Picnic Adventures Part—3

We noticed, that Yogita was behaving in a strange way, she was not listening to our words, she was smiling for no reason and most of all Pankaj saw her RED EYES which he said, is a symbol of intoxication. Obviously, it scared me, I called her loudly, but she gave me a very strange look, her fingers were tangled in to her hairs, god only knows what she was doing with them.  Amit opened his mouth for first time, “She ate the biggest piece, now see the result, she is out of her mind.”  But to his bad luck, Yogita heard his words and she almost shouted, “I am absolutely fine, stop talking rubbish.”

“So you mean that Bhaang did not affect you?” I asked.

“I am alright, why are you listening to those idiots, they are mindless stupid.”

I was still looking in to her face, when this became intolerable then she shouted again, “Awwwww, stop staring me, God, how can I explain to this dumb head girl”.

“Aumm..errr..ok, then why you are behaving” ..she did not allow me to finish my sentence and said, “offho  Bhavana, can’t you see I am rubbing my eyes, something has fallen in to my eyes, that’s why eyes are getting red, now close this whole senseless chapter.”

This last line was addressed to the boys, who were still suspicious about her eyes.

Anyway, now we concentrated our brains to the beautiful, cozy premise of Bhooteshwar Mahadev Temple.  The Temple was located among the deep forest and surrounded by some small hills. There was a little pond near by the main Temple and how can I forget to mention that big comfy swing near the railing of pond. A few more swings were also in the open ground of Temple, but they were normal swings as we see in parks etc.

Christie Sir asked us to have lunch, everyone was hungry and soon we all sat on a wide platform that I guess, was built for these dining purpose only, because it was in a separate corner of Temple premise. One more thing I noticed, some 5-6 dustbins (metal made) were kept there in a row. They were big enough to store garbage in large quantity and covered with similar metal caps. Manoj and Pankaj were the last to finish the lunch, by that time besides them almost everyone had finished his/her lunch and was relaxing according to their moods. I was still there at platform to pack all boxes of meals because Christie Sir gave me this responsibility to make sure that nobody through or spread remained food here and there. That time, Manoj asked me to throw  some empty boxes in to the dustbin. I get annoyed, “why don’t you do it yourself, you have finished in last, now you have to clean up all this.” 

“Oh, come on, we are tired and want to relax after lunch..Please be kind to us and throw these boxes in to “THAT” dustbin,” he pointed out towards a particular dustbin. First, I denied but then took the boxes and went to throw them in a nearby dustbin, both guys shouted, “No NO, this one is fully loaded, “that one”  ...He pointed again.”

“Humm..ok.”

The moment I opened the cap of THAT dustbin and threw the garbage in it…” Oh, My God, my handbag...it is back, how it happened. Who did this?”

I was shouting and cleaning my bag that get messy and dirty due to those food boxes, but thank god nothing wet material was in those boxes. Than I heard a huge laughter, I looked at both guys and within few  minutes I understood everything, still Manoj started speaking, “ well…when you left your bag on the platform and forget to take it back than I took it and thought to give it back to you.”

“But I find that you almost forget about the bag, so decided to play a small prank with you. During the whole path, we hide your bag successfully, we thought you would make a huge scene and cry for it. But unfortunately apart from that tiny episode of inquiry you did not show much concern, so finally we decided to give you a surprise.”

“So tell us, how was it?” he asked in a way as if he has done an award-winning job.  Anyway, now it was the time to honour him with a Gold Medal.

“You guys are absolutely scoundrels, rascals, you donkeys and monkeys, I am going to beat you,” and with my last words I almost ran towards him with a small sprig, but he escaped.  

Meanwhile when all this drama was going on, everyone started gathering to enjoy this free show. Before I could honour Manoj or Pankaj with their Medals and Rewards, Christie Sir and Yogita interrupted. Yogita took (read snatch) my weapons from my hands and Christie Sir became the savior for those devils.  First he inquired about the whole thing, I explained them about what happened, how happened etc.

He advised me to not to shout and take the whole matter with an ease.

“Bhavana (He spoke with an utmost sweetness), they have returned your bag safely and even took care of it when you forget it at Padam-Sar. Instead of beating them, you should be thankful to them.”

However, I did not like this advice; but did not want to spoil my picnic mood, so I agreed on a plate full of Gulabjamuns (the only thing that could bring my calm back.).  Christie Sir himself offered me those sweets and Yogita served it.

After the “Battle of Bag”, I moved to the swings, enjoyed few rounds and then Yogita called me to take a walk inside the premise. While walking, we found Christie Sir was relaxing on that big swing nearby pond and taking a short nap.  A mischief came in to our mind.  Yogita took a tiny grass straw and poked it in to Sir’s ear. Need not to say that it broke (read disturbed) his sweet nap and he woke up with a sudden manner but before he could say something or scold us we quickly ran. Luckily, he too did not get angry and sleep back (at least he pretends so.) After two hours of relaxing, Pandit Jee and Sir call us and told about our next destination, which was once again a Temple but we were told that it is going to be a nice walk. Sir give us an option of choosing the path, a hilly one similar to our hitherto journey or an easy smooth road. No need to say that everyone raised hands for hilly path except me. I was already tired and not in a mood to tread over hills and stones once again.

To Be Continued…

next part of the story is Here

Image Courtesy :  Google

Picnic Adventure Part---2

We were going deep inside the jungle with a cheerful and careless mood, some like me were singing, some others were collecting pebbles and driftwoods, throwing them in different directions to show their skills of hitting the target.  Garima and Christie Sir were busy in a discussion about the correct pronunciation of daily use words. Some were busy in chit-chatting and so on…at a point we saw a huge wall, starting near a clump of trees. The area we have crossed until then was completely desolate, so this wall (that too in the middle of jungle with no other supporting walls or such structures) has obviously raised our curiosity and made our fertile brains highly active. Everyone started making his/her own speculations,

“this is a GHOST wall, I can bet, it is”.

“Oh shut up, nothing like that, may be it is a boundary of some private premise.”

“Private premise?? Huh…that too in the middle of jungle??”

“No it is a ghost wall…or may be the boundary of a graveyard.”

Need not to say that this graveyard idea rang several bells in our minds. However, before we  could have reached to any other lofty conclusion, Christie Sir interrupted, “it seems we are near to a colony, relax kids”, he said with his hallmark smile and with these words, he started singing a Caribbean song and moved ahead.

“Humm..Kids”.

We were walking besides the wall, but there were no signs of  where it is going to end, nor its other end was visible. Even it was too high to see what is happening at the other side of the wall. Meanwhile, another thing that increased our anxiety was those musical sounds that were coming from the other side of wall. Now the idea of Ghost wall and “Bhooton ka Dera” got the official confirmation. Anyway, that fear too could not stop us and finally we reached to the end of wall, but no it was just a turn. However, from this turn, the height of wall decreased, though still it was enough to hide the activities of other side that were now not limited with some “musical sounds” but also giving clear indications of “Band Baja”. One more thing we noticed that now we were in a colonized area; a few houses, cattle etc. were visible on the way ahead.

Although, speculations, rumors and hubbub about “Ghost Marriage” were on the peak. Suddenly we saw a door, a closed door in the middle of the wall, everyone quickly ran towards it. It was half-open and the wall at the both sides of door was quite low, so we all began to peeping  through the door and over the wall and guess what we found…there was an open verandah full of well-dressed people ( usually “ghosts” do not appear in such good cloths).  In the middle of it, the Bride and Bridegroom were sitting on a small stage. However, our curious and keenly watching eyes did not please the guests and both families as well (though I do not know who were from family and who were guests). Therefore, before they do some attempts to drag us out from there, we ourself buzzed off from there.

“What is the name of this area?” I threw a question in the air.

“Brahmpuri, one of the most remote areas of the city”, Pandit Jee replied in a loud voice.

“Hahaha...So Lord Brahma himself lives here...is that so...” That was Sandeep.

Anyway, after crossing across some dusty streets and roads of Brahmpuri, we again entered in
the forest area. Soon we reached to a small temple like place. Huge pictures of some sacred men were embossed on walls and on the large trunk of an old tree. A few priests in saffron

cloths were sitting upon a cemented platform under the tree.

That time I did not notice that they were grinding something. The whole atmosphere of temple of was quite mystic, there were no as such formal statues of any god, only some paintings, as I mentioned above.  In which, a very strange looking Saint was shown in different postures. We spent some half an hour over there and then again moved ahead.  We hardly walked few steps, when Manoj came running from behind, he was calling us... We were not aware of that Manoj has been left behind!!! Anyway, the moment he reached, we started inquiring about it. But he asked us to take “Prasaad”. Now what is this..?

We asked him from where he got it. He told us that those two priests were grinding “Bhaang”, when he asked for Prasaad (in a temple one can obviously expect for Prasaad); they gave him a big ball of Bhaang.

“Have you gone nuts? Are you crazy?”

 He looked at us with a cunning smile and everybody in our group stretched their hands to take the Prasaad. I was still confused and was standing on a side but how can someone escape from the sharp sight of Manoj?

“You too have to take it.”

“Me?? Err...Emm...no it could be harmful”. I spoke in a meek voice.

“Prasaad can never be harmful, don’t make silly excuses and take it”.

“Ok”. But only a small amount of it.” Luckily, Manoj did not make any further argument and gave me a small ball of Bhaang, a green colored, moist ball of a strange ingredient.

Anyway, I somehow ate it. Surprisingly Yogita took the biggest chunk of it, now she did it knowingly, unknowingly or willingly nobody knows. Soon Bhaang started showing its effect on Yogita (was that our mere imagination or reality...I do not know). Anyway...as we were reaching near to Bhooteshwar Mahadev van Khand...

To Be Continued….

Image Courtesy : Google

Picnic Adventures--- Part 1

The moment I entered in the classroom, I noticed some extra-ordinary uproar and questions in the air. It was quite a different scenario from the regular days and as I came back after a break of two weeks, it was very surprising for me. However, soon I came to know the whole story, Mister Anthony Christie; the Director of our Coaching Institute has planned a “Picnic” and he wanted all of us to be a part of that. But he denied to explain much about the “picnic”, e.g. exactly where are we going and to how many places we are going etc… this last question rose up because sometimes he was saying, we are going for lake side picnic, sometimes a historical tour of the monuments of City and so on.. Need not to say that it raised the anxiety and curiosity of students.  However, as soon as I took a seat, Sir asked me or told me, “Bhavana, deposit your picnic fee also, as we are going for it on tomorrow morning at 8:30am.”  I was also curious but thought..OK..let’s go and see where this Man wants to take us.

So next day at sharp 8:00am all of us, I mean those all who wanted to go for “picnic” reached at institute. Many of us were thinking..”ohk. ..Yet another day of school style picnic, same old fort and nearby lakes”. Nevertheless, this was the half-truth; there was something bigger, waiting for us at the valley of our Mehrangadh Fort. When our bus reached there, first of all, Sir asked us to have breakfast (pastries, kachories, patties and rest things I forget..all I remember that we had a heavy “Breakfast” ). There were some new faces also; (may be from other batches whom I had never seen before). Anyway, now our anxiety was on the last stage and we wanted to know..”what’s the plan”.. Finally, Sir pointed out towards the foothills of fort and said, “We will start walking from there and our destination is “Bhooteshwar Mahadev Van Khand”.  Now I was listening this Name first time..where is it, what is this..but for some people in group this wasn’t a unfamiliar word. Hummm…ok..get set go.  

The valley of fort was covered with slippery black rocks, and it was too tough to walk upon them, especially when someone is wearing high-heeled sandals (Like me). Yeah..that was me, need not to say that every now and then I was taking help of other mates to cross the hillocks and stones. Those rocks were so slippery that it was almost impossible to walk without even a minor slip. However, somehow the group reached to the twin lakes of Rani-Sar and Padam-Sar. Here the Big-Show took place. 

We all were standing at the stairs of Padam-Sar, when a person from our group found a “secret” door in the tall wall of Baradari of Lake. It was a tri-angular shaped small hole at the end of wall on the ground. One by one, we all walked in-to that “door” on our knees (if it could call Door).   The hole was getting open in another tall chamber that had a pillar in the middle of it. There was a plat-form built at some 5-6 feet height of pillar. If one could climb up to the plat-form through the pillar then he could directly step on the roof of Baaraadari. However, it was not as easy as it seems. The down portion of pillar was again made of slippery black stone and my heels were not allowing me to climb on the pillar (Like a monkey). Most of the people climbed on pillar and reached to roof, now only me and a couple of other people were left. One was Manoj and other two were standing on platform to give a hand to a needy one (though,only a few group members needed hand). Now it was my turn and obviously, I refused to indulge in that exercise, 

“I can come by stairs also, I don’t want to slip down from pillar”, I spoke with a hesitating tone and an indifferent mood.  Manoj looked at me with an irritating mode, “why so, do you think you are somewhat special, so you will take easy way of stairs, you too have to climb on pillar.”

“But, I can’t, I will sure slip”. I tried to convince him but then Yogita and a couple of other friends also asked me to give it a try. So first of all I hold the pillar and put my right foot on the black stone and tried to pull myself upwards ( that moment I understand that I am the true successor of our monkey ancestors). I made a few attempts but in vain, each time my feet were slipping down due to those heels that I was wearing. I felt embarrassed and even heard  few laughter voices so finally I stood in a corner and raised my hands to show that I have given up. But Manoj was not in a mood to spare me so easily, so when I said "now you have seen, how tough is this, I don't want to fell down." I did all possible efforts to make my voice soft and humble to get some sympathy...but you know this materialistic world is full of cruel people.

“You won’t”, he almost shouted, “first put off your stupid sandals and through them on platform and this idiotic handbag too (Idiotic!!!...I have purchased it just two days ago)…hurry-up”.

I understand that there is no escape and I have to follow the orders. Somehow, this time I climbed on pillar (yes that too with the weight of 75kg) and then I listened another order, “give your hand to Pankaj and Sumit:”. I did. They literally pulled me up on the platform and then asked, “Are you OK Bhavana?” but I made a counter question to them.” I am fine but are you guys ok?” they laughed and I wore my sandals again. We spent some half an hour or more at Padam-Sar and then started moving ahead.

After crossing the hilly area we entered in the desolate semi-forest area, I was in a good mood and singing also. we were moving on zig-zag and dusty paths of forest;  pushing the dry twigs or thorny bushes aside.. Suddenly Manoj interrupted me and asked, “Bhavana, where is your hand-bag?”, now what’s this..I almost forget my handbag once I climbed on that platform…I started looking here and there but it was of no use, in fact now we were very far from Lakes. This situation made me very sad, but now nothing could have been done. I inquired to Manoj, Pankalj and Sumit regarding the bag, but Manoj laughed loudly and said, “What do you think of me, I don’t touch ladies hand-bags.”  “Than, where it has gone”.. I was very disheartened. Now we could not go back to search the bag. It was gone. 

My friends sympathized with me and tried to cheer me up again with some nice songs, slowly -slowly I too joined the chorus. Soon I was singing in the high pitch and for the time being I forget about my bag. I was walking and singing ahead of the group, when Mister Pandit; (Christie Sir’s friend) asked me, “Bhavana, how would you feel if suddenly you look back and do not find anyone, all alone in the middle of this Jungle; then which song will you sing?”  

Here I think a short introduction of Pandit Jee would not be inappropriate. He was wearing a Saffron Rob and a Chandan Tilak on his forehead, a small Choti was visible on his almost bald head. His overall personality was impressive and himself; he was a warm and lively companion. Therefore, when he asked this question he was a few steps behind me, first I laughed then answered, “In such a situation I will either start shouting in loud voice or my throat will get choked due to fear.”

“Hmmm, I see.”

Meanwhile, I continued my walk and singing, I was still ahead of the group; I was singing, “dil hai chhota saa, chhoti si asha…” , suddenly I saw something in the middle of the path. I was about to put my feet on that thing, but after seeing it, my feet remained in air and I quickly took it back, for a while a forget singing, stood still and numb. Somehow I shouted, “Sirrrrr..” 

 Pandit Jee and Christie Sir along with few other students quickly came towards me, “what happened Bhavana?”

“Sir…look over there”, I pointed out towards the ground, skeleton of an animal’s head (may be a wolf) and other bones of its body were lying there, its mouth was opened like a big bowl. Pandit Jee and Christie Sir both broke up in laughter and so the other people too. Sir told me that it seems more like a dog’s skeleton (don’t know how he reached to this conclusion) and assured me that there is nothing to worry about and this is a normal thing in this remote area. He even said, “aww Bhavna don’t be so loud on this poor creature, see it is already dead and can not harm you at all.”  Anyway, these words did not please me at all, and we continued our journey in to that jungle….

To Be Continued…

second part of the story is  Here

रजनीगंधा -- भाग 1

आज सुबह जब मैं सो कर उठी तो सर बहुत भारी सा लग रहा था, कल सारी रात नींद जो नहीं आई. नींद आये भी कैसे ..... कल दिन भर जो सोचती रही,  वो सब बातें दिमाग में चल रही थी. दरअसल रात भर मैं इन्ही सब चीज़ों के बारे में सोचती रही. जो हुआ वो सिर्फ  एक गलतफहमी थी  या वो इंसान ही गलत है,  पता नहीं..इतना सोचने के बाद भी मैं किसी निष्कर्ष पर नहीं पहुँच  पायी थी.

सब कुछ तो ठीक चल रहा था , फिर अचानक क्या गलत हो गया, क्या मैंने कुछ ऐसा कहा जो मुझे नहीं कहना चाहिए था या उसने जो किया वो गलत था.... नहीं जानती...नहीं जानती कि इस तरह अचानक सब कुछ खत्म क्यों हो गया ....हम दोनों के बीच एक अबोला सा क्यों आकर पसर गया...या शायद मैं ही इस पूरे मामले को कुछ ज्यादा ही गंभीरता से ले गई.
कह नहीं सकती कि कौन गलत था या शायद कुछ भी गलत नहीं था  ....यही सब सोचते हुए, मैं अपने छोटे से रूफ-टॉप गार्डेन की सार-संभाल करने चली आई...देखा कि रजनीगंधा में अभी तक कलियाँ नहीं आई थी...पौधा कुछ सूखा और बेरंग सा दिखा..यूँ तो रजनीगंधा  के फूल सफ़ेद ही होते हैं, लेकिन "सौम्या" को उनकी खुशबू  बेहद पसंद थी..उसे गुलाब या कोई और फूल इतना पसंद न था जितना कि  रजनीगंधा के गुच्छे....

वैभव से मैं अपनी किसी रिश्तेदार के घर मिली थी,  वहाँ किसी ने मेरा उससे परिचय करवाया था...उस दिन शायद उनके घर कोई समारोह था या ऐसे ही कोई पार्टी ...मैं अपने cousins के साथ ही थी, और वो भी शायद मेरे किसी cousin -brother का दोस्त था, इसीलिए हमारे ग्रुप में ही शामिल हो गया था...उस समय तक मुझे नहीं मालूम था कि मेरा वैभव से मिलना महज़ संयोग नहीं था ...उसे और मुझे वहाँ सोच-समझ कर बुलाया गया था ...खैर ये सब तो कोई विशेष बात नहीं है क्योंकि माता-पिता-रिश्तेदार अक्सर ऐसी कोशिशें करते ही हैं . उस दिन के बाद मैं और वैभव नेट पर मिले...मिले या उसने मुझे सर्च किया ....कह नहीं सकती...जो भी हो...अब तक ये तो साफ़ दिख ही रहा था कि हम  दोनों के  परिवारों की  भी इसमें सहमति ही थी कि हम बात करें, एक दूसरे को जाने-समझे...और परिणामत: उनकी "चिंता" और "बोझ" का अंत हो.

हम दोनों लगभग रोज़ ही काफी देर तक नेट पर बातें करते थे.  वैभव ने अपने  बारे में, यानि अपनी पढाई, करियर और future -plans के बारे में विस्तार से बताया...और उसकी दिलचस्पी मेरे बारे में भी उतने ही विस्तार से जानने की थी...कभी-कभी उसकी कुछ बातें मुझे समझ नहीं आती थी, इसके पहले कभी भी  मैंने इस तरह किसी से इस तरह बात नहीं की थी...शादी का ये मेरा पहला "interview " था या ऐसे कहूँ कि इसके पहले कभी ऐसा कोई मौका नहीं आय़ा कि मुझे ये दिमाग में रखते हुए किसी से बात करनी पड़े  कि मेरी उससे शादी होने जा रही है या होने की संभावनाएं हैं...वैभव से बात करते हुए यही सब confusions और  ख़याल मन में चलते रहते थे....लेकिन इसके बावजूद उससे बात करना मुझे अच्छा लगने लगा, उसका बच्चों की  तरह हर सवाल को दो बार पूछना या बात करते-करते अचानक बहुत गंभीर हो जाना... ..पर कभी-कभी उसके सवाल मुझे परेशान कर देते थे.  कभी-कभी मुझे लगता था कि उसके बारे में कुछ ऐसा है जो मैं नहीं जान पा रही हूँ..या समझ नहीं पा रही हूँ ठीक से..

वैभव अक्सर मुझसे  एक सवाल बार-२ करता था और  जैसे उस सवाल का जवाब उसे अपने मन मुताबिक ही चाहिए भी था या शायद मुझे  ऐसा लगा. मैं खुद को गलत या दोषी नहीं मान पा रही थी लग रहा था कि वैभव ही इस पूरे मामले को गंभीरता से या गहराई से नहीं ले रहा था..इसका कारण  मेरे कुछ  अनुभव थे  जिन्होंने  मन के किसी कोने में कुछ कडवाहट सी भर दी थी. पर ऐसा भी नहीं था कि वैभव से बात करते हुए मैं किसी पूर्वाग्रह को अपने मन में रखे हुए  थी. जब वैभव ने परिवार, विवाह और करियर के बारे में मेरे  दृष्टिकोण, प्राथमिकताओं और अपेक्षाओं के बारे में जानना चाहा तो मैं कुछ उलझ सी गई. कभी ऐसी प्राथमिकताएं या लक्ष्य मैंने तय नहीं किये थे, जिसमे किसी एक का चुनाव करना पड़े और दूसरे को पूरी तरह छोड़ना या उपेक्षित करना हो. मुझे हमेशा ही यही लगा कि ज़िन्दगी में हर चीज़ सही अनुपात में नहीं मिलती, इस "सही" और "उचित" संतुलन को खुद ही साधना पड़ता है.


लेकिन शायद वैभव के ख्याल अलग थे. उसे तो एक निश्चित जवाब चहिये था, या तो  ऐसा या वैसा, बीच का कोई रास्ता नहीं.. वैभव चाहता था कि उसकी पत्नी अपने पति को  और अपने परिवार को अपनी प्राथमिकता माने ...और इसमें कुछ गलत भी तो  नहीं था. बहस और उलझन तब खड़ी हुई जब सवाल माता-पिता, पति और करियर जैसे मुद्दों पर आ गया. अपने माता-पिता की इकलौती बेटी सौम्या ने इतनी गहराई से इन मुद्दों पर ना कभी सोचा था और ना ही वो ऐसे सवालों के लिए तैयार थी. देखा जाए तो कभी ऐसे सवालों से उसका वास्ता भी नहीं पड़ा था कि उसे उनका जवाब देने के बारे में सोचना पड़ता. लेकिन ये सारी चीज़ें वैभव को तो मालूम नहीं थीं.

अपनी जगह वैभव भी ठीक था. पढाई और करियर के लिए बरसों तक घर-परिवार से दूर इन metro -cities में  रहने के बाद हरेक  इंसान की यही ख्वाहिश रहती है कि और कोई ना सही, पति-पत्नी तो एक-दूसरे के साथ हों, एक-दूसरे को समझें. ज़िन्दगी की इस आप-धापी में जहाँ हर इंसान कुछ ऊँचे और महत्वपूर्ण लक्ष्यों के पीछे दौड़ रहा है, वहाँ परिवार और जीवनसाथी के प्रति ज़िम्मेदारी कहीं ना कहीं पीछे छूट ही जाती हैं. तब ऐसे में निश्चित रूप से प्राथमिकताएं तय करना ज़रूरी हो  जाता है. "लाइफ-पार्टनर और लाइफ टाइम companion होना दोनों अलग-२ बातें हैं."

पर ये सब बातें इन्टरनेट की chat  window  में आसानी से नहीं कही जा सकती या समझाई जा सकतीं. वहाँ ना तो कहने वाले का चेहरा सामने होता है और ना ही उस चेहरे पर आने वाले  मनोभावों को देखा या समझा जा सकता है. ऐसे में सिर्फ शब्द ही माध्यम होते हैं सामने वाले तक अपनी बात पहुँचाने के लिए. शब्दों के चुनाव में गलती या उन शब्दों का सामने वाले पर प्रभाव और उनका मतलब  कैसा और किस तरह निकाला गया, ये बातें ऐसी स्थिति में बेहद महत्वपूर्ण बन जाती हैं.

 और कहीं ना कहीं यही वजह रही कि वैभव और मेरे बीच संवाद-सेतु धीरे-धीरे कमज़ोर होते हुए आखिर एक दिन पूरी तरह टूट ही गया. पर मैं  उस अनुभव को पूरी तरह नहीं भूल पायी, और ना ही दुबारा ऐसे किसी अनुभव से गुजरने के लिए खुद को तैयार कर पाई.
मुझे लगा जैसे वैभव के लिए ये सब बहुत casual  सा कुछ चल रहा था..बहुत बुरा महसूस हुआ था.. पता नहीं कैसे -कैसे ख्याल मन में आये वैभव के बारे में..लगा जैसे किसी ने मेरा मज़ाक बना के रख दिया था...२-३ हफ्ते इसी हाल में गुज़रे..फिर धीरे-धेरे मैं इसे एक बुरे सपने की तरह भूल गई....

इन्टरनेट पर किसी को समझना या खुद को समझा पाना बेहद मुश्किल काम है, और ये काम "सौम्या" से नहीं सध पाया. लेकिन ये इन्टरनेट दुनिया को बहुत छोटा बना  देता है. अपने घर में बैठे हम लोग सारी दुनिया के हाल जान जाते हैं. ऑरकुट, facebook , twitter हमें हर उस शख्स की उपस्थिति का, उसके दूर होते हुए भी आस-पास ही होने का अहसास करवाती हैं, जिनसे हम दूर जाना चाहते हैं.  अभी जब कुछ दिन पहले ही वैभव से दुबारा  एक social -gathering में  मिलना हुआ . वैसे इसे  मिलना तो नहीं कहा जा सकता,  दूर से ही एक-दूसरे को देखना या अपनी  नज़रों को उसी एक दिशा में भटकने से रोकना और किसी की नज़रों को अपनी पीठ पर, चेहरे पर महसूस करते हुए भी सहज और सामान्य बने रहना.. ये मिलना नहीं बस यूँ ही रास्ता टकरा जाना कहा जाना चाहिए.

 घर वापिस लौटकर सौम्या के मन में फिर से हलचल सी उठी और एक बार फिर से उसने अपने  ईमेल अकाउंट में वैभव के साथ हुई बातों की chat history ढूंढना और पढना शुरू किया. जब से वैभव के साथ उसकी बातचीत बंद हुई थी, उसने कभी उन पुराने chat records को पढने या देखने की ज़हमत नहीं उठाई थी. पर अब वो खुद को रोक नहीं सकी, उन chat  records को दोबारा पढने और उन पर काफी सोचने के बाद बस इसी नतीजे पर पहुँच पाई कि कहीं कुछ समझ की कमी रह गई.  और दो रातों से इसके बारे में सोचते रहने और बहुत से अनबूझे सवालों के जवाब ढूँढने की कोशिश में नींदें ही कहीं गुम हो गई...या शायद उन्हें आँखों में समाने और पलकों पर छाने की इज़ाज़त ही  नहीं मिली.  

लेकिन मैं ये भी  जानती थी क़ि अब ये chapter पूरी तरह से बंद हो चुका  है और इसे दोबारा खोलने से कोई अर्थ नहीं निकलना.   जब ये सब चीज़ें मेरे दिमाग में बहुत भारी हो गई तो मैं कुछ दिन के लिए निशिता के घर चली गई. उससे बात करके मुझे यही लगा कि जो हो गया सो हो गया, अब उसे भूल जाना ही ठीक है .... साथ ही ये भी लगा कि मैं  कुछ over -react सा कर रही हूँ. ठीक है ...होता रहता है....ज़िन्दगी में कुछ खट्टा कुछ मीठा ...कुछ कड़वा और कुछ फीका..

 घर लौट कर रजनीगंधा के पौधे को संभाला, देखा कि उसमे एक कलियों का गुच्छा निकल तो रहा है. गमले की खरपतवार साफ़ की, मिटटी की निराई की और उसमें खाद डाली. रजनीगंधा अब कुछ खिला हुआ और अच्छा  दिखने लगा
था.

 कुछ दिन बीते, मेरे दोस्तों ने एक holiday ट्रिप प्लान की..और बस आनन् -फानन सबने एक-एक बैग पैक किया और हम निकल पड़े ....शिमला, मनाली, डलहौज़ी, ऋषिकेश ..१० दिन कैसे गुज़रे पता ही नहीं चला... सफ़र का आखिरी पड़ाव  फिर से ऋषिकेश था..वहाँ एक बार फिर से रिवर -राफ्टिंग को जम के एन्जॉय करने के बाद हम सब एक restourent में coffee पीने बैठे थे.. जब निशिता ने धीरे से मुझे कहा, "देख सोमा, वो लड़का बहुत देर से तुझे ही देख रहा है." मैंने तुरंत कोई प्रतिक्रिया  नहीं दी, सिर्फ अपने कंधे उचका दिए . लेकिन फिर निशि ने कहा, "अरे देख, हमारी तरफ ही आ रहा है." अब मैंने भी उसी दिशा  में देखा...सचमुच कोई हमारी ही टेबल की तरफ आ रहा था और आ क्या रहा था, आ ही गया था.. एक पल को वो चुप खडा रहा..फिर जैसे एक शिष्ट मुस्कराहट के साथ उसने मुझे संबोधित किया, "  आप जयपुर में एक workshop में आई थीं  ना..." मैं बिना कुछ कहे उसे पहचानने की कोशिश करते हुए उलझन भारी नज़रों से उसे देखने लगी... फिर उसने कहा, "good governance and developing society "  पर एक workshop और सेमिनार था."

 ओह, हाँ अब कुछ  याद आय़ा ..लगभग साल भर हुआ इस बात को तो, लेकिन मैं अब भी इस सामने खड़े शख्स को नहीं पहचान पा रही थी. उसने भी शायद ये समझ लिया और कुछ झेंपते हुए  जाने के लिए मुड़ा..पर फिर आखिरी कोशिश के तौर पर उसने कहा, "कोई बात नहीं रहने दीजिये..आप भूल गई हैं ....पर मैं अब अच्छी हिंदी बोल लेता हूँ और समझ भी लेता हूँ. " इतना कहकर वो वापिस जाने लगा...
पर इस आखिरी वाक्य ने मेरे  दिमाग के तार झनझना दिए और जैसे एक फिल्म सी आँखों के सामने  घूम गई ....और मैंने  हँसते हुए पीछे से जवाब दिया.." लेकिन मेरी अंग्रेजी आज भी उतनी ही खराब है.."  सुनकर वो लड़का रुका ..उसकी आँखों में चमक थी और चेहरे क मुस्कराहट बढ़कर ख़ुशी में बदल चुकी थी..उसने कहा, "कोई बात नहीं, अब हम manage कर लेंगे.."

Destiny of Toy

The rush was getting less now at d railway station. One train has already departed n second one was about to come. An innocent girl child who was walking by her tender feet at d railway station, while walking, suddenly her eyes lingered upon a very cute toy, kept in a corner of d railway station. That was an amorous n lovely guy toy. His eyes were blue, having untidy hair n was wearing very shabby wardrobe. But still it was looking amazing.

The girl lifted d toy up in her hands with a great care. As soon as she lifted it up, d toy said “Thanks”. The girl became very happy to see d speaking toy. She dusted d toy’s wardrobe, combed its hair… now d toy seems more lovable than before. The girl kept talking with d toy for long n suddenly a thought came to her mind to clean d toy but d toy said to that girl that “don’t wet me because after making me wet if u would not dry me in ur hands then I shall lost my voice n my body parts can also be broken. ” Then d girl said to d toy that “don’t worry I would make u dry in my hands only”.

She started bathing d toy very delightedly and was caressing it in her little hands in order to make it dry, but suddenly her mom called her “Ziya……d train is coming, hurry up n hold ur dad’s hand”. As soon as she heard her mom’s voice she threw d toy from her hands at d same place n went to her dad, hoping by her tender feet.

One more train came n had departed. In d evening, at d same platform, another girl saw d same toy while walking there. “Oh! My God how cute it is! ” by saying this she lifted that toy up in her soft hands. She shook that toy but d toy had become silent. As she shook d toy twice or thrice the hand of d toy broke up n fall in her own hands. The girl threw d toy there n move on, n d toy kept gazing d girl going away from him with its blue stoned eyes….!!!