Main coffee shop ke andar ghusa toh waqt tham sa gaya. Usse dekhna, haath mein ek cup liye, bilkul waisi hi thi jaisi chhodi thi—chaar saal pehle, jab maine usse aakhri baar dekha tha. Voh window seat par baithi thi, aur uski ungliyan cup ke kinare se khel rahi thin. Jaise koi baat soch rahi ho, ya kisi ka wait kar rahi ho. Pata nahi. Lekin jab main andar aaya, toh uski nazar mere upar padi. Uski ankhon mein ek chhoti si chamak aayi, phir wohi purana sa tohfa—ek mitha sa smile, lekin usme kuch aur bhi tha. Thoda nervous, thoda confused.
“Tum yahan?” usne kaha, awaaz mein hairani aur bechaini dono thi. Maine apni jacket utaari aur wahi, uske opposite, baith gaya. Coffee shop ki bheed mein sirf hum do the, jaise baaki sab fade ho gaye ho.
“Haan, main yahan hoon,” maine kaha, awaaz ko normal rakhne ki koshish karte hue. Lekin andar se dil dhak dhak kar raha tha. Usko dekhna—uske baal thode chhote ho gaye the, aur uske chehre par thodi thakaan thi, jaise raaton ki neend poori nahi hui ho. Lekin woh bhi toh waisi hi thi—woh aankhen, woh naram chehra, woh chhoti si line jo uske hothon ke paas hoti thi jab voh sochti thi.
“Tumse milna… achanak ho gaya,” usne kaha, aur cup uthakar ek sip li. Uski ungliyaan thodi kaanp rahi thin. Maine notice kiya. “Maine socha nahi tha tum aishwarya se milne aaoge.”
“Aishwarya?” maine poochha, ghanti bajti si. “Kaun hai aishwarya?”
Priya ne cup neeche rakh diya. Uski aankhen meri taraf thi, lekin voh mujhe dekh nahi rahi thi—kuch aur dekh rahi thi, jaise ek memory, ek purani baat. “Meri beti,” usne kaha, awaaz dheemi aur khaali. “Maine socha tum usse milne aaye ho. Voh yahin aati hai, weekend par.”
Main chup ho gaya. Uski beti. Chaar saal mein kitna kuch badal gaya. Maine kabhi socha nahi tha ki Priya maa banegi. Uski shaadi ka pata tha—maine facebook par dekha tha, ek photo, jisme voh white dress mein thi aur ek aadmi ke saath, voh aadmi jiska chehra mujhe aaj bhi yaad hai. Lekin ek beti? Woh toh nayi baat thi.
“Nahi, main yahan tumse milne aaya hoon,” maine kaha, seedha, bina koi drama. Lekin awaaz mein ek quiver aa gaya, jaise main khud bhi uss baat par yakeen nahi kar pa raha hoon. “Actually, main soch raha tha ki tumse ek baar milna chahiye. Kaafi time ho gaya.”
Priya ne ek deep breath li. Uski ungliyaan cup ke grip ko tighten kar rahi thin. “Haan, kaafi time.” Woh ruki, phir boli, “Tumhare baare mein suna tha. Mumbai mein ho na ab? Kaam karte ho vahan?”
“Haan, ek marketing agency mein.” Maine coffee order karne ka ishaara kiya waiter ko. Lekin mera dhyaan wahan nahi tha. Mera dhyaan Priya ke haathon par tha—usse pehle yeh haath mere haathon mein hote the, college ki library mein, jab hum dono late night padhte the. “Tum kya karti ho ab?” maine poochha.
Uski aankhein meri taraf uthhi. “Main… ghar par hoon. Poor time.” Woh muskuraayi, lekin woh smile fake thi, main jaanta tha. Uski aankhon mein kuch aur tha, ek dard jo maine kabhi dekha nahi tha. “Mohan—mere pati—unka business hai, toh main beti ko sambhal leti hoon.”
“Woh…” maine ruka, phir puchh liya, “tum khush ho?”
Sawaal seedha tha, aur usne mujhe dekha, jaise koi jawab dhondh rahi ho. Coffee shop ka noise, logon ki baatein, sab fade ho gaye. Sirf woh aur main. Uski palkon par ek nami si aayi, phir usne aankhen jhuka li.
“Khushi… bahut bada word hai,” usne kaha, awaaz mein ek kahin khoyi hui si baat. “Tum kaho toh.”
Main chup raha. Uski baat ka matlab samajh nahi aaya, lekin uss chhoti si line mein itna kuch chhupa tha ki maine aur nahi poochha. Uski ungliyaan ab cup se door aa gayi thin, aur woh apne bag mein kuch dhundhne lagi. Ek photo nikaali—ek chhoti si bachchi, guddi jaisi, gulaabi dress mein, aur uske baalon mein ek ribbon.
“Yeh hai aishwarya,” usne kaha, aur photo meri taraf badha di. Maine liya. Photo mein bachchi has rahi thi, lekin uski aankhein… jaise Priya ki aankhein hoon. Purani Priya ki aankhein, jo ek baar mujhse kehti thin ki “hum ek saath hain, nahi bikrege.”
“Bohot pyaari hai,” maine kaha, aur photo wapas kiya. Uski ungliyaan meri ungliyon se chhoo gayin, ek second ke liye. Voh chhoti si touch itni khatarnak thi ki maine apna haath jhatke se peeche kheench liya. Priya ne dekha, aur uski nazar mein kuch toh tha—ek ahsaas, jaise usse bhi wohi hua ho.
“Tumhara koi hai?” usne poochha, awaaz behtar control mein ab.
“Nahi. Single hoon.” Maine coffee uthayi jo ab aayi thi. Thandi ho gayi thi. Lekin main pi gaya. “Koi khaas nahi.”
“Hmm.” Woh chup ho gayi, aur ek lambi si silence hum dono ke beech aa gayi. Woh awkward silence nahi thi, lekin kuch toh tha—jaise dono hi kuch kehna chahte ho, lekin koi voice nahi. Maine dekha uska watch—5:30 pm. Bahar dhal raha tha.
“Priya,” maine kaha, awaaz thodi bhaari. “Main tumse kuch kehne aaya hoon. Woh sab… jo hua tha college mein… main kabhi bhool nahi paaya.”
Uski aankhein gol ho gayin. Usne apni coffee cup ko tight kiya, lekin awaaz nahi nikali. Ek lambi saans li. Phir usne dheere se kaha, “Tum kya keh rahe ho? Woh sab purani baatein hain.”
“Q ki sach hai,” maine kaha. “Tum aur main… jo tha, ab tak mujhe jalata hai.”
Usne haath mein photo uthaya, dekhti rahi. Phir dheere se boli, “Main shadi shuda hoon. Ek beti hai. Tumhe nahi pata kya main? Ek pati hai jo ghar aata hai toh sirf apne kaam ki baatein karta hai. Ek life hai jo complete hai, lekin incomplete bhi.”
Main chup tha. Uski awaaz mein dard tha, aur uss dard ko main samajh raha tha—jaise woh bhi ussi jail mein thi, jisse maine socha tha ki woh bach gayi hain.
“Priya…” maine dubara kaha, lekin woh uth gayi.
“Mujhe jaana hoga,” usne kaha, bag uthate hue. “Aishwarya ghar aane wali hai. Mohan kal ke trip par hai, toh aaj maine beti ka wait karna hai.” Woh tur gayi. Ek kadam chalne lagi, phir ruki. Peeche dekha nahi, lekin awaaz aayi—”Main kal yahin aaungi, tee baje. Toh… jo tum kehna chahte ho, kal keh do.”
Main wahan baitha raha, coffee thandi ho gayi. Aur waqt guzar gaya. Lekin uss bheed mein, ek ajeeb tension ghul rahi thi—jaise kuch hone wala hai, jaise kal ka wait karna aur aasan nahi ho sakta. Uski aakhri baat ke baad, ek guilt si, ek hope si, sab ghum raha tha mere andar. Aur main jaanta tha, kal ki mulakaat badal degi sab kuch.
Kal ka wait… woh 24 ghante jaise ek zindagi lag rahe the. Main coffee shop ke bahar teen baje se pehle pahunch gaya. Andar nahi gaya. Sirf khada raha, haath jacket ki jeb mein, aankhein raasta dekh rahi thin. Dil ki dhadkan tez ho gayi jab maine usse dekha—door se aati, ek simple kurti mein, baal khule, chehre par wohi thakaan aur ek chhoti si umeed. Usne mujhe dekha, ruki, phir chalti rahi.
Jab paas aayi, toh usne kaha, “Andar chalte hain?” Lekin maine sirf sar hilaya. “Nahi, bahar chalein? Thoda walk karein?” Usne ek baar ikatthe dekha, phir haan kaha.
Hum saath-saath chalne lage, ek park ki taraf jo gali ke end mein tha. Pehle kuch pal silence tha. Sirf kadam ki aawaaz. Phir usne kaha, “Tum kal neend mein bole the kya? Ya poora sach tha?”
Main ruka. Uski taraf dekha. “Poochh rahi ho ya jaanti ho?”
Uski aankhon mein ek nami si aayi, lekin usne muskurakar baat taal di. “Main nahi jaanti. Isliye poochh rahi hoon.”
Aur woh silent moment… hum ek bench ke paas pahunche. Baith gaye. Uske haath god mein the, ungliyaan ek-doosre se khel rahi thin. Maine apna haath badhaya, aur dheere se uski ungliyaan chhoon li. Woh tham gayi. Lekin haath nahi hataaya.
“Priya,” maine kaha, awaaz dheemi, “jo college mein tha, woh khatam nahi hua tha. Main chhod aaya tha. Aur har roz sochta tha—kya sahi kiya? Kya galat?”
Woh meri taraf dekhi. Aankhon mein paani tha. “Tumne mujhe chhoda tha. Bina kuch bataye. Ek raat, tum gayab. Aur main… main ruki rahi.”
Uski awaaz ruk gayi. Maine uska haath pakda, aur dheere se uski hatheli par ungli pheri. “Jaanta hoon. Us raat… galti thi. Mera ghar chhodna, tumhe akela chhodna. Lekin main ab hoon.”
Woh chup thi. Phir dheere se, usne apna haath mera haath se chhoda, lekin uska hath mera ghutna touch kar gaya—jaise galti se. Lekin woh jaanti thi ki galti nahi thi. Maine dekha, uski ungliyaan mere ghutne par thammi hui thi, kaanp rahi thi. Maine apna haath uske upar rakh diya.
“Priya, tum shadi shuda ho, lekin woh shadi tumhe khushi nahi de rahi. Main dekh sakta hoon. Tumhari aankhein bata rahi hain.”
Uski aankhon se aansu nikalne lage. Woh royi—chuppe chuppe, jaise bahut dinon ka dard bahar nikal raha ho. Maine usse kheench liya, apne kandhe par sar rakh diya. Uski saans ruk rahi thi, jaise kuch bolna chaahe, lekin na sake.
Kuch der aise hi guzra. Phir usne sar uthaya, aur mujhe dekha. Woh close thi. Bahut close. Uski saans meri saans mein mil gayi. Maine uske baal ek taraf kiya, aur uska oonth (forehead) apne honto se chhool diya. Woh kaanpi. Phir usne aankhen band kar li.
“Aaj Mohan kal tak ghar nahi aaenge,” usne kaha, awaaz dheemi, kaafi confusion ke saath. “Aishwarya apni dadi ke paas hai. Main akeli hoon. Ghar… akela hai.”
Mera dil zor se dhak dhak gaya. Maine puchh liya, “Kya tum chaahti ho ki main aau?”
Woh ruki. Phir sar hila diya. Haan.
Hum uthhe. Chalne lage. Uski taraf ek tension thi, lekin woh mere kadam se kadam mila rahi thi. Uske ghar tak ka raasta lamba na tha, lekin hum dheere chal rahe the, jaise waqt rokna chaahte ho. Jab pahunche, darwaza khola. Andar shaant ghar. Sofa, photo frames, ek piano kone mein, jaise usne kabhi baajaya ho.
Usne mujhe andar bulaya, darwaza band kiya. Main peeche mud gaya. Hum kuch der wahin khade rahe—door ke paas. Uski saans tez thi. Maine uska haath pakda, aur dheere se apne paas kheench liya. Usne apne baal piche kiye, aur apna chehra upar uthaya.
“Main nahi jaanti yeh sahi hai ya galat,” usne kaha, awaaz tohde se kaanpti. “Lekin aaj… main nahi rok sakti. Tumhe rok nahi sakti.”
Maine uska chehra apne hathon mein liya. Uske hothon ko dekha—halke se kampte, jaane kya maang rahe ho. Main jhuka, aur dheere se unhe chooma. Woh ek narm chumban tha—sawal aur jawab dono ek saath. Usne apne hoth khole, aur main andar gaya. Uski saans mere saath mili, jaise ek puraana raag dubara baja raha ho.
Hum sofa tak pahunche, lekin kadam ruk rahe the. Main uske kapdon ke kinare se khelne laga—uski kurti ka pallu, uske baalon ka ek guchha. Usne meri shirt ke button kholne shuru kiye, dheere dheere, ungliyaan kaanp rahi thin. Jaise koi bachha koi nayi cheez explore kar raha ho.
Jab hum skin-to-skin hue, toh ek silsila sa jag gaya. Uski jism ki garami, uske haath ka kaampna, aur uski aankhon mein woh bhook—jo maine kabhi nahi dekhi thi. Maine usse sofa par lete hua, apne upar. Woh saans nahi le pa rahi thi, lekin main wahan tha, uski lambi saans ko apne saans se mila raha tha.
Hum dheere dheere aage badhe. Kisses kankan ki tarah gira rahe the—gardan, kaan ke peeche, collar bone ke upar. Woh bhi mujhe choo rahi thi—mere peeth par haath ghumaye, jaise koi kho jaa raha ho. Maine uska kurti ka aansoo si kiya, lekin wo andar se khuli. Uski skin narm, mulayam, jaise gulaab ki patti. Main jhuka, aur uske pet par ek kiss laga di. Woh siski.
“Dheere,” usne kaha, lekin awaaz mein koi rok nahi tha. Sirf ek khwahish.
Hum ek-doosre mein kho gaye. Woh harkatein—dheemi, deep, bechain. Jaise do nadiya behti ho, ek hui. Uski ungliyaan mere baalon mein thi, aur meri ungliyaan uski kamar ke curve par. Main usme gaya, aur woh meri saans mein thi. Humne ek saans ka ek loop bana liya—andar aane wala dard, bahar jaane wali raahat.
Uski awaaz dheemi rukti, jaise koi dhun. Main uspar jhuka raha, aankhein band, lekin uski aankhon ka ahsaas tha. Jab aakhri pal aaya, toh woh kaanp uthi, aur main uspeed waqt main bhi tha—donon saath. Ek saath, ek taraane ki tarah. Phir sab ruk gaya. Saans. Khud. Woh meri chhaati par leti thi, aur main uske baalon mein haath pher raha tha.
Kuch der guzri. Phir usne sar uthaya, aur mujhe dekha. Aankhon mein aansu nahi the—ek sukoon tha. Purani yaadein gaya hue—naya kuch bana tha.
“Tum aaj raat yahin ruko,” usne kaha, awaaz mein koi sawaal nahi, sirf bataane ka tarika. “Kal subah main chai banaungi.”
Main muskur gaya. Usko chhoo liya. Woh so gaya, mere saath. Lekin main jaanta tha—yeh khatam nahi hua. Yeh shuruat thi ek nayi kahani ki—jisme koi guarantee nahi, lekin ek purana pyaar tha, jo abhi bhi jal raha tha.
Aur aaj raat… woh ajeeb si khushi thi—jaise kabhi socha na ho, kabhi chaha na ho, lekin mil gayi ho. Khali yaadon mein bhi ek ujala tha.