Henry

Pichle chaar mahino se mera ek-ek pal sadiyon se kam nahi guzar raha. Bas kuch din aur... phir meri Heer mere saath hogi, mere paas hogi—hamesha-hamesha ke liye.

Main toh shabdon mein bayan bhi nahi kar sakta ki us din mujhe kitni khushi hui thi, kitne shukrane maine uparwale ke samne ada kiye the, jab Baldev Singh ne mujhe apne ghar bulaya tha ye batane ke liye ki unhone mera prastav manzoor kar liya hai.

Unhone bade hi adar aur satkar ke saath rishta paka kiya. Yahan ek bahut bada tyohar manaya jata hai—Deepawali. Uske baad hi hamari shadi ki tareekh tay hui hai.

Us din ke baad se main Heer ki ek jhalak tak ko taras raha hoon. Magar na woh mujhe bazaar mein dikhi, na library mein. Mera dil bechain tha, har pal yahi sochta tha—kya Heer is shaadi se khush bhi hai?

Lekin Iqbal ne meri bechaini door ki, jab usne bataya ki yahan rishta paka hone ke baad ladkiyon ko shadi tak zyada bahar nahi nikalne diya jata. Ye sunkar meri jaan mein jaan aayi thi.

Lekin ye sawal toh ab bhi mujhe bechain karta hai ke kya Heer khush bhi hai? Agar nahi hai toh?

Nahi nahi. Baldev Singh usse bahut mohabbat karta hai. Wo apni beti ke Khushi ke khilaaf jakar toh itna bada kadam nahi uthaega.

Aaj bhi maine apna din hamesha ki tarah shuru kiya. November ka mahina chal raha tha, mausam thoda thanda hone laga tha. Din ke rozmarra ke kaam mein uljha raha, aur pata hi nahi chala kab shaam ho gayi.

Main apne kaam mein magan tha jab ek sainik daudta hua mere paas aaya, "Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell, urgent news from the High Command!"

"What is it?" Maine chintit hokar pucha.

"Sir, the war is over. The armistice has been signed. Effective from the 11th hour today."

Jaise hi ye alfaaz uske muh se nikle, main ek pal ke liye sunn ho gaya. Yudh khatam ho gaya...

Aakhir yudh khatam ho gaya!

Sirf yahi baat mere zehan mein goonj rahi thi. Mujhe kuch aur nahi sunai diya us Sainik ne jo bhi kaha. Mere dil aur dimag mein bas yehi chal raha tha ke ab main apne pita se mil sakunga. Meri maa ghar laut sakegi... kyunki yudh samaapt ho gaya.

Main kuch der ke liye bas wahin jam gaya.

‘War is over.’

Yudh khatam ho gaya? Yeh alfaz ek baar nahi, baar-baar mere dimag mein goonj rahe the.

Main apni kursi se dheere se utha, kyu ke mujhe ab tak yakin hi nahi ho raha hai. Lekin mere saath ke afsaran josh mein aa gaye the, ek doosre ko mubarakbaad de rahe the. “To the King! To victory!” Awazein uchhal-uchhal kar goonj rahi thi.

Lekin main?

Main kuch samajh hi nahi paa raha tha. Wo khushi itni thi ke mujhe se bayan tak nahi ho paa rahi thi.

Mere liye yeh jung sirf ek jung nahi thi, mere ghar ki kahani thi. Mere pita kahin France ke barf se bhare maidanon mein apni regiment ke saath ladh rahe the. Aur meri maa? Wo America ke kisi chhote se farmhouse mein baithi roz upar wale se dua maangti hogi ke uska beta aur shauhar dono zinda laut aayein.

“When?” Maine sainik se poocha, Mere shabdon mein ek ajib si bechaini thi.

"Today. The eleventh hour." Usne jawab diya aur wahan se chala gaya.

Aaj subah tak maut ka ek mandir tha jahan log gir rahe the, aur ab usi zameen par shanti ka parwana jari ho gaya tha. Kya sach mein sab kuch khatam ho gaya? Ya sirf ek naye mod ki shuruaat thi?

Maine ek gehri saans bhari, apni hatheliyon ko dekha. Mera jeevan ab ek naye daur mein daakhil ho raha tha. Jahan ek taraf mera mulk, mera ghar, aur mere apne rishton ki khushi thi… aur doosri taraf Heer thi.

Aur Heer ka sochna hi tha ke ek ajeeb si bechaini ne mujhe gher liya. Ek pal ke liye mujhe laga ke shayad Heer is khabar ko sunkar khush nahi hogi. Aur agar wo khush nahi hai… toh kya yeh jeet mere liye sach mein koi matlab rakhti hai?

Lekin wo ye sun kar toh khush hogi ke uske hone wale pati ke pita ghar laut rahe hain, hai na? Haan, use beshak angrez kuch khaas pasand nahi—ye baat main usse kayi baar angrez afsaran ke bachon ko unki jagah dikhate dekh samajh chuka hoon. Lekin main ye bhi jaanta hoon ke uske liye insaniyat ki ehmiyat bahut zyada hai.

Mujhe ab bhi woh din yaad hai, jab main bazar mein ghoom raha tha aur usne ek British lady aur uski beti ki madad ki thi. Heer ke liye insaaniyat sabse pehle thi, chahe samne wala koi bhi ho.

Yehi sab sochta hua main apne daftar se baahar nikla, toh dekha ke baahar jashn ka mahaul tha. Sab log khushiyan mana rahe the, nach rahe the.

General ne aaj raat apne ghar par ek bada jashn rakhne ka ailaan kar diya. Mera wahan jaane ka bilkul man nahi tha, lekin afsos, mujhe jaana pada. Wahan sab angrez afsar mojood the apne pariwar ke sadasyon ke saath.

Sab hasi-mazaak kar rahe the, shor-sharaba ho raha tha. Koi apni brandy ka glass utha raha tha, toh koi khushi ke mare zor-zor se table par haath maar raha tha.

Mere haath bhi apne brandy ke glass tak pohnche, lekin phir kuch soch kar maine use chhua bhi nahi. Mera dil ek ajeeb si uljhan mein tha. Ek taraf mera andar chilla-chilla kar keh raha tha—Hum jeet gaye hain, Henry! Ab sab kuch theek ho jayega! Main apne pita se mil sakunga, meri maa sukoon ki neend so sakti hai!

Lekin doosri taraf… doosri taraf mera dil ek aur awaaz se bhar raha tha.

Jitne angrez yahan sharaab aur geeton mein doobe the, utne hi Hindustan ke log iss umeed mein honge ke ab unki maange puri hongi, kyunki unhone Britain ka saath diya hai.

Lekin kya sach mein aisa hoga?

Main khud is sarkar ka hissa hoon, aur achhi tarah jaanta hoon ke jo jo waade kiye gaye the Hindustaniyon se unki madad ke badle, wo shayad kabhi poore na ho. Shayad iska asar meri niji zindagi par bhi pade.

Heer ek khule vicharon wali ladki hai, aur mujhe ehsaas ho raha tha ke shayad mujhe yeh raajneetik mahaul ka samna apne apne ghar mein bhi karna padega.

Par abhi, iss waqt, maine apni soch ko ek taraf rakha.

Aaj, ek beta jeet ki khabar sunkar shukrane kar raha hai. Aaj, ek hone wala pati ek bete ki jeet ki khushi ko kam nahi hone de sakta.

Shadi ke baad jo hoga, wo dekha jayega.

Lekin abhi, ek jashn toh banta hai.

Ye sochte hue maine apne glass se brandy pi, aur jashn ke mahaul ka lutaf ek kone mein khada ho kar lene laga.

Main ek kone mein khada apne glass ki brandy ghuma raha tha jab General meri taraf aae. Maine halka sa jhuka kar unhe mila, “General!”

"Not enjoying the celebration, Caldwell?" Unhone pucha.

Maine apne glass se ek chota ghunt bharte hue jawab diya. "Enjoying in my own way, sir."

General ne halke se haste hue meri gambhirta ko todne ki koshish ki aur kaha. "Come on, we won the war! You should be celebrating like the rest."

"Yes, we won. But at what cost?" Maine pucha. Lekin bechaini aur udasi meri awaaz mein saaf jhalak rahi thi.

General ne mere kandhe ko thappate hue mazakiya andaaz mein kaha. "Don’t get too philosophical now, Caldwell. Wars are meant to be won, and your father played a major role in it. You should be proud.”

Maine halki muskan apne chehre par lane ki koshish ki lekin meri akhon ka khalipan saaf dikhai de raha tha. "Yes, sir. Of course I am a proud son.” Ek baar phir maine apne glass ki brandy ko dheere se ghumate hue kaha.

Najane kyun par main puri tarah se khush nahi ho paa raha tha andar se.

“Well, I hear you’re getting married, Caldwell. Congratulations.” General ne badhai di.

Lekin wo bas badhaiyan nahi thi—uske peeche aata uphaas mujhe saaf dikhai de raha tha. Kyunki jo baatein hoti hain, wo mere kaanon tak bhi pohnchti hain, aur main achi tarah jaanta hoon ke kai afsaron ko meri shaadi se kuch khaas khushi nahi hai.

Par mujhe koi farak nahi padta.

Phir bhi, maine badi vinamrata se jawab diya, “Thank you, sir.”

"Marrying a native, Caldwell? That’s… unexpected." Aur ye aya general ka tans.

Maine bina ye jtae ke mujhe koi fark pada, chehre par muskurahat ke sath jawab diya. "It may be unexpected, sir, but it is certainly not regrettable."

General ne zor se thahaka lgaya jaise ke maine koi bahut hi mazakiya baat kar di ho. "Be careful, Caldwell. You might end up more Indian than British soon."

Par maine ek badi si muskan ke sath jawab diya. "Perhaps, Sir. I believe I could do worse.”

Jab General ne dekha ke unki baatein mujhe beasar lag rahi hain, toh ek bahana bana kar wahan se chale gaye. Maine bhi apni brandy khatam ki aur jashn se nikal aaya.

Raat kaafi ho chuki thi, aur mujhe kal subah apni shaadi se pehle kaafi kaam niptaane the. Pichla ek hafta jaane kaha kaam aur shaadi ki taiyariyon mein guzar gaya, ehsaas hi nahi hua.

Shaadi ki subah, maine aankhein kholi toh mehsoos kiya ke aaj ka din ek aam din nahi hai. Aaj Heer meri hone wali hai. Aaj ke baad main kabhi akela nahi rahunga. Yeh soch kar ek badi si muskurahat mere chehre par aa gayi.

Baahar shor sunai de raha tha—log jashn ki tayyariyon mein masroof the. Iqbal Ali sabse zyada utsahit tha. Mera yahan koi apna nahi hai, isliye woh aur uska parivaar meri shaadi ki sari taiyariyan dekh rahe the.

Dhoop darwazon se andar aa rahi thi, aur hawa mein phoolon ki mehak thi. Main apne bistar se utha aur kamre ke kone mein rakhi kursi-mez par ja baitha.

Yudh khatam hue aaj saat din ho chuke hain, aur ab tak mujhe apne pita ko badhai dene ka bhi moka nahi mila.

Maine kaagaz aur kalam uthaya aur apne pita ke liye chitti likhni shuru kar di…

18th November 1918, Morning

Dear Father,

It fills me with immense pride to write to you today. We have won the war. After four years of relentless struggle and countless sacrifices, victory is finally ours. This triumph stands as a testament to your leadership, your unwavering service, and the dedication of brave men like you. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on this historic achievement.

But today is not just about the war ending—it also marks a deeply personal milestone for me. Today, I am getting married.

I know this news may come as a surprise, and I wish I had written to you sooner. I am marrying an incredible woman—Heer. She is intelligent, courageous, and unlike anyone I have ever met. She comes from a world so different from ours, yet with her, I have found something I never expected—a sense of belonging.

As I prepare for my wedding, my heart aches for your and Mother’s presence. I wish you were here to give me your blessings. I long to see Mother’s warm smile and feel the reassuring grip of your hand on my shoulder. I know that by the time you receive this letter, I will already be a married man, but my greatest hope is that you will come soon, bringing Mother with you, so that you both can meet Heer and share in this new chapter of my life.

I miss you both a lot and often feel an emptiness within me, but now that emptiness will be filled as my wife enters my life—my Heer. When you meet her, you’ll fall in love with her too; she’s just that wonderful.

I hope you’ll come to see me soon because, due to my duty, returning right now is very difficult for me.

Now that the war is over, I hope you, too, will find peace. When I see you again, I will no longer be just your son, but also a husband.

Your son,

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Caldwell

Maine chithi puri ki hi thi aur bas use post karne ke liye lifafe mein dalne hi wala tha ke, ek awaz ne meri tasavurat tod di.

"Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell, an urgent letter for you," ek sainik ne andar aate hi kaha, ek mohar lagi hui chithi mere haathon mein rakh di aur wahan se chala gaya.

Maine hairani se usse dekha kyon ki subah ke waqt yun achanak chitthi. Ek ajeeb si bechaini ne mera dil ko gher liya, phir bina waqt zaya kiye lifafa uske hathon se liya aur mohar tod kar chithi padhi.

"To Lieutenant Colonel Henry Caldwell,

With deep regret, we inform you that Field Marshal Thomas Caldwell has fallen in battle. He was martyred in service to the Crown in the final days of the Great War..."

Baaki alfaaz dhundle pad gaye aur meri aankhein wahin ruk gayi—"fallen in battle."

Mere haath thande pad gaye aur sanse leni mushkil si ho gayi. Ghar lautne ki umeed jo maine dil mein sajayi thi, wo bikhar gayi. Mere pita ab kabhi wapas nahi aayenge, kabhi maa se nahi milenge. Meri maa ki akhri umeed tak tut chuki hai. 

Wo wahan akeli kaise hongi is kabar ko sun kar. Meri maa akeli hai jab usse meri sabse zyada zarurat hai aur main yahan saat samandar paar apni nai zindagi ke khwab saja raha tha.

Mere pita kabhi mera basta hua ghar nahi dekh sakenge. Sab khatam ho gaya. Sab kuch. Maine ek pal ke liye apni aankhen band karli.

Aur hasta-muskurata hua mere pita ka chehra meri ankhon ke samne aya aur bas unki kahi wahi baat yaad aai—wo jo kehte the, "A soldier fights with honor. And if he falls, he falls with glory."

Lekin ab mujhe yeh shabd ab sirf khokle lag rahe the. Glory? Yeh glory mere ghar ke andheron ko kaise mita sakti thi? Yeh honor meri maa ka intezar kaise kam kar sakta tha?

Aaj, jab meri shaadi hai… Jab Heer meri hone wali hai—mere pita nahi hain.

Jab laga tha sab kuch theek ho raha hai, tabhi sab kuch bikhar gaya.

Maine apni band aankhon ke saath hi woh chitti muthi mein daba li aur ek gehri saans bhari. Aaj ke din Heer ke saamne main apni yeh bechaini nahi la sakta. Chaah kar bhi, main apne shaheed pita ke jane ka shok nahi mana sakta.

Agar ek pita mujhe chhod kar chala gaya tha, toh doosri taraf ek aur pita apni beti ki dauli uthne ka intezaar kar raha tha.

Darwaze ke bahar ab bhi log hans rahe the, shadi ke sur sunai de rahe the, lekin mere liye sab kuch ek ajeeb si khamoshi mein badal chuka tha.

Mere kadam ladkhada gaye aur main wahi kursi par dhad se baith gaya. Ek pal ke liye samajh hi nahi aaya ke yeh sab kaise ho gaya.

Lekin maine apni palkein jhapkate hue aansuon ko behne se roka. Ek gehri saans bhari, dono chitthiyon ko sambhal kar apni study mein rakha… Aur shadi ke liye tayyar hone laga.

Iqbal Ali ke kehne par maine ek halka safed rang ka kurta aur pajama pehn to liya, lekin ajeeb mehsoos ho raha tha. Pehle kabhi maine kuch aisa nahi pehna tha.

Lekin Heer ke parivaar ki rasmon ka samman karte hue, maine bina kisi aitraaz ke woh pehna. Phir Iqbal ne apne haathon se ek gehre laal rang ki pagdi baandhi, jo shaadi ki shaan badhane wali thi. Ussi rang ki kadhai wali ek shawl mere kandhon par rakh di aur meri talwar mere haath mein dedi.

Ye meri uniform ka hisa toh thi hi lekin Iqbal ne btaya ke sikh shadiyon mein talwar rakhna bhi shubh mana jata hai toh maine chup chap use haath mein pakad liya.

Maine khud ko sheeshe mein dekha—main bilkul alag lag raha tha. Yeh main hi tha, par jaise ek naye roop mein. Shayad isi ko do alag sanskritiyon ka milan kehte hain.

Mujhe nahi pata tha ke mere dil mein ek hi waqt itne emotions kaise sama rahe the. Mera dimaag ab bhi subah aayi chithi ke alfaaz dohra raha tha—Field Marshal Thomas Caldwell has fallen in battle. Lekin mere saamne ek aur sachai khadi thi—Heer.

Meri Heer.

Aaj wo meri hone wali thi. Aur jitna main apne pita ke liye dukh mehsoos kar raha tha, utna hi Heer ko apne saath dekhne ki tamanna bhi thi. Shayad agar pita yeh din dekh pate, toh fakhar mehsoos karte. Shayad meri maa bhi yeh sunkar khush hoti ke unka beta akela nahi hai.

Par ab woh din kabhi nahi aayega.

Maine ek gehri saans li aur Iqbal Ali ke sath apne kamre se bahr nikla. Mera koi yahan hai nahi aur na main yahan kisi ko janta hun apni regiment ya Iqbal ke ilawa.

Toh baarat mein bas meri battalion ke kuch khaas log aur bas Iqbal Ali ki ghar ki kuch aurtein hi thi. Mujhe zyada hala gula pasand nahi, toh hum sadgi se hi mere haveli se Baldev Singh ki haveli tak gaye.

Hum wahan pahunche toh Baldev Singh ne hamara swagat bahut adar aur satkar ke sath kiya.

Kuch rasmein hui jinka mujhe koi ilam nahi tha par jaise jaise Iqbal ne kaha main karta gaya.

Phir Baldev Singh ne mujhe aage badhne ka ishara kiya. Unki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si gehraai thi—shaan bhi, zimmedaari bhi, aur shayad thodi si bechaini bhi.

Mujhe aage le jaya gaya aur baithaya gaya wahan bahut sara saman pada tha, sone ke gehne, chaandi ke bartan, naye kapde, thailiyon mein band rupaiye, aur na jane kya kya.

“What is all this?” Maine hairani mein pucha.

Baldev Singh ne garv bhari muskurahat ke sath mere samne hath jod kar kaha, "Ah sab sade walon choti jahi bhent hai. Sadi kudi khali hath nahi jaegi. (Yeh sab hamari taraf se chhoti si bhent hai. Hamari beti khaali haath nahi jayegi.)”

Maine gehri saans li aur nazar utha kar Baldev Singh ki taraf dekha. “I don't want anything.” Maine thehre hue lekin mazboot lehze mein kaha.

Baldev Singh ke chehre par ek pal ke liye hairani chhupi, jaise unhone socha bhi nahi tha ke main inkar kar sakta hoon. “Janab, eh ta bas ek baap ashirwad hai usdi dhee lai. (Janab, ye toh bas ek baap ka ashirwad hai uski beti ke liye).” Unhone narmi se kaha.

Maine dheere se apna sir hilaya. “I don’t want anything else. You have given me Heer, and that is more than enough for me.”

Baldev Singh ne mujhe phir se samjhane ki koshish ki, “Janab, eh riwayat hai….”

“I don’t believe in such traditions. Gold and silver hold no value for me—only Heer does. And please, stop calling me Janab. I’ve heard that here, after marriage, a son-in-law is considered a son. So, your son doesn’t need anything.” Maine unhein tokte hue kaha.

Lekin meri baatein sunte hi Baldev Singh ki aankhein nam ho gayi. Wahan maujood log yeh sunkar ek dusre ki taraf dekhne lage. Yeh baat unke liye anokhi thi.

Par mujhe kisi ki koi parwah nahi.

“The man to whom you have entrusted your daughter's hand is now responsible for fulfilling all her needs, not you.” Maine unke kanpte hue hath apne hathon mein lete hue kaha.

Jis insaan ko maine hamesha atma nirbhar dekha tha, aaj pehli baar use yun bebas sa dekh kar main bhi hairan tha. Kya aise hi hote hain baap?

Lekin mere pita to kabhi aise nahi the. Shayad is liye kyu ke unki koi beti nahi thi.

Aur agar kal ko meri beti hui to shayad uski shadi ke waqt main bhi yunhi bebas sa mehsoos karun.

Beti!

Meri aur Heer ki beti. Ye baat soch kar hi mere chehre par muskan aa gayi. Mujhe sach mein Heer ke jaise hi bebak beti chaiye jise main duniya ki har khushi lakar uske kadmon mein rakh dunga.

Baldev Singh ne ek gehri saans li, phir dheere se muskuraye. Unki aankhon mein ab pehle se bhi zyada garv tha. "Mainu pehla hi apne faisle te fakhar si, par hun hor vi zyada hai, Henry putter ji. (Mujhe pehle hi apne faisle par fakhr tha, par ab aur bhi zyada hai, Henry beta.)"

Pehli baar Baldev Singh ki zuban se Janab na sunkar mujhe badi khushi mehsoos hui. 

Unhone apni palkon ko jhapkaya jaise apni bhavanao ko chhupa rahe ho, phir unhone ek haath uthaya aur unke chehre par ek gurutvapoorn gehraai thi. "Meri dhee rani bahut naseeba wali hai jinu thode warga jeevansathi milya. (Meri beti bahut kismat wali hai jise aap jaisa jeevansathi mila.)”

Unki aawaz mein ek pita ki tasalli thi, aur ek veer yodha ki mazbooti. Maine sir jhuka kar unka samman kiya.

Baldev Singh Anand Karaj ke liye mujhe le gaya haveli ke dusre hisse mein jahan Granth Sahib rakhe hue the aur Granthi ji path kar rahe the.

Aaj jo kuch bhi hua, uske baad mere dil mein jo tufan uth raha tha, shabad kirtan ki aawaz mujhe sukoon de rahi thi. Heer ke ghar ki auratien aur purush sab ek saath ikatthe ho chuke the. Main apni battalion ke kuch logon ke saath tha, aur sabse aage Baldev Singh aur Iqbal Ali chal rahe the.

Mujhe samne bitha diya gaya aur kuch der baad Heer ko mere sath bithaya gaya. Jaise hi mujhe uske aane ka ehsaas hua, maine mudh kar Heer ki taraf dekha.

Wo surkh laal jode mein bahut hi khubsurat lag rahi thi. Haan, uska chehra mujhe dikhai nahi de raha tha kyunki woh lamhe se ghoonghat ke piche chupa hua tha aur sirf bas uske hath hi dikhai de rahe the. Par main janta hun wo ghoonghat ke piche bhi sabse khoobsurat hi lag rahi hogi.

Mujhe ek taraf bitha diya gaya, aur Heer ko doosri taraf. Baldev Singh ne meri shawl ka ek kona Heer ke hath mein de diya.

Granthi ji ne Anand Karaj ki vidhi shuru ki. Unhone hum dono ko Sikh maryada aur pati-patni ke farz samjhaye. Fir, Laavan di rasam ka samay aaya.

Pehli Laavan shuru hui. Granthi ji ne bani padhi, aur uske bolon mein ek gehra arath tha—yeh sirf ek bandhan nahi, balki do aatmaon ka ek saath jeevan ka safar tha. Heer aur main, dono Guru Granth Sahib ke chaaro taraf chale aur jaise hi pehli laavan puri hui, mujhe samajh aaya ke yeh ek nayee shuruaat thi.

Dusri, teesri, aur chauthi laavan bhi isi shanti aur pavitrata ke saath hui. Yeh anubhav mujhe bata raha tha ke ab se Heer meri jimmedari hai, jaise main uska sahara hoon, waise hi wo bhi mera sahara hai.

Jab chauthi laavan puri hui, toh Granthi ji ne hum dono ko aashirwad diya. Sabhi ne "Bole so nihal, Sat Sri Akal" ka jaikara lagaya. Heer ki ungliya us shawl ke kone ko kas kar pakad khadi thi.

Ab Heer sirf Baldev Singh ki beti nahi rahi, ab wo Heer Caldwell thi—meri patni.

Ab humein ek British registrar ke samne jaake sign karna tha. Angrezi kanoon ke mutabiq, yeh shaadi officially tabhi qubool hoti. Magar Heer ki family ne isse sirf angrezi tareeke se nahi, balki apni paramparaon se bhi jodne ka faisla kiya tha. Toh registrar ko wahi haveli par hi bulaya gaya tha.

 Heer ne apne kanpte hathon se apna naam likha, aur maine bhi apna sign kiya.

"By the law of His Majesty’s Government, you are now husband and wife," registrar ne announced kiya.

Mujhe pehli baar yeh sunke ek ajeeb sa sukoon mehsoos hua. Heer ab meri thi. Puri tarah se.

Jo khwab main kab se sajae baitha tha, akhir kar wo aaj pura hua.

Ab bidai ka samay tha aur sab log bhavuk ho rahe the. Heer ki maa uske gale lag kar roe ja rahi thi aur uska chota bhai Sahib bhi bahut ro raha tha.

Heer apne Pita ke gale lag kar rone lagi aur Baldev Singh ne use pyar se samjhaya, “Puttar hun tera ghar tere pati da ghar hai. Tere piyo di izzat hun tere hathan wich hai puttar. Isnu rol na dai. (Beta ab tumhare pati ka ghar hi tumhara ghar hai. Ab tumhare baap ki izzat tumhare haatho mein hai. Isse daag mat lgana.)”

Baldev Singh ne Heer ka hath pakad kar mujhe diya. Ek pal ke liye uske haath ki naram ungliyan meri ungliyon se chhoo gayi. Mujhe mehsoos hua jaise sab kuch ek dum se badal raha ho. Heer ab meri hone wali thi, sirf naam se nahi, balki har tareeke se.

Lekin Heer ke hath thande the aur kanp bhi rahe the. Maine kas kar uske hath ko pakad liya use ye wada dilate hue ke wo akeli nahi hai.

Maine use apni gaadi mein bithaya aur hum meri haveli pahunch gaye. Iqbal ki biwi aur beti Heer ko mere kamre mein le gayi, aur unke jaane ke baad, aakhirkaar main bhi apne kamre mein pahunch gaya.

Heer palang par sehmi hui si baithi thi, uska chehra ab bhi ghoonghat ke parde mein chhupa tha. Main dheere se uske paas baith gaya. Mere man mein kai sawaal aur jazbaat umad rahe the, lekin main use aur darana nahi chahta tha. Wo pehle hi kitni ghabraayi hui thi—iski gawahi uski band muthi de rahi thi, jo uska dupatta mazbooti se thaame baithi thi.

Maine dheere se uska ghoonghat hataya, aur ek pal ke liye to meri saansein hi tham gayi. Heer behad khoobsurat lag rahi thi— itni khoobsurat ki main bayan tak nahi kar sakta. Uske chehre ka noor uske pehne hue gehno se bhi zyada tha. Sharm aur ghabrahat dono uske chehre par saaf dikh rahi thi, par uska chehra kisi bhi gehne se zyada chamak raha tha.

Main uski unhi aankhon mein doobna chahta tha, jinhone us raat mujhe apna deewana bana diya tha. Par uski jhuki palkon ne meri ye khwahish adhoori chhod di.

Maine dheere se apni ungliyon se uski thodi uthai, taaki wo meri taraf dekh sake. Lekin Heer ne apni aankhein aur zyada kas kar bandh kar li.

Maine muskurate hue pucha, "Will you not even look at me now?"

Lekin uski aankhon se nikle aansuon aur uske lafzon ne mera dil cheer kar rakh diya—

"Kyun? Ek aur nai saza muqarrar karenge kya ab aap? Aapse zabaan darazi ki saza to main shadi ki shakal mein bhugat chuki hoon. Ab aapki taraf na dekhne ki kya saza milegi?"