko igarobaana maoM JaaMka.
"haM¸ kha tao hO¸ doKoM kba tk laoto hOM." maOMnao JaUz kao sahlaayaa.
"jaba ibak jaae tao ek ka^fI hmaoM BaI iplaa donaa imasTr saolsa [MjaIinayar." Aavaaja maoM khIM banaavaT nahIM hO.
maOM hDbaD,ayaa¸ "Syaaor¸ Syaaor¸ khaMÆ kbaÆ iksaoÆ"
"vah hma Kud bata doMgao¸ Aao•ko•Æ

Aao•ko• maoM ivada laonao kI [jaaja,t kma AaOr saUcanaa AiQak hO.

kmaro maoM maora maOM laaOT Aayaa. saaomaond` naaqa¸ ]Vaogapit. ek laMbaI saaMsa laI maOMnao AaOr haOlao sao caaogaa rK idyaa. idlako iksaI kaonao nao ]phasa ]D,ayaa – @yaa saUJa rha hO Aapkao EaImaana\ saaomaond` naaqa¸ [sa ]ma` maoM yao hrktoMÑ

Aajakla maOM Kud maoM bahut pirvat-na doK rha hMU. hr kama smaaT-laI krnao lagaa hMU. gaaho–bagaaho haoMz Kud–ba–Kud saITI bajaanao kI maud`a maoM gaaola hao jaato hOM. k[- baar [sa vajah sao Saima-MdgaI ]zanaI pD,I hO. maorI psa-naOilaTI AaOr kpD,aoM kI psaMd kI laaoga tarIf krto hI rhto hOM¸ ifr BaI Aajakla [sa trf kuC jyaada hI Qyaana donao lagaa hMU¸ maoro baala safod AaOr kalao ko bahut baiZ,yaa Anaupat maoM hO. saurma[- Jalak ilae. caahnao lagaa hMU¸ kaSa¸ yao kalao hI haoto¸ jaOsao tIsa–ba%tIsa saala kI ]ma` maoM qao.

]sa kho gae JaUz kao maOM Kud BaI pUrI trh sao AaoZ,nao lagaa hMU. yauvaa¸ smaaT- AaOr saolsa [MjaIinayar jaao bana gayaa hMU. Kud kao JaUzI tsallaI BaI donao lagaa hMU¸ maOM kuC galat qaaoD,o hIkr rha hMU. faona tao vahI krtI hO. maOM tao isaf- , , ,idla ka vahI kaonaa tanaa maarta hO , , ,ifr yah yauvaa bananao ka naaTk @yaaoMÆ saaf–saaf @yaaoM nahIM kh doto – bahut vyast AadmaI hMU¸ maoro pasa [na caaoMcalaaoM ko ilae fusa-t nahIM hO¸ laoikna [sako ilae BaI javaaba Kaoja laota hMU – vah pUCnao–batanao ka maaOka hI khaM dotI hOÑ
"Aap ka^fI kI hkdar hao gayaI hOM imasa–" maOMnao jaanabaUJakr vaa@ya AQaUra CaoD, idyaa. ]sanao Agalao idna jaba faona ikyaa.
"pI laoMgao. @yaa jaldI hO imasTr saolsa [Mjainayar." ]sanao nahlao pr dhlaa maara. lagaa maora majaak ]D,a rhI hO.
"doiKe¸" maOMnao naaraja haonao ka naaTk ikyaa¸ "maora naama saolsa [MjaIinayar nahIM hO¸ maora naama , , ,"
"AaohÑ AcCa tao Aapka kao[- naama BaI hOÑ" vah pUrI trh Sarart pr ]tr AayaI hO. "hma samaJao , , ,"
"[tnaI BaaolaI mat bainae¸ maora naama , , ,"
"jaana laoMgao naama BaI , , ,kaho kI jaldI hO¸" ]sanao jaldI sao mauJao Taoka. maOM hOrana huAa¸ AjaIba laD,kI hO¸ jaao na Apnaa naama batatI hO¸ na maora naama jaananao kI [cCa hO¸ ifr BaI faona krtI rhtI hO.
"AaOr saunaa[e¸ @yaa hala hOMÆ" ]sanao mauJao AQaIr krto hue pUCa.
"Apnao baaro maoM kuC bata[e naa." maOM saIQaa baoSarmaI pr ]tr gayaa.
"@yaa jaananaa caahto hOM AapÆ" lagaa hiqayaar Dala dogaI Aaja.
"kuC BaI¸ jaao batanaa caahoM." maOM ]dar hao gayaa.
"naama–naama maoM @yaa rKa hOM. ]ma`–maihlaaAaoM sao ]ma` nahIM pUCI jaatI. vajana–bah%tr iklaao¸ kd–paMca fuT naaO [Mca. faona naMbar–]sakI Aapkao @yaa ja$rt. caahao tao saara idna faona lagaae rKMU Aapka. AaOr kuC pUCnaa hOÆ" ]sanao Saaitr iKlaaD,I kI trh p%to idKae.
"nahIM¸ [tnaa hI kafI hO. SauiËyaa." maOMnao har maana laI.

faona rKnao ko ilae [sa baar maOMnao pUCa. mauJao nahIM rKnaI eosaI faonaao–ÍoMD¸ jaao hr baar Kulanao ko naama pr rhsya ka ek AaOr AavarNa AaoZ, lao. tya kr ilayaa Aba baat hI nahIM k$Mgaa.

laoikna maorI naarajagaI jyaada dor nahIM calaI. manaa hI ilayaa ]sa imazbaaolana nao. Aba faona BaI jyaada Aanao lagao hOM AaOr dor tk calanao lagao hOM. maorI BaI AQaIrta Aba baZ,nao lagaI hO. Aba CoD,tI nahIM. tMga nahIM krtI ApnaI ]laTbaaisayaaoM sao. ]sanao Apnaa tao isaf- naama batayaa hO – AiNamaa¸ laoikna maora [ithasa¸ BaUgaaola¸ Aqa-Saas~ AaOr samaajaSaas~ saba kuC ]galavaa ilayaa hO. Aba maora JaUza kafI sayaanaa hao gayaa hO AaOr Kud baZ,–caZ,kr ApnaI baatoM batanao lagaa hO. ba%tIsa vaYaI-ya saaoma ilasao 4000 $pyao vaotna imalata hO. ek sardarnaI ko yahaM po[MgagaosT rhta hO. sardarnaI kafI #yaala rKtI hO. maaM–baap dUr ek ksbao maoM rhto hOM AaOr hr mahInao manaIAaD-r ka [Mtja,ar krto hOM. idna ka tao cala jaata hO¸ SaamaoM bahut baaor gaujartI hOM. haoTla ka Kanaa BaI nahIM jamata raoja,–raoja,. baMba[- maoM tIna saala maoM ek BaI gala-ÍoMD nahIM bana payaI ABaI tk. yao AaOr [saI trh ko baIisayaaoM¸ KUbasaUrt JaUz baaolao maOMnao.

yao saarI baatoM maOMnao ]sao @yaaoM batayaIM AaOr kba–kba batayaIM¸ mauJao nahIM pta. mauJao tao [tnaa yaad rhta hO ik ]sakI Aavaaja saunato hI maOM dUsara [nsaana bana jaata hMU. vah pUCtI rhtI hO¸ kurodtI rhtI hO AaOr maOM caabaI Baro babaue kI trh JaUz kI iktaba bana jaata hMU. maOMnao ek baar BaI samaJanao kI kaoiSaSa nahIM kI hO ik maOM yah saba @yaaoM kr rha hMU. @yaaoM JaUz ka [tnaa baD,a phaD, KD,a kr rha hMU¸ ijasako Aagao maoro saaro saca baaOnao haoto calao jaa rho hOM.

Aba maora bahut–saa va> [saI Aavaaja kI saaohbat maoM gaujarnao lagaa hO. maoro Aa^ifsa ka sTaf BaI maoro badlao hue vyavahar sao hOrana–proSaana hO. ]naka yah KbtI "sar" Aba bahut ]dar hao gayaa hO. pUrI baat saunao ibanaa haM kr dota hO yaa jahaM khao¸ 'saa[na' kr dota hO. maOM tao isaf- [tnaa jaanata hMU ik barsaaoM baad maOM isaf- Apnao ilae jaI rha hMU. ]sako ilae mauJao kuC BaI hI donaa pD, rha hO. ijandgaI Bar karaobaar krto–krto qak gayaa qaa. Aba isaf- pa rha hMU. mauJao tao yah BaI nahIM pta ik jaao mauJao yah saba kuC do rhI hO¸ kaOna hO¸ iksa ]ma`¸ tbako yaa str kI hO¸ kBaI $ba$ imalaogaI BaI yaa nahIM¸ yaa jaba maoro JaUz ka yah ZaMcaa BarBara kr igarogaa tao @yaa haogaa. ]sa AMjaama ko baaro maoM maOM saaocanaa BaI nahIM caahta. jaanata hMU¸ ]sao QaaoKa donao ka daoYaI hMU¸ pr vah BaI tao dao mahInao sao mauJao ]laJaae hue hOM. haM¸ ek AcCI baat hO¸ vah Apnao karNaaoM sao Apnao baaro maoM nahIM batatI yaa imalanao kao ]%sauk nahIM AaOr maOM Apnao karNaaoM sao¸ JaUz kI vajah sao imalanao kao laalaaiyat nahIM. vaOsao BaI JaUz ka kvaca Aba maora hI dma GauTogaa. hmaoM tao yah BaI nahIM pta ik hma ek dUsaro kI ijaMdgaI maoM khaM ifT haoto hOM¸ yaa haoto BaI hOM yaa nahIM. basa [tnaa hI saca hO ik vah hr raoja phlao sao jyaada Aa%maIya AaOr ja$rI haotI calaI jaa rhI hO. idna ko hr pla ko ilae ja$rI. Aba Aa^ifsa maoM dor tk baOznaa yaa jaldI phMucakr ]sako faona ka [Mtjaar krnaa hI kafI nahIM lagata. Apnaa naMbar na ]sanao idyaa hO¸ na maOMnao maaMgaa hI hO.

]sasao baatoM krto–krto pta hI na calaa kba Aaz baja gae. D/a[var caprasaI¸ ilaFTmaOna¸ saoËoTrI saba laaoga maoro jaanao ka [Mtjaar kr rho hOM. sabakao [naama dokr rvaanaa ikyaa. ibailDMga sao naIcao ]tra tao pUra baOlaaD- pIyar hlkI–hlkI baMUda–baaMdI maoM nahayaa bahut hsaIna laga rha hO. ]fÑ iktnaa AcCa dRSya¸ iktnaa AcCa maaOsama. k[- baar [sa va> yaa [sasao BaI dor sao Aa^ifsa sao inaklata hMU¸ laoikna Aaja tk [sa trf Qyaana hI nahIM idyaa hO. D/a[var kao BaI ivada kr idyaa hO. hlkI–hlkI baMUda–baaMdI maoM BaIgato calanaa AcCa laga rha hO. maUD ]sasao baatoM krko vaOsao hI AcCa hO¸ mana gaunagaunaanao ka hao rha hO. Sahr ka yah ihssaa [sa va> saunasaana hao jaata hO¸ laoikna saD,kaoM pr ijatnao BaI laaoga hOM¸ saba mauJao ApnaI trh KuSa laga rho hOM.

Aaja bahut calaa hMU. barsaaoM baad. yaMU hI¸ ina$_oSya. puranao idnaaoM kao¸ puranao saaiqayaaoM kao yaad krto hue. calato calato ga`aMT raoD tk Aa phMucaa hMU. saamanao ek Zabaa naumaa haoTla doK BaUK camak AayaI hO. Aaja Zabao maoM hI Kayaa jaae. khIM pZ,a qaa¸ AcCI jagah Kanaa hao tao fa[va sTar haoTla¸ AcCo laaogaaoM maoM Kanaa hao tao qa`I sTar yaa kao[- BaI eyarkMDISaMD haoTla AaOr AcCa Kanaa Kanaa hao tao Zabao sao baiZ,yaa kao[- jagah nahIM haotI. Aaja AcCa Kanaa sahI. Kanaa Kakr majaa Aa gayaa. mana–hI–mana khIM saMkaoca BaI yaa kao[- phcaana vaalaa yaa kma-caarI hI na doK lao. AaSaMka inama-Ula rhI.

Aa^ifsa maoM baat kr laonaa Aba kafI nahIM lagata¸ kama ka hjaa- tao ifr BaI sah laMU¸ Kud kao [sa trh saaro idna faona pr vyast rKkr Kud kao sTaf kI inagaahaoM maoM AaOr nahIM laayaa jaa sakta. [saIilae maOMnao ]sao batayaa hO ik maorI makana maalaikna 6 mahInao ko ilae Apnao baoTo ko pasa laMdna jaa rhI hO¸ [sailae vah Apnaa faona maoro pasa dokr jaa rhI hO. [sa bahanao maOMnao AiNamaa sao Gar pr baat krnao ka isalaisalaa ZMUZ, ilayaa hO. ]sao baoD$ma ka psa-nala naMbar do idyaa hO¸ ijasao maoro Alaavaa kao[- nahIM ]zata. paMca saala phlao p%naI kI maR%yau ko baad sao pUrI kao kaozI maoM vaOsao BaI maoro AaOr naaOkr ko Alaavaa kao[- nahIM rhta. baoTo jaba maoro pasa rhnao Aato hOM¸ tao Apnao–Apnao kmaraoM maoM hI rhto hOM. vaOsao BaI ivadoSaaoM sao raoja–raoja khaM Aa pato hOM. ]nako Apnao QaMQao hOM vahaM pr.

Gar pr faona Aanao Sau$ haonao sao maorI ijaMdgaI hI badla gayaI hO. Aba maorI SaamaoM yaMU hI ibajanaosa paiT-yaaoM maoM saf- nahIM haotI¸ jahaM kha gayaa ek–ek Sabd iksaI laona–dona kI BaUimaka haota hO. Aba maOM pUro ekaMt maoM¸ tsallaI sao ]sasao baityaata rhta hMU. hma daonaaoM kI saubah ek saaqa haotI hO. naaOkr ko baOD–TI laanao sao phlao ]sakI gauD maaina-Mga phMuca jaatI hO.

pRYz : 1. 2. 3

Aagao—