I was getting dressed for office. I took out a coffee coloured shirt with black trousers from the almirah. I stroked the clothes gently. To be showered with love by your beloved, what a wonderful feeling it was!

I wasn't required in the office until one in the afternoon because that was when editing desk begins to function - when the reporters have gathered the news. As my first day at the office, I had been summoned early to be introduced to my colleagues and so that I could learn about the house style and layout of the publications before working on it.

After getting ready, I went downstairs and the usual scene awaited me – Mummyji in mandir and Bauji reading the newspaper, and Neero bhaiya, our household helper, in the kitchen. Bauji would leave for office soon and I would spend my morning with Mummyji , until it was time for me to leave.

***

I reached office with a bunch of Daisies. Now the problem was I could not just walk in with the bouquet – It would be very embarrassing. I stood near the gate and looked around for some help. I waved to Gopi kaka, whom I spotted nearby.
'Ram Ram Randheer Sahab !', he greeted me with a smile.
'Ram Ram Kaka, ek chota sa kaam tha aapse'. I brought forward the bunch of flowers.
'ji, ye aap sab se nazrein bacha ke –'
'Amrit Bitiya ke cabin mein rakhna hai ?', he asked. 'Samjhiye ho gaya !', he said with a smile.
I stroked the back of my neck and nodded. They all did it so plainly and embarrassed me even more. He went in and after waiting for a while, I too went in as if I had just arrived.

Amrit was already there. She was elegantly dressed in a yellow salwar kameez with an orange dupatta. She was in deep conversation with Manoj. And apparently they were in discussion about some article. But he was the financial journalist ! I was confused.
She turned towards me when I was just near gate and excusing herself, walked up to me with a bright smile.
'Good Noon Amrit ! Aap -', I said raising my finger with a confused look.
'Ji vo nayi jute policy aayi hai na. Abhi abhi khabar aayi. Manoj bhaiya mainu usike baare mein bata rahe the!'
I was further confused. What was going on?!
'Randheer, mera kaam kahaniyan aur samajik muddon par lekh likhna hi hai, par baaki sab cheez cheez ki jaankaari rakhna bhi to zaroori hai ! Warna akhbaar mein kaam karne ka kya fayda ?! Main anuvaad aur proofreading mein bhi madad kar hi deti hoon', she replied with a twinkle in her eyes.
'Ye baat to aapne ekdum sahi kahi Amrit ! Bas aapko tushti milni chahiye kaam se !', I said with smile. She nodded in approval.
'Waise kayi khat aaye hai mere paas mujhe badhai dete hue ki burkhewaali ka taangewaala laut aaya ! Dilli ki jaanta badi khush hai !', she beamed.
'Par main to kal aaya tha daftar. Mujhe to koi khat nahi mile ?!'
'Khat mere naam par aaye the to aapko kaise milein ?', she simpered.
'Ye bhi sahi hai !', I smiled.
'Randheer ! Radha Chachiji aayi hui hai aaj.', she said with a grin.
'Amrit ! Maine to poochhna hi bhool gaya ! Vo kaisi hai aur aapke saath nahi rehti ?'
'Ji unhe bhi unke Mohan mil gaye.',
'Ji ?'
'Randheer unka vyaah ho gaya ! Humaare jijaji ka naam Mukund hai. Vo log yahin Dilli mein hi pale-badhe hain aur yahi rehte hain'
'Jijaji ?!', I asked with an amused expression.
'Darasal, wahi zor dete mujhe aur Vashma ko unhe jijaji kehne ko. Ab Radha chachiji humaari behen jaise hi hui. Assi ohnu chachaji thodi kahenge ?!', she joked. 'Humne to unhe bhi kaha ki ab aapko chachiji nahi kahenge. Vo aapke zindagi ka ek hisse tha jo beet gaya. Par vo hain ki maanti hi nahi. Aur koi keh ke dekhe ki Uday Veerji unke puttar nahi hai ! Pura mohalla sar pe utha lena hai ohne !', she said with a smile.
'To aapke ye jijaaji kaam kya karte hai ?', I asked with crossed arms.
'Ji vo peshe se vakeel hai ! Par aapne na kade vi na inni baatein karne waala inna zinda-dil vakeel nahi dekhiya hoga !', she said with sparkle.
'Kya mujhe fikr honi chahiye ki aap kisi ki itni taareef kar rahi hai ?'
'Ji agar aapko fikr karni hai to aap kar sakte hai !', she said with a smirk.
'Ab to milna padega in janaab se !', I said giving her a worried look.
'Mil lijiyega aaj raat ko. Aaj aap sab ka raat ka khaana Prem Nivas par hi hai. Mummyji ko bhi kehelwa diya hai maine.', she said and walked away with a smile.
I too went down to my desk. It had a bunch of articles neatly placed on it. And the top most sheet had a story written by Amrit with a note attached.
'Saalon baad aaj ek alag lazzat thi likhaayi mein !'
The smile on my face couldn't be any brighter.

Amrit came to me with a pink face after sometime
'Vo jaldi jaldi mein maine bas likhi hui kahaani aapki mez par rakh di, type karna to bhool hi gayi. Laiye !', she said outstretching her hand.
I refused.
'Ji ?!', she asked with a confused expression.
'Ji haan. Aapne kahaani likhke dedi. Ab aapka kaam khatam. Aur aap kabhi bhi apne kahaaniyan ya lekh type karke mat laaiyega. Bas yoon hi likhke le aaiyega. Usse akhbaar ke panno tak pohonchaane ki zimmedaari meri hai.', I said bowing a bit, hand over heart.
'Par Randheer-'
'Aap itni si baat nahi maanengi meri ?', I asked softly.
'Thik hai. Jaisa aap chaho. Waise phool bade khoobsurat the !' she said with a soft blush creeping on her face. She walked away but turned after walking a few steps. Aur us ek nazar mein jaise hazaaron teer chal gaye mere dil pe.

...

Amrit was mostly upstairs. Occasionally she would come down, move around, talk to some journalists, read some articles. All that time, the joy on her face was a blessing for me to behold.

It was about five when I saw Amrit coming towards my desk. Imraan stopped her mid-way, 'Amrit ! Tumse koi Kajri milne aayi hai'
I noted the change in Amrit's expression – as if some old pain had resurfaced. She did smile again after a few moments and eagerly went to meet the woman. They warmly exchanged a hug and began chattering as old friends. A while later, Amrit brought her to meet me.
Kajri seemed to be a woman in her late-twenties. She appeared to be a simple village woman, still learning the ways of the city. 'Ji Satsriakaal ! Main Kajri. Amrit di saheli.'she said with folded hands. 'O din akhbaar mein dekhiya ki tussi laut aaye ho to main Amrit nu badhai dene vaaste aa gayi ji !' Then she slipped off in a dialect of Punjaabi which I didn't understand. All-in-all I could understand that she was very happy for me and Amrit. Turning to Amrit she said, 'Main tuhade ghar gia. Otthe mainu Vashma te Radha mile. Unha ne dasia ki tussi itthe hovoge.' She stayed for about ten-fifteen minutes and chatted with Amrit, some of which I could understood, some of which I couldn't. She was in awe of our office. She kept asking about the things she was seeing for the first time. All this while Amrit was smiling and talking but there was a subdued sadness in her eyes. I mentally made a point to ask her later what was this all about.
'Acha tussi kaam karo. Main chalna', Kajri said and Amrit accompanied her to the door. We got back to our respective work.

...

It was about ten 'o' clock.
We editors had completed the discussion and planning of the paper for the day some time ago. The designers were set to work. Normally I was supposed to stay until twelve midnight, until the final copy was sent to the press. But there were guests awaiting back home. It would not be appropriate to make them wait any longer. I had proofread my set of articles yet one more time so that there would be no hassle after I left. Negligency anywhere was unacceptable. I handed the approved articles to Vaasanti, another editor, and apologized for leaving early.

Amrit was waiting near the gate for me. I had informed her earlier that I would be leaving with her today. We boarded a tanga and left for home.
'Amrit !'
'Ji?'
'Aaj jab Kajriji aayi thi tab aapki aankhon mein ek ajeeb se dard dekha tha maine !'
'Aise toh koi gal nahi hai Randheer', she said averting my eyes. 'Aapne dekha na main kinni khush thi ohnu milke'
'Ab aap mujhse baatein chhupaaengi Amrit ?'
'Par koi –'
'Main nahin manta Amrit. Koi baat to zaroor hai.'
'Aur agar vo baat dukh dene waali ho to ?', she looked at me with pained eyes
'Agar usse aap dukhi hoti hai tab toh mera jaan-na aur bhi zaroori hai', I said cupping her face.
She brought my hands down and held them tight.
'Kajri jiji hume Amritsar station par mili thi –'
'Amritsar station?' I looked at her quizzically, 'Aap mujhe sab kuch tafseel se bataiye. Shuru se ant tak sab kuch'
'Darasal baat batwaare ke waqt ki hai. Main, Veer ji aur Radha Chachi Amritsar pohonche hi the. Chaaro taraf samandar jaisi bheed thi. Kayi schoolon, mandiron, gurudwaaron, baag-bagiche sab ko refugeeyon ke liye camp mein tabdeel kar diya gaya tha. Ek camp mein thodi si jagah mili thi hume. Faarukh ke aadmiyon se bachte bachaate Iqbal Chachiji ne jo potli di thi hume vo bhi kahin chhoot hi gayi thi. Bas haath mein kuch sau rupaaye the aur saaman ke naam par meri diary aur ik aapki aur ik Mummyji-Bauji ki tasweer. Shayad Rab di meher thi mere upar. Je vo tasweerein na rehti mere kol, te pata ni mere ki hota', she said gripping my hands even more firmly.
'Sarkar ne har camp mein ration ke adde lagaaye the. Par pata nahi kyun un addon pe jaa kar khaana lena sahi nahi laga hume. Vo bhi tab jab kuch rupay the humaare paas. Aisa laga raha tha jiske paas nahi ho paise uske hisse ka khaana hum paayenge. Bada... ajeeb sa waqt tha', she said with a disoriented look on her face. 'Amritsar ke kayi ameer pariwaar refugeeyon ke liye muft mein khaana batwaa rahe the. Aur doosri taraf ek ser chawal ke daam bhi aasman chho rahe the. Log ek hi waqt par daan-dharam karke naam bhi kamaana chahte the aur refugeeyon ki majboori ka faida bhi uthaana chahte the.' It was their own hardships but people's attitude towards the refugees that bothered Amrit more.

'Us waqt raaste, maidan, pedon ke niche, sab jagah sirf log hi log the, jo apna sab kuch gawa ke aaye the ek nayi duniya basaane. Par hum teeno ko use bhi pehle aap teeno ko khoj nikaalna tha.
Roz pou-phate hum teeno nikal jaate. Kabhi Khalsa College, kabhi Hari Mandir Sahab. Sabke register mein dekhte ki un hazaaron logon ke naam mein aapka ya Vashma ka naam kahin dikh jaaye. Aapki to tasweer bhi thi mere paas. Vashma ki to tasweer bhi nahi thi. Us waqt Radio pe khoye hue logon ke naam-pate bulwaaye jaate the. Wahan bhi aapke aur Vashma ke naam likhwa diye the humne. Roz savere uthke hum bhagwaan se aapne zinda hone ke liye dhanyawaad karte aur aap teeno ki salaamati ki dua karte.

Assi Hindustan te pohoch gae se pher vi darr da mahaul uhi tha. Khanjar paas rakhe bina kahin bhi jaana, maut ko paas bulaane jaisa hi tha. Je us paar lakho Hindu parivaar tabah hue the to is paar Musalmaano ka bhi koi kam bura haal nahi hua tha. Maano jaise ohnu ek alag mulk kya de diya, sarhad ke is paar se sab bas ohnu khaded hi dena chahte the. Jo nahi vi jaane chahnde, ohnu vi zabardasti nikaala jaa raha tha. Jahan koi musalmaan dikh jaaye us par bas hamla kar diya jaata. In logon ke ghar, zameen sab chin gayi thi. Ek maidan mein ek bazaar sa lagiya tha. Utthe in gharon de saaman di boli lag rahi thi. Sab taraf sirf maar-kaat, loot-paat machi thi.'
I said, 'Kitni ajeeb baat hai na Amrit, Bhagwaan ne sabko ek sa banaya, par ye insaan hi ek doosre se door hogaye kyunki inhe ek dusre pe vishwaas hi nahi tha, ye sab hua bhi unhi Bhagwaan ke naam par'
Amrit nodded glumly and continued ,'Hume campon mein kayi jaane-pechane log mile. Humne unsab se bhi kaha ki aapka ya Vashma ki koi bhi khabar mile to humaare naam Amritsar Daakghar mein khat likh dein. Kuch logon ne mainu aur Radha chichi nu salah di ki hum apna chehre pe koi kapda baandh lein, warna humaari sundarta nu hi humaara sabse bada kasoor ban jaana hai. Koi aam waqt hota to hum zaroor unse behes karte par vo waqt aam tha nahi. Aur us waqt ki sabse badi shikaar auratein hi bani thi. Radha chachi ne apni saari ka pallu aur maine apna dupatte chehre par baandh liya.'
I flinched with distaste.

'Kuch chaar-paanch din aise hi beete. Phir ek din, himmat baandh ke humne station mein bhi dekhne ka faisla kiya ', her voice had already started trembling. 'Yoon to aapke wahaan milne ki umeed bhi kam thi kyunki hum Amritsar-Lahore ke beech kahin bichhde the aapse. Aur hum bas mann hi mann prarthana kar rahe the ki aap teeno hume wahan na milo. Lahore se Amritsar aane waali harr train par hamle hote the. Is wajah se trainein kayi dinon tak radd bhi thi. Log blade waali bandooke rakhte the, taaki hathapaayi mein bhi kaam aaye ! Jab Angrezon se ladne ki baat thi tab hathiyaar hi nai mil rahe the, aur ab sab ke paas na sirf hathiyaar the, balki log un hathiyaaron ko police se chhupaane ki bhi koshish tak nahi kar rahe the.

Baaki sab jagah jaisa mahaul tha, Station par usse kayi guna darr, dehshat aur behshipan ka mahaul tha. Chaaro taraf laashein bichi thi. Train ke dibbe mein itne log bhare the ki saans tak lene ki jagah nahi thi. Dibbe ke upar log bas chadhe jaa rahe the. Chaaro taraf sirf rote, cheekhte, aur dard mein karahte log dikhaayi pad rahe the. Log bheed mein piss rahe then. Jo andar naa jaa pa rahe the vo darr se aise sehme hue the ki agar unhe andar na jaane diya gaya, to bahar bas maut hi likhi thi unki. Tabhi kuch goliyon ki awaaz aayi. Ek dibbe se kuch log haath mein talwaarein aur bandookein leke nikle. Dikhaayi pad raha tha, andar ke logon ko maar ke aaye hai. Vo apne saath teen chaar auraton ko ghaseet-te hue liye aa rahe the !', she was seething with anger.
'Humse raha nahi gaya. Hume pata tha ki hum shayad unki jaan na bacha paate, shaayad khud ki jaan se bhi haath dho baith-te. Par wahan khade unko ye sab karte hue dekhna, ye mumkin nahi tha. Hum unke paas jaa hi rahe the ki ek police waalon ka dal haath mein bandookein aur laathiyan liye unpar toot pade aur un auraton ki jaan bachaayi', she heaved a sigh of relief.
'Humne apni khoj jaari rakhi. Train par itne log sawaar the ki engine train ko kheech hi nahi paa raha tha. Pahiye to ghoom rahe the par train aage hi nahi badh rahi thi. Badi der baad dheere dheere train aage badhi. Wahin hum platform ke us taraf gaye jahaan hume Kajri jiji mili. Vo akeli na thi. Ohde naal hor teen ladkiyan vi thi', her voice was choked with tears.
'Unke... kapde buri tarah fate hue the... Unke shareer par kayi zakhm the.', Amrit was struggling not to cry. 'Maine turant apna dupatta utaarkar ohnu odhaaya. Je Radha Chachi ne saari na pehni hoti to vo bhi yehi karti. Aeni kamzor ho gayi thi vo chaaro ki khud uth bhui nahi paa rahi thi. Assi ohnu laike station se baahar gaye, ik mashakwalle se paani laike ohnu pilaaya. Unha nu khana khuaya. Kuch samae baad Kajri jiji ne bataya ki ve saari Gujranwala de nere ik pind vich rahida si. Othe vi hindu-musalmaan saare mil baantke rahide san. Jadon batwaare di khabar mili te unha de pind de Pathaano ne saare hindu pariwaran nu dhakke maarke pind se bahar karwa diya. Bachte bachaate jaise taise sab Gujranwala station pohonche hor train-te chadh hi riha si ki hor Pathana ne ohnu gher liya. Pathaano ne mardon ko dhamki di ki agar vo chup chaap auraton ko yahin chhod kar chale jaate hai to unki jaan baksh di jaayegi. Aur us pind de saare mard, bina ek awaaz kiye ... chale gaye... Kisine palat kar dekha tak nahi', she was shuddering with rage. I listened in stony silence. I really didn't know what to say. How could anyone even do this ?!
'Kajri jiji ki god mein unka teen saal ka baccha tha, unke pati ne us bache ko unse chheena aur train par chadh gaye ! Un ladkiyon mein se kuch ne bhaagne ki koshish ki, ussi pal unhe goli maar di gayi. Apni izzat bachaane vaaste.... ek-do ladikiyan... train ke saamne kood gayi. Kajri Jiji aur baaki auratein to sann ho gayi thi. Un darindon ne un auraton ke saath jo kiya...', Amrit turned away her face in disgust. I was numbed.
'Do din tak Kajri jiji aur vo auratein unke kabze mein rahi. Khaana to door ko baat hai... paani ke liye bhi taras gayi thi vo sab. Unke haath pair baandh kar wahin station ke bahar kahin chhod rakha tha. Jab mann hua, aate aur...'. My eyes were red with disgust.
'Fir doosre din raat ko Kajri jiji ne thaani ki koi nahi aane waala inhe bachaane. Inhe khud hi koshish karni hogi. Unke shareer mein jo thodi bohot shakti bachi thi usse ikattha karke vo uthi aur kuch bade aur nukeele patthar khoje. Un pattharon par ghis ghis kar apne haath ki rassiyan kaati. Unke saath paanch aur ladkiyaan wahan fasi hui thi. Unhone ne ek ko uthne mein madad ki aur use baakiyon ko bhi uthaane ko kaha. Par unmein se do ladkiyon ki dard aur bhookh se wahin maut ho chuki thi !
Inke paas ghum ka bhi waqt nahi tha. Vo Pathan bhi kahin so rahe the. Raat ke andhere mein yoon bhaagna bhi khatre se khaali nahi tha. Par inke andar ka jaise darr hi khatam ho gaya tha. Inhe lag raha tha ki jis halat vo abhi hai usse buri halat inki aur nahi ho sakti aur zyada se zyada ye maare jaayenge, par marna bhi is nark se pade rehne se kayi guna behtar hoga.
Bhaagte-daudte ye wahan se nikalke aayi. Bhor mein inhe ek truck mili jisme Hindustan ke sipahi, logon ko border paar le jaa rahe the. Unhone ne inki madad ki aur inhe ek refugee camp tak pohonchaaya. Kismat se us camp par Kajri jiji ko unke mayke waale mile. Par unlogon ne Kajri jiji ko apne saath rakhne se mana kar diya. Unke mutabik jis din se inka vyaah hua, tab se inki zimmedari inke sasural waalon ki hai. Pehle hi bikhri hui Kajri jiji ko tab jaise logon se ghinn hone lagi. Khaas taur par mardon se. Jab vo humse mili tab Veerji ki taraf bhi badi shakki nazar se dekh rahi thi. Humne badi mushkil unhanu bharosa diliya ki hum unhadi madad karna chahte hai.'
Amrit carried on, 'Ye sab sunke Veerji ne bas dheere se hum dono ko gale se laga liya, jaise ek hi saath humaari sahi salaamat hone ka shukriya bhi kar rahe the Rab nu aur bas iss sab se bacha ke kahin door le jaana tha unhone hume', she said with tears in her eyes.
I could understand Uday's emotions at that moment. But I had no idea how all the women must be feeling – those against whom those crimes had been commited and those who were witnessing them suffer.
'Aapko pata hai Randheer, is baat nu chaar saal hone ko aaye. Uske baad itna kuch ho bhi gaya, fir bhi jab bhi main Kajri jiji ya un ladkiyon ko dekhti hoon, ek baar unki wahi haalat meri aankhon ke saamne aa jaati hai, jis haalat mein vo hume mili thi', she said shutting her eyes in agony.

'Amrit unhone jo saha, vo to hum kabhi soch bhi nahi sakte.' Anger coursed through my veins.
'Un haivaanon ne auraton ke saath jaanwaron sa vaivhaar kiya. Aur unke parivaar ke mardon ne kiya !? Na unke jaan-samman ke liye lade, aur na hi bachne ke baad unhe apnaya. Har taraf berehmi to auraton par hi hui !', I said severely.
She continued, 'Us paar musalmaanon ne auraton ki izzat looti. Badla lene vaaste idhar Hinduon ne bhi wahi kiya. Mardon ke berehmi aur hawas dono ka shikaar aurat hui ! Aur auraton ka kasoor bhi yahi ki unke khilaaf aisi ghinauni harkate ki gayi !'
I said clenching my fist, 'Kya hakk hai dono desho mein se kisi ko bhi kam zaahil kehlaane ka jab dono ne hi auraton ke saath...'
Amrit said, 'Is sab se hume Vashma ke liye aur bhi darr lagne laga tha. Sabse zyada khatre mein vo thi aur hume ye bhi nahi pata tha ki aap Vashma se mile bhi ya nahi.'
'To Vashma fir kahan mili aapko ?'
'Usi din station ke bahaar. Hum un auraton ko lekar jaa rahe the wahaan se ki Veerji ne usnu dekha aur hume roka. Uske pichhe bhi do aadmi the. Par uske haath mein ek jalti hui mashaal thi jisse vo apna bachaav kar rahi thi.' Amrit said proudly. 'Usne Kabir ko seene se baandh rakha tha. Use dekhte hi hum daude uski taraf aur un aadmiyon ko bhagaane mein madad kari uski'
'Vo thik thi ? Kahi unhe bhi to...', I was trembling even to say it.
'Nahi nahi. Vo zakhmi thi par Rab di meherbaani se usnu kuch nahi hua tha. Usdi bhi Hindustaani faujiyon ne hi madad ki. Vo to usnu is paar hi nai laana chahte the. Use bohot daraya bhi tha ki uski jaanko khatra hoga, par use to aana hi tha yahan !', Amrit said with a gleam in her eyes.

'Fir kya hua Amrit ? Aaplog kahan gaye ?'
'Randheer, hum to ek college ke baraamde mein hi reh rahe the chaar din se. Kajri jiji aur unki baaki saathiyon ko bhi humne apne saath hi le liya. Par ab vo sau rapay bhi khatam hone aa gaye the. Hume kaam dhoondna tha. Par is mahaul mein jab log daane daane ke liye taras rahe the tab kahaaniyon aur hockey ke baare mein kaun sochta. Us waqt bas kuch kaam dhoondna tha jisse hum do waqt ki roti kamaa sake. Aur us waqt humaari pohoch mein sabse munasib kaam tha wahin refugee camp mein logon ki madad karna. Hum chaaron volunteers ki tarah wahi kaam karne lage kuch dinon ke liye'
'Ye to bohot acha kaam tha !', I said.
We saw that we had reached home.
'Baaki ki baatein andar jaake karenge', she said softly and got down from the tanga. I followed suit and we walked down into Prem Nivas.