afpxI pIV
- hrpRIq syKf
 

“afE-afE mfrHfj, kdy drÈn—?”
“suxf sohixaf ikvyN aYN?” ‘QrtI tU’ ny myrI mfrHfj axsuxI kr tYksI df ipClf drvfËf KolH ky ivwc bYTdy ny puwiCaf.
“bs TIk aY, qusIN suxfE ikqy drÈn hI nhIN huMdy?”
“sfzy drÈn krny huMdy aY qF rfqF nUM afieaf kr,” QrtI tU ny QoVHf-QoVHf hwsdy hoey ikhf.
“rfqF nUM mfrHfj zr lgdY ÈrfbIaF qoN.”
“ÈrfbIaF qoN nhIN, ÈrfbxF qoN kih,” afK ky ‘QrtI tU’ hwisaf, iPr kihx lwgf, “ikEN beI, ÈrfbxF aYnIaF vI nhIN hÜkIaF iPrdIaF ik qyry vrgy nUM ryp kr dyx,” Auh iPr hwisaf.
mYN vI hws ipaf. mYnUM koeI jvfb hI nf suwiJaf.
‘QrtI tU’ AusdI tYksI df nMbr sI, Ausdy asl nfm df mYnUM nhIN pqf. tYksIaF vfly iewk dUjy nUM tYksI dy nMbr nfl hI blfANudy. asl nfm koeI Gwt hI puwCdf.
‘QrtI tU’ df gwl suxfAux df ZMg bhuq idlcsp huMdf. pr AusdIaF gwlF kdy-kdy hI suxn nUM imldIaF. Auh lONg-iÈÌt tYksI clfAuNdf. cOvI GMty tYksI Aus kol hI rihMdI. AuNJ tYksI dIaF do iÈÌtF huMdIaF, bfrF-bfrF GMty dIaF. pr keI zrfeIvr donoN iÈÌtF dI tYksI hI lY lYNdy. AusnUM Auh ‘lONg iÈÌt’ afKdy. iewk iÈÌt nfloN zyZ guxF iËafdf lIË dy ky tYksI afpxy kol hI rwKdy. jd idl krdf tYksI clfAux lwg pYNdy, jd idl krdf Gr jfky QoVHy icr leI afrfm kr afANudy. ies qrHF keI zrfeIvr pMdrF-pMdrF, solF-solF GMty tYksI clfAuNdy.
‘QrtI tU’ afm qOr `qy idn dy iewk do vjy tYksI clfAuxI ÈurU krdf aqy aglI svyr dy iqMn-cfr vjy qwk clfAuNdf rihMdf. mYN vIkaYNz `qy tYksI clfAuNdf, idn dI bfrF GMty dI iÈÌt. svyry cfr vjy ÈurU krky Èfm dy cfr vjy qwk clfANudf rihMdf. ies smyN dOrfn kdy rwb-sbwbIN ‘QrtI tU’ nUM iksy stYNz `qy iml jfxf qF gwl-bfq ho jfxI. kMm mMdf hoxf qF gwlF-bfqF vwD vI ho jFdIaF, qyË hoxf qF dUroN hI ‘mfrHfj-mfrHfj’ ho jFdI.
jdoN gwl-bfq hoxI, Auh myry nfl aksr kuVIaF dIaF gwlF hI krdf, hor vI krdf pr bhuqIaF kuVIaF dIaF hI huMdIaF. BfvyN Auh myry nfloN do-cfr sfl hI vwzf hovygf, sqfeI-aTfeI virHaF dy gyV ‘c. pr Auh mYnUM alUMaF ijhf muMzf hI smJdf, ijs nfl isrÌ kuVIaF dIaF hI gwlF kIqIaF jf skdIaF sn. myrf ivafh nf hoieaf hox krky Èfied Auh ajyhf smJdf sI. afp Auh ivafihaf hoieaf sI, do sflF dI DI df ipE.
iewk idn imilaf, kihMdf, “beI rfq qF svfd af igaf `kyrF, iewk awDKV ijhI gorI twkr geI, Èrfbx ——”
“awCf?” mYN AusdI gwl suxn leI TIk ijhf ho ky bYTdy ny ikhf.
Aus gwl jfrI rwKdy hoey ikhf, “———kihMdI awj myrf brQzy aY, aKy mYN iekwlI-iekwlI mihsUs kr rhI aF. mYN puiCwaf qyrf koeI puwq-DI, qyrf hsbYNz? kihMdI ‘mYN ivafh hI nhIN krfieaf. buafey PrYNz sI, Auhdy nfl tuwt geI.’ mYN soicaf ieh qF afp eI sur `c aY. AuNJ Auh bhuqI sunwKI nhIN sI, pr sI qF sflI gorI. mYN ikhf, ‘hy ilts sYlIbryt, ilts hYv sm zirMks, afeI aYm XUar PrYNz, km afn. kihMdI, ‘afr XU?’ mYN ikhf, ‘E ijaf, myry kol ivskI hYgI aY, cwl qyry Gr cwldy aF’. gorI imwqrf KuÈ hogI. myry kol kuMzy aflI (1[ 75 lItr dI boql) ipwCy trMk `c peI sI. AuhdI apfrtmYNt `c cly gey. gorI pihlF hI Èrfbx sI, mYN AusnUM iewk hor lMzU jf zrfm bxf idwqf, iewk gwdrgwPf ijhf mYN afvdy aMdr suwitaf bws Pyr nf puwC, gorI muV-muV jwPIaF pfvy, afKI jfvy ‘XU afr so nfeIs’. asIN afpxf kMm nbyV ky qurn nUM hoey, pr Auh afAux nf dyvy, khy hfly hor rih ‘XU afr svIt, hnI-hnI khy, kdy lv-lv khy. mYN ikhf ‘hux ibËI tfeIm aY kdy Pyr shI’ qy afpF zMzI pey.”
Pyr iewk idn imilaf kihMdf, “gorI kOm qF bws qbfh hoeI smJ.”
“ikvyN?” mYN hYrfnI nfl puwiCaf.
“ikvyN kI, zrwgF ny mfr lYxI aYN. QoVHy jy idnF dI gwl aY, iewk bfrF-qyrF sflF dI gorI twkrI, mYN mYtrotfAUn bYTf sI rfq dy igafrF ku vwjy hoxy aYN, puwCx lwgI ik qyry kol koeI zrwg vgYrf hYgI aY, mYN ikhf, ‘nhIN’. Pyr kihMdI, ‘afr XU ibËI?’ mYN ikhf, ‘nft rIalI’. mohrlI zor Kohl ky nfl bYT geI kihMdI, ‘ilwts go, mYnUM zrwg vfsqy pwcI zflr cfhIdy aY, zrwg ibnHF jfn inklI jFdI aY.’ muV-muV pwtF `qy izwgy. mlUk jyhI, ijvyN kwcf aMb hovy acfrI. mYN beI AuhnUM afvdy PrYNz dI apfrtmYNt `c lY igaf. zflr qF pwcIaF dI QF qIh dy idwqy pr zMJF leIaF lfh. aglIaF ipClIaF sfrIaF ksrF kwZ leIaF.”
iewk hor idn imilaf kihMdf, “awj iewk gorI dIaF lwqF dyKIaF, bs puwC kuwJ nf, Drm nfl aYnIaF sohxIaF lwqF, lMmIaF, gol-gol ipMJxIaF, mwlF vrgy pwt, pUry sKq, kUly-kUly. qMg skrt pfeI hoeI. mYN jdoN GroN inkldI dyKI pihlF hI AuWT ky tYksI dI mohrlI zor KolH idwqI, soicaf ikqy mgrlI sIt `qy nf bYT jfvy. kihMdI inAUvYst jfxY dsF zflrF `c. mYN ikhf ‘no pRfblm, ‘AuNJ vI mItr `qy bfrF-qyrF zflr msF cwlxy sI mYtrotfAUn eyrIey qoN. myrf icwq horUM-horUM hoeI jfvy Auhdy pwt dyKky. aÉIr mYN hOslf ijhf krky Ehdy pwtF `qy hwQ Pyr idwqf, soicaf kI aY, Èfied lot isr af hI jfvy, nfl hI afK idwqf, ‘ibAUtIPuwl lYgË.’ Auhny jI myrf hwQ cuwk ky pfsy rwKqf.”
AuhdI gwl sux ky myrf hfsf inkl igaf, “kI irhf iPr?”
“myrf igaf vI dws kI? qUM qF Xfr buVHIaF aflIaF gwlF krdYN.”
“mfrHfj ivafhy-vry bMdy aYN qusIN, hfly vI nhIN htdy puwTy pMigaF qoN,” mYN ikhf.
“Pyr AuhI gwl, jy ivafhy-vry aYN qF kI ho igaf, GrvflIaF nfl Auh svfd nhIN ijhVIaF lwjqF gorIaF nfl aY. GrvflIaF qF jvfk sMBflI jfx bhuq aY. nfly Xfr Auh pMjfbI bMdf hI kfhdf jIhny ibgfnI KurlI `c mUMh nf mfiraf hovy,” afK Auh myry moZy `qy hwQ mfr ky hwisaf.
Aus idn vI jd Aus tYksI ‘c bYTdy ny hI ‘ÈrfbxF’ df iËkr kr idwqf qF mYnUM lwigaf ik Auh koeI ieho ijhI hI gwl suxfeygf. ies leI mYN gwl ÈurU krn leI AusqoN puwC ilaf, “ikEN koeI twkrI nhIN gorI-gfrI?”
“gorIaF-gfrIaF kfhdIaF Xfr, byÈrm kOm. sgoN ienHF ny qF afpxIaF kuVIaF vI Krfb krqIaF,” Aus dI sur DImI sI.
mYN soicaf Èfied Auh gwl suxfAun leI BUimkf bMnH irhf hY. ‘afpxIaF kuVIaF’ df iËkr sux mYnUM lwigaf ik gwl ËrUr hI bhuq idlcsp hovygI. mYN TIk ijhf ho ky bYTdy ny puwiCaf, “ikEN kI gwl hogI, mfrHfj?”
“gwl kfhdI Xfr, do ku idn hogy, rfq dy koeI do ku vwjy hoxgy, afpxIaF do kuVIaF, aTfrF-AuWnIN sflF dy gyV `c, af ky bYT geIaF tYksI `c. aKy sfsrIkfl-sfsrIkfl. mYN hYrfn ‘afpxy lok ikwQy tYksIaF lYNdy aY’ kihMdIaF, `cwl’. mYN puwC ilaf ‘jfxf ikwQy aY?’ kihMdIaF ‘dwsFgIaF pihlF qur qF shI.’ mYN tYksI qor leI. kihMdIaF ‘asIN iksy dy ivafh dI pfrtI `qy geIaF sI AuQoN tl ky af geIaF. sfnUM Èrfb cfhIdI aY. aKy sfzI pIqI vI hYgI aY, hor vI pIxI aY——”
“ht ipwCy,” myry mUMhoN hYrfnI ijhI `c inkl igaf.
“-—Èrfb myry kol sI, kuMzy aflI trMk `c peI sI——— “
“kuMzy aflI nfl eI rwKdy aYN iPr?” mYN ivwcoN hI toikaf.
“iehdy ibnF ikwQy srdY. vyly-kvyly loV pY jFdI aY. awCf qy myrf icwq nhIN mMinaf AunHF nUM Èrfb dyx leI. so mYN tflx dy mfry ny afK idwqf beI aYs vyly sfry lIkr stor qy pwb bMd aY, Èrfb nhIN imlxI. kihMdIaF ‘nhIN sfnUM Èrfb cfhIdI ËrUr aY ijwQoN mrËI ilaf ky dy, sfzy kol qIh zflr hYgy aY—-’
“pMjfbI boldIaF sI?” mYN ijigafsf vws ivwcoN hI puwC ilaf.
“Eh ijaf, ijvyN aYQoN dy jMmy-ply ruk-ruk ky boldy huMdy aY. pihlF mYN soicaf beI ienHF nUM smJfvF ik afpxf klcr kuVIaF df Èrfb pIxf qy rfq nUM bfhr qury iPrnf cMgf nhIN smJdf. Pyr soicaf mnF ieh smJx dy mUz `c ikwQy aY? AUN tflo, jy tl jfx qF. mYN ikhf beI qIh zflrF nfl nhIN srnf Qozf, Èrfb vI ilafAuxI aY qy tYksI df ikrfieaf vI, Qozy pMjfh-swT zflr lwg jfxy aY. pr Auh tlx vflIaF ikwQy sI. iewk kihMdI, ‘Pyr dy dyvFgIaF jF guwz tfeIm kr lYny aY.’ jdoN Auhny guwz tfeIm kr lYny aY ikhf mYnUM sflI awg lwg geI. icwq `c afieaf beI mF-ipE ny jvfkF df awgf sMvfrn leI do-do iÈPtF kMm krky afpxI sfrI Aumr Krfb kr leI hovygI qy jvfk bMnHvfeI jFdy aY pwg buVHy dy. mYN soicaf jy tflIaF qF kI pqf aMgUTf cuwk ky sVk `qy nf KVH jfx, Pyr kI pqf ikho-ijho dy aiVwky cVHn. qlb ienHF nUM hYgI aY. mYN ikhf ‘beI guwz tfeIm krn df mOkf nhIN, ibËI tfeIm aY, qusIN afvdf Pon nMbr idE, bfkI zflr Pyr lY lvFgf, Èrfb QonUM ilaf idMnY, pr nMbr afvdf TIk idE, pihlF zrYktrI `coN nMbr cYWk krky Pyr Èrfb ilaf ky dyvFgf.’ Ìon nMbr iewk ny dy idwqf kihMdI, ‘vIkzyË ivwc Èfm dy cfr qoN awT dy ivckfr Ìon krIN AudoN myrf zYz qy Brf Gr nhIN huMdy. ieMgilÈ `c gwl krIN myrf nF rfjdIp aY.’ kih ky Auh hws peI. mYN ikhf ‘iehdI qusIN vrI nf kro.’ qy mYN Ìon bUQ kol tYksI rok leI. AunHF nUM ikhf beI PrYNz nUM Ìon krky Èrfb bfry puwCdYN. mYN bUQ qoN ijhVf nMbr AunHF ny idwqf sI Gumfieaf. awgoN bMdy ny Ìon cuwikaf mYN puwiCaf beI rfjdIp nF dI quhfzy koeI kuVI hYgI aY, kihMdf ‘hF’ Pyr mYN AuhnUM sfrI gwl dwsI ik Auh aYdF krky Èrfb BfldIaYN, myrI tYksI `c bYTIaYN. dwso ikwQy imloNgy quhfzy hvfly kr jfnYN. bMdf pihlF cuwp ijhf kr igaf, nmoÈI mMn igaf hoxY. Pyr roxhfkI ijhI afvfj `c kihMdf, ‘vYnkUvr PryËr qy PortIPst dy kOrnr `qy afjf, AuWQy mYN phuMc jfnYN, myry kol itAutf dI lfl ijhI vYn hovygI.’ mYN AusnUM pMdrF imMtF `c AuWQy phuMcx dI qswlI dvf ky tYksI `c muV afieaf. kuVIaF nUM dwisaf beI Èrfb muMzy kol hYgI aY, Auhdf Gr PryËr PortIPst vwl hY. kihMdIaF ‘ijwQy mrËI hovy, bws lY cwl.’ rfh `c mYN AunHF qoN AunHF dy GridaF bfry puwCx lwg ipaf. iewk dwsx lwg peI ik Auh dovyN BYxF hn, AunHF df zYzI purfxf ieMzIaf qoN afieaf hoieaf hY Aus kol Dn bhuq hY pr Auh Krc krky rfËI nhIN, purfxy ivcfrF df bMdf hY. Pyr dUjI kihMdI, ‘Pwk ihMm, tfk abfAUt smiQMg iels.’ ieMny icr `c mYN tYksI PryËr PortI Pst dy kOrnr `qy lfqI. vYn AuWQy KVHI sI, bËurg nIvIN jI pfeI KVHf irhf nfl Auhdy do hor muMzy, Auhdy puwq hoxgy jF koeI hor, iewk ny vYn dI KuwlHI zor vwl hwQ krky kuVIaF vwl dyiKaf, Auh myry vwl afny ijhy kwZdIaF vYn `c bYT geIaF.”
jd ‘QrtI tU’ ny gwl Kqm kIqI Auh pihlF vflf bMdf nf hoky jvfn DI df ipE nËr af irhf sI. bfhr TMz hox kfrn gwlF kridaF tYksI dy ÈIÈy DuMdly ho gey sn. mYN kfr stfrt krky hIt clf idwqI qF ik ÈIÈy sfÌ ho jfx.
“pr mfrHfj qusIN ikEN aYny Kljgx `c pey nfly afpxf tfeIm Krfb kIqf, qusIN guwz tfeIm kr lYxf sI. Edx qusIN dwsdy sI ik bfrF-qyrHF sflF dI jvfkVI nUM vI nhIN sI bÉiÈaf.” mYN Ausdy bdlfE `qy hYrfn sI.
“AuhdI gwl hor sI, Auh qF gorI sI,” ‘QrtI tU’ df jvfb sI.