Palat-te Panne
Baarish bahut thi us din… Chashme bheeg gaye the… jooton mei bhi paani bhar gaya tha… dhundli nazar se chootti train ki oer badh raha tha main… aur jaise lapak k eek pal mei khud ko uss compartment mei paya… Sunday tha… bheed zyada nahi thi… par barish ka maza darwaze tak hi tham sa gaya tha jaise… toh humne bhi vahin pehra lagane ki thaani…
“agla station mahim”
Sham ke 4 bajj rahe the… Par station pe door tak koi nahi tha… bas ek budha sa hath dikha uss tez bearish mei… dabbe ka handle pakda aur madat ke liye dusra hath aage badhaya shayad unhone… maine hath aage kar unhe upar chadhaya… Chadhte hi apne hathon se paani sameta… hathon ko baalon tak le gayi… aur apni saari adjust ki… phir theek mai jahan khada tha uske saamne vaali seat par baith gayi… kuch 60 saal ki hongi… 2 minute bearish ki boodon ko dekh kar muskurati rahin… phir ek neele rang ka plastic cover apne bag se nikal kar god mei bicha liya… aur phir eek plastic cover se kuch puraani si kitaab nikal kar padhne lagin… Kuch ajeeb si chamak thi uss chehre mei shayad… jo sab jee lene ke baad bhi shayad iss pal ko naya sa jee rahin thi … main bi khud ke sath muskura kar bahar dekhne laga… 5 minute baad jab meri nazar unki oer gayi toh maine dekha… unhone kitaab ulti padhni shuru ki… akhri panne se ulta panna palta… 2 minute baad phir ulta panna… 10minute tak nazar churate churate mai yahi notice karta raha…. Kaafi atpati si lagi ye baat...
“agla station charni road”
Mera station aa gaya tha… mai utar toh gaya vahan… par shayad ye azad lamha sath reh gaya mere… hasi mei uda diya maine… Bas yaad banke sath reh gaya…
Ek din achanak yun hi mili colaba mei… najane kyun… baat karne ka mann hua… par jhijhak ke karan… bas yun hi chalta chala… unke peeche… kuch toh baat thi jo unki taraf kheench sa rahi thi shayad….
Phir Sunday ka hi din tha… Sham ke 7 kuch bajj rahe the shayad… Unhone taxi li… aur main bhi unke peeche ho liya… Churchgate station… Pir same dibbe… iss baar thodi bahut bheed thi… par hum dono ko aamne saamne jagah mill gayi…
Unhone vahi kia jiska shayad main intezaar sa kar raha tha…
“agla station grant road”
Rok nahi paa raha tha khud ko shayad… hichkichate hue maine puch hi liya…
“ kaise.. I mean … don’t mind… par kaise padh leti hain aap ye kitaab ulti…? “
Unhone kaha”sorry? Aap mujhse baat kar rahei hain?”
“ji maaf kijiyega… aap ko yaad na ho.. par hum pehle bhi mill chuke hain… maine aapko yun hi ulte panne palatte dekha tha… aur khud ko rok nahi paya pucne se…”
Unhone muskura kar kaha… “ Ulat-te panne humein kabi kabhi sochne par majboor kar dete hain ki isse pehle kya hua hoga… jo aaj ka din aisa hai… “
Maine muskurate hue yun hi pooch lia.. “Aap har kitaab aisi hi padhti hain pehli baar? “
Vo phir muskurayi… iss baar shayad sirf khudpe… aur kaha “ kitaab toh padh chuki hun… abb bas khud ki shuruwaat dena chahti ise…”
Maine kaha… “ jab pehli baar padhi khud ka anth bhi dia tha? “
Toh ek jhijhak mei unhone kaha…. “ Anth toh ek hi hona cahiye… varna kahani meri ho jaati… “
“agla station mahim”
“mera station aa gaya hai… aapse milkar acha laga… agar kisi aur panne pe sath mile toh… ek kissa aapke naam bhi karenge hum”
Keh kar vo uthi aur chal di…
Kabhi mili nahi vo phir se mujhe… par aaj bhi ye ek kissa… meri kahani se toh judd hi chukka hai…
Ajeeb panne hain shayad… palat-te hain toh kuch naya bayan karte hain… ulat-te hain toh yadein !!
Tanu Malhotra
