Henry

Aaj 13 April hai aur yahan ke log aaj apna naya saal mana rahe hain, apne faslon ki katai ki khushi mein. Yahan mela laga hua hai. Ye sab mere liye bahut naya tha, toh main bhi nikal pada mele ke maidan ki aur, inki sanskriti ko aur achhe se samajhne ke liye.

Baisakhi ka mela apni poori shaan-o-shaukat ke saath gulzar tha. Mujhe yeh sun kar hairat hui thi ke yahan har saal yeh tyohar itni shiddat ke saath manaya jata hai. Sirf ek fasal ka tyohar nahi, Baisakhi yahaan ke logon ke liye ek naye aagaaz ka din hai. Suna hai Sikhon ke dasve Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji ne Khalsa Panth ki sthaapna bhi isi din ki thi. Yeh ek bahut hi dilchasp itihaas hai, jiske bare mein main aaj kal padh raha hoon.

Punjab ke log is din apni mitti aur apni sanskriti ke saath ek atoot rishta banate hain. Mujhe yeh sun kar toh hairat hui thi, lekin dekh kar samajh aaya ki yahaan ke log apne rangon, geeton aur apni mitti se kitne gehre roop se jude hue hain.

Bazaar logon se gulzar tha. Itni bheed maine aaj tak yahan nahi dekhi thi, jitni aaj dekh raha hoon. Mano sara sheher hi sadkon par utar aaya ho.

Auratein kaanch ki chudiyon ke liye mol-bhaav kar rahi thi, bachche apni maaon ko mithaiyon ke liye kheench rahe the, aur mard zor-zor se hasi-mazaak kar rahe the. Unke kapdon ke rang—chamakta peela, gehra hara aur tez laal—ankhon ko chundhiya rahe the. Main kabhi pehle aise rang-birangi duniya ka hissa nahi bana tha, jab tak yahan Punjab mein post nahi hua tha. Yeh sach mein apne naam ka matlab samjhata hai—paanch nadiyon ki zameen, jo na sirf paani, balki zindadili se bhi bhari hui hai.

Lekin us waqt, yeh sab cheezein maine apne dimaag ke kisi kone mein rakh di thi. Mera dhyan poori tarah us ladki par tha.

Heer!

Haan, Heer! Woh bhi yahan thi, mele mein. Apne bhai aur apni saheli ke saath. Librarian bhi unke saath tha. Haan, Iqbal Ali se maloom ho gaya hai mujhe ki Heer ki saheli librarian ki mangetar hai.

Main ghadi wale stall ke paas khada tha, ek purani pocket watch ko dekhne ka natak karte hue. Lekin sach toh yeh tha ke meri nazar Heer par tiki hui thi. Jo apne sade libaas mein bhi yahan sabse khubsurat aur haseen lag rahi thi.

Kuch toh baat hai is ladki mein, jo har baar mera dhyan apni aur kheenchne mein safal ho jaati hai. Warna main aaj tak apne lakshya se bhatka nahi tha.

Woh apni saheli ke saath chudiyan chun rahi thi. Uski naram ungliyan kaanch ki chudiyon ke gheron par dheere se chal rahi thi. Usne apni saheli ki baat par has kar ek aisi hansi chhodi, jo bazaar ke shor ke beech se nikal kar ek madhur sangeet ki tarah mere kaanon mein pighal gayi. Main chaah kar bhi apni nazar usse hata nahi paya. Uske andar kuch aisa tha jo mujhe samajh nahi aata tha, lekin mujhe kheench raha tha.

Main dekhta raha, jab usne ek sikka chudi bechne wale ko diya aur hari chudiyon ka ek joda apni kalaiyon mein pehna.

"Dilkash!"

Mere muh se uski tareef mein bas yehi nikla. Hairan hone ki zarurat nahi hai. Main aaj kal Urdu seekh raha hoon. Bataya tha na, mujhe ye zabaan itni pasand aayi ke khud ko rok nahi paya.

Woh apni chudiyon se bhari kalaiyan apni saheli ko khilkhilate hue dikha rahi thi. Ek pal ke liye mujhe library ki woh pehli mulaqat yaad aa gayi—meri aur uski. Us din kitni sanjeeda lag rahi thi, aur aaj dekho, zindagi se bhari hui hai. Us din uske wo alfaz aur wo tans mera dil jeet gaye the.

Yahan logon ki himmat nahi hoti ki wo hum Britishers ki aankhon mein aankhein daal kar dekhein, aur yeh ladki bina dare mujhe meri hi bhasha mein latad kar chali gayi thi.

Bahut nidar ladki hai yeh, lekin saath hi bahut hoshiyar bhi. Aur ehsaan na lene wali bhi. Kitabon ki shaukeen hai, magar mujhse kitab lena usse manzoor na tha.

Jaise-jaise din dhalne laga, log nachkar aur gaa-kar apni khushiyan mana rahe the. Tabhi wo bhi apni saheliyon ke saath nachne lagi. Main door khada uske nritya ka anand le raha tha. Uske chehre ke bhav aur adaayein, jo wo naachte hue dikha rahi thi, wahan maujood koi aur ladki vaisa nahi kar rahi thi.

Woh vichitra sa naach aur sangeet, jo meri samajh se koso pare tha, mujhe ek ajeeb sa anand de raha tha. Main bina palkein jhapkaye uske nritya ko dekhta raha. Tabhi mere kaan ke paas aakar Iqbal Ali bola,

"Sahab, yeh ladkiyan gidha daal rahi hain. Hamare Punjab ka lok nach hai yeh."

“Iqbal, can’t you leave me alone even for a moment?” Maine thodi chidchidahat ke sath kaha.

Haan, kabhi-kabhi main thoda chidh jata hoon, kyunki yeh aadmi har waqt mere sir par sawar rehta hai. Lekin is par kisi baat ka koi asar hi nahi hota. Jaise ke ab, muskurate hue usne jawab diya, “Sahab, aap ki seva karna toh mera kaam hai.”

Kabhi-kabhi mujhe is insaan par hairani hoti hai, aur kabhi-kabhi gussa bhi aata hai. Pata nahi kahan se mithaiyan utha laya mere liye. Mujhe ye sab bilkul pasand nahi hai, lekin ek mithai aisi thi jo Heer bade hi chaw se kha rahi thi. Dekha tha Maine door se toh maine bhi socha, ek baar chakh kar dekhta hoon. Woh narangi rang ki, ajeeb si chipchipi mithai thi.

Bahut meethi thi—ekdum hothon ko chipka dene wali. Itna meetha pasand hai kya use? Lekin zubaan toh uski itni teekhi hai.

Suraj dhal raha tha, aur sab apne gharon ko laut rahe the. Wo bhi apni saheli ke saath ghar wapas ja rahi thi, jab usne ek pal ke liye meri taraf dekha. Tabhi uske chehre par mujhe pehchaan ki ek jhalak dikhi. Lekin uski aankhon mein na toh sharm thi, na dar. Sirf ek zid thi, ek asmanjas.

Phir woh palti aur apne kadmon ko tez kar diya, apni saheli ke saath aage badh gayi. Main sirf uske peeche dekhta reh gaya, ek ajeeb se khinchav ke saath. Yeh ladki kaun thi jo mujhe itna fascinate kar rahi thi?

Woh ek vyapari ki beti hai, aur uska naam Heer hai. Iske alawa main uske baare mein kuch nahi janta, lekin phir bhi, yeh kaisa khinchav hai jo uski har ek jhalak ke baad badhta hi ja raha hai.

Mele ke baad bhi mujhe wo kai baar bazaar mein ghoomti nazar aayi, ya maidan mein peepal ke ped ke neeche charkha chalati, ya kuch kasidakari karti hui apni saheliyon ke saath. Aur har mulakat ke baad use dil bhar dekhne ki lalsa aur badh jaati thi.

Mujhe pata tha yeh sab galat hai. Main ek British officer tha, aur woh ek Hindustani. Is rishte ke liye koi jagah nahi thi. Lekin phir bhi, pehli baar lag raha tha jaise meri zindagi mein koi asliyat, koi khushi shamil hui ho.

Main har lamha bas usi ke saath bitana chahta tha, ye jante hue bhi ke yeh dur-dur tak bilkul bhi mumkin nahi hai. Uski Britishers ke prati nafrat main khud kai baar dekh chuka hoon. Toh phir bhi kyun mera dil uske baare mein sochna nahi chhodta?

Aaj ka din kuch alag tha. Mera din pehle se thoda zyada vyast tha, par aaj kaam ke chalte mujhe Baldev Singh Virk se milne ka mauka mila. Aap jante hi hain, Heer ke pita, jo Punjab ke ek bade vyapari hain aur Crown ke wafadar bhi. Woh anaj aur kapde ke vyapar mein na sirf Punjab mein, balki aas-paas ke ilaakon mein bhi mashoor hain.

Ye mulaqat mere liye khaas thi, kyunki hum dono aksar kaam ke chalte milte rehte hain, lekin aaj mera maqsad kuch aur bhi tha.

Woh pehle se hi wahan maujood the. Unke rutbe aur raubh se gyaan aur safalta ka ehsaas hota tha. Unka rang-roop, unke chehre ki ganvata, aur unki aankhon mein ek aise vyakti ka dhairya tha jo apne kaam mein apne aap ko sabse upar maanta hai. Aur wo the bhi. Unka khud par garur galat nahi tha.

Mujhe dekh kar, unhone apni kursi se turant uth kar, mujhe izzat di, aur main apna haath badhate hue unki taraf kadam badhane laga unse hath milane ke liye.

Main baki British adhikariyon ki tarah ‘White Superiority’ mein yakeen nahi rakhta, aur isliye unse milne ka tariqa bhi kuch alag tha.

“Kaise hain janab?” Unhone badi vinamrata se pucha, muskurahat ke saath mujh se hath milate hue.

“Just trying to do my job and understand the environment here.” Maine bhi usi muskurahat ke sath jawab diya, unhe kursi ki taraf ishara karte hue. Lekin wo mere baithne tak baithe nahi. Haan, Baldev Singh achhe se angrezi samajhte hain, par apni beti ki tarah fratedar angrezi bolte nahi.

Main baith gaya, aur phir wo apni kursi par baith kar muskurate hue jawab diye, "Janab Punjab nu samjhna ki aukha ae? Saade je asi log aan te saadi ji sadi zindagi. Bas khul ke jeene aa asin. (Janab Punjab ko samjhna kon sa mushkil hai? Bahut sade se log hain hum aur sadi si zindagi bitate hai. Bas hum dil khol kar zindagi jeete hain.)"

“I didn’t understand this before, but now I completely agree with you.” Maine halki muskaan ke saath jawab diya. “Anyway, shall we talk about work? How much ration can we send for the war?” Maine sanjeedgi se pucha sidha baithte hue apni kursi par. “I’ve heard we won’t be able to send as much as before?”

“Ji Janab, bilkul sahi sunya. Hamesha jina ta nahi. Satyagraha da asar Punjab ch beshak hale kuch zyada nahi par lagaan bahut jyada vadh da ja reha jis da asar chote kisana te bahut bura hai. Chote kisan tut rahe ne. (Ji Janab, bilkul sahi suna hai. Hamesha jitna nahi bhej paayenge. Satyagraha ka asar Punjab mein beshak abhi zyada nahi hai, par lagaan ka dabaw badh raha hai, aur isse chhote kisaan kaafi pareshan ho rahe hain. Chote kisan tut rahe hain.)” Unki awaaz mein chinta thi.

“Is this matter becoming so serious?” Maine pucha.

“Ji. Te oh din dur ni jado ure vi satyagraha jaise andolan chid jawe. Kithe aisa na hove Crown nu mamale di sanjeedagi samjhan ch der ho jave. (Ji, aur wo din dur nahi, jab Punjab mein bhi satyagraha jaise andolan shuru ho sakte hain. Kahi aisa na ho ke Crown ko is baat ki sanjeedagi samajhne mein der ho jaaye.)” Baldev Singh ne kaha.

Unki baat se main bhi puri tarah sehmat tha.

"I'll talk to my superiors about it." Maine kaha, aur phir wo jaane ke liye uth gaye. Lekin kuch ajeeb sa mehsoos ho raha tha, ek bechaini thi jo badhti ja rahi thi. Aaj nahi toh shayad kabhi nahi, par yeh jagah us baat ke liye munasib nahi thi. "Mr. Singh?"

Maine unhe bulaya, aur wo ruk kar meri taraf mudhe, "Ji Janab?"

"I was asking if you would like to have dinner with me tonight, as I need to discuss something very important with you." Maine pucha, bade hi aram se, lekin main hi janta tha ke andar jo toofan uth rahe the, wo kis tarah se mujhe bechain kar rahe the.

“Janab main?” Unhone thoda hichkichaate hue jawab diya, aur unka hichkichana galat bhi nahi hai kyu ke koi bhi angrezi afsar kisi Hindustani ko apne ghar daawat par nahi bulata.

“Yes, of course. Actually, the thing is, I think it would be more appropriate to have this conversation at my house.” Maine jawab diya, aur unhone dheere se haan mein sir hilaaya aur phir chale gaye.

Raat ko dinner ke liye Baldev Singh Virk mere ghar aaye. Main unhein baithak mein le gaya aur humne Punjab ki sargarmiyon par bahut batein ki lekin mere andar ek ajeeb si bechaini uth rahi thi jo mujhe zindagi mein pehli bar pareshan kar rahi thi.

Khana khabe ke baad, jab hum dono ne kuch der ke liye baat ki, tab meri zindagi ka ek aur kadam lene ka waqt aa gaya tha. Yeh baat main ab tak apne dil mein chhupaye baitha tha, lekin aaj raat use btane ka mauka tha.

Main ne apni baat shuru ki, “Mr. Singh, I want to ask you about something …” Maine thoda intezaar kiya, jise unhone apni muskurahat ke saath samjha.

“Ji Janab, ki gal ae? (kya baat hai?” Unhone jawab diya.

Main ne apna iraada bilkul safai se rakha, “I understand that in your culture, these matters are typically discussed by the elders or parents. However, my parents are currently in two completely different parts of the world, and I don’t know when I will meet them next, or if I ever will. That’s why I am speaking to you directly.” Maine hichkichate hue kaha.

“Janab, main kuch samjhya nii. (Main kuch samjha nahi.)” Baldev Singh ne pucha.

“I want to ask for your daughter Heer’s hand in marriage.” Maine bahut himat juta kar apni baat rakhdi unke age.

Lekin unki aankhon mein hairani thi aur ek dum se chup ho gaye. Unki chupi ne mujhe aur dara diya jitna ke main pehle hi dara hua tha.

Are darna munasib bhi tha. Mere samne is waqt vyapari nahi balki ek baap baitha tha.

Unki aankhon mein kuch tha—ek chhupi hui tawaqqo, ek bechaini jo main samajh sakta tha. Unhone apne gaal pe haath rakha, aur thodi der tak mujhe kuch nahi kaha.

Woh safai se jawab dena chahte the, lekin unke chehre pe ek thodi si shikayat thi. Yeh baat unhe kuch khaas pasand nahi aayi thi aur ye unke chehre par saf nazar aa raha tha.

“Heer?” Aakhir kaar unhone chuppi toh todi lekin ye sirf ek sawal nahi tha aur mere jawab par hi mera mustakbil nirbhar karta hai, main ye ache se smjhta hun.

Isi liye maine apne alfaz bahut hi soch samajh kar chune.

“Yes, Heer. I met her once in the library, and her sharp wit and confidence truly captivated me. She is a priceless gem, and whoever's life she enters will find it illuminated. How could I possibly ignore such a diamond?” Maine bade hi aram se jawab diya aur unka chehra padhne ki koshish ki, lekin mujhe kuch bhi nahi samjh aya. “I understand that you are her father, and for someone like me, an unfamiliar person, to…”

“Gal anjan di nahi hai, Janab. (Baat anjan hone ki nahi hai, janab.)” Baldev ne mujhe tokte hue kaha. “Eh mumkin hi nahi hai kisi vi surte haal vich. Tusi ek British afsar hon te mein ek Hindustani. Es rishte da koi meil hi nahi banda. Bahut farak hai sade ch te thode ch. Asi gareeb nimane thoda mukabla nahi kar skde. (Ye kisi bhi surat mein mumkin nahi hai. Aap ek Britisher hain aur main ek Hindustani. Is rishte ka koi jod nahi bnta. Bahut farak hai apke aur humare beech. Hum tuch log apka mukable bhi nahi kar sakti.)” Unhone riwayti sa jawab diya.

Baldev Singh ki awaaz mein ek gehraai thi, jaise unhone apne andar ke khauf ko shaamil kiya ho. Wo aur unka darr apni jagah sahi bhi the.

“Look, I understand that your concern is not without reason, but please believe me, I have no wrong intentions. I love Heer deeply.” Maine apna dil unke samne rakh diya. Main samajh sakta tha. Yeh baatein uski izzat, uske dar, aur apne beeti hui zindagi ke tehat the. Mere liye yeh bhi ek nayi baat thi, aur main jaanta tha ki is raat ka faisla sirf mere aur unke beech nahi, balki dono ki sanskritiyon ke beech hoga.

“I understand that your distrust of the British is justified, but I assure you, I could never think of causing Heer any harm. I only wish to spend my life with her.” Maine apne dil ki baat kahi, mera dil tez dhadak raha tha, aur main apne shabdon mein apne sachchai ko dikhana chahta tha.

Ek lambe ke liye kuchh bhi nahi kaha gaya aur kamre mein sanata tha. Baldev Singh ka chehra be-nishchit tha, unki aankhon mein kathorta thi, lekin main unki aankhon mein ek andar ki chinta dekh sakta tha. Woh ek paramparik vyakti the, jo apne vicharon aur dar se gehra juda hua tha, par unki aankhon mein kuchh aisa tha jo mujhe umeed dene wala tha.

Aakhirkar, unhone ek gehra saans liya, unke kandhe thoda neeche jhuk gaye jaise koi bhaari bojh utar gaya ho. "Janab, main thode jazbaatan di izzat kerda te main dekh skda tusi jo keha sachai nal keha. Par thonu smjhna paina apni jo eh duniya hai ini asaan nahi hai jini tusi soch rahe ho. Aisi bahut hadan ne jo asi mitti nal jude log chah ke vi nazarandaz nahi kar skde. (Janab, main aapki baaton ki izzat karta hoon, aur main dekh sakta hoon ki aap sachai ke saath bol rahe hain. Lekin aapko samajhna hoga, hamari jo duniya hai, woh utni aasan nahi hai jitni aap soch rahe hain. Aise kai seemayein hain jo hum apne matti ke log kisi bhi roop mein nazarandaz nahi kar sakte.)"

Main sir hilaya unki baat ko samajhte hue, chahe woh mujhe dard de rahi thi. "I know the world isn't simple, Mr. Singh, and I respect your position. But love, when it is true, can break boundaries, don't you think?"

Baldev Singh apne chehre ko peechhe jhuka kar sochne lagay, unki aankhon mein kuchh sochne ka gahan ghamasaan tha, aur phir unhone apni purani virasat mein ghani awaaz mein kaha, "Main thonu koi asra nahi dwanga janab. Kyu ke eh mumkin nahi hai. (Main apko koi dilasa nahi dunga janab kyu ke ye mumkin nahi hai.)”

Mujhe dard to bahut hua lekin main unke faisle ki izzat bhi karta hun. Wo akhir ek baap hai aur unhe pura haq hai apni beti ke liye sahi faisla karne ka.

Kyu ke shayad agar main unki jagah hota to yehi karta.

Maine uski baat ko samjhte hue bahut bhari maan se sar hilaya aur wo jane ke liye khade ho gae. Main unhein khud bahr tak chhodne gaya lekin mano mera sukoon to unhi ke sath chala gaya tha.

Jis baat ka dar tha, wahi akhir sach sabit hui, aur aaj pehli baar zindagi mein maine dil tutne ka ehsaas bhi kiya.

Dil kar raha tha bas apni maa ke aanchal mein chup kar use sab bataun aur kahun ke Heer ko mujhe la kar dein jaise bachpan mein meri har khwahish puri kiya karti thi.

Lekin wo yahan nahi thi. Wo to kya, koi bhi yahan nahi hai jise main apna keh sakun aur apne dil ka haal bayan kar sakun.

Yahan aane ke baad akelapan aaj sabse zyada mehsus ho raha hai aur bebasi bhi. Kyu ke pehli baar apne rutbe ki vajah se maine use kho diya tha.

Meri Heer ko.

Maine asman ki taraf dekha, aankhein band karli aur zindagi mein pehli baar dua mangi, ‘Oh Lord, I’ve never asked for anything in my life until now. For the first time, I’m asking for something—please, just give me my Heer.’