Author

Soch mein duba Baldev Singh ghar ki aur chala ja raha tha. Kali, andheri raat uske mann ki uljhanon ka ek aayina lag rahi thi. Henry ki baatein uske zehan mein goonj rahi thi—"Main Heer se shaadi karna chahta hoon."

Ek angrez, ek firangi, ek goro ka afsar… Heer ka haath maang raha tha? Yeh vichar hi apne aap mein kitna ajib tha ek baap ke liye.

Baldev ke kadam theek se ghar ki taraf badh bhi nahi pa rahe the ki achanak ek jawan usse takra gaya. Uski bhaagti chaal aur phooli saansein ek kahani suna rahi thi.

“Oh, dekh ke mundeya! (Zra sambhal kar ladke!)” Baldev Singh ki bhari awaz gully ke sannate mein goonj uthi. Magar woh ladka bina kuch kahe tez kadmon se aage nikal gaya.

Peeche se kuch sipahi bhaagte hue aaye. “Kya kisi ladke ko bhaagte dekha hai? Baaghi hai wo!”

Baldev Singh ne bina kisi jhijhak ke ulti disha ki taraf ishara kar diya. “Udhar gaya.”

Sipahi us taraf bhaag gaye, magar Baldev ka mann ab aur bhi bechain ho gaya. Usne pehchaan liya tha us ladke ko—woh uske hi pados ka tha, ek budhi maa ka akhri sahara. Agar police us tak pahunch gayi toh? Agar woh pakda gaya toh?

Baldev ne aaj fir ek baaghi ko bacha liya tha. Lekin kitni baar? Kab tak? Punjab ke nojawaan ek-ek karke is aag mein jal rahe the. Yeh aag kahaan jaakar rukegi? Beshak wo hukumat ka wafadar hai lekin phir bhi apni mitti aur uske bachon ki fikar toh use bhi hai.

Akhir usi ki tarah har budha maa-baap apne bachon se pyar karta hai aur wo us sahare ko nahi cheen sakta. Apni wafadari ke chalte bhi nahi.

Ghar pahunchte-pahunchte Baldev ka mann aur bhi bhaari ho gaya. Har mod par naye baaghi janm le rahe the. Kaun sach mein wafadar hai, kaun kisi raaz ko chhupa raha hai, yeh samajhna mushkil ho chuka tha.

‘Agar galti se usne Heer ki shaadi kisi aise vyakti se kar di jo chupke se krantikariyon se juda ho, toh? Uski Heer ki zindagi tabah ho jaayegi,’ usne socha.

Ek awaz uske andar se boli—

"Toh Henry se shaadi karwa do uski."

Uske dimag ne turant jawab diya—

"Nahi! Lok, samaj, biradari, rishtedar kya kahenge?"

Kya Heer ek angrez afsar ki patni ban sakti hai? Kya uske gharwale, uska samaaj, kabhi ise sweekar karega? Aur agar Heer ne mana kar diya toh?

Yehi sochte hue Baldev Singh angan mein pahuncha. Usne dekha Heer aur Sahib ek dusre ke pichhe bhaag rahe hain. Heer apne bhai ko khilane ki zid kar rahi thi aur Sahib shaitani muskurahat ke saath usse bachne ki koshish kar raha tha.

Uske chehre par ek halke si muskurahat aa gayi.

Bachpan ki masoomiyat abhi bhi Heer ke chehre par thi. Kya woh sach mein shaadi ke yogya ho gayi thi? Kya yeh faisla lena itna aasaan tha?

Baldev Singh ne ek gehri saans bhari aur bina kuch kahe apne kamre ki taraf chala gaya. Aaj usse neend nahi aane wali thi.

Raat bhar woh bas ek hi sawal se jujhta raha—

"Akhir meri Heer ke liye kya sahi hai?"

Sari raat isi kashmakash mein beet gayi. Subah ho gayi, lekin Baldev ke dil mein ab bhi kaali, syah raat chhayi hui thi.

Isi soch aur asmanjas mein ek hafta aur guzar gaya. Ab Baldev ke chehre ki pareshani uski biwi Sukhjeet ko saaf dikhai dene lagi thi. Aakhir ek din, usne puch hi liya—

"Ji! Kuch hoya? Tusi kuch dina ton bade pareshan lagde ho. (Aji! Kuch hua hai kya? Aap kuch dino se bahut pareshan lag rahe ho.)"

Baldev ne gehri saans bhari aur Sukhjeet ko sab bata diya—kaise Henry ne Heer ka rishta maanga hai.

"Hun mainu samajh ni aa rahi, main karaan ta karaan ki? (Ab mujhe samajh nahi aa raha ke akhir main karun toh karun kya?)" Baldev ne apne mathe ko chinta mai dube hue ungliyon se masalte hue kaha.

"Sochna ki hai, Sardar Saab? Eh ta koi mail hi nahi banda. Appa apni dhee kisi dushma….. (Sochna kya hai, Sardar Sahab? Ye to koi jod hi nahi banta. Hum apni beti kisi dushma……)"

"Oh chup kar, kamliye! (Chup karo, bawli!)" Baldev ne usse turant tok diya. "Diwara de vi kaan hunde ne, te hakumat de ta kuch zyada hi. Apni rozi-roti uthon hi chaldi hai. (Diwaron ke bhi kaan hote hain aur hukumat ke sabse zyada hain. Hamari rozi roti wahin se hi aati hai, matt bhulo.)"

"Par isda matlab eh thodi hai ke appa apni dhee de diye! (Par iska matlab ye thodi hi hai ke hum apni beti dedein.)" Sukhjeet ne ghabra kar kaha. "Lok ki kahange? Apni baradari ton bahar ja ke viyah kita? (Log kya kahenge? Apni biradri se bahr shaadi kyu ki?)"

"Te baradari vich kon hai, jisde hath vich mai apni dhee rani da hath de dawa? (Aur biradri main akhir kon hai jiske hath mein main apni beti ka hath de dun?)" Baldev ka dil bhar aya. "Kise nu nahi pata kon kisde magar lag ke hukumat de khilaf mansube banaun ch lagya hoya. Apne hi asle duwale de lokan vichon kon baaghi hai, appa nu eh v nahi pta. Ida kida mai kise de hath ch apni dhee da hath de daan, te magron eh pata lage ke oh pehla hi apni jind mitti de lekhe laun lai baitha si? Meri ta dhee di jindagi rul ju! (Koi nahi janta kaun kiske sath mil kar hukumat ke khilaaf kya saazish karne main laga hai. Humare hi aas paas ke logon ke beech kon baaghi hai, hum ye nahi jante. Aise kaise de dun main apni beti ka hath kisi ke bhi haath mein, aur baad mein pata chale wo pehle hi apni zindagi iss mitti ke naam kar chuka tha? Meri toh beti ki zindagi barbad ho jaegi!)"

Uski bebasi Sukhjeet ke dil tak ja pahunchi. Woh chup ho gayi, par uske mann mein bhi naye sawaal uthne lage.

Ek maa hone ke naate, woh apni beti ke liye sirf sukh chahti thi. Par yeh faisla asaan nahi tha. Henry ek angrez tha. Dushman tha. Par kya sach mein?

Baldev Singh ne dekha ki Sukhjeet ki aankhon mein ek anjaani si uljhan thi. Woh bhi wahi soch rahi thi, jo uska mann baar-baar keh raha tha—

"Agar Heer di shaadi kisi aur ke saath ho gayi, aur wo kal ko krantikari nikla toh?"

Ek mahina beet gaya. Baldev Singh ne kisi se bhi Henry ki baat ka zikr nahi kiya. Par Heer ko dekhte hi uska mann aur bechain ho jaata.

Ek nayi duniya.

Ek ajnabi desh.

Ek firangi pati...

Kya woh sach mein khush rahegi?

Ek mahine tak Baldev Singh ne kisi se bhi Henry ki baat nahi chhedi. Par andar hi andar, har roz ye soch uske mann ko khaye ja rahi thi. Heer ki kismat ki lakeer uski aankhon ke samne laambi hoti gayi—ek anjaani duniya, ek ajnabi desh, ek firangi pati…

Par kum toh phir bhi ek hi thi—Heer ki salaamat zindagi.

Us raat, Baldev Singh ne thak haar ke Sukhjeet de samne apna dil khol hi diya.

"Sukhjeet, mainu lagda hai eh rishta mana nahi karna chahida. (Sukhjeet, mujhe lagta hai mujhe is rishte se inkaar nahi karna chahiye.)"

Sukhjeet, jo pehle hi uske chehre ka hal dekh rahi thi, hiraan ho gayi. "Tusi keh rahe ho ke Heer da viyah ek angrez de naal kar devange? (Ye kya keh rahe ho aap ke Heer ki shaadi hum ek angrez ke saath kar denge kya?)"

"Haan," Baldev Singh ne dheere par mazbooti se jawab diya. "Eh soch ke nahi ke oh angrez hai, par eh soch ke ke oh Heer nu pasand karda hai. Oh usnu khush rakhega. Isto vadh ek piyo nu bhala hor ki chahida? Te sab to waddi gal, mainu eh nahi sochna pavega ke Heer di jindagi de kis mod te oh kise krantikari de saath na jud jaaye. (Ye soch kar nahi ke wo angrez hai, par ye soch kar ke wo Heer ko pasand karta hai. Wo usko khush rakhega. Iss se badhkar ek baap ko aur kya chahiye? Aur sab se badi baat, mujhe ye nahi sochna padega ke Heer ki zindagi ke kis modh par wo kise karantikari ke saath na jud jae.)"

Sukhjeet ne chup chap apne pati ki aur dekha. Kya ye wahi mard hai jiske liye uski sardari aur anakh sabse badh kar thi? Aaj wo ek firangi ke haath mein apni beti ka haath dene ke liye maan gaya hai, sirf is liye taki Heer ki zindagi surakshit reh sake.

Par wo dono kaha jaante the ke jin krantikariyon se wo Heer ko bachana chahte hain, Heer toh unhi ka ek hissa hai.

"Par lok ki kahange, Sardar saab? (Par log kya kahenge, Sardar Sahab?)" Sukhjeet ne dheemi si awaz mein pucha.

Baldev Singh ne gehri saans bhari aur Sukhjeet ki aakhon mein dekha jinme darr tha. "Sukhjeet kaure, Heer meri dhee hai, duniya di nahi. Mainu Heer di salaamat jindagi chahidi hai, duniya di razamandi nahi. (Sukhjeet Kaur, Heer meri beti hai, duniya ki nahi. Mujhe Heer ki salamat zindagi chahiye, Duniyaa ki razamandi nahi.)"

Baldev Singh aur Sukhjeet ne samajh liya tha ke Heer ki zindagi ka sab se bada sawal uski salaamati hai unke liye.

Unko ab koi darr nahi tha, na duniya ka, na biradri ka, na hi koi soch ke kal ko Heer ka pati kise kisi krantikari smuh se juda hoga.

Par unhone ne ek baat to kabhi apne khwab mein bhi nahi sochi hogi ke,

Ke Heer khud kya hai?

Jis aag se wo Heer ko door rakhna chahte hain, uski rooh toh pehla se hi us aag mein jal rahi hai.

Jin jadon se wo Heer ko bacha rahe the, woh to pehle se hi uski ragon mein khoon ke sath dodhti hain.

Jin krantikariyan se wo Heer ko durr rkhna chahte the, Heer to pehle se hi unka hissa ban chuki thi.

Bas, Heer ki sachai abhi tak kisi aur ko nahi balki sirf Heer ko hi maloom thi.

Baldev ne Iqbal ke zariye Henry ko uske ghar bulaya aur Sukhjeet ko Heer se baat karne ke liye kaha.

Iqbal ko sandesha de Baldev ghar pohncha hi tha jab usne Heer ko darwaze par dekha Nooran ke sath.

"Dhee rani, kithe chali?" (Bitiya rani, kahaan ja rahi ho?)”

Heer ne muskurate hue apne sir ka dupatta sahi karte hue jawab diya, "Library."

Heer thoda achambhit hui baap ko iss waqt ghar dekh kar kyon ki wo din ke is waqt ghar nahi aata aur aaj us ne Heer ko library jane se bhi rok diya.

"Aaj na ja."

Heer ka dil ek dum se tez dhadakne laga. Aaj tak uske baap ne kabhi bhi usse ghar se bahar jaane se nahi roka tha. Usne hairani bhari awaz mein apne baap se pucha, "Par kyun?"

Sukhjeet ne sakhti se kaha kyu ke usse Heer ka uske pita se yun sawal jawab karna pasand nahi tha, "Zyada sawal jawab ni karya karde. Andar chal. (Zyada sawal jawab nahi kiya karte. Chalo andar.)"

Heer ne ek pal ke liye apne Bappu ji ki taraf dekha, shayad woh kuch kahenge. Lekin Baldev Singh ne Sukhjeet ko roka nahi. Ulta Nooran se kehne lage, "Dheeye, aaj tu kali chali jaa, te jehdi vi kitaab meri Dhee Rani ne padhni hai, onu le aai. (Bitiya, aaj tum akeli chali jao, aur jo bhi kitab Heer padhna chahti hai, use le aao.)”

Nooran ne hichkichate hue Heer ko dekha. Heer ki aakhon mein bhi bechaini thi, par phir dheere se usne sir hila diya aur wahan se chali gayi.

Heer ke dil mein ajeeb sa darr panap raha tha.

Heer ne dabi si awaaz mein kaha. "Main library jaana si..." (Mujhe library jaana tha...)

Sukhjeet ne use beech me hi tok diya. "Heeray, hun tere bachpan de din mukh gaye. Ghar sambhalna sikh le. (Heer, ab tere bachpan ke din khatam ho gaye. Ghar sambhalna seekh le.)”

Heer ki to saanse hi tham gai ek lamhe ko apni maa ki baat sun kar. Lekin phir bhi usne umeed mein apne pita ki taraf dekha, aur kampati awaz mein pucha, "Ki matlab?" (Kya matlab?)

Uska dil bechain ho raha tha. Matlab use ache se samajh aa raha tha, bas ek aas thi ke shayad wo galat sabit ho jae.

Lekin Baldev ne jab muskurate hue Heer ka sar sehlate hue kaha, "Main apni Heer lai ek Rajkumar labh laya. (Maine apni Heer ke liye ek Rajkumar dhoondh liya hai.)” Heer ki toh mano duniya hi palat gai.

Baldev ke alfaz Heer ke kaanon mein ek dhamake ki tarah ghoonj uthe. Uske pita toh yeh keh kar chale gaye, par Heer ke liye toh mano waqt wahi tham kar reh gaya.

Shaadi?

Nahi!

Ye to wo khwab mein bhi nahi soch sakti thi. Iss waqt shaadi? Iss waqt to usse apni Dharti maa ka farz ada karna hai.

Gulami ki in janjiro ko katna hai.

"Bebe, main vyah nahi karna!(Bebe, mujhe shaadi nahi karni!)” Heer ne bhari awaz mein kaha. Uski akhon mein nami thi jo Sukhjeet se chupi nahi.

Sukhjeet ne hairani se pucha, "Kyun nahi?"

"Bas nahi karna!"

Toh uski maa ne pyar se uska chehra sahlate hue kaha, "Putt, vyah ta sab nu karna hi painda. (Beta, shaadi to sabko karni hi padti hai.)”

Heer ki ankhen bhar aai aur dil ke andar toofaan uth aya. Usne dheere se sar hila diya.

Heer ke aansu dekh Sukhjeet ki awaaz thodi sakht ho gayi, "Heer, koi gal hai jo tu mere ton luka rahi hai? (Heer, kya tum mujhse kuch chupa rahi ho?)”

"Nahi...."

"Ta inkar di wajah? Yaa tu apne pyo da maan mitti ch rol aai aein? Koi hor hai jis naal vyah karna chauni aa? (To inkar ki wajah kya hai? Ya tum apne baap ki izzat mitti me mila rahi ho? Koi aur hai jisse shaadi karna chahti ho?)”

Sukhjeet ke liye uski beti uska garoor thi aur Heer ka yun inkar Sukhjeet ke dil ko dehla raha tha.

Apni maa ki akhon mein shaq dekh Heer ne aansu pochhte hue kaha, "Nahi, koi nahi hai. Par main thonu chhad ke kithe ni jaana. (Nahi, koi nahi hai. Par main aap logon ko chhod kar kahin nahi jaana chahti.)”

Sukhjeet khilkhila ke has di apni beti ki masumiyat par, "Pagal! Ek din ta har kudi nu jana hi painda apne maape chhad ke. (Pagal! Ek din to har ladki ko apne maa baap ko chhodna hi padta hai.)”

Sukhjeet ne apni beti ka pyar se matha chum liya. Lekin iss se pehle wo kuch aur keh pati, bahar se kuch awaazein aayi.

Sukhjeet ne muskurate hue kaha, "Lagda oh aa gaye. (Shayad wo log aa gaye hain.)” Aur jane se pehle Heer se kaha, “Bahar na aain, andar hi rahi. (Bahr maat ana andar hi rehna.)”

Sukhjeet toh bahar chali gayi, lekin Heer ki dhadkane aur tez ho gayin.

Bahar aangan se aati awaazein sun kar, woh bechaini se khidki ke paas ja khadi hui. Jaise hi Henry ki awaaz uske kaanon mein padi, uske toh paon tale se zameen hi khisak gayi.

Ek dushman!

Aise kaise? Uske pita ek angrez, ek dushman ke saath uski shaadi tai kar sakte hain?

Heer ke haath-paanv thande pad gaye. Usse samajh hi nahi aa raha tha ke woh kare toh kya kare?

Yahan andar Heer ki jaan nikal rahi thi, aur wahin bahar Henry ki khushi ka koi thikana nahi tha.

Usse toh apni kismat par hi yakeen nahi ho raha tha, jab Iqbal ne aakar bataya ke Baldev Singh ne use apne ghar aane ka niyota diya hai.

Jahan pichle ek mahine se woh din-raat duaen maang raha tha, aaj jab woh dua qubool hui, toh yakeen bhi nahi ho raha tha.

Sab kuch ek khwab sa lag raha tha.

Aur agar yeh khwab tha bhi, toh Henry kabhi bhi is haseen khwab se jagna nahi chahta tha.

Baldev ne rishta pakka kar diya aur aane wali Diwali ke baad shaadi ki tareekh bhi de di.

Dopahar ke khane par Baldev ne Henry ko apne saath baithne ka guzarish ki, aur Henry ne bade pyaar se yeh niyota sweekar bhi kar liya.

Khana khatam hote hi, jab Henry wahan se nikla, Heer apne kamre se gusse se bhari, aankhon mein aansu liye bahar aayi.

"Main ek gore naal viyah nahi karungi! Tusi ida kida mera rishta ek dushman naal kar sakde ho, Bappu ji? Ki thonu main inni bojh lagdi aan? (Main ek firangi ke saath shaadi nahi karungi! Aap aisa kaise kar sakte hain mere saath, Pita ji? Kya main aap par bojh hoon?)”

"Heer!" Sukhjeet ne unchi awaaz mein tok diya.

"Nahi, nahi, Sukhjeet kaure, bol lain de inu. (Nahi Sukhjeet kaur, bolne do ise.)” Baldev ne haath utha kar Sukhjeet ko chup karwa diya aur phir Heer ki taraf mud kar bola, "Bolo puttar, ki keh rahe si tusi? (Bolo beta, kya keh rahe the aap?)”

Heer ne rote hue sar jhuka diya.

"Nahi, mera thonu chot pohchan da koi irada ni si, Bappu ji… Par mainu gore pasand nahi. Haan, manya ke thoda bahut una naal uthna-baithna hunda hai, par mainu…(Nahi, mera aapko takleef dene ka koi irada nahi tha, Bappu ji... Par mujhe gore pasand nahi. Haan, maana ki kabhi kabhi unse milna-julna hota hai, par mujhe…")

Baldev ki awaaz bhar aai, par dard chhupa nahi saka, "Ta tenu ki lagda, puttar? Main apne karobar layi tera sauda kar reha haan? (Toh tujhe lagta hai, beta? Main apne karobar ke liye tera sauda kar raha hoon?)”

“Nahi!” Heer ne turant sar hila kar inkar kiya par baat toh ab badh chuki thi. Wo apne baap ko apne shabdon se chot pouncha chuki thi. “Mera eh matlab nahi si. (Mera ye matlab nahi tha.)”

Heer ne apne aansu pochne ki koshish ki, par woh ruk hi nahi rahe the. Baldev Singh uski taraf ghoor kar dekh raha tha—ek baap, jo apni beti ka dukh samajh raha tha, par phir bhi apni majboori ke bojh taley daba hua tha.

“Ta ki matlab si putter ji? Samjhao mainu. (Toh kya matlab tha beta ji. Mujhe samjhaiye.)”

"Mainu nahi pata (Mujhe nahi pata), Bappu ji," Heer ki awaaz toot rahi thi. "Bas mainu eh rishta manzoor nahi. Main kise angrez de naal apni jindagi nahi guzaar sakdi. (Bas mujhe yeh rishta qabool nahi hai. Main kisi firangi ke sath apni zindagi nahi guzar skti.)"

Baldev Singh ne gehri saans li.

"Heer, main smjhda haan ke tu ki mehsoos kar rahi hai. Par puttar, ek gal khud nu meri jagah te rakh ke soch. Main tera baap haan. Tenu eh lag sakda hai ke main sirf apni bhalayi layi eh faisla leya, par asal ch, Heer, mainu sirf tere sukh di chinta hai. (Heer, main samajhta hun ke tum kya mehsoos kar rahi ho. Par beta, ek baat khud ko meri jagah par rakh kar socho. Main tumhara baap hun. Tumhe ye lag skta hai ke maine yeh rishta sirf apni bhalaiyi ke liye liya hai, asal mein Heer, mujhe sirf tumhare sukh ki chinta hai.)"

“Is viyaah ch mera ki sukh bhala? (Iss shadi mein mera kya sukh ho sakta hai bhala?)” Heer ne sisakte hue pucha aur Baldev ke dil par uski siskiyaan kisi khanjar se kam nahi thi.

“Eh tenu waqt dasega mere bache. (Ye tujhe waqt btaega mere bache.)” Baldev ne pyar se uske sar par hath rkhte hue kaha. “Ek piyo hoke jo main dekh skda, oh hle tu nahi dekh skdi. (Ek baap hokar jo main dekh sakta hun wo tum abhi nahi dekh sakti.)”

"Par tusi mainu kise hor naal vi vyaha sakde si! (Aap meri shadi kisi aur ke sath bhi karwa sakte the!)" Heer chid gayi. "Ik angrez de naal nahi! (Ek angrez ke saath hi nahi.)"

Baldev Singh ki aankhon mein dukh aur thakan dono hi saaf nazar aa rahi thi.

"Te kisse hor de naal viyah kita te ki jamanat hai ke oh kal nu tere naal wafa karega? (Aur agar kisi aur ke sath shadi ki toh kya garantee hai ke wo tumhare sath wafa karega?)" Baldev ne pucha. “Ya tu koi wafa karn wala khud labhya hoya hai te mere maan nu mitti ch raul dita aae? (Ya phir tumne koi wafa karne wala khud dhundh liya hai aur mere maan ko mitti mein mila diya hai?)”

Heer kuch keh sakti. Iss se pehle Sukhjeet bol uthi, “Sardar saab keho jiyan galan kar re ho? Sadi dhee sada maan hai. (Sardar sahab, ye kaisi batein kar rahe hain aap? Hamari beti hamara maan hai.)”

“Bappu ji main bas ahi puchungi jo tusi keha. (Bappu ji main bas yehi puchungi jo abhi aap ne kaha.)” Heer ne sisakte hue pucha, “Ki guarantee hai ke oh gora mere nal bewafai nahi karega? (Kya guarantee hai iss baat ki ke wo firangi mere sath bewafai nahi karega?)”

Baldev ne bade hi maan se jawab diya. “Puttar ji, ek gal hamesha yaad rakhi apne piyo di. Main duniya dekhi hai te Henry marda mar jayega par tere nal bewafai nahi karega. Oh, baki angrez afsran warga nahi hai. Bas isi lai main usda rakhya prastav mod na skya. (Beta ji, ye baat hamesha yaad rakhna apne baap ki. Maine duniya dekhi hai aur Henry maar jaega par kabhi tujh se bewafai nahi karega. Wo baki astron jaisa bilkul bhi nahi hai. Bas yehi karan hai jo main uske rishte ko mod na saka.)”

Baldev ki ye baat sun kar Heer dang reh gai ke Henry ne khud age badh kar rikhta manga hai uska.

Aur Heer ke dil mein yehi sawal uth raha hai ke Henry ka akhir kya maksad ho sakta hai sab ke piche.

"Tenu ki lagda puttar? (Tumhe kya lagta hai beta?)" Baldev Singh di awaaz halki ho gayi. "Main tera viyah karke, apne sir to teri zimmedari hata reha haan? Eh rishta, eh faisla, sirf ik vyapari di soch nahi hai. Main pehla tera baap haan, phir ik vyapari. Tenu pata hai, mainu sab to wadda darr ki hai? (Main teri shadi kar ke, apne sar se teri zimmedari ka bojh hata raha hun? Yeh rishta, ye faisla, sirf ek vyapari ki soch nahi hai. Main pehle tera baap hun, phir ek vyapari. Tujhe maloom hai mera sabse bada darr kya hai?)"

Heer ne aankhein uthakar apne pita ko dekha.

"Mera sab to wadda darr eh hai ke tera jeevansathi tenu apne nal hnereyan ch na dhake. Jive ki punjab da har nojawan krantikariyan de magar lag ja raya hai. Mainu Henry de ya kise de vi naam ya paihe to koi fark ni painda puttar ji. Mainu bas teri khushi ton matlab hai te oh mainu is waqt Henry to ilawa hor kisi munde ch nazar nahi aa rahi. (Mera sab se bada darr ye hai ke tumhara jeevansathi tumhe apne sath andheron ki aur na le jae jaise ki is waqt Punjab ka har nojawan krantikariyon ke piche lag kar ja raha hai. Mujhe Henry ke ya kisi ke bhi naam ya paise se koi fark nahi pdta beta ji. Mujhe bas teri khushi se farak pdta hai jo ke is waqt mujhe sirf Henry ke sath nazar aa rahi hai.)”

Heer ka dil zor zor se dhadkane lagg gaya. Usne hamesha socha tha ke uska pita sirf apni izzat, apne karobar ki chinta karta hai. Par ajj, Baldev Singh ki aankhon mein sirf ik baap ka dukh tha.

Ek lamha sirf sannata raha.

Heer ne kuch nahi kaha. Uska mann ek aur tufaan se bhar chuka tha.

Kya woh sach mein kisi aur se dil laga chuki thi? Ya sirf angrezi hukumat ke dushman hone ka gham uski soch par chhaya hua tha?

Pata nahi.

Woh bina kuch kahe wahan se bhaag gayi.

“Heer!” Sukhjeet cheekh kar uske peeche bhaagne hi lagi thi, par Baldev ne use rok diya.

“Jaan deyo. Maan halka karke ghar wapas aa jaegi. (Jaane do use, mann halka karke ghar wapas aa jaegi.)”

Baldev ne keh to diya, par darr uske dil mein bhi tha—kahin jazbaat mein aakar uski beti koi galat kadam na utha le.

Heer roti hui ghar se nikli hi thi ke Nooran ne use shaam ke waqt ghar se nikalte dekh liya aur uske peeche bhaagi. Lekin jab tak woh Heer tak pohnchi, tab tak Heer kuen ke kinare par khadi thi—chhalang lagane ke liye!

“Heer! Pagal ho gayi ho kya?” Nooran ne use peeche kheench liya.

“Nooran mainu mar jaan de! Viyah ton baad roz roz gulami ch maran ton changa main eko war apni jaan le lan. (Nooran, mujhe mar jaane de! Shaadi ke baad roz-roz ghulami mein marne se behtar hai ki main ek hi baar apni jaan le lun.)”

Heer toot chuki thi.

“Pagal ho gayi hai kya?” Nooran ne use apne seene se lagakar daanta, aur Heer phoot-phoot kar apni saheli ki baahon mein rone lagi. Usne rote hue sab bata diya.

“Janti hoon. Iqbal chacha saare shehar mein mithaiyaan baant chuke hain.” Nooran ne Heer ko paas ke pedh ke neeche bithaate hue kaha.

“Yeh sab kya ho raha hai, Nooran? Mera maqsad meri Bharat Maa ki azaadi—”

“Yeh bhi tere maqsad ki aur ek kadam hai, Heer.” Nooran ne uski baat kaat di.

Heer ne hairani bhari nazron se apni saheli ki taraf dekha. “Kya matlab?” Heer ne apne aansu pochte hue poocha.

“Shafaq ne jab pehli baar yeh baat ki, toh mujhe bhi ajeeb lagi. Lekin agar gaur kiya jaye, toh iss shaadi se behtar kuch ho hi nahi sakta…”

“Pagal ho gayi hai tu, Nooran!” Heer ne unchi awaaz mein use kaat diya aur apni jagah se uth khadi hui.

“Heer, pehle meri baat suun, araam se.” Nooran ne use shaant karne ki koshish ki aur sab kuch samjhaya.

“Dekh, agar teri shaadi Lieutenant Colonel se ho gayi, toh tu bina kisi pareshani ke uske zaroori dastavez dekh sakegi, angrezon ke mansube jaan sakegi. Hum apne desh ko azaad karwa sakenge agar hamara koi bhedi unke kareeb hoga aur hume unke pal-pal ki khabar dega. Soch, Heer… Iss se behtar kya mauka milega tujhe apni Bharat Maa ki seva karne ka?”

Nooran ki baaton ne Heer ko sochne par majboor kar diya. Woh chup-chaap ghar aa gayi.

Heer chup thi. Bahut chup.

Usne ghar lautne ke baad kisi se ek shabd bhi nahi kaha. Na maa se, na bapu ji se, na hi kisi aur se. Bas apne kamre mein jaakar khidki ke paas khadi rahi, chand ki halki roshni mein aangan ko takti rahi.

Uske andar ek tufaan chal raha tha.

Ek taraf uska apna dukh tha—uski azadi cheen li gayi thi, uski pasand bina pooche ek dushman ke saath uski zindagi jodne ka faisla ho chuka tha.

Par doosri taraf, Nooran ki baatein baar-baar uske mann mein gunj rahi thi.

"Hum apne desh ko azad karwa sakenge agar hamara koi bhedi unke kareeb hoga…"

Heer ne gehri saans li.

Kya yahi uski taqdeer thi? Kya is shaadi ko ek nayi soch ke saath dekhna chahiye?

Agar Nooran sahi keh rahi thi, toh yeh shaadi uski kamzori nahi, balki uska sabse bada hathiyar ban sakti thi.

Angrezi fauj ka ek uncha afsar—uska pati!

Toh kya woh uske dil se nikal sakti thi har woh raaz jo uske desh ki azadi ke kaam aa sake?

Heer ne apni mutthi kas li.

Agar yeh uska muqaddar hai, toh yeh uski ek nayi jang hogi.

Subah tak Heer ne faisla le liya tha.

Baaldev Singh aur Sukhjeet ko laga ke Heer ne haar maan li hai, lekin woh nahi jaante the…

Heer ne sirf ek naye tareeke se jeet ka soch liya hai.

Usne kisi se koi baat nahi ki, aur uski chhupi ko uski manzoori maan kar shaadi ki tayyariyaan zor-shor se shuru ho gayin.

Shaadi ki tayyariyaan chal rahi thi, aur shaadi ka din nazdeek aata dekh, Sukhjeet ne Heer ko apne paas bitha liya.

"Meri Heer rani, hun tu ik navi zindagi vich vadh rahi hai. (Meri Heer rani, ab tu ek nayi zindagi mein kadam rakh rahi hai.)” Sukhjeet ne uske sir par haath pherte hue kaha. Heer chup thi, bas neeche zameen ko tak rahi thi.

"Grahast jeevan koi khed nahi hunda puttar, (Grihasth jeevan koi khel nahi hunda beta.)” Sukhjeet ne dheere se wo kaha jo use samjhaya gaya tha uski shaadi se pehle, "Hun tera pati tera malik hovega, jo oh kahega, tainu oh karna pavega.

Heer ne ek pal ke liye apni maa ki taraf dekha, lekin phir nazar jhuka li.

"Viyah ton baad, kudi de apne supne nahi hounde, (shaadi ke baad ladki ke apne sapne nahi hote.)” Sukhjeet ke shabdon mein ek gehri shikayat thi jaise woh apni Heer ko uss zindagi ke liye tayar kar rahi ho jo usne khud jee thi. "Pati jo kahe, ohi sach honda hai te ahi ek sukhi jeevan da rasta hai. (Pati ka kaha hi sach hota hai aur yehi sukhi jeevan ka rasta hota hai.)"

Heer ka dil doob raha tha. Wo sun to rahi thi, par uska mann is baat ko maanta nahi tha. Kya yeh sach hai? Kya uski apni koi marzi nahi hogi? Kya uske jeene ka maksad sirf ek pativrata patni banna hai?

Nahi!

Uske sapne bahut bade the jinhe wo kisi ke liye bhi nahi chod sakti aur ye shadi bhi usi maqsad ki aur chota sa kadam hai. 

"Tera pati angrez hai, usda rehn sehn apne toh bahut alag hoega bas usde rang ch dhal jain meri bachi gili mitti di tran. (Tera pati ek firangi hai, uska rehn sehn humse bahut alag hoga; tu bas uske rang mein dhal jana, chikni mitti ki trha.)” Sukhjeet ki aankhon mein chhupi fikr Heer ke dil tak utar gayi. Woh pehle hi itni uljhanon mein thi, aur ab maa ki yeh baatein uska dil aur bhaari kar rahi thi.

Sukhjeet Heer ke sir par haath pherti rahi lekin Heer chup thi, bas neeche zameen ko tak rahi thi.

Sukhjeet ne bolna shuru kiya aur ab uske shabdon mein ek ajeeb si naram-garmi thi, jaise woh Heer ko kisi gehre raaz ke liye tayar kar rahi ho.

"Puttar, pati te patni da rishta sirf saanjha jeevan jeen da nahi hunda. (Beta, pati patni ka rishta sirf sath jeevan bitana nahi hota.)” Uska haath Heer ke haath par tik gaya. "Eh rishta hor v bahut kuch hunda hai. (Yeh rishta aur bhi bahut kuch hota hai.)”

Heer ne pehli baar maa ki taraf dekha. Sukhjeet ki nazar halki si jhuki hui thi, par uski awaz ek maa ki zimmedari nibha rahi thi.

"Tera pati jo vi kare, tu sharmana nahi.”

Heer ki saans ek pal ke liye atak gayi. Maa ki baatein ab ek naye mod par thi—ek aise mod par jisme Heer kabhi sochna bhi nahi chahti thi.

Uske liye is shadi ka maqsad bas angrez hukumat ko kamzor karna tha. Henry ke sath naya rishta nibhana nahi.

"Oh kuch ajehi cheeza vi karega tere nal jo tere lai bahut navi hongiyan par tu ghabrai na. (Wo kuch aisi cheezein bhi karega tere sath jo tere liye bilkul nai hogi par tu bilkul bhi mat ghabrana.)” Heer ki maa ne uske hath ko kas kar apne hathon mein tham liya aur kaha, “Tenu dard vi mehsoos hoega par…. (Tujhe dard bhi mehsoos hoga par…..)” Sukhjeet iske age na keh saki aur usne ek gehri saans bhari phir dheere se kaha, "Pati jo mange, patni nu dena painda. Eh rab da banaya hoya niyam hai. (Pati jo mange, patni ko use dena padta hai. Ye bhagwan ka banaya niyam hai.)”

Heer ne apne haath jod liye. Uska dil tez dhadak raha tha. Yeh sab uske liye naya tha, ajeeb tha.

"Sharm to har kuri nu hundi hai... par puttar, patni da farz hunda apne pati nu apna banauna. (Sharam to har ladki mein hoti hai…par beta, patni ka farz hota hai apne pati ko apna banana.)”

Woh ab bhi chup thi, lekin uska dil anjaane darr aur uljhan se bhar chuka tha. Apne maa se bina nazrein milae, wo waha se uth khadi hui aur apne kamre main chali gai.

Sukhjeet ki baatein Heer ke mann mein goonj rahi thi aur Henry ka use chune ke khayal tak se Heer ki rooh kanp rahi thi, toh wo shadi ke baad kaise sahegi ye sab kuch.

‘Nahi Heer, is mitti di azadi lai lokan ne apna lahu tak baha dita tun ta fir viyah hi karna hai. (Nahi Heer, is mitti ki azadi ke liye kitno ne apna khoon bahaya hai tune to phir bhi sirf shadi hi karni hai.)’ Usne khud ko samjhane ko koshish ki.

Shaadi ka din nazdeek aata ja raha tha, aur Heer ke mann mein ajeeb si bechaini thi. Maa ki baatein ab tak uske dimaag mein gunj rahi thi. Usse samajh nahi aa raha tha ki woh kis mod par khadi hai. Aaj Nooran usse milne aayi thi, aur Heer bas chup-chaap uske saath angan mein baithi thi.

Nooran ne dekha ki Heer ajnabiyon ki tarah bethi hai, jaise uska mann kahin aur ho. Woh dheere se Heer ke kareeb hui aur uska haath apne haathon mein le liya.

“Kya hua? Kya soch rahi hai meri saheli?” Nooran ne pyaar bhari muskurahat ke saath Heer ki taraf dekha.

Heer ne ek lamha chup rehkar Nooran ki taraf dekha, phir dheere se boli, “Bas... sab kuch ajeeb lag raha hai.”

Nooran uske chehre par padti har lakeer ko samajh gayi. Woh thodi der chup rahi, jaise koi sahi alfaaz dhoondh rahi ho. Phir dheere se boli, “Shadi ek nai duniya hoti hai Heer. Sabko ajeeb hi lagti hai.”

Heer ne apni ungliyon se dupatte ko kas se pakad liya mano kuch himmat juta rahi ho. Uska dil tez dhadak raha tha. “Maan ne kuch baatein kahi thi...” Woh ruk gayi, shayad samajhne ki koshish kar rahi thi ki kaise kahe.

Nooran ne ek gehri saans li. Usse samajh aa gaya ki Heer kis taraf ja rahi hai. Woh thoda hichkichai, par phir apne mann ko mazboot karte hue boli, “Chachi theek keh rahi hai, Heer... shaadi sirf maang bharne ya laal joda pehnane ka naam nahi hota. Ye toh ek naya rishta hota hai...Jahan pati ki har baat bhi manni padti hai aur wo jab kare….use…” Nooran chup ho gai aur gehri saans bharne ke baad kaha, “Uska haq hoga tujh par. Har tarha se aur tu use inkar nahi kar skti.”

Heer ki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si bechaini thi. Woh dheere se boli, “Par Nooran... Kya ye zaroori hai? Kya patni ki apni koi marzi nahi hoti? Ye toh galat hai.”

Nooran ne uska haath zor se thaam liya. “Pehli baar mein dard hota hai Heer aur bahut zyada dard hota hai.” Nooran ne halki si saans li, jaise uske shabdon ka bojh uske dil par bhi ho. “Par tu shikayat nahi kar sakti... patni ko sabar karna sikhna padta hai.”

Heer ne apni aankhein neeche kar li. Nooran ki baatein uske seene mein kisi bhaari patthar ki tarah gir rahi thi.

“Tu akeli nahi hai, Heer. Har ladki ke sath ye hota hai aur sabko is raste se guzarna padta hai.”

Heer ne apni aankhon se aansu poch liye. Woh Nooran ki baatein sun rahi thi, par uska mann ab bhi bechain tha. Kya yeh sach mein har ladki ki taqdeer hoti hai? Kya usse bhi bina kisi shikayat ke is raaste par chalna padega?

Nooran ne ek choti si angoothi Heer ke haath mein dete hue kaha, “Vaise to meri yehi dua hai ke tujhe kabhi bhi iski zarurat na pade. Par phir bhi agar khuda na khasta kabhi sab kuch bigadta nazar aae to ye sabse asan rasta hoga.”

Heer ne Nooran ki taraf dekha aur phir apni hatheli par rakhi angoothi ki aur. Use kuch samajh nahi aya.

“Dekh Heer mai ye janti hun ke tu bahut himmat wali hai aur sab kuch sambhal bhi legi. Lekin agar kabhi halat hath se bahr chale jayen ya phir Henry ke zulm tujh par na bardasht hon to….”

“Mai use!” Heer ne hairani mein use beech main tokte hue pucha.

“Agar zarurat pade to haan.” Nooran ne dheere se kaha taki koi aur unki baat na sun ke. “Chahe tujhe khud hi kyu na ye zehr khana pade. Hichkichana matt. In kafiron ke zulmo se asan se maut hogi.”

Heer ki aankhon se do aansu gir pade. Usne angoothi ko apni mutthi mein aur bhi zor se daba liya, jaise koi apni taqdeer ko pakad raha ho. Nooran ne use apni baahon mein le liya.

Dono chup thi. Ek dusre ki baahon mein, ek dusre ka dukh samajhne ki koshish kar rahi thi.

Nooran ko apni behn jaise saheli ki chinta thi. Wo ek dushman ke ghar akeli aur nihathi jo ja rahi thi.