The Dark Girl-(suspence Story)

[vamp545]

Sunil Chauhan ki biwi se baat karne ke baad main vaapis apni gaadi ki taraf badha. Vahin nazdeek hi ek ped ke neeche chaai aur cigarette ki dukaan thi. Maine ek cup chaai boli aur aakar gaadi mein beth gaya.

Jeb se nikal kar ek cigarette sulgayi hi thi ke Khan ka phone aa gaya.

"Kahan hai?" Usne mujhse puchha

"Tere bataye address par aaya tha"

"Kaun sa address?"

"Sunil Chauhan wala"

"Mila?"

"Haan address toh mil gaya par Sunil Chauhan nahi mila" Maine ek lambi saans chhodte hue kaha.

"Toh ab vahan uska wait kar raha hai?"

"Nahi vo marr chuka hai yaar.. 4 mahine pehle gaya"

Kuchh der ke liye line par khamoshi bani rahi.

"Tujhe lagta hai iska Saanwli ke case se koi lena dena hai?" Khan kuchh pal ke baad bola.

"Nahi bhi aur haan bhi"

"Matlab?"

"Matlab ye ke jo number Sunil Chauhan ke naam par registered tha us number ka Saanwli ke case se matlab hai par Sunil Chauhan ka nahi"

"Kya bol raha hai yaar?"

"Main ye bol raha hoon ke Sunil Chauhan 70-80 saal ka buddha tha, 10 saal se bistar par pada tha, usi koi aulad nahi thi aur phone vo use karta nahi tha"

"Oh. Matlab koi aur uske naam par number lekar ghoom raha tha?"

"Yep" Maine dheere se cigarette ka kash lagaya taaki Khan ko aawaz na aaye "Aur number prepaid tha isliye kabhi koi phone bill vagerah bhi nahi aaya Chauhan ke paas taaki uske ghar par number ka pata chale"

"Yeah. Well that proved to be a dead lead. Ab kya socha hai?"

Tabhi chaai wala ek cup chaai mujhe gaadi mein dene aa gaya.

"Pata nahi yaar" Maine chaai ka cup uske haath se liya "Ek baat bata. Is number ki call details nikal sakti hain?"

"Pata nahi yaar. Number itne waqt se band hai toh i dont think ke ab koi record milega"

"Koshish karke dekh sakta hai?" Maine puchha.

"Theek hai. Dekhta hoon"

"Vaise tune phone kisliye kiya tha?" Mujhe yaad aaya ke usne ab tak apne phone karne ki vajah nahi batayi thi aur ham sidha Saanwli ke case par baat karne lage the.

"Arrey haan yaad aaya. Saanwli ke case mein hi phone kiya tha. Ek laash mili hai"

"Saanwli?" Maine darte hue puchha.

"Abe agar mujhe pata hota ke Saanwli ki hai toh itni der se main uska case discuss kar raha hota tere saath?"

"Haan ye bhi hai. Kiski hai?"

"Agar mujhe ye pata hota ke kiski hai toh main tujhe kyun phone karke bata raha hota?" Usne phir tana sa mara.

"Ok" Maine chidte hue kaha "Toh tu hi bol le"

"Tu bolne de tab na. Ladki ki laash hai. Samundar kinare mili aur kaafi buri halat mein hai. Kam se kam mahine bhar pehle ki maut hai. Aadha shareer toh samundar mein janwar hi kha gaye"

"Kab mili?"

"Kal mili thi. Mujhe abhi pata chala"

"Oh god" Maine kaha "Saanwli ho sakti hai?"

"Cant say. Tu aake dekh le"

"Shinakht toh main bhi nahi kar paoonga yaar. I never met her. Sirf ek photo hi dekhi hai"

"Toh uski behen ko le aa"

"Nah she is gone back to Saharanpur"

"You said vo dono behne judwa thi right, ekdam ek jaisi?"

"Haan" Mere dimag ki batti jali "You are right. Toh rather than comparing the body to Saanwli, i cud just compare it to Saloni and see if anything matches"

"Right" Khan bola.

"Theek hai. Kahan hai body?"

"Bhagwati municipal general hospital janta hai?" Usne puchha.

Ye ek sarkari hospital tha aur Borivali mein hi tha.

"Vo jo Borivali west mein hai?"

"Haan"

"Haan janta hoon aur main is waqt Borivali mein hi hoon"

"Sahi hai phir toh. Pahunch tu aur main bhi pahunchta hoon"

"Case tere paas hai?"

"Abey nahi. Main toh aiwe hi aa raha hoon. Yahan betha bore hi ho raha hoon. Ghoomna phirna ho jaayega"

"Kamal aadmi hai tu bhi. Ghoomne phirne Morgue jaayega, laash dekhne?" Maine halke se haste hue bola.

"Haan isi bahane tera kaam bhi ho jaayega"

"Mera kaam?"

"Haan tujhe kya lagta hai ke tu jaayega vahan, buland aawaz mein bolega ke laash dikhayi jaaye aur vo thaali mein saja kar tujhe body pesh kar denge?"

"Yeah you are right. Aa ja, main hospital ke bahar wait karta hoon tera" Kehkar maine phone rakh diya.

 

[vamp545]

Main Bhagwati Hospital pahuncha aur parking mein hi gaadi mein betha Khan ka intezaar karne laga. Vo poore dedh ghante baad aaya. Gaadi mein bethe bethe hi meri aankh lag gayi thi. Usne aakar sheeshe par knock kiya toh meri neend tooti.

"Hospital mein hi khade hain. Lage haath tu bhi Dr. ko dikha le" Main aankhen malta gaadi se nikla toh usne mujhse kaha.

"What time is it?" Maine puchha.

"4 bajne wale hain shaam ke"

"Badi jaldi aa gaya tu"

"Sorry yaar, traffic"

Ham dono hospital mein daakhil hue aur morgue tak pahunche.

"Kal ek ladki ki body laayi gayi hai yahan, ek ladki ki, kaafi buri halat mein hai?" Khan ne morgue ke bahar bani desk par bethe hue aadmi se kaha.

"Yes sir. Aap yahan entry kar dijiye" Usne ek register hamari taraf khiskaya.

Jawab mein Khan ne use ghoor kar dekha.

"Sorry Sir" Usne register vaapis apni taraf khinch liya. "Mere saath aaiye"

Main aaj tak kabhi kisi morgue ke andar nahi gaya tha. Dead bodies bahut dekhi thi par sab zyadatar ya toh mauka-e-vaardat par hoti thi, ya kisi police station ya kisi hospital mein bane ek chhote se kamre mein. Ek proper morgue ke andar kadam rakhne ka ye mera pehla mauka tha.

Ek morgue ya mortuary aur ek butcher house mein koi zyada khaas farak nahi hota. Morgue mein insaan ki laash paayi jaati hai aur butcher house mein jaanwar ki. Par hota ye bhi ek tarah se kasai khana hi hai. Yahan bhi laash ko ek table par leta kar use cheera phada jaata hai, theek kisi butcher house ki tarah. Bas yahan unhen kaatne ki vajah ya toh criminal investigation hoti hai ya medical science, na ke isliye ke kaatkar becha ja sake.

Ye ek sarkari hospital tha isliye kahin AC hone ka toh sawal hi paida nahi hota tha par haan, yahan mortuary mein AC itna tez tha ke mere shareer mein sihran daud uthi. Kamal ki baat hai ke jahan zinda insaan the, vahan chhat ke pankhe bhi dhang se nahi chal rahe the aur yahan murdon ke liye full AC ka intezaam kiya hua tha.

Vo ladka hamein ek chaude se kamre mein lekar daakhul hua. Kamre ke ek taraf ek bada sa bathtub jaisa sink bana hua tha jise dekh kar hi maine andaza laga liya ke yahan kya dhoya jata hoga, kamre ke beecho beech 2 din hospital stretcher jaisi 2 - 3 tables rakhi hui thi, unhi mein se ek ke uper ek badi aur chaudi si light lagi hui thi. Kamre ke ek tarf deewar ke saath bane bade se slab par tarah tarah ke surgery tools rakhe hue the. Sidhi zubaan mein kahun toh laash ko kaatne ke liye tarah tarah ke auzaar.
A
isa lag raha tha jaise murdon ka operation theatre ho.

Maujood stretchers mein se ek par safed kapde se dhaki hui ek laash thi.

"Yahi hai?" Khan ne us aadmi se puchha toh usne haan mein sar hilaya.

"Mujhe toh laga tha ke morgue mein bahut saari laashen hoti hongi" Main bevakoofon jaisa sawal puchha.

"Idhar toh post mortem hota hai" Us aadmi ne jawab diya "Bodies toh udhar pichhe mortuary mein rakhe hote hain saare"

"Iska post mortem ho gaya?" Khan ne sawal kiya.

"Nahi abhi karunga, isliye hi mangaya hai" Aawaz hamare pichhe se aayi. Ham dono ne palat kar dekha toh safed coat pehne ek koi 50 saal ke kareeb umar ka aadmi khada tha. Uski shakal dekh kar hi lag raha tha ke vo koi doctor hai.

"Hello" Usne hamari taraf haath badhaya "I am Dr. Verma, pathologist"

Ham dono ne usse haath milaya.

"Aap log thoda jaldi aa gaye. Abhi post mortem hua nahi hai. Report main kal subah tak hi de paoonga" Dr. Verma na kaha.

"Ham body dekh sakte hain ek baar?" Khan ne puchha.

"Haan zaroor. Aaiye" Kehte hue Dr. ne apni jeb se ek rumaal nikal kar apni naak par rakh liya aur stretcher par rakhi laash ki taraf badha.

Uski dekha dekhi Khan aur maine bhi apni jeb se rumaal nikale aur apne munh par rakh liye.

Stretcher par rakhi laash par se kapda hataya gaya aur jo saamne aaya use dekh kar hi mujhe jaise ulti aane ko ho gayi. Munh par rumaal hote hue bhi ek tez gandh meri naak se hoti hui mere dimag mein chadhti chali gayi.

Jo saamne tha uska sirf dhancha dekh kar ye bataya ja sakta tha ke vo kabhi insaan rahi hogi. Ab jo saamne tha vo toh sirf ek sade hue maans ka lothda tha. Aadha shareer toh tha hi nahi. Ek taang jaang ke neeche se gayab thi, dono haathon ki anguliyan nahi thi aur jagah jagah se maans na hone ke karan haddiyan tak dikhai de rahi thi.

"Ya Khuda" Kehte hue Khan palta aur tez kadmon se chalta kamre mein bane sink par jhuk kar khada ho gaya.

Mujhe ek pal laga apne aapko us nazare aur gandh ke saath adjust karne mein par phir main sambhalta hua Dr. ki taraf palta jo, much to my surprise, aise aaram se khada tha jaise saamne kuchh ho hi na.

"Kya lagta hai, kaise maut hui hogi?" Maine puchha.

"Abhi kuchh keh pana mushkil hai but looking at this, i can say ke is ladki ko goli maari gayi thi" Kehte hue usne ladki ke chehre ki taraf ishara kiya.

Uska chehra buri tarah vikrat tha. Khaal sad kar kaali pad chuki thi aur jagah jagah se gayab thi. Sar se toh poori tarah hi khaal aur maans dono gal kar hat chuke the aur uska skull saaf dikahi de raha tha. Maathhe ki haddi mein ek bada sa hole tha jiski taraf Dr. ishara kar raha tha.

"Isko yahan sar mein goli maari gayi thi jo ki filhal mujhe lagta hai ke maut ki vajah rahi hogi. Par ye bhi ho sakta hai ke ye goli iski maut ke baad maari gayi ho"

"Maut kitna pehle hui hogi?"

"Filhal andaze se kahun toh shayad ek mahina, shartiya taur par post mortem ke baad hi bata paoonga" Dr. ne jawab diya.

"Hmmmm "Main laash ki taraf dekhta hua sirf itna hi keh paya.

"Ye dekhiye" Dr. ne ladki ke jism par jagah jagah katne ke nishano ki taraf ishara kiya "Isko maar kar samundar mein phenk diya gaya par aisa karne se pehle maarne wale ne isko shareer ko kaat kar andar ki hawa nikal di taaki ye pani mein doob jaaye aur laash ubhar kar uper na aaye"

"Hmmmm "Main phir sirf itna hi keh paya.

"Ye bhi mumkin hai ke ise kisi bhaari cheez ke sath bandha gaya ho jiski vajah se ye itna waqt pani ke neeche rahi. Baad mein shareer gal jaane ki vajah se laash ye jis cheez se bandhi thi usmein se phisal kar uper ubhar aayi"

"Aur jo aadha shareer gaya hai?" Maine uski taang ki taraf ishara kiya.

"Iska abhi nahi bata sakta par haan isko ek mahina tak pani ke neeche janwar khaate rahe isliye jagah jagah se maans nahi hai. Par ek poori taang haddi samet kaise gayab hui, ye keh pana abhi zara mushkil hai"

Main phir apne saamne rakhi laash ko gaur se dekhne laga aur use Saloni se milane ko koshish karne laga. Kad kaathi takreeban same hi thi par uske alawa main aur kuchh hi nahi bata sakta tha.

"Ek baat bataiye Dr." Maine ladki ke seene ki taraf ishara kiya jahan ab sirf gale hue maans aur khaal ke lothde the "Aapko kya lagta hai, is ladki ka breast size kya raha hoga?"

Mere sawal par Dr. aur pichhe khada Khan dono mujhe ajeeb nazron se ghoorne lage.

"No no no no" Maine fauran apne haath uper uthate hue safai di "Not what you are thinking. Dr. Sahab ham ek ladki ko dhoondh rahe hain aur main is shareer ko us ladki ke shareer se milane ki koshish kar raha hoon"

"You definitely have a weird way of finding people Mister" Kehte hue Dr. ne vaapis laash par kapda daal diya, jaise use meri gandi nigah se chhupane ki koshish kar raha ho.

"What the F was that?" Bahar aate hue Khan ne mujhse puchha.

"Abe yaar aise dekh kar bata pana mushkil tha par mera andaza hai ke un dono behno ka breast size kam se kam 36 raha hoga. Toh main vo match karne ki koshish kar raha tha"

"Wah bhai wah" Khan ne taali bajate hue kaha "Kya paarkhi nazar paayi hai mere bhai ne"#42

 

[vamp545]

"Yeah i know yaar. Even i feel like an idiot know" Maine kaha "Dunno what i was thinking"

"36 size" Khan phir munh banata hua bola "Abe ab kya har ladki ka seena napta phirega tu? Darzi ban ja, ladies tailor"

"Yeah whatever" Main baat taalte hue apni car ki taraf badha.

"Hello" Khan ne mujhe jata dekh aawaz di "Arent you forgetting something?"

"What?" Main ruk kar palta.

"We are in a hospital and you are sick" Vo aise bola jaise mujhe koi bhooli baat yaad dila raha ho.

"You know what, lets forget about it. I have my medicines and i am kinda feeling a lil better now" Maine jhooth bola. Sach toh ye tha ke mera bukhar ab bhi vaisa hi tha aur kamzori se mera poora shareer toot raha tha.

Khan ne bahut koshish ke main Doctor ko dikha loon par jaane kyun maine uski baat maani hi nahi jabki ham dono hospital ke bahar hi khade the. Mera dil hi nahi kiya vaapis andar jakar kisi Doctor ke saamne bethne ka.

"All right, now what?" Aakhir mein vo haar manta hua bola.

"Tu bol. Tera kya plan hai?"

"Bahut bhookh lagi hai yaar" Vo pet par haath pherta hua bola "Kuchh khaate hain kahin chalke.

Mujhe bhookh toh bilkul nahi par bukhar ki vajah se mere munh ka taste ajeeb sa ho rakha tha. Aisa lag raha tha jaise main koi kadwi dawai munh mein liye betha hoon. Mera bahut dil kar raha tha ke main kuchh teekha masaledar khaoon taake munh ka zayka kuchh badle.

"Theek hai. Where?" Maine usse puchha.

"Mere pichhe pichhe aa ja" Kehkar vo apni gaadi ki taraf badh gaya.

Maine bhi apni gaadi parking se nikali aur Khan ki gaadi ke pichhe pichhe chal pada. Kuchh der baad ham dono ek muslim restaurant par jakar ruke. Restaurant kya, ek chhota sa dhaba hi tha.

"Assalam Alaikum Janab" Dhabe ke maalik ne Khan ko pehchante hue kaha "Kaafi din baad aana hua idhar"

"Haan bas aisa hi hai. Kaam ki masroofiyat thodi zyada hai aajkal" Khan ne usse haath milate hue kaha "Khane ka intezaam ho jaayega kuchh?"

"Ji bilkul. Aaiye bethiye" Dhaabe ke malik ne hamein ek table ki taraf ishara karte hue kaha. Hamare beth-te hi ek ladka menu card le aaya.

"Ek palte Nihari laga de" Maine bina menu ki taraf dekhte hue kaha.

"Sahab Nihari ko shaam ko 7 baje ke baad hi milega. Abhi deg lagaya nahi hai" Ladke ne jawab diya.

"Toh ek kaam kar" Maine kaha "Filhal jo sabse teekha aur masaledar hai vo le aa ek plate"

Khan ne apna order diya aur ladka order lekar chala gaya.

"Teekha aur masaledar?"

"Haan yaar. Munh ka taste kharab ho rakha hai" Maine ek glass mein pani daalte hue kaha.

"Kya lagta hai, ye ladki Saanwli ho sakti hai?"

"I dont think so but you never know. Ho bhi sakti hai. Chehra kaafi bigda hua tha bechari ka but mujhe nahi lagta ke ye Saanwli hai"

"All right. So whats next?"

"Now when i think about it, main ye case poora galat tarike se handle kar raha tha. I am not sure if it was the fever that wasnt letting me think clearly ya kuchh aur par meri shuruat hi galat thi"

"Vo Kaise?"

"Vo Aise ke usually jab koi gayab hota hai toh sabse pehle ye pata lagaya jata hai ke uske jaanne wale kaun kaun the. Aisa karne ki koshsi maine ki zaroor hai par bahut hi kam. Doosra ye pata lagaya jata hai ke aakhri baar us insaan ko kahan dekha gaya tha, kiske saath dekha gaya tha, kisne dekha tha aur ye jaanne ki koshish maine bilkul bhi nahi ki hai"

"Hmmmm" Khan gardan hilata hua bola.

"Main sidha use red light area, bars mein dhoondhne pahunch gaya jaise bas yahi ek vajah ho Mumbai mein ladki gayab hone ki"

"Vaise ye vajah ho bhi sakti hai"

"Yeah i know but it shouldnt have been my first priority. I need to look more into her personnal life. Sabse pehle toh ye pata lagana hai ke vo kaam kahan karti thi aur aakhri baar use kisne kahan dekha tha"

"All right" Khan ne kaha aur tabhi ladka aakar khane ki plates lagane laga toh ham dono chup ho gaye. Khan ka order use serve kiya gaya aur mere liye vo ek plate mutton seekh masala le aaya.

"Ek baat bata" Khana shuru karte hue maine puchha "Ye Sharafat Bhai ke baare mein kya bata sakta hai?"

Mera sawal sunkar Khan chaunka aur mujhe gaur se dekhne laga.

"Kyun puchh raha hai?"

"Aise hi. Bata toh sahi"

"Saawnli ke case mein?"

"Haan" Maine jawab diya "I think she might have been working in one of his bars"

"Agar aisa hai pyaare toh ek baar phir main tujhe is case se haath khinch lene ki salah doonga" Khan bola.

"Kyun?"

"Kyun? Isliye meri jaan ke Sharafat ek bahut hi khatarnaak kism ka aadmi hai."

"Yeah i think thats quite understood without you saying it" Maine haste hue kaha.

"Nahi i dont think you understand. Agar Sharafat ka Saanwli ke case se koi bhi lena dena hai toh tu panga mat hi lena. Vo aisa aadmi hai ke saamne wale ke munh mein bandook daalke bolta hai ke kaan band kar le, aawaz aayegi"

 

[vamp545]

Chapter 8 - Genie In A Bottle



Agle din subah meri aankh phone ki aawaz sunkar khuli. Ghadi par nazar daali toh subah ke 10 baj rahe the.

"As usual" Maine apne aap se kaha aur phone uthakar dekha. Call Saloni ki thi.

"Saloni Ji. Kaisi hain aap?"

"Main theek hoon. Aap?"

"Yeah i am ok too. Thanks for asking" Maine bed se uthte hue kaha.

"Disturb kiya ho toh sorry. Maine socha ke ek baar phone karke puchh loon kuchh pata chala ho toh" Doosri taraf se uski aawaz aayi.

"Ji bilkul, aap jab chahen mujhe phone kar sakti hain and no, unfortunately ab tak kuchh pata nahi nahi chal saka hai. Aapki behen toh yahan jaise ek mystery girl ki tarah thi. Na koi use janta tha na koi uske baare mein janta tha"

"Aisi hi thi vo"

"Vaise main aapko phone karne hi wala tha. Kuchh aur information chahiye thi. Ye baat mujhe pehle hi puchhni chahiye thi but for some reason dimag se nikal gayi" Main bola.

"Ji zaroor, puchhiye"

"Pehli baat toh ye ke aapki behen jo yahan phone number use karti thi, vo mujhe pls bata dijiye"

"Yeah sure, ek min"

Phone par kuchh buttons dabne ki aawaz aayi, shayad vo apne cell ki phone directory mein apni behen ka number dhoondh rahi thi.

"Likhiye .... "Aur usne mujhe ek mobile number diya jo maine ek paper par likh liya.

"Iske alawa aur koi number?"

"Nahi ek yahan Saharanpur ka number tha jo uske paas pehle tha par Mumbai jakar usne vo number band kara diya tha. Uske alawa bas ek ye mobile number aur doosra uska hostel ka landline number hi tha"

"Ok. Doosra aapne aakhri baar apni behen se baat kab ki thi. Yaad karke mujhe date bataiye pls"

Vo ek pal ke liye soch mein pad gayi.

"It was 29th June"

"And you are sure about the date?"

"Yes because mujhe yaad hai ke us din mere office ki ek party thi yahan par jiski vajah se main thoda late ghar aayi thi aur tab uska phone aaya tha. Usne party mein mujhe 2 baar phone kiya tha par phone mere purse mein tha toh mujhe pata hi nahi chala tha. Jab ghar pahunchi tab usne mujhe phir kiya"

"Ok. And us din exactly kya kaha tha usne?"

"Sirf normal baatein ke main kaisi hoon, mom dad kaise hain. Maine puchha tha ke vo ghar kab aa rahi hai toh usne bataya ke vo kuchh din ki chhutti lekar jaldi hi ghar aayegi. Use bhi kuchh baat karni thi ghar par"

"Kis tarah ki baat?"

"Ye usne nahi bataya tha. Boli ke jab ghar aayegi tabhi batayegi. Bas phir ham dono idhar udhar ki baaten karte rahe thodi der aur phir usne phone rakh diya"

"Ok. Teesri baat and please meri baat ka bura mat maaniyega. Kya aapki behen ne kabhi aapko aisa bataya tha ke uska koi boyfriend tha yahan?"

Vo ek pal ke liye sochne lagi.

"Nahi aisa toh usne kabhi kuchh zikr nahi kiya. Kyun kuchh aisa mila kya?"

Ek baar ko maine socha ke use uski behen ke phone mein mile message ke baare mein bata doon par phir maine irada badal diya.

"Nahi filhal toh nahi but aisa ho bhi sakta tha isliye puchh raha hoon"

"Nahi ham dono kaafi close the, judwa the you know, toh ek doosre ko saari baaten bataya karte the. Agar aisa kuchh hota toh vo mujhe batati zaroor"

"All right" Maine apni tabke ka drawer khola aur Saanwli ke saman se mila Nokia 3310 nikal kar on kiya "Aapki behen ke paas phone kaun sa tha?"

"Ji?" Use mera sawal shayad thoda ajeeb laga.

"I mean phone kaun sa use karti thi vo?"

"Ye toh mujhe nahi pata. Jab Saharanpur se Mumbai gayi thi toh ek Nokia 3310 hua karta tha uske paas. Baad mein usne vahan jakar koi doosra phone liya ho toh i dont know"

Is baat se ye toh saabit ho gaya tha ke Saanwli ke kapdo se mila phone usi ka tha.

"Ek aakhri baat. Kabhi aisa hua tha ke aapki behen ne aapko ghar paise bheje hon ya aapne ghar se use yahan paise bheje hon?"

"Nahi. Vo abhi vahan settle ho hi rahi thi toh aur ghar par aisi koi zaroorat bhi nahi thi ke use paise bhejne paden"

"Kabhi aapne use bheje hon yahan?"

"Nahi vo yahan se jaate waqt paise kuchh saath lekar gayi thi plus uske paas Papa ke ATM ka ek joint card bhi tha jahan se vo jab chahti paise nikal sakti thi"

"Aur kya aisa hua tha?"

"Matlab? Ke usne paise nikale?"

"Ji haan"

"Haan jab gayi gayi thi tab paise nikalti thi account se par phir usne band kar diya bilkul, vahan job milne ke baad"

"Theek hai aap mere do kaam kijiye. Pehla toh ye ke apne Papa ke bank account statements nikaliye aur mujhe ye bataiye ke aakhri baar aapki behen ne aapke papa ke account se paise kab nikale the. Aur doosra, uske saman mein dekhiye agar aapko koi aisi cheez milti hai toh jisse ye pata chale ke uska yahan koi account tha kya aur agar tha toh kis bank mein tha. Koi ATM transaction ki slip, koi ATM card, koi bank passbook ya koi cheque, ya koi bank statement"

"Ok. Main dekh kar aapko vaapis phone karungi"

"All right. Thanks. Mujhe kuchh pata chalte hi aapko phone karunga"

Uske phone rakhne ke baad maine uske diye number par phone kiya. Jaisa ki ummeed thi, number switched off tha.

 

[vamp545]

Saloni se baat karne ke baad main kitchen main kitchen mein pahuncha, ek cup chaai stove par rakhi aur Khan ko phone milaya.

Mera bukhar kal ke muqable mein kaafi kam tha par jism ab bhi dukh raha tha. Jaisa ke bukhar mein hota hai, mujhe aisa lag raha tha jaise meri taango mein jaan hi na bachi ho.

"Haan Bhai, tabiat kaisi hai ab?"

"Kal se thoda behtar hai" Maine jawab diya.

"Gud. Meri maan toh Doctor ko dikha le"

"Nahi filhal toh i am feeling a lot better. Agar phir hua bukhar toh chala jaoonga Dr. ke paas. Ek baat bata. Vo Sunil Chauhan wale number ke call records dekhe kya?"

"Kal hi toh kaha tha tune. Waqt de thoda." Khan bola.

"Theek hai. Ek kaam kar ek number aur likh le. Iske call records bhi dekh zara"

"Tujhe kya lagta hai mera baap telecom minister hai? Abe aise hi nahi nikal sakta koi call records without legal reasons"

Main janta tha ke vo aise hi kahani ghadh raha hai.

"Chal na, ban mat. I know tere contacts hain aur tu ye kar sakta hai"

"Ek baat bata, tu kya apni jasoosi ki dukaan mere bharose chala raha hai?"

Vo sahi keh raha tha. Mere aadhe se zyada kaam usi ke bharose hote the aur agar vo na hota, toh meri investigation kahin zyada mushkil hua karti.

"Ab apne Bhai ke sahare agar apni dukaan chalane ki koshish kar raha hoon toh kya galat hai ismein?" Maine haste hue jawab diya.

"Haan saale. Maar le senti. Janta hai ke main kabhi mana kar nahi sakta tujhe. Number bol"

Maine Saanwli ka number use likhvaya. Line par ek pal ke liye Khamoshi chha gayi.

"Likh liya?"

Koi jawab nahi aaya.

"Abe likh liya?"

Phir koi jawab nahi aaya. 2 second baad Khan ki aawaz sunai di.

"Haan ab bol"

"Abhi bola toh tha maine" Maine chidte hue kaha.

"Arrey main vo ek pen paper utha raha tha. Phir se bol"

Maine number ek baar phir bola.

"Got it" Khan ne kaha "Kiska number hai?"

"Saanwli"

"Ok. Dekhta hoon main"

"Koshish kar agar June 29th ke baad ke call records mile toh. Outgoing and incoming" Maine kaha.

"Theek hai"

Khan ka phone rakhne ke baad main chaai ka cup lekar betha hi tha ke phone phir baja. Call ek unknown number se thi.

"Hello?" Maine phone uthaya.

"Joshi bol raha hoon" Doosri taraf se aawaz aayi.

Inspector Joshi? Mera dimag ne ghanti bajayi.

"Kaun Joshi?" Maine confirm karne ke liye puchha.

"Inspector Joshi" Aawaz aayi toh confirmation mil gayi.

"Haan Joshi Sahab, kahiye. Gareeb ko kaise yaad kiya?"

"Mil sakta hai?" Usne puchha.

"Kis silsile mein?"

"Baat karni hai kuchh"

Ise mere se kya baat karni hai? Aaj tak ham dono ne jab bhi baat ki vo gaali se shuru hokar gaali par hi khatam hui.

"Haan toh kariye. Main sun raha hoon" Maine kaha.

"Phone par nahi"

"Theek hai main aata hoon time nikalke police station" Maine na chahte hue bhi uski baat maan li.

Uske phone rakhte hue maine fauran Khan ko phone milaya.

"Ab kaun mar gaya?" Khan ne phone uthate hi kaha.

"Joshi"

"Kya baat kar raha hi. Sach?" Khushi uski aawaz mein saaf jhalak rahi thi.

"Abe nahi. Phone aaya tha uska abhi mere paas" Maine bataya.

"Kyun? Use tujhse kya kaam pad gaya?"

"Kuchh bataya nahi. Keh raha tha ke milkar baat karte hain. Tujhe koi idea ke kis baare mein baat kar raha hai?"

"Na bhai. Aur meri maan toh na hi miliyo usse. Aur agar mile toh zara sambhalke baat karna" Khan ne salah di.

"Theek hai. Main isliye hi phone kar raha tha ke shayad tujhe kuchh pata ho ke vo kis baare mein baat kar raha hai"

"Nahi yaar. Mujhe koi idea nahi hai. Dekh le milke. Bata dena mujhe bhi ke kya keh raha tha"

"Theek hai. Chal rakhta hoon"

Mere aaj ke agenda mein do kaam the. Ek toh Sharafat ke angrezi style bar mein jakar us ladki ke baare mein pata karna jo Chipku ke hisaab se vahan kaam karti thi aur Saanwli jaise dikhti thi. Doosra Saanwli ki room-mate Maya.

Sharafat ne apne ek Bar ka naam apne naam ke uper rakha hua tha, yaani ke Sharafat Bar. Toh main uske doosre Bar ka naam bhi kuchh aisa hi hone ki ummeed kar raha tha. Ek aisa naam jise sunkar hi ye pata laga ke ye Bar ek mawali ka hai jise English ka E bhi nahi pata hoga. Par meri ummeed ke khilaff, uske doosre Bar ka naam bahut hi stylish nikla, Genie in a Bottle.

Vo ek Bar tha, Bar mein Bottles milti hain aur Bottles mein Genie, yaani ke sharab. Naam toh bada soch samajh kar rakha gaya tha.

Bar mein daakhil hote hi mujhe sab kuchh vaisa hi mila jaise ke Chipku na bataya tha. Ek bada sa kamra jismein ek taraf deewar ke saath Bar bana hua tha jiske pichhe bane racks par sharab ki bottles rakhi hui thi aur Bar ke saamne hi bade bade stools rakhe hue the, bethkar sharab pine ke liye. Poore kamre mein stlyish tables aur aaramdeh kursiyan rakhi hui thi aur doosri taraf ek chhota sa dance floor bana hua tha jo is waqt khali tha par mere andaze raat ke waqt bhara hota hoga. Bar ke pichhe khade 2 bartenders drinks bana rahe the jinhein kuchh ladkiyan tables tak le jakar serve kar rahi thi. Lights kaafi dim thi jo ke shayad aisi jagahon par mahaul banane ke liye kiya jata hai.

Kuchh cheezen jo fauran maine notice ki unmein se ek toh ye thi ke ladkiyon ke kapde vaise hi the jaisa ke Chipku na bataya tha. Thigh length tak ke short skirts jo ke actually itne tight the ke agar ladki ke aas paas khade hokar Blade shabd bhi bol do toh uska skirt phat jaaye. Hairat ki baat ye thi ke vo ladkiyan uper se aise dressed up thi jaisi kisi badi company mein kisi executive ka kaam karti hon, yaani ke uper se ek shirt aur Blazer with scarf aur neeche mini skirt jo ke agar thoda sa aur lamba hokar knee length tak hota toh batana mushkil tha ke ladki waitress hai ya koi executive.

Ye bhi shayad yahan aane wale bade bade business class logon ke mood ko dekh kar hi aisa kiya hoga, maine dil hi dil mein socha.

Doosri cheez jo maine notice ki vo ye thi ke us waqt bhi Bar takreeban 70% bhara hua tha. Ye koi saturday ya sunday shaam nahi thi, ek weekday tha aur filhal dopahar ke 2 bajne wale the par phir bhi Bar takreeban full hi tha. Bethe logon mein se har ek ki shakal par likha hua tha ke uske paas paisa itna hai ke use khud ko nahi pata ke kahan kharch kare. Ye sab vo log the jinhen bhagwan shayad duniya mein bhejta hi isliye hai ke ye yahan aakar aish kar saken. Born with a silver spooon, jaisa ke angrezi mein kaha jata hai.

Teesri baat jo maine notice ki vo ye thi ke vahan sirf 2 hi aadmi the jo Bar ke pichhe khade drinks bana rahe the, baaki shayad 5-6 ladkiyan hi thi jo drinks serve kar rahi thi aur customers ke orders le rahi thi.

Bar ke saath hi ek chhota sa darwaza bana hua tha jo shayad pichhe kitchen mein khulta tha kyunki usi darwaze se kuchh ladkiyan plates mein kuchh khaane ki cheezen lekar aa ja rahi thi.

"Can i take your order sir?" Ek ladki ki aawaz aayi toh meri soch ka silsila toota.

Mere saamne ek khoobsurat si ladki haath mein pen paper liye khadi muskura rahi thi. Mera us waqt sharab pine ke bilkul mood nahi tha. Ek toh bukhar, doosra dopahar ke 2 baje aur teesra ke maine sharab pine khud hi bahut kam kar di thi.

"Yeah i would like to get something to eat please and a beer" Maine muskurate hue kaha aur table ki taraf dekhne laga ke shayad koi menu card mile par vahan kuchh nahi tha.

"Would you like veg or non-veg sir?" Ladki ne puchha toh mujhe yaad aaya ke main ek pub mein betha hoon, kisi restaurant mein nahi. Yahan sharab milti hai aur khane ko jo thoda bahut intezaam hai vo sirf vahi cheezen hongi jo sharab ke saath khaayi jaati hain.

Ladki saaf english mein bol rahi thi toh mujhe Chipku ki kahi baat yaad aayi ke yahan sirf un ladkiyon ko rakha jata hai jo dikhne mein achhi hon aur padhi likhi hon.

"You know what, get me a beer and a plate of kababs please" Maine ladki ki taraf dekhte hue kaha.

"Any brand of preference?" Usne mujhe puchha.

"Do you serve crude beer here?"

"Sure" Vo muskurati hui boli aur chali gayi.

Maine ek baar phir aas paas nazar daudayi. Vahan bethe logon mein sabse gareeb shayad main hi tha iska ehsaas mujhe ho raha tha. Sab raees-zaade jo ke khud yahan bethe sharab pi rahe the aur pichhe business koi aur chala raha tha. Inka kaam shayad sirf cheque sign karne ka aur yahan bethkar zindagi ke maze lootne ka hi hota tha.

Takreeban 10 min mein hi vo ladki ek tray mein kababs ki plate aur Beer ka mug le aayi aur mere saamne serve karne lagi.

"How long have you been working here?" Maine usse puchha.

"Quite some time sir" Usne meri baat ka golmol sa jawab diya.

"Can i ask you something?"

"Sure" Vo Beer aur kababs table par rakh kar mere saathi hi khadi ho gayi.

"Did this girl ever work here?" Maine use Saanwli ki tasveer dikhayi.

Usne tasveer ki taraf dekha aur meri taraf dekh kar inkaar mein gardan hila di.

"No sir, i have never seen her here"

Par us ek pal mein uske chehre aur uski aankhon ke badle bhaav mujhse chhup nahi paaye the. Tasveer par nazar daalte hi uske maathe par ek pal ke liye shikan aayi, aankhen chaunki jo ki usne agle hi pal sambhal liya par mere liye utha hi kaafi tha.

Main janta tha ke vo jhooth bol rahi ha

 

[vamp545]

Vo ladki mujhe serve karne ke baad Bar ke paas bane us chhote se darwaze se andar chali gayi. Mera shaq yakeen mein tab tabdeel ho gaya jab thodi hi der baad vo us darwaze se ek aadmi ke saath vaapis aayi jo ke dekhne se us Bar ka manager lag raha tha. Vo dono mere paas toh nahi aaye aur door khade aise dikhane ki koshish kar rahe the jaise aapas mein baat kar rahe hon par unke haav bhaav se maine is baat ka andaza laga liya ke vo ladki us aadmi ko mere baare mein bata rahi hai aur vo meri nazar bacha kar mujhe dekhne ki koshish kar raha tha.

Ab tak mujhe us bar mein Bartenders aur ab manager ke alawa koi aur aadmi dikhai nahi diya tha. Sab ladkiyan hi thi jo serve kar rahi thi par jab maine apni Beer khatam ki toh mera bill lekar jaane kahan se ek 6 ft ka hatta katta mustanda aaya.

"Your bill sir" Usne mera bill table par rakhte hue kaha. Mujhse ye tak nahi puchha gaya ke kya main kuchh aur lena pasand karunga.

"Thank you" Maine ishara samajhte hue bill utha kar dekha aur meri aankhen khuli ki khuli reh gayi.

Zindai mein na toh maine isse mehengi Beer kabhi pi thi aur na hi isse mehenge kabab kabhi khaaye the. Meri jeb mein itna cash tha nahi toh maine apna credit card nikal kar uski taraf badhaya.

"Here you go"

Vo mera credit card lekar vaapis Bar ki taraf chala gaya aur maine ek baar phir apne chaaron taraf nazar daudayi. Jis ladki se maine Saanwli ke baare mein puchha tha vo ab mujhe kahin dikhai nahi de rahi thi par Bar ka manager vahin darwaze ke paas khada mujhe dekh raha tha. Vo khada is tareeke se tha jaise yun hi khada laparwahi se khada ho par baar baar nazar bacha kar mujhe aise dekh raha tha jaise Sherlock Holmes ho.

"Thank you for visiting Sir" Mustanda mera credit card charge karne ke baad slip lekar aaya aur sidha hi thank you bol diya.

"You are welcome" Main uska ishara samajh gaya ke ab mujhe yahan se chale jana chahiye. Credit card ki ek slip sign karke maine use di aur doosri apne wallet mein rakhte hue Bar se bahar aa gaya.

Chipku ne jab mujhe is Bar mein kaam karne wali ladki ke baare mein bataya tha toh mujhe poora yakeen tha ke use koi dhokha hua hai aur main is baat ki bahut hi kam ummeed kar raha tha ke mujhe yahan aakar kuchh haasil hoga. Par jis tarike se us ladki ne Saanwli ki tasveer ko dekh kar react kiya tha usse ye baat toh saaf ho gayi thi ke ya toh Saanwli yahan kaam karti thi ya koi aisi ladki thi jo uske jaisi dikhti thi. Agar koi aur ladki thi toh ye bahut hi ajeeb baat hogi kyunki vo already 2 judwa behne thi aur ek aur ladki ka hona matlab ek hi shakal ke 3 log jiske chances bahut hi kam the.

Bar se bahar dhoop mein aate hi mujhe achanak chakkar se aa gaye aur main ek pal ke liye vahin chhaon mein ek deewar ka sahara lekar khada ho gaya. Maathe par haath laga kar dekha toh bukhar toh nahi tha par kamzori bahut mehsoos ho rahi thi.

"Meri baat maan toh kisi Doctor ko dikha hi le" Mujhe Khan ki kahi baat yaad aayi.

Ghadi par nazar daali toh dopahar ke 3 bajne wale the. Main apna haath uper karke, aankhon ko dhoop se bachata apni gaadi tak aaya aur andar aakar beth gaya. Thodi der tak main vahin betha sochta raha ke iske baad Saanwli ke hostel ki taraf chalun ya Joshi se milne jaoon. Aakhir mein faisla maine Hostel ki taraf jaane ka kiya kyunki Joshi se milne mein na toh mujhe koi dilchaspi thi aur na hi usse milne ki koi jaldi.

Hostel tak pahunchne mein traffic ki vajah se mujhe takreeban ek ghanta lag gaya. Maine gaadi bahar main road par hi chhodi aur galiyon se hota Saanwli ke hostel tak pahuncha. Jis watchman se maine pehle baat ki thi, vo ab bhi vahin gate par hi betha hua tha. Main apna sar jhukaye Hostel ke saamne se aise guzra jaise yun hi vahan se guzar raha hoon. Gate ke paas meri nazar bahar bethe watchman se mili, maine nazar se use phir paan ki dukaan tak aane ka ishara kiya aur khamoshi se sidha nikal gaya. Joshi se yahan hui mulaqat aur hostel ki maalkin us moti aurat ke ravaiyye ko dekhne ke baad main nahi chahta tha ke unhen pata chale ke main phir yahan aaya tha. Chalta hua main main-road tak aaya aur apni gaadi mein beth kar watchman ka intezaar karne laga.

Vo kambakht poore ek ghante baad aaya. Yaani shaam ko 5 baje apni shift khatam karne ke baad.

"Itna time?" Vo gaadi mein aakar betha toh maine puchha.

"Abhi ham bhi kya karega saahib? Udhar ham gate par nahin rahenge toh maalkin ko shaq ho jaayega ke ham duty ke waqt gayab rehte hain. Vo toh vaise hi is taak mein hai ke hamari compalint kare"

"Yeah yeah i know. Bata chuke ho tum" Maine lambi saans chhodte hue kaha.

"Haan bataiye. Konho kaam pad gaya?"

"Haan" Maine kaha "Vo Saanwli ke saath jo ladki rehti thi na Maya, vo jo kuchh time pehle chhod kar chali gayi, dekho agar uska hostel mein koi forwarding address hai toh"

"Kaun sa address?"

"Forwarding address. Matlab agar koi kahin rehta ho aur phir vahan se kahin aur shift kare toh log usually apna agla address bata kar jaate hain taaki agar koi chitthi vagerah ya koi milne aaye toh unhen bataya ja sake ke ab vo kahan rehte hain"

"Accha accha" Vo samajhta hua bola "Agla pata"

"Haan vahi"

"Vo toh mushkil hai saahib. Vo kahan se nikalenge?"

"Iske liye tumhein us moti ke office mein jakar files vagerah dekhni padengi, rent slips vagerah. Dekho agar kuchh milta hai toh. Ya hostel ki doosri ladkiyon se baat karke dekho agar kisi ko kuchh pata hai toh " Maine kaha.

"Aajkal kahan kagaz vagaz par koi kuchh likhta hai saahib. Ab toh sab kaam sasura computerva mein hota hai na"

"Yeah i know par phir bhi koshish karke dekho"

"Risky kaam hai saahib"

Vo bola toh main samajh gaya ke agli baat vo paiso ko lekar karne wala tha ke is baar maal zyada lagega.
#49

 

[Ashwani]

nice story ... bht achi hai ... plsss jldi jldi khatam karo main pure din padh skta hu ise .... bass end karo , kya hota hai ....

 

[vamp545]

sukriya bhai insha allah jald hi khatam kar doonga

 

[vamp545]

Chapter 9 - Look Who Died !!!



Agle din subah 10 baje main Chipku ke saath Sharafat Bar mein betha hua tha.

"Jaldi uth gaye Bhai aaj aap?" Vo mujhe dekh daant dikhata hua bola.

"God damn it. Does the entire world know that i sleep till late?" Maine dil hi dil mein socha.

"Haan aise hi aankh khul gayi" Main pehli bar ek Bar mein betha chaai pi raha tha jo pata nahi Chipku ne kaisa kahan se arrange karayi thi. Khud vo subah subah beer gatak raha tha.

"Aapka tabiat kaisa hai abhi bhai?

"Kal better tha thoda par sala Bukhar aaj phir se aa gaya" Maine chaai ka ghoonth lete hue kaha. Aaj subah meri aankh khuli toh mera bukhar phir laut aaya tha aur ek baar phir subah savere mujhe jaga diya tha.

"Doctor kya kehta hai"

"Gaya hi nahi doctor ke paas ab tak main" Maine muskurate hue kaha.

"Dikha lo Bhai. Aajkal sala kaise kaise toh bukhar chal rahe hain. Naam bhi aisa full angrezi type. Malum pade ke bukhar nahi koi imported perfume ke baat kar rele"

"Haan jaoonga. Main bhi soch raha hoon ke test vagerah kuchh kara hi loon"

"Apun ko kaise yaad kiya subah savere?"

"Kal udhar gaya tha main, Genie in a bottle" Maine bataya.

"Bole toh?"

"Arrey vo Sharafat Bhai ka doosra wala Bar, angrezi style wala"

"Achha haan. Vo sala naam apun ko kabhi samajh aayela hi nahi."

"Kal vahan gaya tha main vo ladki ke baare mein pata karne. Tu sach bol raha tha"

"Matlab?" Uske chehre ke haav bhaav ekdam badal gaye.

"Vahan kaam karne wali ek ladki ko maine vo Saanwli ki tasveer dikhayi thi. Vo mujhse jhooth boli ke usne is ladki ko kabhi dekha nahi par chehre se saaf pata chal raha tha ke jhooth bol rahi hai"

"Phir?"

"Phir vo ladki manager ko leke aayi, meri shakal dikhayi aur bas phir mujhe vahan se uthake bahar phenka nahi un logon ne par sharafat ke saath chalta zaroor kar diya" Maine haste hue kaha.

"Utho" Vo uthkar achanak khada ho gaya.

"Kya?" Maine hairani se uski taraf dekha.

"Bolo nahi kuchh. Bas khamoshi se utho aur kalti ho lo idhar se"

Isse pehle ke main kuchh kehta, vo uthkar gate ki taraf chal pada. Maine bhi chaai ke cup se ek aakhri ghoonth khincha aur uske pichhe pichhe chal diya.

Tez kadmo se chalte ham dono bahar aaye. Chipku sidha meri car ke paas pahuncha aur mujhe ishare se kaha ke main car mein bethkar vahan se chalun.

Koi 10 min drive ke baad ham thoda door pahunche aur kone mein maine uske kehne par gaadi rok di.

"Batayega kya kar raha hai?" Maine puchha.

"Kya Adi Bhai. Apun sala aapko mast jasoos type aadmi sochela tha. Aisa bevakoofi ka kaam aap karoge socha hi nahich apun"

"Ab kya hua?" Main hairan hote hue bola.

"Apun kya bataya tha aapko? Ke udhar us chhokri ko leke kuchh toh rada hua tha jiske baad Sharafat Bhai sabko khulle mein bole the ke us chhokri ko lekar koi baat nahi karega par phir bhi aap udhar aise chaude mein jaake sabko photu bitu dikhaye?"

Uski baat mujhe samajh aa rahi thi.

"Aur uske baad apni izzat badhva kar aap aake idhar Sharafat Bhai ke doosre Bar mein beth gayele? Aisa khulle mein? Aur apne saath sala apun ko bhi bitha dala?"

Uski ye baat bhi sahi thi.

"Vo kya bolte usko, Aa saand meri maar karke typke kuchh"

"Aa bel mujhe maar" Maine uski kahwat sahi kari.

"Haan vahinch. Aisaich koi irada lag rela hai aapka mere ko"

"Tu sahi keh raha hai. Yaar ye bimari ne mere sochne samajhne ki taqat pe parda daal diya hai. Doctor ko dikha hi loon"

"Haan dikha hi lo varna apne saath apun ko bhi marvaoge aap"

"Sorry Yaar" Maine maafi maangi.

"Jaan do abhi. Vaise us chhokri ke baare mein udhar koi bolega nahi par koi hai jo shayad kuchh janta ho" Vo sochta hua bola.

"Kaun?"

"Bijli"

"Bijli?"

"Haan. Vo idhar Sharafat Bhai ke addo pe kaam karne wali zyadatar ladkiyon ko jaanti hai. Usse baat karke dekho. Shayad kuchh bata deve"

Chipku se thodi der aur baat karke maine use kuchh paise diye aur vo gaadi se nikal kar paidal hi chala gaya. Jaate jaate mujhe ye hidayat bhi de gaya ke main bhool kar bhi Sharafat Bar mein dobara na aaon, kam se kam agle ek saal tak toh nahi.

Uske jaane ke baad main gaadi start kar hi raha tha ke phone baj utha. Call Khan ki thi.

"Haan Bhai. Breaking news suni. Tera ek dushman duniya ko alvida keh gaya" Phone uthate hi Khan khush hote hue bola.

"Kaun?"

"Joshi. Gaya uper"

 

[Ashwani]

I m waiting brother ...

mere sabhi dost bhi atke hue hai abhiii yaha par .. or shukriya nahi karo . bhai kaha hai toh . kyunki bhai ko thanks nahi kehte ....

 

[vamp545]

Pehle toh mujhe laga ke vo mazak kar raha hai.

"Subah subah isse ghatiya mazak maine life mein nahi suna" Maine uski baat ka jawab dete hue kaha.

"Pehli baat toh ye pyaare ke ye subah subah nahi hai, ghadi dekh zara. Tujh jaise late lateef ke liye ye subah ho sakti hai par baaki duniya ki bhasha mein ise dopahar ka waqt kehte hain. Doosri baat ye ke ye mazak hai nahi aur teesri baat ye ke tujhe kyun Joshi ke marne pe itna afsos ho raha hai be?"

"Tu sach bol raha hai?" Maine hairat mein puchha.

"100% percent"

"Kab? Kaise? Main toh aaj usse milne ke plan mein tha"

"Milan toh usse ab tera uper jaake hi ho sakta hai. Bathroom mein phisal kar gira, sar kisi cheez par laga aur bhaisahab gaye uper"

Ye aur mere liye doosri hairani ki baat thi.

"Bathroom mein phisal kar gira?"

"Yeah, can you believe it?"

"No i cant. Its hard to comprehend that."

"Yep. Us jaisa aadmi jo har waqt itna mard bana phirta tha mara toh kaise. Kam se jata toh shaan ke saath" Khan hasta hua bola.

"Man what a waste. Aur tu kyun itna khush ho raha hai?"

"I never liked that Dude" Khan ne kaha "Par tu khush kyun nahi ho raha?"

"Kyunki meri usse banti nahi ye sach hai par main ye nahi chahta tha ke vo mar jaaye. isliye khush nahi ho raha"

"Abe chal. Tune toh saale meri good news ka baja hi baja dala. Maine itni khushi ke saath phone kiya tha tujhe"

"Tu saale bilkul nahi badla. Kisi ki jaan chali gayi aur tu khush ho raha hai"

"Dushman ki jaan jaaye toh khush hone wali baat hi hai dost"

"Vo kabse tera dushman ho gaya?"

"Bhai tera dushman toh tha na vo, ab jo mere bhai ka dushman, vo mera dushman" Khan bola.

Uski baat sunkar meri bhi hasi chhut gayi.

"Badla nahi saale tu. Ab Saanwli ka case kaun handle kar raha hai?"

"Pata nahi. Abhi to mara hi hai vo aaj subah. Uski jagah jo aayega vo handle karega"

"Hmm. Vo numbers ke records ka kuchh pata chala?"

"Nahi. Koshish kar raha hoon"

Khan se baat karne ke baad main thodi der vahin gaadi mein betha sochta raha. Ye sach tha ke Joshi se meri kabhi bani nahi, hamesha 36 ka aankda raha par utna hi sachi ye bhi tha ke main dil se uski kaafi izzat bhi karta tha. Vo ek imandaar policewala tha. Ye shabd aaj ke zamane mein sunne mein hi ajeeb lagta hai. Policewala aur vo bhi imandaar, koi sunkar hi hasi udaaye. Main kaafi waqt se use janta tha aur vo imandaari ka dikhawa nahi karta tha, vo sach mein aisa tha. Apne kaam ko poori lagan ke saath karta tha.

Ek pal ko mere dimag mein ye khyaal bhi aaya ke kya uski maut ka Saanwli ke case se koi lena dena ho sakta hai par phir Khan ki baat yaad aayi ke vo Bathroom mein gir kar mara tha toh maine vo khyaal apne dimag se jhatak diya.

"Seriously, what a waste" Maine dil hi dil mein socha "Ek kabhi kisi se na darne wala aadmi aur mara bhi toh bathroom mein phisal kar. Apni duty ka pakka insaan, kam se kam police ka kaam karte hue goli khakar marta toh shaheed toh kehlata"

Maine gaadi start ki aur apne office ki taraf badh gaya.

"Look what the cat dragged in" Main office mein daakhil hua toh Nisha mujhe dekhti hui boli.

"Yeah, you" Maine jawab diya aur apni jagah par jakar beth gaya.

"You look like crap. Still got fever?"

"Yeah. Anything new around here?"

"Nahi, just me. Aake sara din bethi computer par games khelti rehti hoon. Aap toh aate nahi, akeli bethi rehti hoon"

"Vo isliye sweetheart kyunki mera kaam field mein jakar dhakke khaane ka hai. Vahin se aati hai teri salary bhi"

"Yep, thats true. Vaise kuchh log aaye the aapse milne"

"Kaun?"

"I dont know. Shakal se toh gunde type lag rahe the. Andar aaye, aapke baare mein puchha, maine kaha ke aap office aaye nahi ab tak toh palte aur chale gaye"

"Naam vagerah?"

"Maine pichhe aawaz hi deti reh gayi par vo ruke hi nahi. 3 the. Ulte kadam hi darwaze se laut gaye"

"Hmmm. Thats weird"

"Yep. Aur aap ek kaam karo. Main apne fiance se puchhkar kisi achhe doctor ka naam le leti hoon. Jakar dikha aao"

"Yeah your fiance" Maine muskurate hue puchha "Kaisa chal raha hai?"

Main lagbhag ek ghante aur office mein ruka par tabiat kharab hone ki vajah se Nisha ko office mein chhod kar vaapis ghar aa gaya. Saanwli ke hostel ke watchman ko main apna number de aaya tha ke taaki use jaise hi address pata chale, vo mujhe phone karke bata de. Toh filhal mere paas leads ke naam par kuchh bhi nahi tha aur sivaay intezaar karne ke aur koi option bhi nahi tha. Ab aage ki kahani sirf isi baat par depend karti thi ke ya toh Saanwli ke phone records se kuchh pata chale, ya Maya ka address mile aur vo kuchh bataye ya phir Bijli se koi jaankari mile.

Main apne ghar pahuncha toh bahar hi thithak gaya. Mere ghar ka darwaza khula hua tha. Bahar jo tala main laga kar gaya tha, vo ab vahan nahi tha.

Dheere saawdhani ke saath maine darwaza khola toh andar 4 aadmi mere drawing room mein maujood the. 3 gunde jaise log khade hue the aur ek kale rang ka pathani suit pehne betha chaai pi raha tha.

"Aaiye aaiye Sharma ji. Bada intezaar karaya yaar aapne" Vo pathani suit wala aadmi mujhe darwaze ke paas dekh kar bola.

Main darwaza poora kholkar apne ghar ke andar daakhil hua.

"Kaun ho tum log? Mere ghar mein kaise ghuse?" Ye baat mere munh se nikalne hi wali thi ke tabhi vahan khade 3 aadmiyon mein se ek ke haath mein mujhe ek pistol dikhai di aur maine apne shabd apni zubaan par hi rok liye.

"Maaf kijiyega par yahan bethe aapka intezaar kar rahe the toh maine socha ke ek cup chaai hi bana li jaaye. Ummeed karta hoon ke aapko bura nahi laga hoga" Us pathani suit wale aadmi ne kaha.

Umar mein vo koi 50 ke kareeb hoga, rang gehuan, kad 6ft ke uper aur itna chauda ke jis kursi par mere jaise 2 aadmi fit ho sakte the, use vo akela hi poora ghere betha tha. Chhoti chhoti aankhen jinmein se daayin aankh ke neeche ek bada sa nishan aur dono kaan toote hue jo is baat ka saboot the ke vo kabhi kisi zamane mein akhade ka pehalwan raha tha. Vaise toh ye baat uski kad kaathi dekh kar hi saabit ho jaati thi, kaan toh bas aakhir mein gawahi de dete the.

In short, ek raubdaar shakhsiyat jiske saamne mujh jaise adiyal ke munh se bhi ab tak ek shabd nahi nikla tha.

"Chaai lenge?"

Usne mujhse puchha toh maine inkaar mein gardan hila di.

"Arrey le lijiye. Ye Raju ne banayi hai aur ye sala chaai bahut achhi banata hai" Usne apne ek aadmi ki taraf ishara karte hue kaha "Aur vaise bhi ye toh ghar bhi aapka hi hai, takalluf kaisa"

Apni hi baat par vo dil khol kar hasa aur uske pichhe pichhe uske aadmi bhi aise hasne lage jaise pata nahi kaun sa bada joke maar diya ho bhai ne.

"Arrey aap khade kyun hain? Bethiye na" Usne mujhe saamne rakhi ek khali kursi ki taraf ishara kiya.

Jab main apni jagah se hila tak nahi toh achanak uske chehre se hasi gayab ho gayi.

"Bethiye" Vo is baar kadak aawaz mein garja jiska nateeja ye hua ke main chup chap kisi robot ki tarah uske saamne jakar beth gaya.

"Mujhe pehchante hain aap?"

Maine phir inkaar mein gardan hila di.

"Chaliye koi baat nahi" Uske chehre par phir se muskurahat laut aayi "Main apna ta'arruf kara deta hoon. Na-cheez ko Sharafat Sheikh kehte hain"

AUr uski ye baat sunte hi jaise pal bhar mein meri aankhon ke aage sara majra saaf ho gaya.

"Aapki aankhon ki badalti taaseer ko dekh kar main is baat ka andaza laga raha hoon ke aap mujhe bhale shakal se nahi par naam se zaroor jaante hain aur ye bhi samajh gaye hain ke main yahan aapke gareeb-khaane mein kya kar raha hoon"

Mere munh se phir bhi koi bol na phoota. Aisa kabhi hua nahi tha mere saath par na jaane kyun apne saamne bethe us lambe chaude insaan ko dekh kar mujhe jaise saanp soongh gaya tha. Usne chaai khatam karke cup vaapis table par rakha aur uske lambe chaude pehalwani haath ko dekh kar mujhe sirf ye khyaal aaya ke agar isne mujhe ek thappad bhi maar diya toh mere munh mein 32 mein se ek bhi nahi bachega. Saare zameen par pade honge.

"Dekhiye Sharma Ji" Hairani ki baat thi ke vo ab tak mere saath itni tameez se pesh aa raha tha jabki us jaise aadmiyon se tameez ki ummeed karna toh ek gunaah jaisa lagta hai "Main bada suljha hua aadmi hoon aur ye mera apna zaati tajurba hai ke jab kaam pyaar mohabbat se ban jaaye toh zor zabardasti nahi karni chahiye. Main toh machchar bhi tab tak nahi maarta tab tak ke vo mujhe kaatne ki koshish na kare. Aap samajh rahe hain na ke main kya kehna chah raha hoon?"

Maine phir goonge ki tarah apni gardan haan mein hila di.

"Ab aap aur main jo baat karne wale hain vo do tarike se ho sakti hai. Ya toh ham dono aaram se bhaiyon ki tarah bethkar baat kar lein yar phir aap gunpoint par mere sawalon ke jawab den"

Kehte hue usne apni pathani suit ke kurte ke neeche haath dala aur ek badi si revolver nikal kar table par rakh di.

"Vaise Gunpoint se yaad aaya, ek maze ki baat batata hoon aapko. Tum bhi suno oye" Kehte hue usne apne aadmiyon ki taraf ishara kiya "Aap yakeen nahi maangenge par bachpan mein mujhe lagta tha ke Gunpoint ek jagah hai, koi shehar ya gaon ya phir koi gali mohalla. Par mujhe hamesha yahi lagta tha ke Gunpoint kisi asal jagah ka naam hai"

"Vo kyun Bhai?" Saath khade aadmiyon mein se ek ne puchha.

"Arrey bhai aaye din news mein sunte nahi, Tourists held at Gunpoint, Gunpoint par din dahade daketi, Ladki ka gunpoint par balatkar. Main sala sochtha tha ke agar ye Gunpoint itni khatarnaak jagah hai toh log jaate hi kyun hain vahan?"

Uski is baat par mujhe chhod kar kamre mein maujood har aadmi dil khol kar zor zor se hasa.

"Lagta hai aapko joke pasand nahi aaya Sharma ji" Vo ek baar phir mujh se mukhaatib hua "Chaliye koi baat nahi. Sabse pehle toh aapke ghar mein yun ghus aane ke liye maafi aur phir aapki cheezon se chhed chhad ke liye maafi. Par kya karun, aap bhi toh mere ghar mein yun ghus aaye the kal aur phir aise meri cheezon ke baare mein puchh taachh karne lage. Toh maine socha ke jab aap yun meri zindagi mein dakhal andaazi kar rahe hain toh hisaab toh barabar mujhe bhi karna chahiye. Kyun hain na?"

Mere munh se na haan nikla na Na.

"Vaise kaafi mash-hoor aadmi hain aap. Aap kal mere sharab-khane mein tashreef laaye, vahan ke ek cctv camera ne aapka chehra record kiya aur yakeen maaniye aapko talash karne mein zara bhi takleef nahi hui. Fauran aapko pehchan liya gaya ke arrey ye toh Aditya Sharma hai"

Mujhe kisne pehchana ye toh nahi maalum par mushkil kaam bhi nahi tha. Main ek bahut lambe arse se ye logon ko dhoondhne ka kaam kar raha tha aur nateejatan achhe bure, ameer gareeb, rasookh wale aur aam, har tarah ke logon se meri pehchan thi.

 

[vamp545]

"Toh ab aate hain matlab ki baat par. Kyun dhoondh rahe hain aap us ladki ko?"

Aur phir jaise chamatkar hua. Usne sawal is andaaz mein , meri aankhon mein aankhen dalkar puchha jaise mere halak se alfaaz khinch raha ho aur meri zubaan jaise apne aap mere qaabu se bahar hokar shabd ugalne lagi.

"Case hai mere paas"

"Us ladki ka?"

"Ji haan"

"Jaante the aap usko?"

"Nahi"

"Kabhi mile the usse?"

"Nahi"

"Mere Bar kya karne pahunche the?"

"Mujhe pata chala tha ke vo vahan aapke yahan kaam karti thi?"

"Kya jaante hain us ladki ke baare mein?"

"Kuchh bhi nahi. Koshish kar raha hoon use dhoondhne ki. Sirf itna janta tha ke vo us Bar mein kaam karti thi. Isse zyada kuchh bhi nahi"

"Kitne din ho gaye use ladki ko talash karte?"

"Mushkil se hafta bhar"

Shukar tha ke usne mujhse ye nahi puchha ke mujhe case kisne diya ya mujhe uske Bar ke baare mein khabar kisne di varna us waqt jis tarah se rattu tote ki tarah main sab bak raha tha, main Saloni aur Chipku ka naam bhi use ga gakar sunata.

"Chaliye khair" Vo pichhe ko hokar kursi se tek lagata hua bola "Aapne jitni takleef ki, itni kaafi hai. Ab aap is case ko chhod denge aur us ladki ko bilkul bhi nahi dhoondhenge"

Main kisi aagyakari bachche ki taraf fauran haan mein sar hilane laga.

"Ab dekhiye na Sharma ji, aapko achha lagega ke kisi lapata ladki ke pichhe aapki mujhse dushmani ho jaaye?"

Aur mere sar apne aap Na mein hilne laga.

"Gud. Kaafi achhe aadmi hain aap. Aapse baat karke achha laga. Kisi bhi qism ki koi bhi zaroorat ho, mujhe yaad kar lijiyega. Ham bhi doston ke dost hain. Aur aap toh vaise bhi jasoos qism ke aadmi hain, logon ko dhoondhna pesha hai aapka toh mujhe dhoodhne mein koi takleef toh hogi nahi aapko. Hai na?"

Aur mera sar ek baar phir apne aap haan mein hilne laga.

Jab tak Sharafat Sheikh mere ghar par raha, hawa mein jaise ek bhaaripan sa tha. Uske bethne ka tareeka, bolne ka andaaz, body language, sab kuchh aisa tha jaise vo kamre mein maujood har cheez ka maalik ho, jaise har cheez uski ghulam ho, zinda ya murda.

Maine uska naam kaafi suna tha. Vo Punjab ka rehne wala tha aur pehle Mumbai mein kisi sharab banane ki factory mein kaam karta tha. Phir dadagiri, phir hafta-vasooli, phir loot, phir murder, phir drugs, phir jism-faroshi aur dheere dheere vo Mumbai Underworld ka ek mazboot hissa banta chala gaya. Maine suna tha ke vo kaafi daler kism ka aadmi tha aur apni dileri dikhane saabit karne ke liye hi hazaron dushman hone ke bavajood Mumbai mein khulla ghoomta tha. Ye uske rasookh ka saboot tha ke anginat cases uske naam par darj hone ke baad bhi aaj tak kisi policewale ki himmat nahi padi thi ke uske girebaan par haath daale. Aalam ye tha ke use aata dekh kar policewale kanni kaatkar nikal jaate the.

Uske jaane ke baad jaise main vaapis hosh mein aaya. Mujhe aisa laga jaise ke main ek neend se jaga hoon. Jaise mujhe ab tak hypnotize kiya hua tha aur ab mera suroor toota hai. Jab vo aur uske aadmi chale gaye toh main maare sharam ke zameen mein gad gaya.

Ye pehli baar nahi tha ke main us qism ke insaan ke saamne betha tha. Maine zindagi mein koi pehli baar gun nahi dekhi thi balki mere paas meri apni ek licensed revolver bhi thi. Us jaise logon se mera rozana ka wasta tha par main kabhi kisi se daba nahi, kabhi kisi ki suni nahi. Par use yun samne dekh kar jaane kya hua tha ke main ek chhota sa bachcha ban gaya tha jo vahi kar raha tha jo uske bade use keh rahe the, vahi bata raha tha jo ke usse puchha ja raha tha.

Usne mujhe kaha tha ke main Saanwli ke case se haath khinch loon par mera aisa karne ka koi irada nahi tha. Balki ab toh mere paas ise continue karne ki ek zaati vajah bhi ho gayi thi. Vo ye ke is case ko lekar vo mujhe dhamkaya gaya tha. Ek baar main phir bachcha ban raha tha par is baar aisa bachcha jo vahi karta hai jis kaam ke liye use mana kiya jata hai.

Main thodi der vahin chair par apna sar pakde betha raha. Mujhe apne aap par bharosa nahi ho raha tha ke koi mujhe yun mere ghar mein ghus kar hool de gaya aur main chup chap sun gaya. Jab sharmindagi ka ehsaas kuchh kam hua toh maine apna phone uthaya aur Khan ka number dial kiya.

"Lambi umar hai teri, abhi tujhe hi yaad kar raha tha" Phone uthate hi mere bolne se pehle Khan bola.

"Kya hua?"

"Yaad hai vo ladki ki laash jo ham dekhne gaye the? Jo samundar kinare mili thi?"

"Haan"

"Tera andaza sahi nikla. Ye vo ladki nahi hai jise tu dhoondh raha hai"

"Kaise pata?"

"Us laash ki pehchan ho gayi hai. Koi 2 mahine pehle kidnap hui thi. Kisi businessman ki beti thi."

Agle din subah ek baar phir meri aankh Saloni ke phone se khuli.

"Kuchh information toh mili hai but i am not sure ke kitni valid hai. Filhal pata lagane ki koshish kar raha hoon" Usne puchha toh maine jawab diya.

"Kya pata chala?"

"Aapki behen jahan kaam karti thi us jagah ke baare mein" Maine bataya.

"Kahan kaam karti thi?"

"Ek jagah waitress ka kaam karti thi vo"

"Waitress? Kisi restaurant mein?" Uski aawaz mein hairat saaf jhalak rahi thi.

"Nahi actually ek bar mein"

"Bar mein?" Is baar hairani kuchh zyada thi. "Thats not possible"

"Matlab?"

"Meri behen sharab peeti hi nahi thi"

"Saloni ji vo sharab nahi peeti thi iska matlab ye nahi ke vahan waitress ka kaam nahi kar sakti thi" Maine kaha.

"I am sorry. I am just a little surprised. Vo yahan ham sabki marzi ke khilaff gayi thi ke kuchh bada karegi, career banayegi aur jakar bani ek waitress?"

Is sawal ka mere paas koi jawab nahi tha.

Uske phone rakhne ke baad main apna din ka agenda sochne laga. Mujhe is waqt bhi bukhar tha aur ab kamzori ka aalam ye tha ke mujhe subah subah khade hote hue bhi chakkar aa rahe the. Haar maan kar maine us din ke apne agenda mein sabse pehle ek Doctor ke paas jana add kiya.

Hostel ke watchman ke paas se ab tak koi phone nahi aaya tha. Main use apna number toh de aaya tha ke kuchh pata chale toh mujhe phone kare par usse uska number lena bhool gaya tha. Din mein uske paas jaane ka koi matlab nahi tha kyunki vo shaam 5 baje apni duty khatam hone se pehle baat karne wala nahi tha.

Khan ke paas se bhi ab tak koi call records ke baare mein kuchh information nahi mili thi toh kul mila kar mere paas ek hi lead bachti thi, Bijli.

Aur uska naam dhyaan aate hi mujhe kal apni Sharafat ke saath hui mulaqat yaad aa gayi. Subah se hi uthne ke baad ek baar bhi mera dhyaan us taraf nahi gaya tha, mujhe yaad hi nahi aaya tha ke meri mulaqat kal Sharafat Bhai se hui thi.

"Ab aap us ladki ko nahi dhoondhenge"

Sharafat ki ye baat yaad aate hi dimag mein jaise hazaron sawal uthne lage. Vo ek bahut pahuncha hua gunda tha, ek achha khasa drugs aur prostitution ka racket chalata tha, usko ladkiyon ki koi kami nahi thi. Phir ek mamuli aam si dikhne wali ladki ke pichhe kyun itna bada bawal ke vo mujhe dhamki dene aa pahuncha tha ke main use talash na karun.

Maine phone utha kar Chipku ko milaya.

"Kaise ho Adi Bhai?" Call connect hone par uski aawaz aayi.

"Theek hoon. Tera kal wala andaza theek nikla" Maine jawab diya.

"Kaun sa andaza?"

"Sharafat Bhai wala"

"Bole toh?"

"Bole toh ye ke main parso vo ladki ko dhoondhne gaya tha na udhar Bar mein"

"Haan"

"Haan toh kal Sharafat Bhai mujhe dhoondhta mere ghar aa pahuncha"

"Kya baat kar rahe ho. Phir?"

"Phir mujhe dhamki deke gaya ke main uski jagahon par soonghna band karun"

"Bas?"

"Ab aur kya ek goli mujhe tohfe mein maarke jata?"

"Hona toh yahi chahiye tha Adi Bhai. Bahut kismet wale ho ke sirf dhamki mili. Vaise ek baat batao, Sharafat Bhai khud aayele the?"

"Haan. Kyun?"

"Us ladki ka koi na koi toh bada raada raha hoyenga jo ki Bhai khud pahunch gayele udhar aapki kholi par. Socho Adi Bhai, ek mamuli chhokri ke pichhe kaahe ku Bhai itni takleef lenge ke aapko private mein jakar hool dein? Khali 2 aadmi bhi toh bhej sakte the aapka game bajane ko"

"Baat toh teri sahi hai"

"Aap apun ke baare mein toh kuchh nahi bole na?"

"Nahi chinta mat kar. Vaise sun, teri vo Bijli koi phone vone rakhti hai kya? Tere paas hai number?"

"Kaahe ku?"

"Arrey baat karunga usse jaake"

"Aap abhi bhi us ladki ko dhundoge?"

"Haan"

"Adi Bhai aag se khel rahe ho. Agli bar Sharafat bhai dhamki nahi kuchh aur hi deke jaayenge"

"Yeah i know. Tu vo chhod, mere sawal ka jawab de"

"Nahi mere ko nahi pata uske baare mein. Phone rakhti hoyengi toh mere paas number nahi. Janta nahi main use"

Yaani ab sirf ek hi option tha. Mujhe Sharafat Bar jakar hi use dhoondhna padega.

"Adi Bhai, zara sambhal kar" Phone par Chipku ki aawaz aayi.

 

[vamp545]

Doctor ke saath mulaqat chhoti hi rahi, usne ek baar haath pakda, ek baar munh mein jhanka, ek baar meri aankhon mein jhanka aur ek kagaz par 56 alag alag tarah ke tests likh kar de diye.

"Road ke end par hi ek lab hai. Aap vahan ye test kara sakte hain"

Main uski batayi lab par gaya, blood sample aur urine sample diya aur mujhe shaam 4 baje ke baad aakar reports lene ke liye keh diya gaya. Vahan se nikal kar main sidha Sharafar Bar pahuncha.

Bar ke bahar main koi aadhe ghante apni gaadi mein hi betha raha. Vajah 2 thi. Pehli toh ye ke Sharafat Bhai se mili dhamki ke baad phir Bar mein jana khatarnaak saabit ho sakta tha. Ye mumkin tha ke mujhe vahin andar hi utha kar sidha Sharafat ke huzoor mein pesh kar diya jata ya phir koi mujhe vahan dekh leta aur vo ek baar phir mere gareeb-khane par aa khada hota.

Doosri ye ke main ummeed kar raha tha ke shayad mujhe Bar ke bahar hi Bijli kahin dikhai de jaaye. Par pareshani ye thi ke mujhe pata hi nahi tha ke vo vahan kis waqt aati thi.

Aadhe ghante intezaar karne ke baad maine Bar ke andar jaane ka faisla kiya. Car ke dashboard se maine apni revolver nikali, shirt ke neeche apni pent mein phasayi aur ek baar chaaro taraf saavdhani bhari nazar daalkar andar daakhil ho gaya.

Andar sab kuchh vaisa hi tha jaisa ke main kayi barson se dekh raha tha. Log bethe sharab pi rahe the, Ladkiyan serve kar rahi thi par dance floor par koi ladki nahi thi. Ye programme shayad shaam ko hi hota tha.

Main ek table par jakar beth gaya. 2 min baad hi ek ladki mera order lene ke liye aa gayi.

"Ek beer la dena" Maine kaha.

"Khane ko kuchh?" Usne puchha toh maine inkaar mein gardan hila di.

"Suno?" Order lekar vo palat hi rahi thi ke maine use pichhe se pukara "Mujhe Bijli se milna hai"

Shayad us jaisi jagah par ye ajeeb baat nahi thi ke koi aadmi kisi ladki ke baare mein puchh raha hai. Vahan toh shayad ye roz-marra ki baat hoti hogi.

"Shaam ko aati hai vo"

"Uska koi phone number vagerah?"

Mere is sawal par us ladki ne ajeeb nazar se mujhe dekha.

"Mera ek kaam karogi please?" Maine apni jeb se ek pen paper nikala aur apna phone number likh kar us ladki ko diya. Yun toh meri jeb mein mera visiting card bhi tha par vo dena khatarnaak ho sakta tha "Bijli ko ye number de dena mera aur kehna ke mujhe phone kar le. Bolna ke Aditya Sharma aaya tha"

"Kaahe ko karegi main aisa" Us ladki ne paper mere haath se liya hi nahi aur khadi mujhe dekhti rahi.

"Kyunki ismein tumhara bhi fayda hai" Maine apni jeb se ek 500 ka note nikal kar uski taraf badhaya.

"Theek hai. Beer leke aati hai main"

"Nahi rehne do" Main chair se uth khada hua "Bas ye number Bijli ko de dena please"

Main apni car mein aakar betha hi tha ke phone baj utha. Call ek unknown number se thi.

"Bijli bol rahi hoon" Phone uthane par doosri taraf se aawaz aayi.

"Wow" Maine dil hi dil mein socha. "Kaafi jaldi dikhayi us Bar wali ladki ne"

"Aaj mujhe kaise yaad kiya?"

"Kaam hai tumse kuchh" Maine kaha.

"Achha?" Usne hairat se puchha "Mahan Aditya Sharma ko mujh jaisi ladki se kya kaam ho sakta hai? Jis tarah ka kaam main soch rahi hoon kahin vo toh nahi"

"Bilkul nahi" Main janta tha ke vo kis taraf ishara kar rahi hai "Kuchh aur kaam hai"

"Sach mein? Vaise ek baat bataoon. Jo raat tumne mere saath bitayi thi us raat tum nashe mein the isliye kuchh yaad nahi. Agar yaad hota kuchh toh ma kasam, har raat Bijli ke pehlu mein hi bitate"

"Ab kaam ki baat kar lein kuchh?" Maine uski baat ko ansuna karte hue kaha.

"Tum bhi kamal karte ho. Main pyaar mohabbat ki baat kar rahi hoon aur tum kaam ki baat. Tum mard hote hi aise ho"

"Kaam ki baat" Maine uski baat ka mazak udaate hue kaha "Jahan tak mujhe yaad padta hai, ye pyaar mohabbat bhi toh tumhare liye ek kaam hi hai. Iske hi toh paise leti ho tum"

"Kyun, tumse kitne liye the maine?"

Usne kaha toh mujhe yaad aaya ke us raat usne mujhse koi keemat nahi li thi. Mere purse mein jitne paise raat ko the, subah bhi utne hi the. Ek paisa kam nahi tha.

"Vaise kabhi kabhi toh mujhe tumhara mamla gadbad lagta hai" Vo phir usi baat ko aage badhate hue boli "Ulti toh nahi chalti na tumhari cycle? Meethe ho kya?"

Main janta tha ke uska ishara kis taraf tha. Ek baar phir maine uski baat ansuni kar di.

"Mil sakti ho? Kuchh baat karni thi tumse"

"Tere liye toh jaan haazir hai meri jaan, tum bas ishara karo ke kahan deni hai"

"Kahan mil sakti ho?"

"Apne ghar ka address boli. Main pahunch jaoongi"

"Nahi" Maine fauran jawab diya "Ek restaurant ka naam batata hoon vo likho. Aaj raat ko dinner yahin saath mein karte hain"

"Kyun, main ghar aaoongi toh bura lagega?"

Maine uski baat ka koi jawab nahi diya aur Restaurant ka naam aur address bolne lag gaya.

"Theek hai. Kitne baje milna hai?"

"Raat 8 baje theek hai?"

"Pahunch jaoongi" Bijli ne jawab diya

Bijli se baat karne ke baad maine pehle socha ke ghar jakar aaram karun par phir khyaal aaya ke thodi der baad mujhe jakar apni medical reports collect karni thi. Irada badal kar main ghar jaane ke bajaay apne office ki taraf chal pada.

"Aaiye meharbaan, bethiye saaheban" Mere office mein daakhil hote hi Nisha mujhe dekh kar gaane lagi.

"Is gaane ke aage ki lines pata hai na?" Main apni seat par jakar beth-ta hua bola "Shauq se lijiye ji, ishq ke imhtehaan"

"Haan toh le lejiye. Aapke har imtehaan ke liye bandi haazir hai" Vo apni jagah se uthkar meri desk ke saamne wali chair par aa bethi.

"And what would your fiance think of that? Agar main tere ishq ke imtehaan lene betha toh?"

"Aap hukum kijiye sir, aapke uper aise hazaar fiance qurbaan" Vo bade hi naatkiye ada ke saath boli.

"Oh really?" Maine bhi usi ke andaaz mein puchha.

"Aur nahi toh kya sir. Vo toh aapne ishara nahi kiya varna is fiance ka number toh aana hi nahi tha. Main toh bas vahan apni kursi par bethi aapka intezaar karti rahi par aapke karam ki nazar kabhi hamari taraf uthi hi nahi" Vo filmi style mein maathe par apna haath rakhte hue boli.

"Kya chahiye?" Main sidha matlab ki baat par aaya "Chhutti leni hai?"

"Dekha" Vo table par haath maarte hue boli "I rest my case. Main ishq mohabbat ki baat kar rahi hoon aur aap kaam ki. Isi liye toh meri aur aapki kahani adhuri reh gayi"

"Kab chahiye chhutti?" Main uski baat ko nazar andaaz karta hua bola "Assuming ke tu ye drama queen chhutti maangne ke liye hi bani hui hai"

"Kal" Vo bhi sidhi hokar bethte hue boli.

"Theek hai" Maine ek cigarette jalate hue kaha "Toh aise hi maang leti. Ye ishq ki maari Laila kyun bani hui thi"

"Arrey subah se bethi bore ho rahi thi. Aap aaye toh socha ke thoda hasi mazak ho jaaye par aap ho ke sidha kaam ki hi baat karte ho. Isi liye single ho aap"

"Kya matlab?"

"Matlab ke main ishq pyaar mohabbat ki baat kar rahi hoon aur aap kaise khadus ki tarah ignore kar rahe the. Isi liye koi ladki nahi phasti aapse"

"Ladki toh mujhse vaise hi koi nahi phasti, khadus or no khadus"

"Vaise sochne wali baat hai ye. Dikhne mein achhe bhale ho, kaafi adventurous sa work profile hai phir bhi single, aisa kyun?"

"Pata nahi yaar"

"Koi nazar mein ho toh batao, main baat chalati hoon" Vo aankh maarte hue boli.

"Nahi koi nahi hai yaar. Meri life mein ladki ke naam par bas ek tu hi hai aur tu shaadi karne wali hai" Maine bhi palat kar aankh maari.

"Aapne der kar di na, pehle ishara kar dete. Vaise abhi bhi zyada der nahi hui hai, ab bhi chaho toh main saath chalne ko taiyyar hoon"

"Aur tera mangetar?"

"Kaha na, aap par aise hazaar qurbaan"

"Phir shuru ho gayi? Chhutti ke liye haan bol diya maine, remember? Vaise kya plan hai kal ka?"

"Mangetar sahab lunch par kahin le jana chahte hain" Usne bataya "Vaise mere alawa bhi ek aur ladki hai filhal aapki life mein"

"Kaun?"

"Saloni"

"Shut up"

"Why?"

"She is a client"

"A client which is kind of hot. Shakat soorat ok types hai par baaki ka saman kaafi achha hai"

"Would you shut up?" Maine haste hue kaha "Main single hi theek hoon filhal"

"Kab tak. Shaadi kar lo. Umar ho rahi hai. Aise single bethe rahe toh kuchh time baad shaadi ke liye ladki milne wali hi nahi koi" Vo uthkar vaapis apni jagah par chali gayi.

Uski kahi baat ne jaise mere dimag mein tubelight jalane ka kaam kiya.

"Ek kaam kar" Maine sochte hue kaha.

"Baat chalaoon Saloni se?" Vo fauran palat kar phir meri desk par aa gayi.

"Nahi. Marriage beuro mein jo hamara contact tha, kya naam tha uska .... haan Ismail, vo ab bhi hai right?"

"Haan"

"Contact kar use. Usko bol ke Saanwli Mitra ke naam se zara check kare"

"You think she was married?"

"Could be. Vo apna saman kahin shift kar rahi thi and hamne ye assume kar liya tha ke vo kisi ladki ke saath live in relationship mein thi. Ye bhi toh ho sakta hai ke kuchh shaadi vaadi ka chakkar ho" Maine kaha.

"Ek shaadi jiske baare mein uske gharwalo tak ko nahi pata?"

"Hey i know its a long shot. Probably a false trail but worth trying, right? Check karne mein kya jata hai"

"Yeah i gues you are right. I will call him"

Nisha uthkar vaapis apni jagah par gayi hi thi ke mere phone ki ghanti baji. Call Khan ki thi.

"Tu aaj kal mujhe bada phone karne laga hai" Maine phone utha kar kaha "Pehle hafte mein kabhi ek baar phone karta tha aur aaj kal din mein 2-3 baar ghanti baja deta hai"

"Yeah i know" Doosri taraf se uski aawaz aayi "Kuchh na kuchh aisa hota rehta hai ke teri ghanti khadkani padti hai"

"Ab kya hua?"

"Guess kar ke Joshi ke baad uski jagah kaun aa raha hai"

"Kaun?"

"Main"

"Tu?"

"Haan. Mera transfer uske police station mein kar diya gaya hai. Uske baad ab main vahan ka charge le raha hoon"

"Matlab ab ....."

"Exactly" Usne meri baat poori kar di "Matlab ab Saanwli ka case officially mere paas hai"

 

[vamp545]

"Nahi main vo nahi keh raha tha. Khair, par ye hua kaise?" Maine puchha

"I dunno. Mujhe abhi call aayi ke kal se mujhe Joshi ki jagah charge lena hai. Apparently Joshi Sahab ki desk par kaafi cases jama ho gaye the jinhen suljhane ke liye unhen kisi qabil officer ki zaroorat thi" Khan bola.

"And poore police department mein qabil officer ke naam par unhen ek tu hi mila bas?"

"Hey" Khan ne bura maanne ke andaaz mein kaha "Main kaam karta nahi iska matlab ye nahi ke main kaam kar nahi sakta'

"And ab tera irada kaam karne ka hai?"

"Haan. Joshi ke jama kiye cases ko main saaf karunga. Mera naam ooncha hoga aur Joshi ka neecha"

"You do know he is dead, right? Ek mare hue aadmi ka naam kharab karega?"

"Haan toh kya hua. Jab vo zinda tha toh vo mera aur tera naam kharab karne par tula hua tha. Main uske marne ke baad uska naam kharab karunga"

"Pagal hai tu saale. Achha vo numbers ke call records ka pata chala kuchh?"

"Nahi abhi toh nahi. Kuchh pata chalte hi phone karta hoon"

Joshi ki maut ka mujhe dil se afsos tha par uske baad ab Khan ke case ka charge lene se main ek sukoon ki saans bhi li. Joshi mere case ki investigation mein bahut badi rukavat tha aur main dil mein ye dua bhi kar raha tha ke ab jo koi bhi aaye, vo had darje ka kaamchor ho jise na Saanwli se matlab ho aur na uske gayab hone se. Vo bas chupchap thaane mein bethe aur mujhe apna kaam karne de.

Khan ke aane se mujhe munh maangi murad toh mili hi, saath hi Saanwli ke case ko jaise chaho investigate karo ka green signal bhi mil gaya tha.

Shaam ke waqt maine Lab se apni reports uthayi aur Doctor se milne pahuncha. Reports mein Typhoid ke symptons nikle. Doctor ne mujhe sakht salah di ke main kuchh din tak ghar par aaram karun, bahar ka na khaoon, apne aapko zyada exert na karun vagerah vagerah. Saath hi saath usne mujhe bahut saari hari peeli goliyan thama di. Clinic se nikal kar main sidha Saanwli ke hostel pahuncha.

Ek baar main paidal hostel ke saamne se guzra, guard ko aankh se ishara kiya aur shaam 5 baje ke thodi der baad hi vo mere saath meri gaadi mein betha baat kar raha tha.

"Aapko aaj phone karne hi wala tha, achha hua aap milne hi aa gaye" Vo jeb se ek paper nikalta hua bola.

"Kuchh mila?"

"Haan" Kehte hue usne mujhe vo paper ka tukda thama diya.

Paper par ek address likha hua tha. Maine padha toh vo Ahemdabad ka nikla.

"Ye kya laya hai yaar. Galat address le aaya tu. Mujhe toh pata chala tha ke vo Pune mein kahin rehti hai"

"Ham bahut dhoondhe saahib par kya kariyega, vo Maya ke naam par ektho yahi pata mila"

"Kahan mila ye?"

"Jab idhar par koi ladki rehne ke liye aati hai toh paper formalities vagerah thoda karna padta hai, matlab form vagerah bharna type. Usi par ye address tha"

"Kahan ka address hai kuchh aur likha tha form pe"

"Haan. Ahemdabad ka"

"Arrey vo toh mujhe bhi dikh raha hai. Matlab Ahemdabad mein kaun sa address hai ye, vo vahan se aayi thi, uske kisi rishtedaar ka ....."

"Unka asli ghar ka address hai" Vo meri baat beech mein kaat-te hue bola "Permanent address wali jagah par likha hua tha ye address. Aur vo Maya madam vahin Ahemdabad se thi ye hamko bhi malum hai"

"Ab uske ghar ke address ka kya karun? Barat lekar jaoon ya ....." Main achanak bolta bolta ruk gaya. Dimag ki tubelight ek baar phir jali "Kaam ho gaya. Thanks yaar. Chal jaayega isse kaam"

Maine uske kandha thapthapaya toh vo badi ummeed bhari nazron se meri taraf dekhne laga. Un nazron ka matlab main bakhubi samajhta tha. Jeb se ek 100 ka note nikal kar maine uski taraf badha diya.

Vaapis apne ghar pahunchte pahunchte mujhe shaam ke 7 baj gaye. Bijli se milne maine 8 baje jana tha yaani ab bhi ek ghante ka waqt tha. Maine Nisha ko phone milaya.

"Ghar pahunch gayi?"

"Kya baat hai, meri itni fikar? Ab main theek thaak pahunch gayi ya nahi is baat ka bhi pata kiya ja raha hai? Haaye, kahan tha ye Aditya Sharma aaj se 1 mahina pehle"

"Phir shuru ho gayi tu? Subah subah bhaang laga kar ghar se nikli thi kya jo ab tak asar hai?"

"Arrey sir nasha bhaang ka nahi aapke pyaar ka hai"

Mujhe kuchh samajh nahi aa raha tha ke subah se uske sar par ye kaun sa naya bhoot sawar ho gaya tha.

"Ab teri nautanki khatam ho gayi ho toh kaam ki baat kar lein kuchh?"

"Haan haan karo kaam ki baat Kaamdev. Kya hua?"

"Vo Maya ka address mil gaya" Maine bataya."

"Pune wala?"

"Nahi Ahemdabad ka address hai"

"Par vo shaadi karne Pune nahi gayi thi?"

"Haan shayad par ye uska original address hai jo ke even better hai. Ab tujhe ek kaam karna hai"

"Uske ghar par phone karke kuchh bahana bana kar uska Pune wala address lena hai"

"Exactly. Smart hoti ja rahi hai tu"

"Theek hai. Number forward karo. Main karti hoon phone"

"Ye ek doosri problem hai. Sirf address hai, phone number nahi hai"

"Very nice. Koi nahi, aap address forward karo mujhe. Main directory vagerah kahin check karke number nikalti hoon"

 

[vamp545]

Chapter 10 - The Girl Who Knew Too Much




Shaam ke theek 8 baje main Bijli ko bataye restaurant mein betha uska wait kar raha tha.

"Can i take your order sir?" Ek waiter meri table par aakar bola.

Yun toh doctor ne mujhe bahar khane se bilkul mana kiya hua tha par aisi jagah par aakar khaali bhi toh nahi betha ja sakta tha.

"Actually i am still waiting for someone to arrive" Maine muskurate hue kaha "Meanwhile, why dont you just me get me something to drink?"

"And what would you like sir?" Waiter ne mere sawal ka jawab dete hue puchha. Main janta tha ke is jagah vo sharab serve nahi karte the aur vaise bhi bimari ki vajah se mera pine ka dil bhi nahi tha.

"An orange juice would do just fine"

"I wil be back in a minute with your juice" Kehkar vo laut gaya.

Takreeban 5 min baad hi vo haath mein ek juice ka glass liye vaapis aa gaya.

"Agar kisi ko dinner par bulaya jaaye toh uska intezaar kiya jata hai Mr. Sharma" Maine Juice ka glass apne hontho ki taraf badhaya hi tha ke mere pichhe se Bijli ki aawaz aayi "Aap toh mere bina hi shuru ho gaye"

"Aur jab koi dinner par bulaye toh mezbaan ko intezaar karana bhi buri baat hai" Maine uthkar uski taraf palta aur muskurata hua bola.

"Kya baat hai?" Vo table ke doosri taraf rakhi chair par jakar bethte hue boli "Aaj sooraj kis taraf dooba hai. Aaj toh Mr. Sharma mujhe dekh kar muskura rahe hain"

"Exactly" Maine bhi apni chair par vaapis beth gaya "Kis taraf dooba hai sooraj aaj jo tumne ye Mr. Sharma Mr. Sharma ki ratt laga rakhi hai"

"Ab aapko izzatdaar aadmi banne ka shauk hai, ham jaiso ke aap munh lagte nahi toh maine socha ke sidha naam lekar bulana shayad aapko kahin bura na lag jaaye. Isliye izzat aur adab se bula rahi thi"

"Itni izzat mat do mujhe, aadat nahi hai. Kya lena pasand karogi?" Maien menu uski taraf badhaya.

"Pasand toh ye na-cheez aapko karti hai par afsos aap menu mein hain nahi" Vo aankh maarti hui boli.

Maine usi waiter ko dobara ishara kiya aur ham dono ne apni apno pasand se khana order kiya.

"You are looking good. Kaafi achhi lag rahi ho" Waiter ke jaane ke baad main Bijli ki taraf dekhta hua bola.

Aur ye baat haqeeqat bhi thi. Aaj tak maine use hamesha Sharafat Bar mein hi dekha tha aur hamesha usi behuda libaas mein jise pehen kar vahan ladkiyan naachti thi.Naabhi ke bahut neeche bandha hua ghaghra, hadh se zyada tight aur low neck blouse jispar pichhe ki side sirf baandhne ke liye doriyan hoti thi yaani kamar poori khuli hui aur gale se dupatta gayab. Aaj pehli baar maine use dhang ke kapdo mein dekha tha. Uske ek halke hare rang ka salwar kameez pehen rakha tha aur maine pehli baar is baat ka ehsaas kiya ke vo asal mein kitni khoobsurat thi.

Mujhe is baat ka ehsaas hi nahi hua ke main chup chap bina kuchh kahe ektuk use ghoore ja raha tha.

"Aise mat dekhiye Sharma ji" Vo mujhe yun ghoorta pakar boli "Thodi bahut sharam bananewale ne ham jaisi ladkiyon ko bhi bakhshi hai"

"I am sorry, i didnt mean to stare" Main baukhla sa utha "Par seriously, kaafi khoobsurat lag rahi ho"

"Thank you" Usne muskura kar jawab diya aur mujhe laga jaise mere saamne vo Bar mein nachne wali Bijli nahi balki koi aur hi ladki bethi hai.

"Naam kya hai tumhara?" Maine sawal kiya.

"Kyun aapne kisko bulaya tha yahan?"

"Come on, tumhein lagta hai ke main yakeen kar loonga ke tumhara naam asal mein Bijli hi hai?"

"Haan bilkul hai" Vo haste hue boli "Mere uper toh ek kahawat bhi bana di thi aas pados walo ne. Ke maan marr gayi andhere mein aur beti ka naam rakh gayi Bijli"

"Not funny" Maine chup chap bina hase use dekhta raha.

"Chhodiye na Sharma ji ...."

"Aditya" Maine uski baat kaat-te hue kaha.

"Theek hai, jaisa aap kahen. Chhodiye na Aditya Ji ...."

"Sirf Aditya "Maine phir baat kaati.

"Chaliye ye bhi sahi. Chhodiye ne Aditya. Naam kya ho kya farak padta hai. Farak toh sirf is baat se padta hai ke duniya aapko kya kehkar bulati hai aur mujhe duniya wale Bijli kehte hain"

"Yakeen toh mujhe ab bhi nahi hua par theek hai" Maine baat ko jaane dena hi behtar samjha.

"Arrey sach mein. Bijli hi hai. Chhukar dekho, current bhi maarti hoon"

Uski is baat par meri bhi hasi chhut gayi.

"Darr nahi lag raha?" Vo meri taraf dekhti hui boli.

"Kis baat se?"

"Yahan is public place mein mujh jaisi ladki ke saath khana kha rahe ho? Tumhare kisi pehchan wale ne dekh liya aur mujhe bhi pehchan liya toh?"

"Toh main us pehchan wale se utla ye puchhunga ke vo khud tumhein kaise pehchanta hai?"

"Baat mein dam hai" Vo muskurati hui boli.

"Vaise ek vajah se bulaya hai maine" Maine apni jeb se Saanwli ki photo nikali "Is ladki ko dekha hai kabhi kahin?"

"Kaun hai ye?" Usne photo mere haath se lekar gaur se dekhte hue kaha.

"Koi hai jo is waqt lapata hai aur main dhoondhne ki koshish kar raha hoon" Maine jawab diya.

"Girlfriend?"

"Client"

"Achha haan, bhool gayi thi main. Yahi toh karte hain aap, logon ko dhoondhne ka kaam"

"Exactly" Maine haste hue kaha "Any chance ke ise kahin dekha hai aapne?"

"Shakal kuchh jaani pehchani lag toh rahi hai par nahi, meri pehchan mein se koi nahi hai" Vo photo mujhe vaapis dete hue boli "Vaise aapko aisa kyun lagta hai ke main ise jaanti houngi?"

"Kyunki mujhe lagta hai ke ye shayad Sharafat Bhai ke bar mein kaam karti thi"

"Arrey haan" Uske chehre par achanak ek chamak si aayi "Photo dikhana vaapis zara"

Maine photo phir uski taraf badha diya.

"Yaad aaya" Vo photo phir gaur se dekhti hui boli "Tabhi main sochun ke shakal jaani pehchani kyun lag rahi thi. Kya naam tha iska ....."

Vo sar par haath rakh kar sochne lagi toh maine ek ke liye socha ke naam bataoon par phir chup ho gaya.

"Saloni" Vo ekdam se boli "Saloni naam tha iska. Udhar Sharafat bhai ke Genie wale Bar mein waitress thi kuchh arsa pehle tak"

"Saloni?" Maine hairani se uski taraf dekhta hua bola "Are you sure?"

"Haan pakka. Bahut raade wali ladki thi ye. Ek pal ke liye main pehchan nahi paayi par ab yaad aa gaya. Bada rada hua tha iske pichhe"

"Matlab?"

"Sahi toh mujhe bhi nahi pata" Usne photo phir mujhe pakda di "Par kaam zaroor karti thi ye vahan"

"Aur kuchh bata sakti ho iske baare mein mujhe?" Maine thoda dabaav dala.

"Kyun bataoon?" Vo chehakti hui boli.

Tabhi waiter hamara order lekar aa gaya aur table par rakhne laga. Ham dono kuchh der ke liye chup hokar beth gaye.

"Zahir baat hai ke ye jo koi bhi hai, aap ise dhoondhna chahte hain toh agar ye mil gayi toh ismein aapka fayda. Jo ise aapke zariye dhoondhna chah rahe hain unka bhi fayda. Par main agar munh kholun toh ismein mera kya fayda?"

"Kya chahiye?" Maine khana shuru karte hue kaha.

"Tum"

Vo bebaak bol padi toh mujhe jawab dete na bana. Main aise hi kisi jawab ki ummeed bhi kar raha tha par golmol tarike se, is tarah nahi.
Main chup chap usse nazar chura kar khana khane laga.

"Mazak kar rahi hoon" Thodi der baad vo hasti hui boli "Aapke liye toh jaan bhi haazir hai Sharma ji. Puchhiye kya jaanna chahte hain"

"Kuchh bhi" Usne baat palat di toh meri jaan mein jaan aayi, "Ya vo sab kuchh jo tum jaanti ho"

"Zyada toh main bhi nahi jaanti" Usne batana shuru kiya "Asal mein toh vo Bar mein hue lafde se pehle main jaanti bhi nahi thi ke ye kaun hai, bas dekha tha udhar kai baar. Us lafde ke baat pata chala ke iska naam Saloni tha"

Ye baat mare halak se neeche nahi utar rahi thi. Vo kyun vahan apni behen ke naam se kaam kar rahi thi?

"Aur?" Maine puchha.

"Maine bhi sab suna hi hai bas. Kehte hain ke kaafi oonche sapne rakhti thi. Bar mein waitress thi aur sidha Sharafat Bhai par haath daalne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Phir ek baar suna hai ke sharab ke nashe mein Sharafat Bhai ne iske saath shayad kuchh zor zabardasti kari jiska shayad ise bura lag gaya, kyun ye toh mujhe bhi samajh nahi aaya. Matlab jab chahti hi thi Sharafat Bhai ko phasana toh unke haath lagane ka kya bura maanna. Khair, isne Sharafat Bhai ko thappad maar diya. Isse pehle ke baat aage badhti, vahan Bar mein koi tha jo ise bacha le gaya"

"Kaun?"

"Ye koi nahi janta. Par suna hai ke isse pehle Sharafat Bhai kuchh keh ya kar paate, vahin bethe sharab pi rahe aadmiyon mein se kisi ne uthkar unke sar pe bandook laga di aur usi ke zor par is ladki ko vahan se nikal le gaya"

"Phir?"

"Phir bas itna hi. Yahi suna hai. Sharafat Bhai ne saaf hidayat de di thi ke us raat Bar mein jo hua, uske baare mein koi kisi se baat nahi karega"

"Kyun?"

"Ab yaar kaun chahega ke log baat karte phiren ke Sharafat Bhai jaise aadmi ko kisi ladki ne thappad maara, phir kisi ne une sar pe bandook rakh di aur ladki ko unki naak ke niche se nikal le gaya?"

"Haan baat toh sahi hai"

Uske baat main aur vo idhar udhar ki baaten karte rahe. Isse zyada mujhe usse kuchh aur information nahi mil saki. Usse main mila ye sochkar tha ke shayad kuchh sawalon ke jawab mil saken par usne jo information di thi usse aur ulta aur sawal khade ho gaye the.

Sabse bada sawal ye tha ke Saanwli apni behen ka naam kyun isemaal kar rahi thi. Ye baat samajh aati thi ke vo aise Bar mein apne asli naam se kaam nahi karna chahti thi isliye apna kuchh aur naam rakh liya par jo baat samajh nahi aa rahi thi vo ye thi ke apni behen ka naam hi kyun? Ye sach tha ke yahan Saloni ko yahan koi nahi janta tha par aam taur par log apne kisi sage sambandhi ka naam aise istemaal nahi karte, khaas taur se unka jo itna zyada kareebi ho.

Khana khane ke baad main Bijli ko uske ghar tak chhodna chahta tha par usne saaf inkaar kar diya. Vo ek taxi lekar chali gayi aur main vaapis apni car mein aa betha. Cell nikal kar dekha toh ek message tha aur ek missed call thi.

Dono hi Geetanjali Thakkar ke the. Maine message open kiya.

"Call me back. I think i know the girl you are looking for"

Ye kahani mein ek naya mod tha jo apne aap aa gaya tha aur jiski main ummeed bhi nahi kar raha tha. Geetanjali Thakkar ko maine Saanwli ke baare mein pata karne ko kaha zaroor tha par mujhe ummeed nahi thi ke vo kuchh bata sakegi aur yahi vajah bhi thi ke maine dobara usse kabhi puchhne ki zaroorat nahi samjhi thi.

Maine uska number milaya. Cell switched off tha. Uske landline par call kiya toh busy tone hi jaati rahi. Maine ghadi ki taraf dekha, 9.30 PM.

Ghar jaane ka irada badal kar maine utsukta-vash Geetanjali ke ghar ki taraf gaadi mod di.

 

[vamp545]

Mumbai mein log kehte hain ke traffic jams din mein nahi raat ko lagne chahiye kyunki yahan ke log din mein kam, raat ko zyada ghar se bahar nikalte hain khaas taur se vo jo apni khud ki gaadi afford kar sakte hain yaani ke Mumbai ki night life. Main kaafi hadh tak is baat se sehmat tha. Raat ka andhera phelne par jahan logon ko apne apne gharon ki taraf chalna chahiye, kha pikar apne bistar ki taraf kadam badhane chahiye, vahin yahan ke log andhera hone par sajna savarna shuru karte hain, taiyyar hona shuru karte hain aur bajaay apne gharo ki taraf jaane ke sair sapate ke liye nikalte hain, night clubs ki taraf kadam badhate hain.

Iska ek namuna mujhe is waqt bhi dekhne ko mil raha tha. Geetanjali ke ghar ki taraf jaate hue mujhe raat ke 10 baje hone ke bavajood heavy traffic ka samna karna pada. Jo raasta mujhe aadhe ghante mein poora kar lena chahiye tha, use poora karne mein mujhe poora dedh ghanta lag gaya. Jab maine us raat finally Geetanjali ke ghar ke saamne gaadi roki toh raat ki 11 baj rahe the.

Ghanti baja kar main darwaze par khada intezaar karne laga par meri ummeed ke mutaabik mujhe is baar darwaze pra lage intercom par uski aawaz sunai nahi di. Maine phir ghanti bajayi par phir kuchh kuchh nahi. Apna cell nikal kar use phone karne ki koshish ki par situation phir vahi. Cell switched off tha aur landline par busy tone sunai de rahi thi. 5-10 minute vahin khade rehne ke baad aur baar baar ghanti bajane ke baad bhi jab koi jawab nahi aaya toh maine vaapis lautne ka faisla kiya. Shayad vo ghar par nahi thi aur jis tarah ke import export aur real estate ka uska business tha, uska toh office bhi khulta raat ko hi hoga.

Main palat hi raha tha ke meri nazar ek aisi cheez par padi jo main pehle andhere ki vajah se dekh nahi paya tha. Geetanjali ke ghar ka darwaza automatic tha yaani vo ghar ke andar se button dabati aur darwaza apne aap ek aur slide hota chala jata, theek Maruti Omni van ke darwaze ki tarah aur phir 90 seconds baad apne aap band hone lagta, basharte ke andar se kisi ne kholne wale button ka daba na rakha ho.

Is waqt darwaza band toh tha par poori tarah nahi. Matlab ke jahan use jakar deewar se mil jana chahiye tha vahan neeche ek Pepsi ki 500ml wali bottle zameen par padi thi jiski vahan se darwaza poora band nahi ho pa raha tha.

Mera matha thanka. Maine jhuk kar pepsi ki bottle ki taraf dekha aur haath laga kar darwaze ko khulne wali disha mein dhakela. Ek halke se zor ke saath hi darwaza phir poora khulta chala gaya. Maine neeche giri bottle uthayi aur ghar ke andar daakhil hua. Aur yahin mujhse meri sabse badi galti ho gayi.

Andar dekhne ke baad main thodi der vahin lawn mein andhere mein khada raha. Poora ghar andhere mein dooba hua tha par livin room ki lights jali hui thi. Dekhne se yun toh kuchh bhi galat nahi tha aur ye bhi mumkim tha ke vo bottle vahan galti se gir gayi ho par jaane kyun mujhe lag raha tha ke kuchh gadbad hai aur apne dil ki tasalli ke liye main uske living room ki taraf badha.

Bahar ke darwaze ki tarah hi uske ghar ka main door bhi khula hua tha. Living room mein har taraf roshni pheli hui thi. Maine ek baar Geetanjali ka naam pukara aur phir jawab na aane par apne charon taraf dekhta living room mein us jagah tak pahuncha jahan aakhri baar tab betha hua tha jab usse milne aaya tha.

Saamne table par ek wine bottle rakhi hui thi, table par 2 glass the jinmein abhi bhi thodi wine bachi hui thi.

Ek glass par lipstick ke nishan the jinhen dekh kar maine andaza lagaya ke ye glass zaroor Geentanjali ka hoga par doosra glass saaf tha. Zaahir tha ke ye zaroor uske kisi mehmaan ka raha hoga.

Table par ek ash tray rakhi hui thi aur paas hi ek India Kings cigarette ka packet aur match box rakha tha. Main khud bhi isi brand ki cigarette piya karta tha aur yun saamne cigarette dekh kar mujhe cigarette pine ki talab uthi. Maine apni jeb par haath mara toh ehsaas hua ke main apni cigarette bahar gaadi mein hi chhod aaya tha. Jhuk kar cigarette packet uthaya aur khola toh usmein ab bhi kayi cigarette rakhi hui thi. Maine ek nikal kar jalayi aur packet vaapis vahin rakh diya.

"Geetanjali Ma'm" Maine ek baar zor se aawaz lagayi par koi jawab nahi aaya.

Main aaj tak jitni baar bhi yahan aaya tha, kabhi living room se aage nahi gaya. Ek baar Geetanjali ne mujhe offer zaroor kiya tha ke main raat yahin ruk jaoon taaki vo mere ehsaan ka kuchh badla utaar sake. Main uska ishara samajhta tha ke vo kis tarah se ehsaan utarne ki baat kar rahi thi aur inkaar karke vaapis chala gaya tha. Maine nazar ghuma kar living room mein rakhe landline phone par nazar daali toh vo apni jagah par rakha hua tha. Receiver utha kar kaan se lagaya toh dial tone sunai nahi de rahi thi. Main janta tha ke uske is phone ki har kamre mein ek alag extension thi aur shayad unmein se hi koi ek ka receiver shayad apni jagah par dhang se rakha nahi gaya tha isliye busy tone sunai de rahi thi.

Sab kuchh apni jagah par tha. Mujhe laga ke shayad vo ghar par thi hi nahi aur Pepsi ki bottle galti se darwaze ke beech aa gayi. Cigarette ke kuchh kash laga kar maine ash tray mein bujhayi aur vaapis jaane ko mudha hi tha ke kuchh aisa nazar aaya jis se mere kadam jahan the vahin ruk gaye.

Living room mein khade khade hi ghar ka ek aur darwaza nazar aata tha. Kyunki main kabhi isse aage nahi badha tha toh janta nahi tha ke vo darwaza kisi kamre ka hai, bathroom ka ya kitchen ka par is waqt vo darwaza bhi khula hua tha. Jis cheez ne meri nazar ko pakda tha vo tha us darwaze se behkar bahar aata ek taral padharth. Living room ki roshni halki halki us darwaze tak bhi pahunch rahi thi par itni nahi ke jahan main khada tha vahan se bataya ja sake ke vo taral padarth kya tha. Par phir bhi itna toh kaha ja sakta tha ke vo gaadha tha isliye pani nahi ho sakta tha aur rang mein ya toh gehra laal tha ya kala.

Dhadakte dil ke saath maine kadam aage badhaye aur aur us darwaze tak pahuncha. Vo darwaza kitchen ka tha aur uske saamne pahunchte hi mujhe mere sawal ka jawab mil gaya. Vo taral padarth khoon tha jo kitchen mein giri padi Geetanjali ke shareer se behkar nikal raha tha.

Maine zindagi mein isse pehle bhi kayi baar dead bodies dekhi thi par vo aksar ya toh morgue mein hoti thi, ya kisi hospital mein, ya kisi police station mein ya phir mauka-e-wardat par jahan mujhse pehle kayi policewale maujood hote the. Ye pehli baar tha ke main akela khada tha aur mere saamne ek laash padi thi. Pehli baar aisa hua tha ke main mauka-e-wardat par pahunchne wala pehla insaan tha.

Jaisa ke aisi situation mein pehli baar padne wale har insaan ke saath hota hai, mujhe bhi ek pal ko toh samajh nahi aaya ke kya karun. Par phir dimag waqti jhatke se fauran bahar nikla aur mujhe ehsaas hua ke main sidha is baat par pahunch gaya ke vo mar chuki hai. Ye bhi toh ho sakta hai ke vo zinda ho.

Vo karwat par giri padi thi aur chehra meri taraf tha. Maine fauran neeche beth kar uske kandho ko pakda aur halke se hilaya.

"Geetanjali"

Aur vo dheere se mere hilane ke karan poori tarah ulti ho gayi. Aur iske saath hi mujhe yakeen ho gaya ke vo mar chuki hai aur maut ki vajah, yaani ke uski kamar ke nichle hisse mein ghusa hua chaaku jo ab bhi aadha uske shareer mein aur aadha uske shareer se baar tha, saamne aa gayi.

Main neeche ukdu betha hua tha aur uske shareer mein ghusa hua chaaku dekh kar thoda hadbada gaya. Pichhe ko hat-te hue mera pair neeche zameen par beh rahe khoon mein pad gaya aur main phisal kar gir pada. Nateeja, mere pent, haath aur kohniyan uske khoon mein san gayi.

Apne aapko sambhal kar main utha aur thoda pichhe hokar khada ho gaya. Mere haathon par laga uska khoon ab bhi halka halka garam tha yaani ke usko mare zyada waqt nahi hua tha. Kitchen mein deewar par ek phone laga hua tha jiska receiver neeche latak raha tha. Shayad vo marne se pehle kisi ko madad ke liye phone karna chah rahi thi par aisa kar nahi paayi. Aur yahi vajah thi ke mujhe baar baar uska phone busy mil raha tha.

Maine apna phone nikala aur police ka number milate hue vaapis living room mein aaya. Phone milne par pehli ghanti baji hi thi ke mujhe living room mein lage sheeshe mein apna aks dikhayi diya aur maine fauran call disconnect kar di.

Main poora uske khoon mein sana hua tha, is waqt uske ghar par akela tha aur is waqt police ko bulane ka matlab tha ke sawal jawab ke ek aise bhanwar mein phasna jo jaane kab tak chalta rehta. Geetanjali Thakkar ek kaafi pahunchi hui aurat thi toh uska case kaafi uchhalne wala tha aur agar main is halat mein police walo ko yahan milta toh mere agle kuchh din sirf police station ke chakkar kaatne aur apni kahani baar baar unko sunane mein guzarne wale the. Maine faisla kiya ke uski maut ki soochna police ko bahar kisi public phone se ek anjaan aadmi ban kar de doonga.

Ghar se bahar nikal kar main main gate par aaya toh mujhe apni galti ka ehsaas hua. Maine andar jaate hue us Pepsi ki bottle ko utha liya tha jiski vajah se ab darwaza poori tarah band tha.

"Damn it" Maine apne aap se kaha.

Ye zaroor tha ke darwaza ghar ke andar hi kisi button se khulta tha par problem ye thi ke mujhe pata nahi tha ke iske conrols kahan hain. Vo Button ghar ke kis hisse mein hai jo is darwaze ko kholta hai. Maine vahin darwaze ke dono taraf dhoondha ke shayad yahan bhi koi kholne ke liye conrol laga ho par kuchh nazar nahi aaya. Ab ek hi tareeka tha ke ghar ke andar jakar darwaze ko khola jaaye par aisa main karna nahi chahta tha. Kaun jaane darwaze ke controls kholne mein mujhe kitna waqt lage aur filhal main jaldi se jaldi yahan se nikal jana chahta tha.

Darwaze ko do kadam pichhe hatkar dekha toh vo ooncha toh tha par bahut zyada nahi aur beech mein bars lage hue the jinko pakad kar aasani se uper chadha ja sakta tha. Maine apni shirt jeans se bahar tuck out kari, bars ko pakad kar darwaze ke uper chadha aur doosri taraf kood gaya.

Sadak par sannata tha. Maine ek nazar dono taraf ghumayi ke kisi ne mujhe dekha toh nahi aur aakar apni gaadi mein beth gaya. Ghadi par nazar daali toh raat ke 12 bajne wale the.#71...........cont.................

 

[vamp545]

Chapter 11 - The Murder Suspect


Phone ki ghanti baji toh meri aankh khuli. Pehli nazar maine ghadi ki taraf daali. Subah ke 3 baj rahe the. Call Khan ki thi.

"Itni raat ko kya ho gaya?" Main phone uthate hue puchha.

"Kahan hai tu?" Doosri taraf se uski bahut dheemi aawaz aayi, jaise vo phone apne munh phone ke bahut kareeb karke neechi aawaz mein phusphusa raha ho.

"Ghar pe aur kahan. So raha tha" Maine jawab diya.

"Tera dimag kharab hua hai?" Nikal vahan se, abhi isi waqt" Doosri taraf se aawaz aayi.

"Niklun? Kahan ke liye niklun?"

"Kahin bhi ja jahan chhup sakta hai tu. Policewale tujhe arrest karne ke liye pahunchte hi honge"

"Arrest, mujhe? Kyun?" Meri neend achanak gayab ho gayi aur main bistar par tankar beth gaya.

"Achha ye bhi main hi bataoon? Ye jo tu yahan kaand karke gaya hai iske jurm mein"

"Kaand? Kaun sa kaand?"

"Ya toh tu ban raha hai ya tu bahut bada bevakoof hai. Geetanjali Thakkar ke ghar jo karke gaya hai vo Kaand" Usne phir dheemi par gusse se bhari aawaz aayi.

"Wait a minute. Unhen lagta hai ke maine mara use? Abey maine hi toh phone karke police ko inform kiya tha"

"Baat karne ka waqt nahi hai. Nikal vahan se abhi isi waqt. Baad mein baat karunga main tujhse"

"Lekin main kyun bhaagun jab maine kuchh kiya hi nahi?" Maine kaha par tab tak main khud bhi uthkar apni almari se kapde bahar nikalne laga tha, pehenkar bhaagne ke liye.

"Abe batane ka waqt nahi hai par itna jaan le ke yahan jitne saboot hamein aadhe ghante ke andar andar mil gaye hain unke rehte tu mar jaayega court mein ye saabit karte karte ke tune kuchh nahi kiya. Filhal nikal, kal baat karte hain" Kehkar usne phone kaat diya.

Maine jaldi se apna phone table par rakha aur ek jeans aur T-shirt daali. Apna wallet uthaya, dawaiyan uthayi, phone jeb mein daala aur ghar band karke sidhiyon se neeche utara.

Apne instincts ko follow karte hue main sidha bhaag kar apni gaadi mein beth gaya. Gaadi start karke gear mein daali hi thi ke khyaal aaya ke kal tak har police check post par is gaadi ka number aur model available kara diya jaayega. Gaadi band karke main bahar nikla aur paidal hi gali ke kone par jakar andhere mein khada ho gaya.

Khan sahi keh raha tha, mujhe zyada intezaar nahi karna pada. 15 minutes ke andar andar police ki 3 gaadiyan mere ghar ke bahar khadi thi, mere ghar ka darwaza toda ja chuka tha aur meri gaadi ke aas paas kam se kam 5 policewale khade the.

Main chup chap palta aur andhere mein paidal hi ek aur chal pada. Mujhe koi idea nahi tha ke main kahan ja raha hoon aur ab kya karna chahiye. Yun toh kai policewalo se meri dushmani rahi thi jinmein se Joshi ek tha par kabhi aisa nahi hua ke mujhe police se bachkar bhaagna pad raha ho. Zindagi mein itna kuchh ek saath pehli baar ho raha tha ke mujhse sambhalna mushkil ho raha tha.

Koi aadhe ghante tak main yun hi sadkon par bhatakta raha, sochte hue ke ab kya karna chahiye. Bukhar toh mujhe nahi tha par kamzori kaafi mehsoos ho rahi thi. Ek jagah sadak ke kinare mujhe ek bench dikhai di, jaisi ke aksar bus stand aur parks mein bani hoti hai. Us bench ke aas paas us waqt poori tarah andhera tha. Maine apni chaaron taraf ek saavdhani bhari nigah phirayi aur jakar Bench par beth gaya.

Aur phir ek ek karke mujhe meri vo saari bevakoofiyan yaad aani shuru hui jo main us raat karke aaya tha. Koi hairat nahi thi ke Khan ne mujhe bhaagne ko kaha kyunki apne liye phaansi ka phanda toh maine khud taiyyar kiya tha.

Cigarette ka packet. Uspe mere finger prints.

Vo aadhi pi hui cigarette ka butt jo ash tray mein milega, phir se mere finger prints.

Geetanjali ke khoon mein mere haathon aur jooton ke nishan.

Uske darwaze par mere khoon se sane finger prints.

Aur koi hairat ki baat nahi thi agar kisi ne mujhe darwaza kood kar paar karte dekha ho.

Aur meri sabse badi bevakoofi, police ko mere ghar par mere khoon mein sane mere kapde jo maine washing machine mein daal diye. Aur jo ke main jald-baazi mein uthana bhool gaya tha.

Khan sahi keh raha tha, in sab sabooton ke rehte meri umar beet jaayegi ye saabit karte karte ke main begunah hoon.

Hadbadi aur ghabrahat ka daur guzra toh maine apne khyaal ek saath jodne shuru kiye. Us shaam Geetanjali ne mujhe phone kiya par us waqt main Bijli ke saath dinner kar raha tha toh maine call receive nahi ki. Uske baad usne mujhe message kiya ke vo Saanwli wale case mein mujhe kuchh information dena chahti hai. Ye kareeb 9 baje ki baat thi. Uske baad main uske ghar par 11 baje pahuncha tha yaani jo hua in 2 ghanto mein hua. Aur vahan pahunch kar qatil jo koi bhi tha par uski mushkil maine aasan kar di, khoon ka ilzaam apne sar lekar.

Geetanjali jis tarah ke dhandhe mein thi usmein galat logon ke saath uthna bethna aam baat thi, kisi se dushmani bhi aam baat thi aur mumkin tha ke use uske kisi dushman ne mara ho par jaane kyun mera dil baar baar ye keh raha tha ke use isliye mara gaya hai kyunki usne mujhe phone kiya.

Maine apni soch ka silsila is baat ki taraf moda ke mujhe filhal is waqt kya karna hai.

Apna phone nikal kar maine Nisha ka number milaya par phir irada badal kar apna phone off kar diya taaki mujhe iske zariye track na kiya ja sake. Bench se chand kadam ki doori par hi ek Phone Booth bana hua tha. Us phone se maine Nisha ka number milaya.

"Sir?" Uski neend mein doobi aawaz aayi "Kya time hua hai?"

"Nisha sun. Neend se jaag. Kuchh zaroori baat batani hai" Maine kaha.

"Haan jaag gayi. Itni raat ko, kya ho gaya?"

"Meri baat sun. Kal se office mat jana"

"Kyun?"

"Poori baat abhi nahi bata sakta par kal se samajh le ke tu ek lambi chhutti par hai"

"Kyun? Kab tak?"

"Pata nahi kab tak. Maine phone karta rahunga tujhe. Aur sun, agar policewale puchhen toh kehna ke kyunki teri mangni aur shaaid ki taiyyari chal rahi hai isliye tu chhutti par hai. Kisi ko mat batana ke maine raat ko tujhe phone kiya tha ya filhal teri mujhse baat hui thi. Tune aaj se 2 din pehle se hi chhuti li hui thi"
"Sir meri samajh mein kuchh nahi aa raha. kya keh rahe ho? Kaun policewale?"

"Jitna keh raha hoon filhal utna kar. Baad mein phone karunga tujhe. Palatkar is number par phone mat karna kyunki ye phone booth hai" Kehkar maine phone rakh diya.

Jo mere saath ho raha tha iska Nisha se koi lena dena nahi tha. Phir bhi vo meri secretary thi aur zahir si baat thi ke police usse sawal jawab karne wali thi. Mera use jhooth bolne ke liye kehne ka maqsad sirf itna hi tha taaki main us sawal jawab ke silsile ko chhota kar sakun. Vo agar ye kehti hai ke vo pichhle 2 din se office hi nahi ja rahi aur mujhse koi baat nahi hui toh isse aage aur koi sawal nahi paida ho sakta. Us bechari ki shaadi hone wali thi aur main nahi chahta tha ke meri vajah se use koi bhi takleef pahunche.

"Auto" Maine paas se guzar rahe ek Auto ko ishara kiya.

Agla stop tha koi ATM jahan se mujhe jitna ho sake cash nikalna tha aur phir koi chhota sasta hotel jinki Mumbai mein koi kami nahi hai. Auto mujhe lekar aage badha toh maine apne dono haathon se apna sar thaam liya. Main bahut badi pareshani mein phans chuka tha aur mujhe yakeen nahi ho raha tha ke ye saari bevakoofiyan maine ki thi.

 

[vamp545]

Dharavi ke ek 3rd class lodge mein room lekar maine check in kiya toh tab tak subah ke 6 baj chuke the. Lodge ke reception par ek 14-15 saal ka ladka betha tha. Uske paas ek bahut purana sa mobile phone tha jo shayad apni zindagi ki aakhri saansen gin raha tha jo use ek 500 ka note dekar maine khareeb liya. Zaroorat ke liye main hamesha apne paas ek aur sim rakhta tha jo mere naam par registered nahi tha. Aaj pehli baar mujhe ye number use karne ki zaroorat padi thi. Sivaay Khan ke aur kisi ko nahi pata tha ke ye number mera hai.

Ye sim hamesha mere wallet mein hi rehta tha. Jab liya tha tab rakh diya tha aur uske baad aaj pehli baar nikala tha. Sim mobile mein dalkar maine on kiya hi tha ke 10 min baad hi us number par Khan ki call aa gayi.

"Kabse tera number mila raha hoon. Mujhe toh laga tha ke tu bhool hi gaya ke ek doosra sim bhi de rakha hai maine tujhe" Phone uthate hi vo bola.

"Haan actually bhool gaya tha. Abhi thodi der pehle hi dhyaan aaya ke mere paas ye doosra number bhi hai" Maine kaha.

"Ab batayega ke hua kya tha kal raat?"

Maine use raat ko poori kahani sunayi.

"How can you be such a fool?" Vo gusse mein lagbhagh cheekhte hue bola "Is tarah ki bevakoofi toh koi aam aadmi bhi nahi karta aur tu toh apne aapko bada jasoos samajhta hai"

"Pata nahi kya soch raha tha main yaar. Uski laash dekhi toh bina kuchh soche samjhe vahan se nikal aaya"

"Is waqt kahan hai?"

"Dharavi ke ek lodge mein room liya hua hai"

"Ab meri baat gaur se sun" Khan bola "Policewale haath dhokar tere pichhe pad jaayenge. Ye Geetanjali Thakkar ke fans kaafi badi badi jagahon par maujood hain jinko uski maut ka tahe dil se afsos ho raha hoga. Ab tu chup chap jab tak main na kahun vahin lodge mein pada reh. Apna sar bhi khidki se bahar mat nikalna"

"Aur kya karun yahan?"

"Apni jaan bacha saale. Pada reh andar hi. TV dekh, saas bahu serials follow kar kuchh bhi kar par chhupa reh jab tak ke main ye case ka bawal tere sar se utha kar kisi aur ke sar par na daalun"

"Ye case tere paas toh nahi ho sakta" Maine kaha.

"Nahi hai par mat bhool ke main bhi policewala hoon. Karta hoon kuchh jugaad"

"Kya lagta hai kisne mara hoga use?" Maine puchha.

"Koi idea nahi hai filhal yaar par uske dushman bhi i am sure hazaar honge. Lagata hoon main pata"

"Tujhe lagta hai iska Saanwli ke case se koi lena dena hai?"

"Mere bhai tu filhal Saanwli ko bhool ja aur apni jaan bacha. Baad mein dhoondh lena use."

Khan ke phone rakhne ke baad main kamre se nikal kar phir reception par aaya. Vahan ab bhi vahi ladka betha tha jisse maine phone kharida tha. Vo gardan jhukaye koi kitaab padhne mein magan tha.

"Mere kamre mein ek cup chaai aur kuchh khaane ko le aana" Maine sidhiyon ke paas se hi aawaz di.

"Idhar naukar nahi laga hai koi kisi ka. Jo laane ka hai bahar jaake khud leke aao" Vo bina gardan uthaye bola.

"All right" Maine jawab diya "Yahan idhar khaane ko achha kahan milega paas mein?"

Usne gardan utha kar meri taraf dekha aur mujhe dekhte hi fauran uth kar khada ho gaya. Chehre par muskaan khil aayi.

"Arrey aap kaahe ko takleef karta hai sahab. Apun laake dega na aapko. Bolo kya maangta hai?"

Shayad use mera diya 500 ka note yaad aa gaya tha aur ummeed kar raha tha ke meri sewa karega toh tip bhi achha milega. Sach kahun toh mujhe bhi is baat se koi etraaz nahi tha, vo mere kaam aa sakta tha.

"Ek cup chaai le aao aur kuchh khaane ko, chatpata sa" Maine use kuchh paise dete hue kaha. Bukhar ki vajah se mere munh ka taste ab tak kharab tha aur mera dil kuchh teekha khaane ko kar raha tha.

"Aap kamre mein chalo sahab. Apun abhich leke aata hai" Kehkar vo lodge se bahar nikal aaya.

Kamre mein vaapis aakar main nazar ghadi par daali. Mujhe ummeed thi ke is waqt tak Nisha jaag gayi hogi. Maine use phone milaya.

"Main bol raha hoon" Pehli ghanti par hi usne phone utha liya toh maine kaha.

"Oh thank god" Doosri taraf se uski aawaz aayi "Main jabse aapka phone aaya hai tabse soyi nahi hoon. Ek baar aapka number bhi milane ki sochi par phir aapne mana kiya tha toh nahi kiya. Kya keh rahe the aap subah? Hua kya?"

Maine ek baar phir kal raat ki ghatnayen dohra di.

"Oh shit" Baat poori hone par vo boli "Abhi ho kahan aap?"

"Dharavi ke ek lodge mein hoon"

"Ab?"

"Ab soch raha hoon ke aage kya karna hai. Phone karunga main tujhe baad mein. Tu ek kaam karna. Aaj sara din ghar se bahar kahin nikalna nahi. Ghar par hi rehna. Aur policewale aayen toh vahi kehna jo maine kal raat bataya tha"

"Ke main pichhle 2 din se chhutti par hoon aur aapse meri koi baat nahi hui?"

"Haan"

"Theek hai"

"Main aaj raat ko tujhe phone karunga"

"Ye number aapka hi hai?"

"Haan par tu galti se bhi phone mat karna. Main hi karunga"

Nisha se baat karne ke baad main phir soch mein pad gaya. Mujhe Khan par poora yakeen tha ke vo kuchh na kuchh karke ye museebat mere sar se hata dega. Ham dono bachpan se hi bahut kareeb the aur is waqt ek vahi tha jis par mujhe poori tarah bharosa tha. Filhal sirf itna hi karna tha jab tak vo koi raasta nikale mujhe policewalo ke haath mein nahi padna.

Tabhi vo ladka ek cup chaai aur 2 samose lekar aa gaya. Vo table par rakh kar usne apni jeb se change nikal kar meri taraf badhaya.

"Tum rakh lo" Maine muskurate hue kaha.

"Thank you sahab" Usne bhi palat kar daant dikhaye aur jaane laga.

"Ek minute ruko" Maine toka aur jeb se ek aur 500 ka note nikala "Mera ek kaam karoge?"

"Haan sahab. Aap jo bhi bolo" 500 ka note dekhte hi uski aankhon mein phir chamak aa gayi.

"Yahan tumhare alawa aur kaun hota hai?"

"Apun ich rehta hai sahab. Apna mama hai par vo full tight rehta hai toh kabhi idhar aata ich nahi toh apunich sambhalta hai"

"Hotel mein koi aur bhi hai?"

"Kya sahab" Vo hasta hua bola "Idhar koi rehne ko thode aata hai. Idhar sab kahin sadak se koi dhandhe wali leke kuchh ghante ke liye aate hain bas"

"Gud" Maine kaha "Toh ab meri baat gaur se suno. Jab tak main yahan hoon bas yun samajh lo ke nahi hoon. Kisi se kuchh nahi bolna aur koi puchhta hua agar aa jaaye toh pata hai na ke kya kahoge ?"

"Ke aap idhar ho ich nahi" Vo mere haath se 500 ka note lete hue bola.

Mere paas ab karne ko kuchh bhi nahi tha. Khan ke kahe mutaabik mujhe tab tak chhupe rehna tha jab tak ke ye museebat ka badal mere sar se na tal jaaye. Usne ab tak jo kaha tha vo bilkul sahi tha. Geetanjali bade bade raees logon ko ladkiyan supply karti thi aur uski upper class mein achhi khaasi jaan pehchan thi. Uske marne ka jhatka kaafi uper tak mehsoos hone wala tha.

Insaan jitna uper jata hai, jitna bada hota hai duniya utni hi uske liye chhoti bhi hoti jaati hai. Agar ek aam aadmi kisi prostitute ke saath pakda jaaye toh zyada se zyada ye hoga ke uski biwi use chhod degi, agar vo shaadi shuda hai toh. Agar kunwara ho toh ye bhi khatra nahi. Gharwale kuchh din ke liye munh banayenge aur phir baat bhool jaayenge. Haskar sirf ye kehkar taal diya jaayega ke ladka jawan ho gaya hai. Par agar koi bada mash-hoor aadmi kahin aisi jagah pakda jaaye ya uska naam aisi kisi jagah ya kisse ke saath jud jaaye toh mitti paleet hona laazmi hai. Media walo ko aajkal vaise hi cover karne ke liye news ka akaal rehta hai. Aisi koi khabar milte hi vo tab tak us baat ko gaate rahenge jab tak ek poori duniya ko uski khabar na ho jaaye. Jab tak ke har kisi ko pata na chal jaaye ke falana insaan kitna bada tharki hai aur jab tak us naam wale ko achhe se badnaam na kar diya jaaye.

Aur yahin sabse eham bhoomika nibhati thi Geetanjali. Uske dhandhe ka sabse bada raaz tha uska privacy code. Shehar ki kaun se shareefzaadi asal mein ek high class prostitute hai ye vo jaanti thi. Shehar ka kaun sa devta roopi shareef asal mein 3-4 ladkiyon ko ek saath bhogta hai ye vo jaanti thi par sirf vo hi jaanti thi. Uski ladkiyan aur uske clients dono hi chain ki neend sote the kyunki vo jaante the ke unki dogli zindagi ka raaz kabhi kisi ko pata nahi chalega.

Aur yahi sabse badi vajah thi ke uske upper class ke clients uski maut ka matam manane wale the. Agar Geetanjali nahi toh unhen kisi aur dalal ke paas jaana padega, khulle mein aana padega aur phir se koi Geetanjali jaise bharose wale insaan ko dhoondhna padega. Ek bahut bada khatra mol lena padega.

Ye toh shartiya baat thi ke is murder case ko lekar police par kaafi dabaav aane wala tha, yaani ke mujhe police ka har kutta soonghne ke liye nikalne wala tha.

Main apni hi soch mein gum betha tha ke darwaze par kisi ne halke se knock kiya.

"Main hoon saahib" Bahar se us ladke ki aawaz aayi.

"Andar aa jao"

Maine kaha toh vo chup chap andar aaya aur khada meri taraf ghoor kar dekhne laga.

"Kya hua?" Maine puchha.

Usne koi jawab nahi diya aur chup chap ek taraf table par rakha chhota sa TV on kiya aur channel palatne laga.

"Kya ho gaya?"

Maine phir se puchha hi tha ke vo ek news channel par jakar ruk gaya aur thoda sa pichhe hokar khada ho gaya. Ek nazar usne meri taraf dekha aur phir TV ki aur dekhne laga.

TV par ek news reader Geetanjali Thakkar ke murder case ki news padh rahi thi. Aadhi screen par us news reader ka chehra tha aur baaki aadhi par mera chehra, murder suspect ke naam par.

Vo keh rahi thi ke jis kisi ne mujhe kahin bhi dekha ho fauran police ko soochit kare. Aur saavdhani barte kyunki main armed aur dangerous hoon.

Maine phir ek baar ladke ki taraf dekha.

"Apun ne police ko phone nahi kiya" Vo mujhe apni taraf dekhta pakar fauran bola.

"Good. Bakwaas kar rahi hai ye, khoon maine nahi kiya" Main fauran apni safai mein bola.

"Apun ko kya farak padta hai saahib" Vo daant dikhata hua bola.

Uski nazar mein aisi khushi jhalak rahi thi jaise kisi billi ne abhi abhi koi chuha mara ho. Main janta tha ke vo kya ummeed kar raha tha. Apne purse se maine 500 ka ek note aur 100 ke 5 note nikal kar uski taraf badha diye.

"Aap chinta nahi karo Saahib" Usne fauran jhapat kar mere haath se paise le liye "Aapki security ka poora zimma apne sar hai. Aap bindaas hokar raho jab tak rehne ka hai idhar"

"Thanks yaar" Maine muskurate hue kaha.

Murder case ki jaankari police ko subah kareeb 3 baje ke aas paas mili thi toh bahut mumkin tha ke aaj ke akhbaar mein shayad ye na chhapa ho par main ye chance nahi le sakta tha. Agar TV par meri shakal akkhi Mumbai ko dikhai ja rahi hai toh aaj nahi toh kal ye khoobsurat chehra har akhbaar ke front page par bhi aane wala tha.

"Ek kaam kar mera" Maine kaha "Mujhe ek shaving cream aur ek razor la de"

"Khopdi ke baal saaf karne ke baad chehre par bhi baal uga lo" Vo fauran meri baat ka jawab dete hue bola.

Main hairani se uski taraf dekhne laga. Maine razor kaha hi tha ke usne fauran andaza laga liya ke main apne sar se apni reshmi zulfen saaf karne wala hoon taaki shakal ka huliya badal sakun.

"Ab itni jaldi daadhi moonchh kahan se laoon, waqt lagega" Maine jawab diya.

"Arrey asli nahi, nakli lagao"

"Aur vo main kahan se laoon?"

"Apun hai na, abhi ghante bhar mein leke aata hai. Aap bindaas hoke aaram karo" Vo haste hue bola aur kamre se chala gaya.

Ladka asal mein kaafi kaam ka saabit ho raha tha. Ek ghante se pehle hi vo ek shaving cream, ek brush, ek Gillete razor aur nakli daadi moonchh le aaya.

"Ye kahan se laya tu?" Maine daadi utha kar apne chehre par lagate hue bola aur sheeshe mein khud ko dekhne laga.

"Uski chinta nahi karo aap. Aur kuchh chahiye ho toh batane ka" Kehkar vo phir chala gaya.

Agla ek ghanta maine apna huliya badalne mein lagaya. Sar se saare ke saare baal saaf kar diye. Jo daadhi moonch vo laya tha vo mera aadha chehra dhak le rahi thi. Agar khud se ugaane ki koshish karta toh kam se kam mahina bhar lag jata. Poora ganja hokar jab maine vo daadhi moonch apne chehre par lagayi toh sheeshe mein khud ko pehchan pana mushkil ho gaya.

Uske baad kya karun ye mujhe samajh nahi aaya. Bekaar bethna meri aadat mein shumar nahi tha. Agar main ek ghanta bhi haath par haath rakh kar kahin beth jata tha toh bechaini hone lagti thi. Aur filhal toh aalam ye tha ke pata nahi kab tak yahan bistar par pada rehna tha.

Maine TV on kiya par dil nahi laga. Agar aapke sar par murder ka ilzaam ho aur aap kuchh na kar pa rahe hon toh TV mein kya ho raha hai ye kise padi hai. Thak haar kar maine ek baar phir sidhiyan uthar kar neeche aaya aur us ladke ke paas gaya.

"Aap toh pehchan mein hi nahi aa rahe" Vo mera naya huliya dekh kar bola.

"Ek kaam kar" Maine kuchh paise uski taraf badhaye "Paas ke kisi medical store se mujhe cough syrup ki ek bottle lakar de de"

Cough Syrup mujhe isliye nahi chahiye tha ke meri tabiat theek nahi thi balki isliye ke mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ke kya karun. Bachpan se mere saath aisa hota tha ke cough syrup ki 2 ghoonth maar lene ke baad main ghanto pada sota rehta. Ek ajeeb sa nasha ho jata tha jiski vajah se main cough khaansi hone ke bavajood bhi cough syrup nahi leta tha, anti biotics kha kar kaam chalata tha.

Jab vo ladka cough syrup ki ek bottle mujhe de gaya toh maine kamra andar se band kiya, apne phone on kiya aur ek chauthai bottle gatak gaya.

Nateeja, maine 15 minute ke andar andar gehri neend mein ja chuka tha.

 

[vamp545]

"Oye" Khan ki aawaz mujhe kahin door se aati sunai di "Khada ho. Mar gaya kya?"

Maine hadbada kar fauran uth betha. Mere bed ke paas Khan khada tha aur darwaze ke paas vo hotel wala ladka.

"Shukar hai, zinda hai. Tu ja" Khan ne ladke ki taraf palat kar kaha. Vo haan mein gardan hilata bahar chala gaya aur darwaza band kar diya "Baal kahan gaye tere?"

"Teri saas aayi thi, budhape mein ganji ho gayi thi isliye mujhse udhaar le gayi mere baal" Maine apne sar par haath pherte hue kaha.

"Shabash Munna. Bhes bhi badal liya tumne. Kaafi jaldi seekh rahe ho par ye sar ke baal uda dene bhar se shakal thode badal jaayegi teri"

"Daadi moonchh bhi hai" Maine table ki taraf ishara kiya "Sote hue utaar kar rakh di thi"

"Tu sahi hai beta" Khan bed par bethte hue bola "Murder ka ilzaam tere sar par hai, akkhi Mumbai ki police haath dhokar tere pichhe padi hai aur tu yahan pada aise so raha hai jaise abhi abhi duniya jeet kar aaya ho"

"Toh kya karta" Maine table par rakha pani ka jar uthaya aur ek glass mein dalta hua bola "Tune hi toh kaha tha ke yahan se kahin jana nahi, gardan bhi khidki se bahar nahi nikalna. Toh yahan sara din hotel mein pada kya jhak marta"

"Hairat ki baat ye nahi ke tu so gaya. Hairat ki baat ye hai ke tujhe neend aa bhi gayi"

"Aayi nahi, zabardasti laayi gayi" Maine cough syrup ki taraf ishara karte hue kaha "Tujhe kaise pata chala ke main yahan hoon?"

"Din bhar kam se kam 50 phone kiye maine tujhe. Jab tune uthaya nahi toh mujhe laga ke kahin museebat mein na pad gaya ho isliye tera number trace kiya"

"Kya time ho gaya?"

"Shaam ke 7 baj rahe hain" Khan utha aur table par rakhe ek packet ko kholne laga "Uth aur kha le kuchh. Aate hue khana laya tha main"

"Shaam ke 7" Maine hairani se khidki ki taraf dekhte hue bola "I slept all day man, damn"

"Yes you did you weirdo. You were sleeping like a log with a murder charge on your head"

Usne khana table par plates mein nikala aur ham bed par bethe bethe hi khane lage.

"Ek baat samajh nahi aayi mujhe. Ye bevakoofi hui kaise tujhse?" Khan bola "Ek aadha koi saboot chhoda hota toh baat bhi thi, tu toh saale jaise vahan khulle mein elaan karke aaya tha ke tune mara Geetanjali Thakkar ko, ukhad le jo ukhaad sakta hai koi"

"Mujhe khud samajh nahi aa raha yaar ke kaise mere dimag mein ye baat nahi aayi. Aadhe se zyada uske ghar mein jo maine apne finger prints chhode hain vo laash milne se pehle ke hain. Tab mujhe kya pata tha ke vo ghar mein mari padi hai. Aur uske baad jab maine uski laash dekhi toh jaise dimaag apne aap sunn pad gaya"

"Hmmm" Khan ne haami bhari.

"Yaar saaf seedhi si baat hai, main koi homicide detective toh hoon nahi. Zindagi mein pehli baar kisi murder case mein involved hua hoon. Mera dhandha sidha sa tha ke khoye hue logon ko talash karna, aaj tak kabhi zaroorat hi nahi padi apna chehra ya apne finger prints chhupane ki. Aur mujhe toh door door tak koi idea nahi tha ke ye bomb mere hi sar pe aakar phatega. Maine toh khud hi police ko phone karke murder ki information di thi"

"Khair, jo hua so hua. Ab meri baat gaur se sun. 2-3 din yahin pada reh aur phir yahan se nikal kar koi aur lodge pakad. EK hi jagah mat pade rehna varna der sawer phas jaayega"

"Aise main kab tak chhupta phirunga yaar?"

"Jab tak ke ye bawal tere sar se hat nahi jata. Aaj toh pehla hi din hai beta,abhi se yun pareshan na ho. Abhi toh tamasha shuru hua hi hai, pata nahi kab tak chalega"

"I dont like it man"

"Neither do i but this is how it is and there isnt much that you or i can do about it. Kisi aur ko pata hai ke tu yahan hai?"

Ek pal ke liye maine socha ke Nisha ke baare mein bata doon par phir inkaar mein gardan hila di. Vo jabse aaya tha tabse mujhe sunaye hi ja raha tha, ab main ek aur vajah nahi dena chahta tha.

"Gud. Kisi ko batana bhi mat"

Hamne khana khatam kiya aur takreeban ek ghante ke baad Khan nikal gaya. Police ko ab tak mere khud ke chhode hue suraagon ke alawa aur koi saboot haath nahi laga tha toh murder ka poora ilzaam is waqt sirf mere hi sar par tha. Aur vaise bhi, jab already ek bakra mil gaya ho bali chadhane ke liye toh hamare desh ki aalsi police ke paas kahan itna waqt ke doosra bakra dhoondhen. Filhal unka sara dhyaan mujhe pakad kar murder ke ilzaam mein tangane ka tha taaki is saare masle se unki jaan chhute. Meri saari ummeeden is waqt sirf Khan par hi tiki hui thi.

Main betha soch hi raha tha ke kamre ka darwaza khula aur vo ladka andar aaya.

"Maine nahi bataya saahib. Apun udhar neeche hi betha tha aur vo aake bola ke aapka dost hai. Apun bahut mana kiya par vo maana hi nahi. Bola ke aapka phone tracing karke aaya idhar aur apne ko guddi se pakad kar aapke kamre tak le aaya"

Main uski baat sunkar hasne laga.

"Naam kya hai tumhara?"

"Babu" Vo sehmi se aawaz mein bola.

"Vo mera dost hi tha Babu, ghabrane ki koi baat nahi"

"Apun ko laga koi policewala hai"

"Haan vo bhi hai par mera dost bhi hai"

"Vo sahi police mein hai?"

"Haan, kyun?"

"Policewale kisi ke dost nahi hote, bachke rehna padta hai. Apne ko toh laga ke abhi apne maathe par bhi bandook laga dega vo"

Main uski baat sunkar phir has pada. Thodi der tak vo mere saath hi betha raha aur phir chala gaya. Main sara din soya tha toh zaahir tha ke raat ko neend nahi aane wali thi. Abhi soch hi raha tha ke kya karun ke phone ki ghanti bajne lagi.

Call ek unknown number se thi. Maine 2 second socha ke uthaaon ya nahi par phir bhagwan ka naam lekar call receive kar li. Line ke doosri taraf Nisha thi.

"Tujhe maine mana kiya tha na phone karne ko?" Main use daant-te hue bola.

"Chinta mat karo. Ghar se drive ke bahane kaafi door aakar ek booth se phone kar rahi hoon"

"Policewalo ne tujhpar nazar rakhi ho sakti hai, ho sakta hai ke tera pichha kar rahe hon"

"Arrey sir itna toh aapke saath rehkar maine bhi seekh liya hai. Aadhe ghante se gaadi shehar mein yahan vahan ghuma rahi hoon sirf ye pakka karne ko ke mere pichhe koi nahi hai. Aur ghar se bhi 15 min chhat par tehalne ke bahane aas paas ka jaayza lekar nikli thi"

"Gud" Main impress hota hua bola "Phone kyun kiya?"

"Ek toh aapka haal chaal puchhna tha aur doosra ek baat batani thi"

"Kaun si baat?"

"Mere paas Maya ka phone aaya tha"

"Maya vo Saanwli ki room mate?"

"Haan vahi. She called me aaj dopahar ko"

"Usne tujhe kyun phone kiya? Aur number kahan se aaya tera uske paas?" Kehte hue maine ek cigarette jalayi.

"Arrey aapne kaha tha na mujhe ke main uske ghar phone karke uska Puna ka address loon to kiya tha maine uske ghar phone. By chance us waqt ghar par koi nahi tha, naukrani ne phone uthaya. Maine kaha ke main Maya ki dost bol rahi hoon aur apna number chhod diya tha ke jab uske maan baap aayen toh vaapis aakar mujhe phone kar lein. Kismat se maan baap ki jagah khud Maya ka hi phone aa gaya. Uske gharwalo ne mujhe phone karne ki bajay khud use hi phone karke mera number thama diya"

"Ok great. Kya boli vo?"

"Usne phone kiya toh maine jhooth bol diya ke main asal mein Saanwli ki behen ki dost hoon aur kyunki Saanwli itne din se gayab hai isliye ham log use dhoondh rahe hain"

"Jhooth kyun?"

"Ab sidha sidha ye toh nahi bol sakti thi na ke main ek jasoos ki secretary hoon, use mamla kuchh gadbad lag sakta tha. Filhal toh behen ki dost hoon, ham log dhoondh rahe hain, ye sunke vo bhi thoda personal level par baat karne lagi thi"

"Awesome. Samajhdaar hoti ja rahi hai tu. Phir kya boli vo?"

"Asal mein maine zyada puchha hi nahi. Mujhe samajh hi nahi aaya ke kya puchhun. Mujhe laga ke aap hi baat karo toh behtar hai isliye maine usse keh diya ke agar main Puna aakar usse milna chahun toh kya vo mil sakegi. Vo maan gayi. Address de diya usne apna"

"Yaar baat toh teri theek hai par main is waqt kaise ja sakta hoon. Main toh yahan shakal chhupaye betha hoon"

"Ye na actually mere dimag mein us waqt baat aayi hi nahi. Phone rakh kar mujhe yaad aaya ke aap khud kaisi museebat mein pade hue ho aur filhal Saanwli ko dhoondhna baad ki baat hai, filhal toh apni jaan bachani hai"

"Ek baat sach kahun toh mujhe poora yakeen hai ke ye dono baatein aapas mein judi hui hain" Maine sochte hue kaha.

"Matlab?"

"Matlab ye meri jaan ke ise meri hunch keh lo, ya gut feeling ya mehez veham par jaane kyun mujhe lagta hai ke Geentanjali isliye mari kyunki vo mujhe kuchh Saanwli ke baare mein batana chahti thi"

"Aisa lagne ki koi khaas vajah?"

"Koi khaas vajah nahi hai, filhal toh sirf andhere mein teer chala raha hoon aur sach maan toh ye Saanwli ke case ko lekar shuru se ab tak saare teer andhere mein hi chalaye hain. Ye ladki toh jaise kahin thi hi nahi. Aisa lagta hai jaise kisi bhoot ko dhoondhta phir raha hoon"

"Ye toh hai" Nisha meri baat se sehmat hote hue boli.

"Aisa bilkul mumkin hai ke Geetanjali apni kisi dushmani ke chalte mari aur meri soch mehaz mera veham hai aur mera andaza galat par is baat ko nazar andaaz nahi kiya ja sakta ke vo mujhe call aur message karne ke mehaz 2 ghante ke andar maari gayi. Us jaisi aurat ko marna aasan kaam nahi tha aur aaj tak koi uska baan baanka nahi kar paya tha. Uski pahunch itni uper tak thi ke log darte the usse par phir bhi mere involve hote hi kisi ko use marna pada"

"Baat toh sahi hai"

"Aur jab main uske ghar par pahuncha toh kamre ki har cheez saleeke se rakhi hui thi, sharab ke 2 glass the, cigarettes ke butt ash tray mein the, koi cheez ulat pulat nahi thi toh saaf si baat hai ke vo qatil ko jaanti thi. Usne apni marzi se andar aane diya aur mauka milne par us insaan ne uski peeth mein chhura ghonp diya. Koi jaddo-jehad nahi hui, koi hatha paayi nahi hui."

"Aur aisa bhi ho sakta hai ke vo jo koi bhi tha usne bandook ki nok par ya maybe kisi aur tarike se use is baat ke liye majboor kiya ke vo aapko call ya message karke bulaye taaki jab aap vahan aao toh uski laash padi mile aur khoon ke ilzaam mein aapko phasaya ja sake jaisa ke hua bhi."

Uski baat 100 taka sahi thi. Hairat ki baat thi ke ye khyaal mere dimaag mein ab tak nahi aaya tha.

"Baat to tu sahi keh rahi hai par 2 cheezen hain"

"Kya?"

"Ek toh ye ke main vahan jakar, apni saari bevakoofiyan karke shanti se bahar nikal aaya. Kisi ne roka nahi, kisi ne toka nahi. Doosri ye ke main apne akalmand kaarnamo ki vajah se khud phasa hoon. Na main vo saboot chhodta aur na main phasta toh aisa lagta nahi ke kisi ne mujhe vahan phasane ke liye bulaya tha"

"Ya ye bhi ho sakta hai ke vo insaan vahan us waqt maujood tha aur usne dekh liya tha ke aapne khud apni dhoti mein itne chhed kar liye hain ke use kuchh karne ki zaroorat hi mehsoos nahi hui"

"A very valid point" Maine sochte hue kaha aur mujhe dhyaan aaya ke jab main Geetanjali ke ghar pahuncha tha toh darwaze mein us waqt bhi vo Pepsi ki bottle phasi hui thi yaani ye mumkin hai ke vo insaan tab bhi vahin maujood tha. Agar chala gaya hota toh vo bottle bhi shayad hata kar jata.

"Khair" Maine kuchh pal chup rehne ke baad kaha "In sab baaton ke chalte hi mujhe lagta hai ke is murder ka bhi Saanwli ke case se ho na ho kuchh toh lena dena hai"

"Toh matlab aap chhup kar bethne ke bajaay Saanwli ki talash jaari rakhoge?"

"Mera dimaag mujhe aisa na karne ki salah de raha hai par option nahi hai mere paas. Yahan chhup kar kab tak betha rahunga. Kuchh na kuchh toh haath paon maarne padenge"

"Toh batao kya karna hai phir?"

"Tu ja sakti hai Maya se milne?"

"Haan ja sakti hoon. Kal hi ja sakti hoon"

"To ek kaam kar. Tu kal Puna ja aur dekh kya information nikal sakti hai Maya se aur phir mujhe phone kar"

"Theek hai. Kal niklungi subah"

"Ya ek kaam kar" Maine fauran apna irada badla "Tera jana theek nahi rahega. Mujhe uska address bata"

"Aap khud jaoge?"

"Haan"

"Dimag kharab hua hai? Mumbai ki har sadak par police ka pehra hoga, aapko dhoond rahe honge. Khaas taur se Mumbai se bahar jaane walo raasto par"

"I know par tu address toh bata. Main sambhal loonga"

Nisha se baat karne ke baad main thodi der beth kar sochne laga. Ye sach thi ke mera dimag mujhe is waqt aisa kuchh bhi na karne ki hidayat de raha tha jiske liye mujhe Khan ne mana kiya tha par ye bhi utna hi sach tha ke is tarah chhup kar choron ki tarah bethna mujhe manzoor nahi tha. Main ek akele Khan ke bharose hi nahi betha reh sakta tha, Kuchh na kuchh toh khud bhi karna hi tha.#83

 

[vamp545]

Chapter 12 - A Trip To Pune



Maine ghadi ki taraf dekha. Subah ke 4 baj rahe the. Maine raat faisla kiya tha ke subah savere jaldi hi Pune ki liye niklunga par ab betha ye faisla nahi kar pa raha tha ke jaoon kaise. Nisha ki kahi baat sach thi. Mumbai mein jagah jagah police check posts honge, meri talash ke liye. Khaas taur se shehar ke bahar jaane wali sadkon par. Ek baar ko maine socha ke Train se chala jaoon par phir ye soch kar irada badal diya ke agar kahin beech mein checking ho gayi toh bura phas jaoonga. Train mein toh kahin bhaagne ke liye bhi jagah nahi milegi aur chalti Train se koodne ka na toh mujhe koi experience tha aur na hi filhal aisa koi tajurba karne ka mera mood tha.

Vaise hi waqt bura chal raha tha, chalti Train se agar kooda toh 100% percent sidha uper ke liye rawana ho jaoonga.

Kaafi der soch vichar ke baad maine apna mann banaya aur kamre se nikal kar neeche us ladke ke paas pahuncha. Vo counter ke pichhe hi neeche zameen par chadar bichhaye gehri neend mein so raha tha. Maine use hila kar jagaya.

Lodge se nikalte nikalte mujhe subah ke 6 baj gaye. Bahar aaya toh yun laga jaise main ek arse se us lodge mein hoon jabki maine vahan sirf ek hi din bitaya tha. Mumbai jitna der se soti hai utna hi jaldi jaag bhi jaati hai. Subah ke 6 baje bhi sadkon par itni chehal pehal thi jaise din ke 12 baj rahe hon. Ek Auto ko maine ishara dekar roka aur Panvel ki taraf chalne ko kaha. Usne jhijhakte hue mujhe sar se paon tak ek baar dekha aur shayad inkaar karne ke liye munh khol hi raha tha ke maine jeb se 100 ke kuchh note nikal kar usko dikhaye. Usne mujhe andar bethne ka ishara kiya aur Auto aage badhaya.

Subah se mere dimag mein kayi baar khyaal aaya tha ke Khan ko phone karne apne jaane ke baare mein bata doon par uska nateeja main achhi tarah se janta tha. Pichhle 3 din se vo mujhe suna hi raha tha ke main kitna bada bevakoof hoon jo apne aapko is janjaal mein phasa liya. Agar ab main use ye kehta ke main uski di hui hidayat ko apni charpai ki neeche chhodkar Pune ki taraf ja raha hoon toh jaane vo gusse mein kya karta. Us waqt main uski ek nahi balki 2 hidayaton ko nazar andaaz kar raha tha. Ek toh ye ke main Saanwli ke case ko filhal ke liye bhool jaoon aur doosra ke apne hotel se bahar na niklun jab tak ke vo na kahe.

Usko batana hi nahi, mere dil mein toh ye bhi khyaal aaya tha ke kyun na main usko saath lekar hi Pune chalun. Ek police ki jeep mein bethkar jaane se zyada safe baat kya ho sakti thi. Na koi checking ka darr aur na kahin pakde jaane ka khatra. Magar phir khyaal ye aaya ke ho na ho, Khan se bhi sawal jawab toh mere baare mein hua hi hoga. Aakhir vo mere bahut kareebi dost tha. Aur yun usko apne saath le jaane ka bolkar shayad main apne saath use bhi khatre mein daalta. Agar kahin 1% bhi pakde jaane ka chance hua toh mere saath saath vo bhi phasega. Vo mere Bhai ki tarah tha aur uske saath main aisa nahi kar sakta tha.

Naam liya shaitan haazir. Main Auto mein betha uske baare mein soch hi raha tha ke mere phone ki ghanti baj uthi. Call Khan ki hi thi. Maine call receive nahi ki aur bell off karke phone vaapis apni jeb mein rakh liya. Main is waqt Auto mein tha, bahar traffic ki shor gul tha. Agar call receive kar leta toh Khan ko ye samjhana mushkil ho jata ke is waqt Hotel se bahar kya kar raha hoon.

Auto mein bethe saamne sadak ki taraf driver se zyada main gaur se dekh raha tha. Kahin bhi agar koi police barrier nazar aata toh mera fauran Auto se utar jaane ka irada tha aur zyada intezaar karna bhi nahi pada. Thoda hi aage chal kar ek jagah Traffic thoda slow ho gaya aur Auto mein bethe bethe door se hi mujhe ek Policewale ki gardan nazar aa gayi.

"Roko" Maine Autowale se kaha.

"Kya?" Usne meri taraf ghoom kar dekha.

"Side laga idhar"

Mere kehne par usne Auto side mein le kar rok liya.

"Kya ho gaya?"

"Kitna hua?" Maine meter ki taraf dekhte hue puchha.

"Tumko Panvel jaane ka tha na? Ye Panvel nahi hai"

"Maalum hai. Idhar kaam hai mujhe kuchh. Tum jao"

Maine meter ki taraf dekha aur usko paise dekar chalta kiya. Auto traffic mein dheere dheere aage badhne laga aur main uspar nazar rakhte hue vahin footpath par neeche beth gaya aur jeb se ek Beedi nikal kar sulgayi.

Mere vahan bethne ka maqsad sirf itna tha ke kahin Auto wala mere yun utar jaane par shak karte hue aage police walo ko kuchh keh na de par aisa hua nahi. Auto dheere dheere aage badhta hua Barrier paar kar gaya. Uske guzar jaane ke baad maine ek aur Beedi sulgayi aur uth kar paidal hi Barrier ki taraf badha.

Us waqt aalam kuchh aisa tha ke dil seene mein dham dham karne laga tha, nabz tez ho gayi thi, maathe par paseena aane laga tha aur dimag cheekh cheekh kar keh raha tha ke palat ja. Halke halke langdate hue main police walo ke kareeb pahuncha. Vo bade dhyaan se har gaadi ko rok kar andar jhaank jhaank kar dekh rahe the. Main chup chap Beedi ke kash lagata hua footpath par chalta unke saamne se nikal gaya. Kisi ka dhyaan meri taraf nahi gaya.

Us waqt mera huliya kuchh aisa tha ke sar poori taraf se ganja, chehre par bhaari daadhi moonchh, purane kisi mazdoor ke jaise kapde, ek haath mein beedi aur daayen paon ki joote ke andar ek akhbaar ke tukde bhare hue jiski vajah se meri chaal main apne aap naturally bina kisi koshish ke langdapan aa raha tha. Bahut pehle maine apna ek kaan chhidvaya tha par kabhi kuchh pehna nahi par is waqt us kaan mein ek moti si baali latak rahi thi.

Ye sab subah maine lodge se nikalne se pehle kiya tha. Jo baali us waqt mere kaan mein thi vo baali nahi ek bada se keychain ka ring tha jise badi mushkil se maine apne kaan mein phasaya tha. Ring maine hotel ke kamre ki chaabi se nikala tha. Purane kapde us ladke ke mama ke the jo jaane kabse nahi dhule the aur buri tarah badbu maar rahe the. Purane thode phate Joote bhi maine use ladke se hi liye the aur ek akhbaar phaad kar ek joote mein ghusa diya tha taaki agar main bhool jaoon toh bhi langdata rahun.

Yahi vajah thi ke vo auto wala mujhe bethane se pehle hichkicha raha tha ke ye Bhikhari auto ke paise de bhi payega ya nahi par jab maine use note nikal kar dikhaye toh usko tasalli ho gayi ke paise hain mere paas.

Aur phir Mumbai se nikal kar bahar tak aane ka safar mera isi tarah kata. Maine 7 alag alag auto kiye aur har baar Police Barrier se thoda pehle utar jata, beedi sulgata aur langdata hua policewalo ke kareeb se hi nikal jata. Unka poora dhyaan aati jaati gaadiyon ki taraf tha. Paas se paidal guzar rahe ek gareeb langde mazdoor ki taraf kisi ne ek nazar dekha tak nahi.
Mumbai se Pune ki taraf jaane wale highway par bane ek dhabe par maine kuchh khaya aur apne aage ke safar ke baare mein socha. Main Mumbai se bahar zaroor tha par khatre se bahar nahi. Ye bahut mumkin tha ke Mumbai police ki tarah Pune police bhi mere intezaar mein aankhen bichhaye bethi ho kyunki ye khyaal toh laazmi policewalo ko aaya hoga ke main jald se jald shehar chhodne ki koshish karunga.Apne Bus se Pune tak jaane ko irade ko badalte hue main khana khatam karke sadak ke kinare aa khada hua aur aate jaate Trucks ko haath dikha kar lift maange laga.

Kismat se zyada intezaar nahi karna pada. Ek Truck wala jo usi dhaabe par khana khane ke liye ruka tha mujhe dekh kar rok gaya.

"Kahan jaoge Bhau?" Mujhe lift maangte dekh usne puchha.

"Pune tak"

"Beth jao"

"Pichhe bethta hoon" Maine kaha aur Truck ke pichhle hisse ki taraf badha. Jis waqt main khana kha raha tha tab ye truck dhabe par aa kar ruka tha aur maine dekh liye tha ke Truck khali tha. Isliye aage driver ke saath bethne se behtar maine pichhe chhup kar bethna munaasib samjha. Aur vaise bhi, aage bethta toh driver mujhe baaten karta, sawal jawab karta jo ke bahut natural si baat hai parr is waqt mera kisi se baat karne ka koi mood nahi tha.

Maine Truck mein chadha toh dekha ke pichhe ek aur aadmi betha hua tha. Main use dekh kar muskuraya aur ek kone mein jakar beth gaya. Truck ko dekh kar andaza ho jata tha ke ye abhi abhi kahin sabziyan utaar kar aaye hain kyunki sabzi ki kuchh boriyan ab bhi pichhe rakhi hui thi.

Pune tak ka mera safar aaram se kata. Koi dikkat nahi hui sivaay ek ke. Raaste mein ek jagah checking ho rahi thi aur vo shayad mere liye nahi balki yun hi normal checking thi par chor ki daadhi mein tinka. Mera ghabrana natural tha. Jab ek policewala Truck mein pichhe jhaank kar dekhne laga toh ek baar phir mere dil ki dhadkan tez hone lagi. Truck mein pichhe ham do log hi bethe the aur jaane kyun mujhe us waqt aisa laga ke agar main apne saath bethe us doosre aadmi se kuchh baat karun toh shayad policewale ko shak na ho. Vo mujhse bhi Truck helper hi samjhe, na ki koi lift lekar betha hua shakhs.

Vo policewala Truck mein chadh kar rakhi hui Boriyan ko check karne laga. Main nervous se andaaz mein apne saath bethe us doosre aadmi ki taraf ghooma par samajh nahi aaya ke kya baat karun. Vo aadmi poora ganja tha, baal ka bageecha tabah ho chuka tha aur saare baal ud chuke the. Maine uske sar par nazar daali aur phir jaane kahan se ek bahut hi bevakoof sawal apne aap hi munh se nikal pada.

"Chacha ek baat batao" Maine muskurate hue kaha, ishara uske sar ki taraf tha "Jab aap subah munh dhote ho toh pata kaise chalta hai ke kahan tak dhona hai?"

Jawab mein usne sirf mujhe ghoor kar dekha aur mere sar ki taraf nazar daali. Tab mujhe dhyaan aaya ke uski tarah main bhi poori tarah ganja hoon par shukar hai ke usne jawab mein kuchh kaha nahi. Bas khamoshi se mujhe ghoorta raha. Policewala apni tasalli karke Truck se utar gaya aur iske baad Pune tak kahin aur koi takleef nahi aayi. Na hi maine us aadmi se phir baat ki.

Main pehle bhi kayi baar Pune aa ja chuka tha isliye shehar se vaakif tha. Maya shehar ke jis hisse mein rehti thi vahan main pehle bhi gaya hua tha. Shehar ke andar ghuste hi sabse pehle maine ek Auto kiya aur phir se Mumbai ki tarah yahan bhi ek 3rd class lodge mein check in kiya. Yahan rukne ka mera koi irada toh nahi tha par phir bhi kahin theharne ka intezaam karna zaroori thi. Pehli vajah toh ye ke main yun Bhikhari jaisi halat mein Maya se milne nahi ja sakta tha. Is huliye mein vo kabhi mujhse baat na karti. Doosri vajah ye ke Pune pahunchne tak mujhe shaam ho chali thi toh bahut mumkin tha ke aaj shayad Maya se mulaqat na ho aur raat yahin guzarni pade. Aur teesri vajah ye ke mujhe phir Mumbai mein ghusne ka plan banana tha. Main yun hi munh utha kar vaapis nahi ja sakta. Jis tarah Dharavi se yahan tak aane mein mushkil hui hai isi tarah vaapis jaane mein bhi pareshani hone wali thi.

Jis lodge mein maine check in kiya, kismat se uske saamne hi ek kapdo ki dukaan bhi thi. Maine apne liye kuchh kapde kharide aur kamre mein pahunch kar Maya ko phone milaya.

Maine pehle hi soch rakha tha ke mujhe kya kehna tha.

"Maya ji mera naam Khan hai. Inspector Khan, Mumbai police" Usne phone uthaya toh maine apne aapko Inspector Khan bata kar introduce kiya.

"Ji kahiye" Doosri taraf se aawaz aayi.

"Shayad aapko khabar ho ke aapki ex room-mate Saanwli Mitra kuchh din se gayab hai"

"Ji haan suna maine. Uski behan ki kisi dost ka phone aaya tha mere paas, Nisha i think her name was"

'Ji haan aur main officially ye case investigate kar raha hoon. Ummeed kar raha tha ke aapse Saanwli ko lekar do baatein kar sakun taaki uske baare mein kuchh pata chal sake"

"Aapne hostel mein pata kiya?"

"Ji gaya tha main vahan par har kisi ka kehna hai ke agar Saanwli ke baare mein koi bata sakta hai toh sirf aap. Vo sirf aapse hi baat karti thi, baaki aur kisi ke paas use lekar koi information nahi tha"

"Yeah thats true, aisi hi thi vo. Yun toh kisi ke saamne ek shabd bhi nahi bolti thi par akele mein bol bolkar mere kaan kha jaati thi"

"Thats why. I was hoping ke shayad aapse hamein koi aisi baat pata chal jaaye jo is case mein help kar sake"

"Haan puchhiye"

"Ji main ummeed kar raha tha ke mil kar baat ho sake"

Usko shayad laga ke main use police station bula raa hoon.

"Ji police station aana toh....." Usne sochte hue kaha.

Uska reaction vaisa hi tha jaise ke hamare desh ke har izzat-daar insaan ka hota hai. Police station jana aaj bhi log apni izzat ke khilaff samajhte hain aur agar kisi ko pata chal jaaye ke falana aadmi police station hokar aaya hai toh hazaar baatein hona laazmi hai.

"Koi tension nahi hai. Aapko police station aane ki koi zaroorat nahi. Aap kahen toh main aapke ghar aa sakta hoon" Vo soch mein pad gayi toh maine fauran kaha.