Heer

Subah ki pehli roshni jab kamre ke parde chhant kar andar aayi, toh meri palkon ne dheere se hilna shuru kiya. Aankhen khuli toh sabse pehle meri nazar us chehre par padi jo mere itne kareeb tha. Mere dil ke paas... mere Colonel Saab.

Unki saansen ab bhi gehri thi, jaise kisi gehri, bechain safar ke baad sukoon bhari manzil mili ho. Shayad kal raat ekloti raat thi us kali raat ke baad, jab hum maut ka woh manzar dekhne ke baad pehli baar itne chain se soye honge.

Unka sar mere seene par tha aur unke haathon ka daayra meri kamar ke ird-gird tha, jaise wo mujhe mere har dard, har khauf se bachakar sambhal rahe ho. Meri ungliyon ne bin bole unke ghungrale baalon ko sehla diya. Meri ungliyon ko unki khushboo mehsoos hui, thodi si chandan ki, thodi si neend, thodi si sukoon ki aur poori tarah mere hone ki.

Mere honthon par ek narmi bhari muskaan thi unhe yun sukoon se sota dekhna meri rooh ko bhi thandak de gaya.

Wo thandak jo najane main kabse talash rahi thi.

Ek lamha tha yeh, jahan koi gham nahi, koi farq nahi, koi jang nahi. Sirf main thi aur mere colonel saab. Wo jo angrez tha, jise main kabhi apna dushman smjha karti thi ab wo sirf mera tha.

Sirf aur sirf mera aur main uski.

Mera dusra hath jo unki karam par tha maine use thoda aur kas liya jab kal raat ki har ek tasveer meri aankhon ke saamne dobara chalne lagi.

Wo har pal, jab unke honth mere jism ke katre ktre ko mehsoos kar rahe the. Unki saans meri har saans mein ghul rahi thi aur unki ungliyan mujhe is andaaz mein chhoo rahi thi jaise main koi khushbu hoon jo pal bhar mein bikhar sakti hoon unke halke se zor se hi.

Unka har lab, unki har chuan mein sirf ehsas tha mohabbat ka, ehtraam ka, aur ikraar ka.

Kal tak main Heer thi, Baldev Singh Virk ki beti. Shadi shuda ho kar bhi us ehsaas se bahut mukhtalif aur ek jaddo-jehad se bhari zindagi jeeti ladki.

Aur aaj main puri tarah se Heer Henry Caldwell thi. Apni zindagi ki ek aisi haseen subah us aadmi ke saath jee rahi thi jisne mujhe kabhi nicha nahi mehsoos hone diya, kabhi toda nahi sirf samjha. Mera shiddat se intezar kiya aur poore vujood se apna banaya.

Unka haath ab bhi mere kamar par tha, lekin unka angutha mere peeth ke kinaare par dheere se hil raha tha, unke sapne mein bhi shaayad main thi.

Mujhe unhe is tarah kareeb mehsoos karna ajnabee nahi lag raha tha. Ajeeb bas yeh tha ke itna dard dekhne ke baad bhi main phir se muskara rahi thi sirf aur sirf inki wajah se.

Mujhe bahut darr lag raha tha shuruaat mein. Bebe ji aur Nooran ki wo batein mere zehan mein ghoom rahi thi, ke mujhe bahut dard se guzrna hoga aur unhein jo wo chahe wo karne dena hoga par aisa toh kuch hua hi nahi kal raat.

Haan thoda dard mehsoos hua par utna nahi jitna wo dono keh rahi thi mujhe shaadi se pehle.

Colonel Saab ne aisa kuch nahi kiya ulta woh toh baar baar mujhse ek hi baat puch rahe the ke kahi main dard mein toh nahi hu aur agar mujhe zyada dard mehsoos ho bhi toh main unhe turant rok dun.

Par us drd mein bhi ek meetha sa ehsaas tha jise sochte hi mere gaal laal ho gaye.

Maine apna chehra unke baalon mein chhupa diya, ek aakhri baar unka sukoon apne andar samaate hue. Yeh sukoon kab tak rahe, pata nahi, kyon ke duniya waise bhi kab kiski hoti hai.

Par abhi  is lamhe mein main sirf unki thi.

Par ab bhi ye soch kar ke kya ho sakta tha kal raat agar mein colonel saab ko wo phone uthane se na rokte toh bhagwan jane kon si anhoni ho jati, akhir kab tak bacha sakungi main colonel saab ko?

Isi soch mein doobe meri aankhein bhar aayi aur tabhi mujhe mehsoos hua unka jism zara sa hila, unki saanson ki lehr halki si badal gayi. Shayad unki neend toot rahi thi.

Main turant sharma kar aankhen band kar ke usi tarah seedhi lait gayi jaise abhi tak so rahi hoon par meri saansen mujhe dhoka de rahi thi. Woh thodi tez thi, beqarar thi, jaise unke jaagne ka intezaar kar rahi hoon.

Par mein sharam ke mare laal hui ja rahi thi kyun ki main ab bhi unki bahon mein Bina kapdon ke hi thi aur wo bhi.

Unki ungliyon ka sparsh meri kamar se dheere se hata, par unka haath mere gaal tak aaya jo ke paka is waqt tamatar ki tarah laal honge. Unki ungliyon ka potte mere jism ko phir se ek baar sehla rahe the aur maine itni mushkil se khud ko kanpne se rok rahi thi.

“You’re no good at pretending, little jewel,” unki aawaz itni narmi se mere kaan ke paas gungunayi, jaise kisi ne sookhe patton par halki se chaal rakhi ho. “I know you are awake.”

Unki awaaz se hi main unke labo par aayi halki si muskan ko pehchan sakti thi.

Lekin meri muskaan apne aap chhup gayi, aankhen toh band thi, par dil unki baat par chhalk gaya.

“Your breaths give away your secrets,” unhone kaha, aur uske baad unke honthon ka halka sa sparsh mujhe meri kapakti band aankhon par mehsoos hua.

Main ab bhi aankhen band kiye thi, par mere gaalon ka suraksh rang meri neend ka jhoot pakad chuka tha.

“Closing your eyes even after seeing me, is that a new charm of yours, Mrs Caldwell?” unhone ne meri gardan ko dheere se apne naak se sehlate hue pucha.

Ab main has padhi, aankhen ab bhi band thi, ek aisi khilkhilahat jisme khushi aur sharat dono thi.

“Ada toh aapki hai, Colonel Saab. Sab kuch jaan kar bhi yun puchhna jaise kuch pata hi nahi hai,” maine dheere se kaha, aankhen ab bhi band thi, lekin chehra unki taraf mor liya.

Unhone meri naak ki noke ko hlka sa apne danto se kat kar kaha mujhe chedte hue kaha, “Main seekh raha hoon tumse……mohabbat karna bhi aur tumhare jhoot pehchanna bhi.”

Jaise hi unhone ye kaha meri aankhein turant khul gayi. Ek aisa dar jo hamesha mere dil mein rehta hai.

Unke labon par jaise hi ye aya mera dil seham gaya aur mere chehre ka rang ud gaya, lekin unka chehra mere itne kareeb tha ke unki palkon ka lehrana bhi mehsoos ho raha tha par unhone meri aankho ka dar nahi dekha.

Maine khud ko kisi tarha sambhala kyu ke wo to bas mazak kar rahe the.

Par mere dil ke ek kone mein to wo dar hamesha hi panpta rahega ke kya hoga agar colonel saab ko sach mein pta lag gaya toh?

Main jaanti hoon, woh din ek din zarur aaega jab sab kuch saamne aa jayega.

Par aaj.

 Aaj ke is sukoon bhare lamhe ko main sambhal kar rakhna chahti hoon, apni rooh ke kisi kone mein. Kyunki aane wali tufan ke samundar mein, yeh lamha mera sahara banega.

Unhone meri aankhon mein dekha, unki aankhon mein wohi sukoon tha jo raat bhar meri rooh ko chhoo kar gaya tha.

Main unki aankhon mein dekhti rahi… woh aankhein jo mujhe har baar sirf pyaar, sirf ehtraam, sirf vishwaas ka ahsaas deti thi. Lekin aaj, aaj unhi aankhon mein mujhe apne jhooth ka dar chhupana pada.

Maine muskaraane ki koshish ki, par meri muskaan meri aankhon tak nahi pahunchi. Colonel Saab ne shayad mehsoos kiya, ya phir shayad woh mere chehre ki halki si sukoon se bhari ghamgi se anjaan the.

"Are you alright?" unhone dhire se poocha, ungliyon ka halki si chaal mere gaal se meri thodi tak aayi.

Mujhe laga ek pal ko sab kuch bol doon.

Sab kuch.

Apne dil ka bojh, apne iraade, apna sach.

Par, kaise keh doon ke jise tumne itni shiddat se chaha, wo ek sach chhupa rahi hai tumse? Kaise bataun ke jis mulk ki aap khidmat kar raha hai, usi mulk se main azaadi chahti hoon?

Kaise bata dun ki jo mohabbat mere dil mein hai uske peeche ek sachchai chupi hai, ek raaz, jo agar saamne aa gaya toh shayad sab kuch bikhar sakta hai.

Ke main azadi chahti hu, woh wafadari. Main Kranti ka sapna dekhti thi, woh Crown ke saath kasmein.

Maine apne jazbaaton par kabo kiya aur dheere se sar hila kar bas itna keh diya apni nazrein jhukate hue. “Ji.”

Unhone apni ungliyo se mera chehra thoda upar kiya taki main unki aankhon mein dekh sakun.

“It’s not hurting too much, is it?” Unhone dheere se pucha aur awaaz mein mere liye pyaar saaf jhalak raha tha. 

Mera dil bhar aya unki fikar dekh kar apne liye, par maine dheere se inkar mein sar hila diya. Sirf itne se hi unke chehre par itna sukoon aya ke main takleef mein nahi hu aur mujhe unse phir se mohabbat ho gayi.

Unhone mera chehra apne hathon mein liya aur unke anguthe dheere dheere mera chehra sehlane lage. Maine apni aankhein band karli unke sparsh ke naram ehsaas ko mehsoos karte hi.

“Thank you so much for last night, little jewel.”

Unhone jaise hi ye kaha maine sharam ke mare apna chehra dusri aur kar liya. Aankhein ab bhi band hi thi aur dhadhkane badhti hi ja rahi thi.

Wo mere aur kareeb aa rahe the main mehsoos kar sakti thi lekin is se pehle wo kuch kar sakte humare kamre ke darwaze par dastak hui.

Main thoda ghabra gayi.

“Yes!” Unhone ne sakht awaz mein pucha aur maine chadar ko apne charon aur zor se kas liya.

“Saab ji! Daftar se bulawa aaya hai. Zaruri hai.” Iqbal chacha ki awaaz aayi bahar se.

Aur Colonel Saab ne meri aaur dekha. Unki aankhein mujh se maafi maang rahi thi ke unhein jana hoga.

Meri aakhon mein jo dar tha Iqbal chacha ki baat sun kar unhein laga wo unke jane ka gham hai.

Unhone dheere se mera matha chuma aur kaha, “Forgive me, my love. It might be something important. I’ll try to return soon and yes, do get some rest; there’s no need to do any work.”

Maine dheere se sar hilaya aur wo bistar ne utre.

Wo ab bhi bina kapdon ke hi the maine apni aankhein band karli sharam ke mare chadar se apna muh chupate hue aur wo bina mude has pade. Meri harkat se wakif aur kaha, “It’s nothing, my sweetling, that you didn’t see last night.”

Besharam se!

Main aise hi chupi rahi aur thodi der baad wo bistar ke paas aaye aur mere chehre se dheere se chadar hatai.

Wo bilkul taiyar the apni wardi mein jane ke liye aur mera chehra apne hathon mein lete hue mera matha chuma jane se pehle.

“Take care of yourself. For me.”

Meri aankhein bhar aayi unki baat sunkar maine bas dheere sar hila kar kaha, “Aap bhi. Mere liye.”

Unke labon par halki si muskaan aayi aur wo darwaze ki aur badhe. Main unhe jate hue dekhti rahi. Wo darwaze ke paas jaa kar ruke aur akhri baar mujhe mud kar dekha maine unke chehre par jo muskurahat thi use lautaya halki si muskan ke sath aur wo chale gaye.

Unke jane ke baad dheere se bistar se uthi chadar mein lipti hui aur kapde pehne. Chalne mein thodi pareshani ho rahi thi par jab bhi ek kadam uthati aur wo dard mehsoos karti mere chehre par muskan khud-b-khud aa jati.

Main bikhra kamra sametne lagi aur jaise hi maine wo apna gown zameen se uthaya kal raat ka har waqia mere zehan mein phir se taro taza ho gaya.

Kal raat ballroom mein majood har shakhs mere pati ko nicha dikhana chahta tha meri wajah se aur main ache se janti thi.

Unke liye Colonel Saab ki patni ho kar bhi main sirf ek khilona hoon? Sirf ek "brown doll" jo unke saath hai isliye ek angrezi mehfil mein sirf bardasht ki jaa sakti hai, izzat se nahi dekhi jaa sakti?

Nahi, mujhe un sabko galat sabit karna tha. Mujhe dikhana tha ke Heer Virk sirf Colonel Henry Caldwell ki patni nahi, balki ek aisi aurat hai jo har mehfil mein apni shaan aur apne pyaar ke saath poori asmat ke saath khadi ho sakti hai.

Main Elizabeth ki shukrguzar thi ke usne mujhe naachna sikhaya. Usne mujhe kisi inaam ki tarah nahi dekha, mujhe ek aurat ki tarah samjha, jisey apne astitva ke liye ek mauka chahiye tha.

Yehi karan tha mein Elizabeth se thoda thoda nachna seekh rahi thi colonel saab se chup kar aur maine apna pehrawa bhi badla tha.

Inhe kya lagta hai main inke jalson mein shamil hone layak nahi hu?

Main Colonel ki biwi aur us Baldev Singh ki beti hu jisne apni shaan aur anakh se kabhi in angrezon ko unki tauheen nahi karne dii thi aur meri ragon mein bhi unhi ka khoon hai.

Ache se janti hun main inhe inki jagha dikhana.

Aur kal raat, jab Colonel Saab ne apna haath meri kamar ke gird rakha aur mujhe ballroom floor par le gaya, sab log hume dekh rahe the. Shayad kuch aankhen hairan thi, kuch hasad bhari, lekin mere Colonel Saab ke chehre par fakr tha. Unhone mujhe us tarah dekha jaise duniya ki sabse khoobsurat aurat main hi hun.

Naha dho kar mein Guru ghar gayi aur waha se mandir.

Waha Farooq mojood tha pandit ji ka bhes badle.

“Kya hum kamyab hue?” Maine us se prasad lete hue dheere se pucha taki koi aur humari baat na sun sake.

“Hue par do sathi gawa diye humne humare lekin dushan zyada mar giraye.” Usne jawab diya mere sar par ashirwad ka hath rakhte hue aur maine aankhein band kar apne un do sathiyon ki atma ki shanti ki prarthana ki.

“Ab se theek amawasya ke baad mandir mein sab milenge. Tab tak kisi se rabta mat karna aur tumhari saheli aegi tumhare paas jald kuch paison ka intezam taiyar rkhna.” Farooq ne kaha.

“Ji.” Maine bas itna kaha aur mandir se ghar laut aayi.

Wo paise jo main Amritsar se layi thi maine us mein se kuch paise nikal kar alag rakhe. Haa main pehle bhi apne sathiyon ki madad paiso se kiya karti thi aur ab bhi koshish karti hu.

Pehle toh Bappu ji ke hisab se paise nikalne mushkil nahi the par ab main colonel saab ke diye hue paise istemal nahi kar sakti main wo to shukar hai Bappu ji ki zameeno ke paise ab aya karte hain wahi maine sambhal rakhe hain aur na hi colonel saab ne kabhi mujhse un paison ka koi hisab rakha hai.

Unmein koi lalach ka bhav nahi hai. Bilkul bhi nahi hai.

Dopahar ka waqt tha jab Elizabeth mujhse milne aayi, “Oh! Mrs. Caldwell, you were spectacular last night. Every eye was on you in the ballroom…..”

“Yes, they’re all just waiting for a single mistake of mine, so they can bring Colonel Saab down.” maine ek muskurahat ke sath use tokte hue kaha.

“What does it matter what anyone thinks, when the two of you stand together as each other’s shield, lifting one another’s head high with pride?” Elizabeth ne apni chai pite hue kaha.

Aur waqake uski baat bilkul sahi bhi thi.

Dopeher ka khana usne mere sath hi khaya aur sham ko colonel saab ke aane se pehle chali gayi.

Maine aangan mein baithi unka intezar kar rahi thi.

Wo ghar suraj dhalne ke baad aaye aur hamesha ki tarah mere liye kuch lana nahi bhule.

Aaj wo jalebiyan laye the. Meri sabse zyada pasandida.

“For you.” Unhone ne mere haath mein dete hue kaha aur mere chehre par ek badi si muskaan aa gayi.

“Shukriya.” Maine dheere se kaha.

Wo muskurae aur andar badhe. Unke chehre par beshak muskurahat thi par unki aankhon mein pareshani saaf jhalak rahi thi.

“Subha kya hua tha? Kyu Iqbal chacha apko yun subha subha bulane aaye the?” Maine unhe pani dete hue pucha.

Wajha main ache se janti thi bas wo mere sath apni pareshani bant le itna chahti thi.

“Nothing important.” Unhone pani pite hue itni safai se jhooth bola taki main pareshan na ho jaun.

“Aisa to nahi ho sakta. Itni subah subah aapko ghar se bulana…..”

“Just because I couldn’t answer one call last night, the high command sent a message through Iqbal. That’s all, nothing else.” Unhone ne mujhe tokte hue kaha.

“Paka koi pareshani nahi hai na colonel saab?” Maine dheere se pucha kyu ke ab mere dil mein naya dar panapne lag tha.

Kahi phone na uthane par to koi musibat nahi aayi hogi na colonel saab par.

“Why are you so worried, my love? Missing one call doesn’t mean anything. Besides, all my seniors are married too and they understand that if someone doesn’t pick up the phone at night, there’s usually only one reason…” wo thoda ruke ye bolte hue unke labon par ek Sharat bhari muskan thi aur ek jhatke mein mujhe apni godh mein khinch liya aur kha, “He's spending quality time with his wife. And if it had really been that urgent, they could’ve easily sent someone to the house to fetch me.”

“Colonel Saab!” Mere muh se ek halki si cheekh nikli hairani mein. “Chodiye mujhe! Ye kya kar rahe hain aap? Koi dekh lega!” Maine unki bahon se nikalne ki koshish ki aur unhone ne apni bahein aur kass li mere gird.

Wo muskura kar na mein sar hila rahe the aur main sharam ke mare yahan wahan dekh rahi thi unki bahon mein machalte hue ke kahi koi nokar na aa jaye.

“Mujhe chhodiye Colonel Saab! koi dekh lega,” maine phir se kaha, lekin meri awaaz mein wo gussa nahi tha, sirf laaj thi, jisme mohabbat chhupi thi.

“No one dares,” unhone meri baanh thodi aur kas kar kaha. “And when I’m with you, what is there to fear? Especially from servants?”

“Phir bhi!” Maine unhe samjhane ki koshish ki.

Lekin unki aankhon mein woh chamak thi jo har baar mere dil ko pighla deti thi.

Wo angrez, jise main kabhi apna dushman samjhti thi, aaj meri hayaon ka sabse bada rakshak ban gaya hai aur unki baaton mein woh garmahat thi jo meri rooh tak chhoo gayi.

Maine unki aankhon mein jhaank kar dekha, ek lamhe ke liye sab kuch thamm gaya. Aangan mein bolte panchiyon ki tarah, hawa mein koi madhur dhun baj uthi thi.

“Our conversation was left unfinished this morning, little jewel but I swear, I was telling the truth,” unki awaaz ab zyada gehri thi, “Last night, you gave me life. You gave me everything I had only ever dreamt of, yearned for, peace, love and a sense of belonging.”

Mera dil bhar aaya. Maine apni nazar jhuka li, lekin unhone meri thodi pakad kar mujhe phir se apni taraf dekhne par majboor kar diya.

“Lekin…” main kuch kehne hi wali thi ki unhone meri baat kaat di.

“No more buts, sweetheart,” unhone kaha. “Last night was the most beautiful moment of my life, the moment you completed me in every way.”

Maine sharma kar nazrein zhukha li.

“Do you know, every person present there wanted to see me fall, to question my decision? But you proved them all wrong and lifted my head even higher with pride. Thank you, my love, for coming into my life.”

Mere honthon par ek halke si muskaan thi, aankhon mein nami thi. Maine dheere se apna sir unke seene par rakh diya, jahan unka dil dhadak raha tha, sirf mere liye.

“By the way, did I tell you last night how beautiful you looked? Just like a fairy from a dream.” Unhone mera sar sehlate hue pucha.

“Ji.” Maine dheere se uske seene mein chupte hue kha.

Kyon ki na jane kal raat se wo ye baat kitni bar keh chuke hain.

“You know, I always used to wonder how you’d look if our wedding had followed British customs and what you'd look like in that attire. Not that you didn’t look beautiful in our Indian wedding….” Unki awaaz mein chupa dard mujh se chupa nahi jab unhke agle alfaz dheere se nikle par maine sun liye. “I'm sure you looked absolutely stunning.”

Maine unki aur dekha aur unhone mera chehra apne hathon mein lete hue kaha, “But last night, you fulfilled that wish of mine too. Thank you little jewel.”

Main itni bhavuk ho gayi ki kuch keh hi na saki aur isi beech ek sipahi bhagta hua andar aya, “Colonel Caldwell!”

Main jhat se unki baahon se nikli, laal pad gayi sharm ke maare aur apna dupatta sar par rkhte waha se bhagi aur tabhi puri haveli mein Colonel Saab ki gusse bhari awaz yun gunji ke haveli ki deewaron ke saath saath mein bhi kanp uthi.

“WHAT SORT OF INSOLENCE IS THIS? WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO BARGE IN LIKE THAT?”

Maine aaj tak unki aisi gusse bhari unchi awaz nahi suni thi jise sun kar meri rooh tak kanp gayi.

Mujhe nahi sunai diya us sipahi ne kya jawab diya aur kya nahi. Bas colonel saab ki guse bhari awazein hi sunai de rahi thi.

Thodi der baad kamre ka darwaza khula jab mein apne khayalon mein gum thi aur main achanak se chaunk gayi.

“So sorry love. I didn't mean to startle you.” Unhone ne pyaar se mujhe apni bahon mein bharte hue kaha aur maine unki bahon mein sukoon ki ek gehri saans li.

“Forgive me if I frightened you. He turned up so suddenly when we were that close. I just lost my temper.” Unhone meri gardan mein apna chehra chupate hue kaha.

Aur maine apni bahen unki Charon aur zor se kas li.

“Koi baat nahi.” Maine dheere se kaha.

“I came to tell you that idiot brought a message, I’ll have to go to Delhi for a few days. It’s important work…”

“Kitne dino ke liye?” Maine bechaini main unhe tokte hue pucha.

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll return soon.” Unhone mere chehre se ek lat mere kan ke piche karte hue kaha. “Don’t worry, okay. Take care of yourself and yes, if the study phone rings, do pick it up. It’ll be me, calling just to hear your sweet voice.”

Maine sharma kar nazrein dusri aur ghuma li aur unhone ne mera chehra apni aur ghomaya.

Agle hi pal unke honth mere honthon par the. Meri saanse mere gale mein hi ruk gayi aur jab unhone mere honth chod meri ankhon mein dekha main gehri saanse le rahi thi.

Unhone ne muskurate hue mere honthon ko apne angoothe se sehlaya aur mera matha chuma.

“Jaldi wapas aayega.” Maine kanpte hathon se kaha apne aansuon ko rokte hue.

“I’ll be back soon. Take care of yourself.”

Ye keh kar wo chale gaye aur main unke sath bahar aai. Unki jeep ko tab tak wahi khade dekhte rahi jab tak ke wo meri ankhon se ojhal nahi ho gayi.

Pura ek hafta ho chuka hai colonel saab ko Delhi gaye hue aur har lamha main gin gin kar guzar rahi hun.

Unke bina kuch bhi acha hi nahi lagta. Ghar khane ko dodta hai aur bhookh lagti hi nahi.

Yun to har roz colonel saab mujhe phone karte hain, par phir bhi ek phone par chan minton baat karne se wo kami thodi hi na puri hoti hai.

Abhi bas colonel saab se baat karne ke baad main ek kitab utha apne kamre ki aur hi ja rahi thi jab mujhe mere kamre ki khidki par ek dastak mehsoos hui.

“Kon?” Maine sakhti se pucha.

“Main hun Heer.”

Wo Nooran thi. Maine khidki kholi, par is bar use andar aane ko na keh saki.

“Gurbaksh ne Farooq ko tujhe ek paigam dene ko kaha tha.” Nooran ne kaha.

Maine khidki ke paas rakhe mez ke daraz se use paise nikal kar diye.

Nooran ne chup chap paise to le liya par pucha, “Aaj mujhe andar nahi bulaogi?”

“Colonel Saab shehr mein nahi hai toh Iqbal chacha ne ghar ke andar ki suraksha badha di hai aur hum is waqt koi jokhim nahi utha skte.” Maine use samjhane ki koshish ki jo ke sach bhi tha.

Par kahi na kahi mere dil mein dar bhi tha ke kahi Nooran phir colonel saab ki study mein na chali jaye.

“Ravivar ko mulakat hogi.” Nooran ne bas itna kaha aur waha se chup chap chali gai.

Akhir mujhe ye kya ho raha hai? Main kyu apni saheli par hi shaq kar rahi hun?

Din yun hi guzarte rahe akelepan aur Colonel Saab ki yaad mein.

Aur aaj amavasya hai toh raat ko main ghar se nikli bina kisi ko pta lage.

Mandir ja kar dekha is bar kuch aur naye chehre bhi the Gurbaksh ke sath.

Sabne armory lutne par ek dusre ko badhai di aur btaya ke sara asla kha chupaya hai jiska istemal waqt ane par kiya jaega.

Sabka agla maqsad train lutne ka tha jisme bahut se british adhikari bhi honge aur sath hi unhe marne ka bhi.

Mera dil ek pal ke liye ruk gaya aur ek hi khyal mere zehen mein aya.

Colonel Saab!

Agar kahin wo us train mein hue toh?

Yaah rabb mere suhag ki raksha karna.

“Tumhare pass is bar humare liye koi khbar nahi hai kya Heer?” Nooran ki awaaz ne mujhe mere khayalon se nikala.

“Nahi….wo…. colonel saab shehar mein nahi hai toh kuch maloom nahi.” Maine jawab diya aur Nooran ki nazrein mujhe shaq bhari nigahon se dekh rahi thi.

“Khair!” Gurbaksh Singh ki awaz ne Nooran ki nazrein mujh par se hatai. “Heer! Is se milo ye Radha hai.” Gurbaksh ne ek ladki ki aur ishara kiya jo abhi mandir mein aayi thi. “Iqbal Ali ek nayi nokrani dhoondh raha hai toh ye jalad hi tumhe tumhare ghar mein milegi. Ab se kuch bhi ho ye tumhe khabar degi aur tum is ke zariye hum tak khabar ponhchaogi.”

Maine use ladki ki aur dekha wo muskil se 14-15 saal ki hogi bas.

“Khatra badhta ja raha hai. Ab se hum yun nahi milenge.” Gurbaksh ne apni jagah se uthte hue kha.

“Par Singh Sahib!” Radha boli. “Iqbal Ali ne mujhe inki haveli nahi apne ghar ka kaam karne ke liye rkha hai.”

“Bahut chalak hai wo budha.” Nooran ne itni nafrat se kha ke mujhe bahut bura laga. Akhir wo Iqbal chacha ke bare mein aise kaise bol sakti hai?

Wo to hamesha se hume kitna pyar karte aaye hain.

“Wo tumhe parkhege pehle apne ghar mein kaam karwa kar phir inki haveli bhejega. To uska vishwas jeetna.” Itni baat keh kar Gurbaksh waha se chala gaya aur ek ek kar sabhi uthne lage.

Nooran meri aur dekhe bina chali gayi aur asmanjas mein dubi main apne ghar ki aur badhi.

Ghar pohnchi hi thi jab mujhe phone ki ghanti sunai di aur sab kuch bhul aur sari chinta chhod main apne colonel saab se baat karne bhagi.

“Where were you? I’ve been trying to call you for ages.” Unki awaaz mein chinta aur ghabrahat saaf jhalak rahi thi. Wo dar gaye the mere phone na uthane se.

“Colonel Saab apke bina dil kuch bechain tha to path kar rahi thi.” Maine jhooth bol diya.

Agar unhe batati ki is waqt ghar se bahr gayi thi toh wo aur chinta karte.

“Don’t do that again, little jewel. I was really worried.”

“Mujhe maaf kar dijiye, colonel saab. Ainda kabhi aisa nahi hoga.” Maine mafi mangi.

“It’s alright. Go and get some rest. I just called to let you know that I’m coming back tomorrow evening. I’ll be a bit late, so don’t wait for me, just leave the door unlocked. I’ll slip in without disturbing your sleep.” unhone ne kaha aur unki baat sunte hi meri aankhein khushi ke mare chamak uthi.

“Ji.” Maine kaha aur humne phone rakha aur kamre mein aa gayi.

Maine kamre mein aate hi upar wale ka lakh lakh shukrana kiya ki Colonel Saab kal wapas aa jayenge kyon ki train to mere sathi 2 din baad lutne wale the.

Shukar hai mere colonel saab us rail gadi mein nahi honge.

Janti hun main is waqt khudgarz lag rahi hongi par kya karun ab main mohabbat aur farz dono ke haath majbur hun.

Sari raat mujhe khushi main hi neend nahi aayi aur agli subha bhi main colonel saab ke aane ki Khushi main yahan se wahan kood rahi thi.

Sham hote hi main besabri se unka intezar karne lagi.

Adhi raat ho chuki thi jab mujhe jeep ki awaaz sunai di aur maine bhaag kar humare kamre ke darwaze ke pass pohnchi.

Unke kadmon ki aahat mujhe mehsoos ho rahi thi aur main unka intezar besabri se karne lagi.

Jaise hi wo darwaze ke paas pohnche aur use kholne lage darwaza band tha.

Unhone phir se koshish ki par darwaza nahi khula.

“Perhaps she’s already fallen asleep and forgot to leave the door open.” Unhone khud se kaha aur wo wapis jane hi wale the kisi aur kamre mein sone ke liye maine turant darwaza khol diya.

Mera bhola pati. Inki ye masumiyat har baar mera dil jeet leti hai. Meri neend na khrab ho jaye to ek baar bhi darwaza nahi khatkhtaya.

Jaise hi darwaza khula wo ruk gaye aur piche mud kar mujhe dekha.

Main ghoonghat ki wajah se unke chehre ke bhav to nahi dekh skti thi par wo jo gehri saans unhone li thi usne mujhe sab bata diya.

Wo andar aaye aur apne piche darwaza band kiya. Main wahi khadi rahi.

Aap soch rahe honge ke kon sa ghoonghat aur kyu Colonel Saab ne gehri saans li?

Us din jane se pehle wo keh rahe the tab unki awaaz ka dard maine saaf suna tha. Wo mujhe mere shadi ke jode mein us raat nahi dekh sake the kyun ke main taiyar nahi thi unhe apna pati manne ke liye.

Is liye maine aaj sirf aur sirf unke liye khud ko phir se waise hi sajaya hai taki wo dekh sake main us din kaisi lag rahi thi aur unki aankhon mein main bhi khud ko dekh saku.