Hello everybody. Here's a long chapter for my lovely readers.

Dard Ka Naam Ishq

Chapter 8

The Wedding

Purvi ne darwaaze pe chaabi lagayi aur apne ghar ka darwaaza khol kar andar a gayi. Us ne hairat aur khushi ke imtizaaj ke saath apni sab se achi dost Naina ko apne ghar mein sofe pe bethe hue Geet ke saath betha dekha.

"Are Naina, kaisi ho? Kitne dinon baad nazar ayi ho. Mein to jab bhi call karti hun tum apne us fiance se hi shayad baatein kar rahi hoti ho" Purvi khushi se Naina ke gale lagi aur usko uske mangetar ke naam se chedne ki koshish karti hai.

"Bas kya karein, Janaab mujh se muhabbat bhi to itni zyada karte hain. Aik pal us ka mere bina beet nahi pata" Naina sharma kar nazrein jhuka leti hai.

"Kab ayi?" Purvi istafsaar karti hai.

"Bas abhi thodi der pehle hi ayi hun. Ayi to pata chala ke madam sahiba to abhi tak ghar hi nahi ayein to Geet mere saath beth gayi aur mujhe company deti rahi" Naina wapis sofe pe bethte hue boli.

"Geet, tum ne Naina ko kuch serve tak nahi kiya. Mehmaan hai woh" Purvi Geet ko daant pilaati hai.

"Are koi baat nahi Purvi.." Naina bolne ki koshish karti hai.

"Sorry, mujhe dheyaan nahi aaya" Naina ka jumla mukammal hone se pehle hi Geet bawarchi khane (kitchen) mein mun bana kar ghus gayi.

"Tum ne khawmakha hi bechari ko daant diya. Wese bhi mujhe kisi cheez ki zaroorat mehsoos nahi ho rahi" Naina hans kar kehti hai.

"Ab zyaada takaluf baratne ki zaroorat nahi hai, samjhi" Purvi Naina par pyaar bhari dhons jamaati hai.

Purvi aur Naina school ke waqt se dostein thein. Dono hi aik jaise mizaaj ke hone ki wajah se aik doosre se jald hi ghul mil gayi theen. Purvi ki hi tarhan Naina bhi dheeme mizaaj ki thi, sab se hi pyaar se baat karti, tahamul mizaaj. Purvi ko Naina apni behen Geet se bhi zyaada azeez thi. Geet Purvi ki choti behen thi. Woh Purvi se bamushkil hi do saal choti hogi. Un dono ke mizaaj mein zameen aasmaan ka faraq tha. Jitni Purvi kam go utni hi Geet mun phat aur taiz. Purvi dheeme mizaaj ki jab ke Geet taiz mizaaj ki aur kisi cheez pe samjhota na karne wali. Purvi ki Geet se kabhi na bani thi magar pyaar to woh phir bhi karti thi apni choti behen se. Un ke maa baap ki maut achanak hi aik gadi ke haadse mein teen saal qabal ho chuki thi. Purvi aur Geet ke maa baap ne apne peeche un dono ke liye kaafi jaydad peeche chodi hui thi. Maa aur baap dono hi business mein the aur dono hi mil kar apne business ko sambhal rahe the. Us ke illawa, ye bada sa ghar in ka apna tha, in ka aik Canada mein bhi ghar tha jo kabhi kam hi istimaal hota tha. Geet ne aik saal pehle hi business mein diploma mukammal kar liya tha aur ab woh apne maa baap ka business sambhal rahi thi, doosri taraf Purvi ka zehan in maamlon ki taraf bilkul nahi jata tha, woh karobaari zehan ki nahi thi. Woh to reham dil thi, dil mein har kisi ki hamdardi chupaye hue. Woh to khidmat e khalk karna chahti thi isi liye usne nurse ke kaam ko tarjeeh di thi. Woh nurse jo hamesha hi kisi na kisi ka khayal rakh rahi hoti hai, jo apne dil mein hamdardi ke moti chupaye har kisi ke dil ki baat ko apne dil mein jagah deti hai bina kisi khot, bina kisi bad niyati ke.

Woh dono baatein hi kar rahe the ke Geet wahan juice ke teen glasson samait ayi aur tray ko maiz par rakh diya aur khud bhi aik sofa sambhal ke beth gayi.

"Itna suspense kaahe ko phela rahi ho, baat kya hai?" Purvi muskura kar tajasus se boli. Naina ke chehre pe aik chamkeeli sharmahat se bharpoor muskurahat phaili thi aur woh kuch dair se Purvi ko koi baat bataane ko betaab thi magar bata ke nahi de rahi thi.

"Meri shaadi ki tareekh tai ho gayi hai. Do hafte baad shaadi hai" Naina apne purse se shaadi ka card nikaal ke maiz pe rakhte hue khushi se chillayi aur Purvi ko pakar kar sakhti se gale laga liya.

"Are chupi rustam, ab bata rahi hai. Bohat bohat mubarak ho. Mein beyaan nahi kar sakti ke mein tumhare liye kitni khush hun" Purvi khushi se Naina ke sar par aik chapait marti hai.

"Bohat Mubarak ho Naina" Geet ne bhi muskura kar Naina ko mubarakbad di.

"Tum dono ne ana hai. Teenon functions par. Mein koi aitraaz nahi sunu gi" Naina apne baalon ki laton ko peeche hatate hue pyaar se kehti hai.

"Ham zaroor ayenge. Mein na bhi ayi to Geet zaroor aye gi"

"Tum kyun nahi aogi? Dekho koi bahana nahi chale ga. Naina ki shaadi koi baar baar thodi na aati hai. Bas tum a rahi ho" Naina Purvi ko masnooyi ghusse se ghoorte hue mun phula kar sofe pe beth jati hai.

"Mein zaroor aungi par shayad thodi si dair ho jaye. Meri bhi to kuch zimmedariyan hain na jin ko poora karna mera farz hai"

"Zimmedariyan nibhate nibhate khud ko to na bhool jao na. Aik do din zara jaldi kaam se a jao gi to koi qayamat nahi a jaye gi meri jan" Naina Purvi ke gale mein apni baahein daal kar use thode tanz aur thode pyaar se samjhati hai.

"Acha theek hai. Jaisa tum kaho" Purvi ne ghutne taik diye.

"Kya dekh rahe ho?" Abhijeet apne kamre ke bahir balcony mein railing pe haath tikaye khada tha jo ke doosri manzil pe tha.

"Sooraj ko dekh raha hun ke kaise is ne poori duniya ko roshan kar diya hai. Kaash ke ye mere andar ke andhere bhi mita daale" Purvi ne jab Abhijeet ke kandhe pe haath rakh kar Abhijeet se poocha to Abhijeet ne khalaa mein ghoorte hue sipaat lehje mein jawab diya.

"Yeh jo andhera phaila hai na, woh is liye nahi hai ke aas paas roshni nahi, woh to is liye hai ke tum ne khud hi aankhein band kar rakhi hain. Aankhein khol kar to dekho ke tumhare ird gird kya zindagi nahi basti. Zindagi kisi aik mukaam pe a ke khatam to nahi ho jati na. Ruk si shayad zaroor jati hai magar khatam kabhi nahi hoti" Purvi ne Abhijeet ka haath thama aur us ko murne pe majboor kar diya. Abhijeet sar jhuka kar udaasi se muskura diya.

"Shayad tum theek kehti ho magar koi kisi ko kese bhulaaye. Ye dil hai ke manta hi nahi" Abhijeet udaas sa muskura kar maiz ke gird lagi kursi pe beth gaya.

"Chalo chodo in ghair zaroori baaton ko" Purvi mun bana kar zor se khilkhilati hai. Abhijeet mun phair kar hans deta hai.

"Yeh hui na baat" Fizaa mein yakdam hi hawa ke jhonkon se Purvi ke baal urdne lage aur woh baar baar apne baal durust karte hue Abhijeet ko bohat haseen lagi.

"Abhijeet, aj mujhe jaldi jana pade ga" Purvi jhijak kar kehti hai aur Abhijeet ki taraf dekhti hai.

"Lekin kyun?" Uski aankhon mein udaasi jhalak ayi thi.

"Aj meri dost ki mehndi hai, aur phir kal shaadi. Woh meri bohat achi dost hai"

"Kya mujh se bhi zyaada achi dost?" Woh bazahir tanziya sa hans diya magar us muskurahat ke peeche mehroomiyan chupi theen, nakaam khawahishein aur adhoore khawab.

"Abhijeet" Woh chup si ho gayi jaise koi jawaab na ho. Us ne hairat se Abhijeet ko dekha.

"Mazaq kar raha tha. Zaahir hai ke tumhari zindagi mein sirf mein to nahi hun ga. Aur bhi bohat honge aur meri liye to itni si bhi jagah kaafi hai" Us ka lehja is baat ki nafi kar raha tha ke woh mazaaq kar raha tha. Jaise apne ap ko aur kholna na chahta ho aur achanak se hi darwaaze band kar de.

"Tum mere dost bhi ho Abhijeet aur mein tumhaare jazbaat samajhti hun. Mere paas aik behtar idea hai" Achanak hi us ke zehan mein kuch click hua.

"Kesa idea?"

"Tum mere saath chalo na. Mahol badle ga to waise hi acha mehsoos karo ge. Waise bhi ghulo milo ge nahi to is nadeeda soug se kese nikal paoge" Purvi ne kaha.

"Kahan chalo?" Purvi ke poochne pe Abhijeet ne hairat se Purvi ki taraf dekha jo ab railing pe haath tikaye khadi thi.

"Meri dost ki mehndi pe" Purvi ne yun jawab diya jaise yeh koi badi baat hi na ho.

"Mein wahan kese ja sakta hun?" Abhijeet ne jhijak kar mun phair liya.

"Mun phair lene se agar tum samajhte ho ke khud ko chupa loge to aisa nahi hai. Tum chalo ge mere saath. Jitna khud ko chupaoge utni hi tumhari shakhsiyat mitti mein milti jayegi, khaak ho jaaye gi tumhe pata chalne se pehle. Mein to dhoondne a gayi hun tumhe par koi aur bhi aye ga, ye shayad na ho" Purvi sanjeedgi se kehte hue kamre ke zariye wahan se bahir chali gayi.

"Tum pehno gi kya? Kya tum apne kapre saath laayi ho?" Abhijeet Purvi se sawaal karta hai jo Abhijeet ki almaari ki chaanti kar rahi thi aur Abhijeet ke liye kuch acha pehanne ke liye dhoond rahi thi jo shadeed namumkin saabit ho raha tha.

"Mein le aayi thi apne kapre yahin taake waqt na zaaya ho. Wapis ghar ja kar tayyar hoti to aane jaane mein bohat waqt zaaya ho jata. Yahan se wese bhi qareeb pade ga" Us ne dekhe beghair jawaab diya. Us ke haath taizi taizi chal rahe the, almaari ka har kapra chaan rahe the.

"Kuch mila?" Woh sar jhuka ke hansa.

"Koi aik bhi dhang ka kapra nahi hai tumhare paas. Ab itna bhi waqt nahi ke ham bahar ja kar tumhare liye kuch le sakein" Woh jhunjhala kar badbadayi.

"Hm, ye kuch behtar hai. Mein istari kar ke lati hun" Purvi khud kalaami ke se andaaz mein kehti hai aur aik kaala suit nikaalti hai aur use istari karne chali jati hai.

Abhijeet bezaar sa betha diwaaron ko ghoor raha tha. Purvi ke aane se pehle to ye diwaarein hi iski saathi theen, iski wahid dost, ye diwarein us se baatein bhi karti theen.

"Ye lo, pehen kar tayaar ho jao aur ye kya diwaaron ko ghoorte rehte ho har waqt. Dar jayengi bechaariyan" Purvi ne hans kar us pe choti ki aur usko uska pent suit pakarwa diya.

"Mein itna khofnak to nahi" Woh hans kar kehta hai.

"Yeh kya, ab suit ko bhi ghoor rahe ho, ajeeb insaan ho" Purvi jab usko suit ko musalsal ghoorte hue dekhti hai to aik baar phir chot karti hai.

"Nahi woh, mujhe yaad a gaya tha ke ye suit meine aakhri baar kab pehna tha. Mere aik dost ki shaadi thi" Woh sarsari sa bola tha.

"Ab kahan hai woh dost? Kya milne nahi aata"

"Kya tum ne kabhi suna nahi ke jab insaan ki buri qismat us pe haavi hoti hai to har koi uska saath chod deta hai, apne bhi paraye ho jaate hain. Dost kya cheez hai" Us ki aankhon mein chaayi weerani dekh ke woh tarap si gayi magar us ne apne ap pe qaabo pa liya.

"Tum to bade samajhdaar ho gaye ho. Kaafi badal gaye ho" Us ne baat palat di.

"Mein kapre badal kar aata hun" Abhijeet kehte hue kapre liye ghusal khane (kitchen) mein ghus gaya.

Purvi bhi tayaar hone chali gayi. Purvi jab tayaar ho kar aayi to usne peela lehnga aur sabz choli ke saath peela dupatta liya hua tha. Us ne apne baal joode mein baandhe hue the. Kaanon mein sabz rang ke tops pehne hue the aur chehre pe halka sa makeup kiya hua tha. Woh nihait khoobsurat dikh rahi thi.

Abhijeet jab safaid shirt, kaali pent and kaala coat pehne hue bahir aaya to Purvi ko dekh kar seharzada sa reh gaya. Woh is alag se hi huliye mein pehle se bhi zyaada khoobsurat aur nikhri nikhri dikh rahi thi. Abhijeet ne in nigaahon ko jhuka liya ke kahin yeh dagabaaz akhiyaan daga hi na de jayein. Qadmon ki chaap pe usne nigaahein uthayein. Purvi sehal sehal si, uski taraf chali a rahi thi, jaise koi pari us ke qareeb a rahi ho, naazuk si, jis ko hawa ne bhi kabhi na chua ho.

"Bohat ache lag rahe ho" Purvi haath se "aala" ka nishaan banate hue boli.

"Tum bhi bohat achi lag rahi ho" Purvi apni tareef sun ke muskura di.

Geet mehndi hall mein peele froq aur pairon mein lambi heels daali hui pohanchi thi. Us ke baal khule hue the. Us ne apne chehre pe ghehra makeup kiya hua tha. Kaanon mein sunehri baaliyan jhilmil kar rahi theen.

"A gayi tum. Aur Purvi kahan hai" Naina ne Geet ko door se dekha to saji sanwri si peele shalwar qameez mein Geet ke qareeb a gayi.

"Woh bhi a hi rahi hai" Geet jawab dete hue Naina ke gale lag gayi.

"Us ko phone karo na. Kaho ke jaldi se aye bas. Use sab se pehle hona chahiye tha yahan" Naina mun phula kar paas padi kursi pe beth jati hai.

"Dulhania Sahiba, mood mat banayein. Phone karti hun" Geet hans kar kehti hai aur apna phone nikaal leti hai aur us pe Purvi ka number dial karti hai.

"Hello Purvi" call doosri taraf se le li gayi to Geet boli.

"Han Geet"

"Kahan ho tum? Naina intizaar kar rahi hai"

"Han woh, ham bas a hi rahe hain" Purvi ki sarsari si awaaz aati hai.

"Ham? Kya matlab? Koi aur bhi hai kya tumhare saath?" Geet chounk si jati hai, aur phir achnabhe se phoochti hai.

"Han, woh mera mareez aur dost. Mene socha ke mahol tabdeel hoga to behtar mehsoos kare ga" Geet ko yun mehsoos hua ke phone ke paar Purvi dheere se muskurayi ho.

"Theek hai. Ham intizaar kar rahe hain" Geet ne keh kar line band kar di.

Purvi aur Abhijeet saath saath mehndi hall mein daakhil huye. Purvi aur Abhijeet jab wahan pohnche to wahan pe pehle se hi mehmaanon ki rail pail ho chuki thi. Raaste mein traffic ki wajah se woh log kaafi der se pohanch paaye the. Ab raat ka andhera phail chuka tha. Purvi ne Abhijeet ki taraf dekha, woh shayad jhijak raha tha.

"Abhijeet, chalein" Purvi ne Abhijeet ka haath thaam liya aur Abhijeet ko kisi mazboot sahare ka ahsaas hua.

Purvi aur Abhijeet andar daakhil ho gaye jahan kaafi bheed thi. Idhar udhar log hi log the, kahin shehnaiyaan baj rahi theen to kahin kuch log akhatte bethe kehkahe laga rahe the.

"Mein apni dost Naina se mil kar ati hun. Tum yahin rehna" Purvi ne kaha aur jaane ke liye sar mod liya aur us pal Abhijeet ne woh dekha jo us ne socha bhi na tha. Dil zor zor se dharakne laga. Peele froq mein malboos Geet bhi apni jagah thatak gayi thi. Purvi ka haath Abhijeet ke haath se chuta aur woh aik nazar peeche dekhe beghair Naina ke paas chali gayi. Kya woh uska weham thi. Woh ab kahin bhi dikh nahi rahi thi. Dil ye maanne ko tayaar nahi tha ke woh aik weham hai, woh foran hi bheer ko katata us simt mein bhaaga jahan woh use nazar aayi thi, hata ke woh bhaagte bhaagte baahir taaron bhari raat mein a gaya. Us ka saans bhaagne ki wajah se buri tarah phool raha tha. Woh aik pathar pe a ke beth gaya aur apni saansein durust karne laga.

"Mere Sawaalon ke jawaab to sirf usi ke paas hain. Kya woh mera weham thi aur agar nahi to mein use kho nahi sakta, is duniya mein us ke illawa shayad hi kisi ke paas mere sawaalon ke jawab hon" Woh zor zor se apna sar pathar pe maar raha tha aur saath hi barbarate hue ro raha tha.

To Be Continued

To ji ye konse sawalon ke jawabon ke baare mein baat ho rahi hai?? Guess, Guess. Will reveal very soon.