Shreeja khush thi. Bohat dino baad wo khush thi. Kadachit esa hi hota hoga baki sadharan ladkiyon ka jeevan. Esa hi lagta hoga mitron ka hona. Ese hi haste gaate samay veet jate honge. Ese hi unhe maarg ke sesh hone ka dukh hota hoga. Seher aa chuka tha. Ladko ko vida lena tha. Jav unke hotel ke samne gaadi ruki to koi vi bahar aane ko prastut nai the. Par unhe jana to tha hi,

"Kal subha apse firse milna hoga Shree." Raghav ne kaha.

"Ye mera card rakhie, kadachit apke kaam ayega. Aur gaadi apko aj raat hi mil jayegi. Bhojan ke lie ye samne jo restaurant hai na. Wahi jaiyega. Waha ka bhojan accha hai aur vatavaran vi. Apki ruchi ke anusaar savi prakaar ka bhojan miljaega. Subha main kisiko bhej dungi apko Pragyna Vihar le jane."  Shreeja ne kaha.

"Iski koi jarurat nai hai Shree, hum khud ajaenge. Ap hume bata dijiye kaha hai university." Raghav ne kaha.

"Avasya! Wo raha.." Shreeja ne ek aur isara kia.

        Dono bhaiyon ki najar wohi chali gayi. Dekha to pahaado ke upar tha ek sundar aur bhavya imarat. Dhalte hue suraj ke roshni main bohat acha lag raha tha. Itni sundar and itni shant dikhne wali jagha unhone kabhi nai dekhi thi.

"To ye hai apka Pragyna Vihar. Beautiful. Now I wish it's morning already." Raghav ne kaha.

"Kal subha apki apeksha rahegi. Pranam."

       Shreeja ne dono bhaiyon ko kaha aur car main baith gayi. Use ekayak iss baat ka abhas hua ki wo in dono ladkon ko aavashyakta se adhik mahatva dene lagi hai. Bhumi ko kuch kehne ka avsar hi nai mila. Usne apne behen ko jaldi main gadi main baithte hue dekha to wo vi bina prashn kiye andar chali gayi. Dono bhai unki gadi ko jate hue dekhte rahe.

"Ye kya tha Bhaiya? Coincidence ya Destiny?" Aarav ne pucha.

"Patanai. Maa ka call aya?" Raghav ne pucha.

"Aya tha ek bar. Maine message chhod diya hai. Khana kha ke call karenge."

        Raghav aur Aarav ne jab apne Ghar call kia to hazar prashno ke bad Aarav ye bata saka ki unki gaadi kharab ho gayi thi.

"Dekha.. Isile kaha tha maine. Kya jarurat thi tum dono ko drive karke jane ki. Koi meri baat sunta hi nai." Naitra devi ne kaha.

"Relax Maa... Han humaari gaadi kharab hui thi par humein lift vi mil gayi thi. Unhone humein pura hotel tak drop kia hai. Koi pareshaani nai hui." Raghav ne kaha.

"Really! Bade achche log hain waha ke." Naitra ne kaha.

"Ladkiyaan mummy. Do ladkiyaan thi. Par han. Thi bohat achhi." Aarav ne kaha.

"Esse raste main do ladkiyaan akeli? Ajib hai." Naitra boli.

"Kuch ajib nai hai Maa. Wo log vi Delhi se wapas aa rahe the. Dad pata hai coincidentally wo dono Pragyna Vihar ki owners hain." Raghav ne kaha.

"Tum Sreeja se mile Raghav? Really? Kesi lagi tumhe?" Mr. Bhargava ne bohat hi uttejit hoke kaha.

"Sreeja aur Bhumija dono bohut acchi hain. Hum abhi Pragyna Vihar gaye vi nai hain aur mujhe already pata hai I'm gonna like this one the most. Dad last decision apka hai par agar mujhse puche to yehi hai jiski hume talash thi. Just meeting the girls and visiting the city has this effect. I'm sure ek bar aap aur Maa yaha ayegaye toh wapas nai ja paoge." Raghav ne kaha...

"Thik hai beta. Par kal tum university jao. Mr. Purohit se milo. Sreeja ko kaam karte hue dekho. Business decisions ese raste main milke nai lie jate." Naitra ne kaha.

"Ap thik keh rahi hain Mummy. Ab hun phone rakhte hain. Kal jaldi uthna hai." Aarav ne jaldi se kaha.

"Are.. Ese.. Ruko main baat kar rahi hun..."

"Mummy.. Hum bohut thak chuke hain. Byyeee.... Bye... Goodnight Dad." Aarav ne phone rakh dia.

"Aaru kya battamiji hai? Main baat kar raha tha na." Raghav ne kaha.

"Bhai...apna phone dekhie... Sreeja ka call aaraha hai." Aarav raghav ka phone khud hi utha leta hai.

"Hi Sree... Sorry mera phone busy tha. Tumne kitni baar try kia hoga."

"Nai Maine ek hi call kia aur Raghav ke phone pe hi kia." Sreeja ki awaz sunai di.

"But we are best friends Sree!"

"Itni raat ko vi unhe satana jaruri hai? Laa phone de idhar." Raghav phone le leta hai. "Sorry Sreeja. Ap to mil hi chuki ho..."

"Kshyma prathrna ki aavashyakta nai hai. Meri Maa ne kal pratah bhojan pe aap dono ko aamantrit kia hai. Agar aap aa sake to unhe badi prashanata hogi." Sreeja ne kaha.

"Of course. Hum dono jarur apke sath breakfast karna chahenge." Raghav ne kaha.

"Ji toh kal subha 7baje hamaari gaadi pohunch jaegi apko lene. Pratiksha rahegi. Shubhratri." Sreeja ne kaha.

"Good night sreeja." Raghav ne phone rakh dia.

"Kya bhai.. Mujhe baat karni thi." Aarav ne sikayat ki.

"Jo baat karni hai, kal subha kar lena. Hum unke ghar breakfast pe jaa rahe hain."

"Hmm... They ARE good people.."

       Dono bhai sone chale gaye. Sreeja aur Bhumi jabtak ghar pohunche diabati ka samay ja chuka tha. Unke mata pita bagiche main baithe unki raah dekh rahe the. Dono sidhe unke paas gaye.

"Kesa raha conference Sree?" Sunanda Devi ne pucha.

"Bohat hi accha Maa. Baba, Knowledge Inn ke representative ne directly hume apna sikar banane ka prayatn kia tha. Sree ne unhe esa uttar dia hai ki wo kavi nai bhul paaenge." Bhumija ne kaha.

"Sach. Kya kaha unhone?" Dr. Purohit puche.

"Unhone humari Pragyna Vihar ko apni university se compare kia. Sree ne unhe unki muh pe hi money minded bol dia." Bhumi apne behen ki nidarta aur kutniti se bohut jada pravavit thi. Aj tak usne sirf suna tha ye sab.

"Jiji kuch jada hi khush ho gayi hai baba. It was just a regular conference. Han hamara sakshatkaar Mr. Bhargava se hui. We khud aye the hamaare pas. Ye ek subh suchna hai. Aur fir raste main unke do beton se vi mile hum." Sree ne kaha.

"Raste main?" Sunanda devi ne pucha.

"Han Maa. Wo log university dekhne aye hain. Raste main unki gadi bigad gayi. Hum abhi unhe unke hotel chhod ke aarhe hain." Sree ne uttar dia.

"Kese hain dono?" Dr. Purohit ne pucha.

"Ek dusre se bohot vihn hain. Raghav shant hain. Vidwn hain. Shalin hain. Unke byabhar main ek alag tarha ka therav hai. Aur Aarav.. " Sreeja ruk gayi. Wo nai samajh payi kese varnana kare wo Aarav ko.

"Wo chanchal hain. Sahas aur tej unke mukh se pratit hota hai. Kuch ese vyakti nai hote jinke bas upastithi se hi vatavaran main urja aur anand ki anubhuti hoti ho. Aarav kuch wese hi hain. Baba apko wo bohat ache lagenge." Bhumija ne kaha.

"Sree tumhe Aarav se jada prasannata nai hui?" Dr. Purohit apni beti ke chehre ke us ankahi rekhaon ko vi padh sakte the. Par unho ne sahi padha tha ki nai ye to samay hi batayega.

"Sree aur Aarav to.." Utshahit bhumija kuch bolne jaa rahi thi par Sreeja ki aankhon ne use rok dia.

"Aarav main bohat bachpana hai aur mujhe Raghav ke sath kaam karna hai. Meri khich ka ye karan ho sakta hai baba. Aur kuch nai." Sreeja ne kaha. "Main bohut thak chuki hun Maa. Apne kamre main ja rahi hun."

"Avasya. Main tumharr lie adrak ki chai le aati hun. Thakan dur ho jaegi." Sunanda devi ne kaha. Unke pas se uthke ane ke baad Bhumija ne apni behen se pucha,

"Wo kya tha..."

"Jiji kuch baten hoti hain jo hame apne tak hi rakhni chaiye. Baba ya Maa ko jan ne ki avayakta nai hai." Sree ne kaha.

"Par hum to baba aur Maa se sab kuch bol sakte hain."

"Hum ajib hain meri pyari Jiji, duniya nai. Raghav aur Aarav humse bohat alag hain. Unka byavahaar humare samne agal aur badon ke samne alag ho sakta hai. Wo nai chahenge ki unka hamare sath kia jane wala mitron swaroop byavahaar ki har suchna hum hamaare Mata pita ko de. It can be embarrassing for them." Sree ne kaha.

"Aur tumhe lagta hai Baba ko tumse sikayate hain. Tum sampurn ho Sree. Baba ko to kya kisi ko vi tumse koi sikayat nai ho sakti." Bhumi ne apni behen ko kaha. Sreeja ne use thodi der dekha. Fir ghum ke apne kamre ki aur chalte hue kaha,

"Makkhan mat lagao, kya chaiye bolo." Bhumi daudke apni behen ke sath chalti hai.

"Main kaal unhe khane pe bulana chahti hun."

"Kise?"

"Un dono ko."

"Thik hai. Main baba se baat kar lungi."

"Sach?"

"Han.. It can be a good Idea Jiji. Breakfast saath karke sabhi ek sath university chale jaenge."

"Aur... " Bhumi ruk gayi.

"Kuch aur vi hai?" Sree ne kaha.

"Han. Mujhe ek dress chaiye."

"To le lo. Tumhe salary nai milti kya?"

"Nayi dress nai. Mujhe tumhara ek dress chaiye. Kal ke lie." Sreeja ghum ke apni behen ki aur dekhi.

"Kyu?"

"Kal ek mahatvapurn din hai. Aur main tumhari tarah lagna chahati hun. I want that confident look that y always have. Confidence to ek din main ane se raha. Tumhare kapde pehnungi to sayad confidence fake kar sakungi.".. Sreeja has padi.

" Fake it till you make it jiji. Jo chahe pehno. Sari tumhaari hain."

           Wo subha sayad Raghav aur Aarav ke jeevan main sab se sundar thi. Ek khubsurat pahaadon ki thandi subha. Khidki ke bahar ka nazaara akhono ko roke rakha tha. Par wo log jada der tak ye nazara dekh nai paye. Unhe tayar hona tha. Gadi  aa chuki thi aur wo dono jada late nai hona chahte the.

"Aaru.. Humein kuch leke jana chaiye na? Unke ghar jaa rahe hain." Raghav ne pucha..

"Par kya le jain? Itni subha milega vi kya?"

"Par kosis toh kare kuch dhundne ki."

"Boss ye market kab khulta hai?" Aarav ne driver se pucha.

"Pahaado main subha jaldi hoti hai Saahab ji. Par market lagne main thoda time toh lagega. Abhi to bas farmer's market khul raha hoga."

"Nai yar.. Waha kya milega?"

"Fresh fruits, honey, flowers. Yaha ki strawberry bohut acchi hai. Dr. Sahab ko pasand vi hai. Jab vi samay milta hai Sreeja baaiji lene aati hain." Driver ne kaha.

"Aap farmers market le lo." Raghav ne kaha. "Aaru tune kavi farmers market nai dekha hoga. It's a fascinating place."

     Dono Bhai farmers market main ghoom ke Dr. Purohit ke parivaar ke lie kuch tofe kharidne lage. Jo ki ek fulon ka guldasta aur 2 basket strawberries thi. Aarav ne kavi itna khubsurat mahol nai dekha tha. Use har chhoti chhoti chize aakarshit kar rahi thi. Chahe wo fresh aur still garam bakery bread ho ya home made chocolates.

"Bas Aaru kitna kharidega. Tu ye breads aur fruits ajj ke aaj nai kha paega. Aur kal tak ye itne fresh nai rahenge."

"Bhai ek bar project start ho gaya na fir Mom ko laenge yaha."

"Abhi chal bohot der ho rahi hai..."

"Hy.. Bhai.. Bhai.. Gajre le kya. Us ghar main 3 ladies hain. Aur ladies ko gajre bohot ache lagte hain. Aur looking at both sisters. Unke mom ke vi lambe baal honge."

"Nai too personal. Jitna lia hai. Kafi hai. Ab chal."
             
      Dono Bhai Dr. Purohit ke ghar pohunche. Unka ghar pahaadon ke bich tha. Seher se kafi dur. Itna khubsurat ghar unhone nai dekha tha kavi. Wo ek southern style ka ghar tha jiske beech main bada sa angan hota hai. We log jab dawaje tak pohunche unhe pata chala ki bahar se itna sundar ghar andar se aur vi khubsurat hai.

"Suprabhat..." Sreeja ne kaha. Usne ek sada sa chania choli pehna tha. Uska khubsurat daba daba sa rang us halka gulabi resam ki chania choli ko aur aakarshak bana raha tha. Aarav ke sath sath Raghav vi kuch pal ke lie use dekhte hi rahe.

"Good morning Sreeja.. Yeh apke lie.. " Raghav ne kaha.

"Are.. Insab ki koi aavashyakta nai thi. Atithi ap hain humare.." Sreeja halki si muskan ke sath boli.

"Sree.. " Bhumi ki awaaz sunai di. Usne vi ek lal rang ki chania choli pehna tha. Jo ki uske gulabi nikhar ko aur ubhar rahi thi.

"Jiji.. Hum bas aa hi rahe the. Tum baba ko baithak main ane ko kaho." Sreeja ne kaha.

"Main wohi batane ayi thi. Baba upar ki baithak main hain. Aur wohi jane ka aadesh dia hai."

"Chaiye fir.. Apko modern day sanyasi se milwate hain." Sreeja ne kaha.

"Ji...?" Raghav ne kaha.

"Dr.Purohit.. Ayiye.." Bhumi ne kaha. Raghav aur bhumi age chalne lage. Wo dono ghar main lagi paintings ke ware main baat kar rahe the.

"Apka swasth to thik hai. Itna chup to apko ek pal ke lie vi nai dekha apko."

"Apko meri fikar ho rahi hai Sree.."

"Kadachit.."

"How sweet.. Itni fikar karogi to sayad hamare jane ke bad ap ye duri bardaasht na kar pao."

"Main to sambhal jaungi. Ap dur reh paaenge hamare iss seher se."

"Seher se Sayad reh lun Sree.. Apse reh paunga ye nai keh sakta."

"I'm sure."

       Sree ne iss majak ka antt karne hetu kaha. Usi kshan Aarav ne uska hath pakda aur use apni aur khich lia. Sreeja ki najar pehle apni behen aur Raghav ki aur gayi. We dono apni baaton main khoye the. Wo khud ko Aarav ki sakt bahon se chhudaane ki kosis kar rahi thi.

"Aarav... Ye... "

"Na ye majak hai na jo maine kaha wo majak tha. Sree.. Look at me." Sreeja ne uski aur dekha.. "You. Are. Mine."

         Ab Sreeja dar gayi thi. Wo Aarav ke chehre main hasi ki ek nishani dhund rahi thi jo ye keh de ki ye sab ek majak hai. Par uski aankho main ek ajib si jid thi. Achank Aarav has pada aur Sree ne khud ko chhuda lia.

"That wasn't funny.. " Sree ne jor se kaha.

"You started it." Aarav abhi vi has raha tha.

"Kya hua.. " Raghav ne pucha...

"Kuch nai. He is just a enormous ignoramus." Sreeja ne kaha. Aur age chali gayi...

"Ab kya kia tune..?" Raghav ne apne bhai se pucha par wo Sree ke piche bhagne laga,..

"Sree... Sree... " Jab sreeja ruki toh Aarav ne uska haath pakad ke kaha. "Ruko na.. Kitna bhagaogi. Ab jane vi do.. Majak tha. Ok.. I'm sorry."

"Apni bhul ke lie kshyama maang lena ye darsata hai ki aap ka hriday kina swaschh hai. Aur bhul na hote hue vi kshyama maang lena ye darsata hai ki ap sambandhon ko kitna sahej sakte ho." Ek gambhir si swar sunai di.

        Aarav ne us aur dekha to samne Dr. Purohit the. Dekhne main wo bilkul ek sanyasi the. Vidwan aur Shant. Unka pehnava vi ek sanyasi ke bhaati hi tha. We muskuraye aur Aarav ne Sreeja ka haath chhod dia.

Pic

"Baba ye hain Aarav Bhargava. Mr. Bhargava ke chhote bete." Sreeja ne kaha.

"Oh.. Hello sir... Pleasure to meet you.. Ah.. Sorry... Apse milna mera soubhagya hai." Aarav achanak se kuch bol nai saka. Dr. Purohit ne haste hue usse hath milaya.

"Pleasure is all mine son." Dr. Purohit ne haste hue kaha. Tabhi Bhumi aur Raghav aagaye.

"Aur aap hain Raghav.. "

        Shayad unki ankhein kuch aur vi dekh sakti thi jo sabko nai dikhta.

An
Please vote and comment. It's totally new for me... I need feed backs.