Maa Har Raat Betay Ke Kamray Mein Jaati Thi — Ek Raat Betay Ne Jo Dekha, Uske Baad Sab Kuch Badal Gaya

Ali ko apni maa se bohat mohabbat thi.

Uski duniya mein agar koi shakhs sab se zyada important tha, to woh uski maa thi.

Baap ka saya usne bachpan se nahi dekha tha. Ali sirf itna jaanta tha ke uske walid us waqt ghar se chale gaye thay jab woh sirf chhe saal ka tha.

Uske baad maa ne hi usay pala.

Kabhi usne naye kapray khud nahi liye, lekin Ali ki school uniform har saal nayi hoti.

Kabhi apni pasand ki koi cheez nahi khareedi, lekin Ali ki fees kabhi late nahi hui.

Ali ko lagta tha ke uski maa duniya ki sab se mazboot aurat hai.

Lekin pichle kuch mahino se usay apni maa ke rawaiye mein ek ajeeb si tabdeeli mehsoos ho rahi thi.

Maa raat ko uske kamray mein aati thi.

Har raat.

Bilkul ek hi waqt ke aas paas.

Aur Ali ko sab se ajeeb baat ye lagti thi ke maa kuch karti bhi nahi thi.

Bas uske paas kuch der khari rehti…

Phir chup chaap wapas chali jaati.

Pehle Ali ne is baat ko ignore kiya.

Usay laga shayad maa dekhne aati hongi ke woh so gaya hai ya nahi.

Lekin phir ek raat uski aankh achanak khul gayi.

Clock par 12:08 AM ho rahe thay.

Kamray ka darwaza aadha khula tha.

Aur darwaze ke paas uski maa khari thi.

Ali ne aankhen band kar li.

Usay laga maa samajhengi ke woh so raha hai.

Lekin is baar maa uske paas nahi aayi.

Woh seedha uski study table ke paas gayi.

Kuch seconds tak wahan khari rahi.

Phir dheere se neeche jhuki.

Aur usne Ali ke bed ke neeche haath dala.

Ali ki aankhen band thin…

Lekin ab woh so nahi raha tha.

Uska dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha.

Maa bed ke neeche kya dhoond rahi thi?

Us Raat Ali Ne Faisla Kar Liya

Agli raat Ali ne jaan boojh kar der tak jagne ka faisla kiya.

Usne phone ki brightness bilkul kam kar di.

Earphones laga liye.

Aur pretend kiya ke woh so raha hai.

11:55…

12:02…

12:11…

Phir wahi awaaz.

Darwaza dheere se khula.

Ali ne aankhon ke beech se halka sa dekha.

Maa andar aayi.

Aaj unke haath mein ek chhota sa dabba tha.

Woh seedha bed ke paas aayi.

Kuch seconds tak Ali ko dekhti rahi.

Phir uske bed ke neeche wohi jagah kholi.

Dabba andar rakha.

Aur wapas chali gayi.

Ali ka sabr khatam ho chuka tha.

Usne foran bed se neeche utar kar dekha.

Lekin maa darwaza band kar chuki thi.

Bed ke neeche andhera tha.

Ali ne haath dala.

Uski ungliyon se ek chhota sa metal ka dabba takraya.

Usne dabba bahar nikala.

Tala nahi tha.

Ali ne dhakkan khola.

Andar ek purani tasveer thi.

Ek aadmi ki.

Aur tasveer ke peeche sirf ek jumla likha tha:

“Isay abhi mat batana.”

Ali kuch seconds tak tasveer ko dekhta raha.

Us aadmi ko woh pehchan nahi raha tha.

Lekin phir uski nazar aadmi ke chehre par tik gayi.

Uske haath kaanpne lage.

Us aadmi ke chehre mein usay apni shakal ki jhalak nazar aa rahi thi.

“Kya Ye Mere Abu Hain?”

Ali ne tasveer apne phone se photograph kar li.

Phir use wapas usi jagah rakh diya.

Us raat usne maa se kuch nahi poocha.

Subah breakfast par bhi nahi.

Maa bilkul normal thi.

Chai bana rahi thi.

Parathay garam kar rahi thi.

Aur Ali ko school ke liye jaldi karne ko keh rahi thi.

Jaise raat ko kuch hua hi na ho.

Ali ne achanak poocha:

“Ammi… mere Abu ki koi photo hai aapke paas?”

Maa ke haath ek dum ruk gaye.

Sirf ek second ke liye.

Lekin Ali ne woh second dekh liya.

“Pata nahi beta. Itne saal ho gaye.”

“Unka naam kya tha?”

Maa ne uski taraf dekha.

“Tumhein achanak ye sab kyun poochna hai?”

Ali muskura diya.

“Bas aise hi.”

Maa ne nazar hata li.

“School ke liye der ho rahi hai.”

Ali samajh gaya.

Maa kuch chhupa rahi thi.

Lekin kya?

Purana Sandook

Us din Ali school se jaldi ghar aa gaya.

Maa bazaar gayi hui thi.

Ali ko ek baat yaad aayi.

Ghar ke store room mein ek purana wooden trunk tha.

Bachpan mein jab bhi Ali usay kholne ki koshish karta, maa foran rok deti thi.

“Purani fazool cheezen hain.”

Aaj Ali ne pehli baar us trunk ko kholne ka faisla kiya.

Tala purana tha.

Kaafi koshish ke baad khul gaya.

Andar purane kapray, kuch files aur ek brown envelope tha.

Envelope par naam likha tha:

“Ali ke liye.”

Ali ka gala sookh gaya.

Usne envelope khola.

Andar ek purana letter tha.

Sirf kuch lines.

“Ali ko sach us waqt batana jab woh itna samajhdar ho jaye ke sach ko nafrat mein tabdeel na kare.”

Ali ne letter dobara padha.

Phir teesri baar.

Sach?

Konsa sach?

Aur kis ke baare mein?

Neeche ek naam tha.

Ahmed.

Wohi naam jo Ali ne kabhi apni maa se nahi suna tha.

Maa Ghar Wapas Aa Gayi

Ali ne letter foran trunk mein rakh diya.

Lekin shayad der ho chuki thi.

Door khula.

Maa ghar aa gayi.

Ali store room se bahar nikla.

Maa ne usay dekha.

Phir uski nazar store room ke khule darwaze par gayi.

Dono kuch seconds tak chup rahe.

“Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?”

Ali ne jawab nahi diya.

“Ammi… Ahmed kaun hai?”

Maa ka chehra bilkul safed pad gaya.

Unke haath mein jo shopping bag tha, woh neeche gir gaya.

“Tumne kya dekha?”

“Bas itna bata dein… Ahmed kaun hai?”

Maa kursi par baith gayi.

Unki aankhon mein aansu aa gaye.

Ali ne pehli baar apni maa ko is tarah tootte hue dekha tha.

“Woh tumhare walid hain.”

Ali ko laga jaise kisi ne uske kaanon mein zor se awaaz ki ho.

“Lekin… aap ne to kaha tha ke woh humein chhor kar chale gaye thay.”

Maa ne dheere se kaha:

“Main ne jhoot nahi bola tha.”

“Phir?”

Maa ne aankhen band kar li.

“Woh chale gaye thay.”

“Lekin kyun?”

Maa ne koi jawab nahi diya.

Ali ka gussa barhta gaya.

“Main 16 saal ka ho gaya hoon, Ammi. Aap mujhe kya samajhti hain? Bachcha?”

Maa chup rahi.

Ali ne kaha:

“Woh zinda hain?”

Maa ne foran jawab nahi diya.

Aur isi khamoshi ne Ali ko jawab de diya.

Uske walid zinda thay.

Sab Se Bara Sawal

Ali ne us raat maa se baat nahi ki.

Woh apne kamray mein chala gaya.

Lekin us raat usay neend nahi aayi.

Uske dimagh mein sirf ek sawal tha:

Agar Abu zinda hain, to phir 10 saal se mujhe kyun nahi mile?

Raat ke kareeb 12 baje uski maa phir uske kamray mein aayi.

Ali ne aankhen band kar li.

Maa uske bed ke paas baithi.

Kuch der tak uske baalon par haath pherte hue chup rahi.

Phir unhone dheere se kaha:

“Beta… mujhe maaf kar dena.”

Ali ne aankhen nahi kholin.

Maa ne kaha:

“Tumhare Abu bure aadmi nahi thay.”

Ali ki aankhon se aansu nikal aaye.

“Lekin main unhein tumhare paas nahi la sakti thi.”

Maa chali gayi.

Ali ne aankhen khol di.

Usne decide kar liya.

Woh apne walid ko dhoond kar rahega.

Ek Purana Address

Agli subah Ali ne letter dobara dekha.

Neeche ek purana address tha.

Shehar ke doosre kone mein ek gali ka naam.

Ali weekend par wahan chala gaya.

Address ek purane se ghar ka tha.

Usne darwaza knock kiya.

Kuch der baad ek buzurg aadmi bahar aaye.

Ali ne poocha:

“Yahan Ahmed sahib rehte thay?”

Buzurg ne usay dekha.

Phir kuch seconds tak uske chehre ko ghoorte rahe.

“Tum… Ali ho?”

Ali ke pairon tale zameen nikal gayi.

“Ji.”

Buzurg ne gehri saans li.

“Main tumhara intezar nahi kar raha tha.”

“Lekin aap mujhe jaante hain?”

Buzurg ne dheere se kaha:

“Tumhare walid ko jaanta tha.”

“Woh kahan hain?”

Buzurg ne nazar jhuka li.

“Beta… woh yahan nahi rehte.”

“Phir kahan hain?”

“Kaafi saal pehle chale gaye.”

Ali ne poocha:

“Mar gaye?”

Buzurg ne foran kaha:

“Nahi.”

Ali ne sukoon ki saans li.

Phir buzurg ne woh baat kahi jisne Ali ko andar se hila diya.

“Lekin woh tumse milna chahte thay.”

“Phir mile kyun nahi?”

Buzurg kuch seconds tak chup rahe.

“Unhein tumhari maa ne mana kiya tha.”

Maa Ne Kyun Roka?

Ali ghar wapas aaya to uska dimagh sawalon se bhara hua tha.

Usne maa ko saamne bitha kar kaha:

“Ab mujhe sab sach batayein.”

Maa ne pehli baar uski aankhon mein seedha dekha.

“Tumhare Abu aur meri shaadi bohat achi thi.”

“Phir?”

“Phir unki zindagi mein ek accident hua.”

Ali chup raha.

“Un par ek aisa ilzam laga jo unhone nahi kiya tha.”

“Kaunsa ilzam?”

Maa ne sir jhuka liya.

“Un par chori ka ilzam laga tha.”

Ali hairan hua.

“Lekin unhone nahi ki thi?”

“Bilkul nahi.”

“Phir woh ghar kyun chhor kar gaye?”

Maa ki aankhon mein aansu aa gaye.

“Kyunkay agar woh ghar mein rehte to tum bhi us sab ka hissa ban jate.”

Ali ko samajh nahi aa raha tha.

Maa ne kaha:

“Tumhare Abu ne kisi ka paisa nahi churaya tha. Unhone kisi aur ko bachane ke liye ilzam apne sar le liya tha.”

“Kaun tha woh?”

Maa ne jawab nahi diya.

Ali ne poocha:

“Kaun?”

Maa ne sirf itna kaha:

“Tumhara apna rishtedaar.”

Woh Naam Jo Maa Ne 10 Saal Tak Nahi Liya

Ali ne family ke purane albums nikaale.

Usne har tasveer dekhi.

Phir ek purani family photograph uske haath lagi.

Us photo mein Ali ke walid ke saath ek aur aadmi khara tha.

Ali ne tasveer maa ke saamne rakh di.

“Ye kaun hai?”

Maa ne tasveer dekhi.

Unki aankhon mein foran khauf aa gaya.

“Isay dobara mat poochna.”

Ali samajh gaya.

Yehi woh aadmi tha.

Lekin asli shock abhi baqi tha.

Ali ne tasveer palti.

Peeche ek date likhi thi.

Aur us date ke neeche sirf chaar lafz:

“Sach Ali ko batana.”

Ali ki saansen ruk gayin.

Ye note kisne likha tha?

Aur kyun?

Aakhri Raaz

Ali ne us raat maa ko phir bed ke paas dekha.

Lekin is baar maa ke haath mein koi dabba nahi tha.

Unke haath mein wahi purani tasveer thi.

Maa ne Ali ko jagta dekha.

“Tum sab jaan gaye ho?”

Ali ne kaha:

“Abhi nahi.”

Maa bed par baith gayi.

“Tumhare Abu tumhein chhor kar nahi gaye thay.”

Ali ne maa ki taraf dekha.

“Phir?”

“Main ne unhein bheja tha.”

Ali ki aankhon mein aansu aa gaye.

“Kyoon?”

Maa ne kaha:

“Kyunkay jis shakhs ne tumhare Abu par ilzam lagaya tha… woh tumhein nuksan pohcha sakta tha.”

Ali chup raha.

Maa ne kaha:

“Tumhare Abu ne wada kiya tha ke jab tum 18 saal ke ho jaoge, woh tumse milenge.”

Ali ne dheere se poocha:

“Ab woh kahan hain?”

Maa ne ek kagaz uski taraf barhaya.

Us par ek address tha.

Aur neeche ek jumla:

“Agar tum apne walid se milna chahte ho, to kal subah 9 baje is address par jana.”

Ali ne kagaz pakra.

Phir maa ki taraf dekha.

“Ammi… aap mere saath chalengi?”

Maa ki aankhon mein aansu aa gaye.

“Is baar nahi.”

“Kyoon?”

Maa ne dheere se kaha:

“Kyunkay tumhare Abu se milne ke baad tumhein khud faisla karna hoga ke tum kisay maaf kar sakte ho.”

Agli subah Ali us address par gaya.

Darwaza ek aadmi ne khola.

Baalo mein safedi aa chuki thi.

Chehra thaka hua tha.

Lekin aankhen…

Ali ne tasveer mein woh aankhen dekhi hui thin.

Dono kuch seconds tak ek doosre ko dekhte rahe.

Phir aadmi ki aankhon se aansu nikal aaye.

“Ali?”

Ali ne sirf haan mein sar hilaya.

Aadmi ne use galay lagane ke liye haath badhaya.

Lekin Ali wahi khara raha.

Uske paas bohat se sawal thay.

Aap gaye kyun thay?

Aap ne mujhe kabhi dhoonda kyun nahi?

Aap ne Ammi ko akela kyun chhor diya?

Lekin sab se bada sawal abhi bhi uske dil mein tha:

Kya jo kuch uski maa ne bataya tha, woh poora sach tha?

Usay nahi pata tha.

Aur shayad isi liye us din Ali ne apne walid ko gale lagane ke bajaye sirf itna kaha:

“Mujhe sab kuch shuru se batayein.”

Us aadmi ne aansuon ke beech muskurane ki koshish ki.

“Beta… tumhari maa ne tumhein bohat kuch bataya hai.”

Ali chup raha.

Aadmi ne kaha:

“Lekin usne tumhein ek sab se zaroori baat abhi tak nahi batayi.”

Ali ka dil dobara tez dhadakne laga.

“Kaunsi baat?”

Us aadmi ne dheere se kaha:

“Jis aadmi ne mujhe tumse door kiya tha… woh aaj bhi tumhari zindagi mein maujood hai.”

Aur yahin se Ali ki zindagi ka woh raaz shuru hua…

jiska asal sach abhi saamne aana baqi tha.