"vy mYN ajLfdI aF puwq…!"

-isLvcrn jwgI kuwsf-

   iksy mMqrI ny ies sLihr ivc 'crn' pfAuxyN sn. ies sLihr nUM Bfg lfAuxyN sn aqy ies sLihr nUM 'ijlHf' krfr dyxf sI! sVkF DoqIaF jf rhIaF sn, kUVf kbfVf aqy gMd cuwk ky bfhr swuitaf jf irhf sI. mMqrI dy lMGx vfly rsqy dIaF kMDF 'qy kUcf-kUcI qF do idn pihlF hI kIqI jf cuwkI sI. bwsF dy mUMh dUjI idsLf vwl krvf idwqy gey sn aqy cOrfhy qoN AurHy iksy vI bws nUM muVn df afrzr nhIN sI. trYiPLk dy anusfsLn 'juwqI' nfl lfgU krvfey jf rhy sn, trYiPLk lfeItF vfr vfr sfPL krvfeIaF jf cuwkIaF sn. trwkF vfilaF 'qy iCwqr Pyiraf jf cuwkf sI, "Qozf jrdf dfrU do idn iblkul bMd-dfhVI dy Kq vI nHI kwZxy-lwqF vI nHI muMnxIaF-cfdrf bMidaF mFgUM bMnxYN-hor nf sfrf 'smfn' eI ivc dI idsI jfvy-Jwgf Juwgf pf ky rwKxYN-muwCF Qwly rwKxIaYN-guMzy lwgdy EN-afpF hux ijlHy afly aYN-QoVf ijaf bMdy bx ky irhf kro-iksy kuVI kwqrI vwl nHI dyKxf-awK mfr ky gwl nHI krnI-trwk 'c cmkIlf vI nHI lfAuxf-BuwlgI mYN GuMz kwZxf jyTf vy mfPL krINN jF cwklo zrYvro purjy nUM inkl hwQoN nf jfvy jF ihwk Auqy sON jf vy sLrfbI bx ky argy gIq nHI suxny-jdoN iksy nfl gwl krnIN aYN inmrqf nfl krnI aYN-nhIN Qozy lsMs kYNsl qy trwk Tfxy dy aMdr!" zI tI E df hukm sI.

-"QonUM jY ihMd kihxf afAuNdY sfiraF nUM?" pI ey df zrfeIvrF nUM suafl sI.

-"afho-afAuNdY jI!" sfry boly.

-"awj qoN bfad 'suxf ptoilHaf'-'sdky lyh idaf Puwlf' jF 'ikvyN aYN mfl' vrgIaF avlIaF svlIaF gwlF nHI kihxIaF-ijhVf imly jY ihMd afKxI aYN!"

-"jy koeI 'ijhVI' imljy Pyr jI?" GoVy zrfeIvr ny pwuiCaf. Auh sfry zrfeIvrF 'coN GiqwqI sI.

-"Pyr vI jY ihMd bulfAuxI aYN!"

-"ikMnHf ku icr jI?"

-"ijMnF icr mMqrI jI af ky nHI muV jFdy!"

-"swq bcn jI." pI ey qur igaf.

   dukfndfrF dIaF dukfnF qoN muPLqI ivc Puwl-bUty ilaf ky lFGy 'qy sjfey jf rhy sn. sLihr df sfrf srkfrI amlf-PLYlf KLud sPLfeI dI jFc kr irhf sI. sfeIkl, ryVHI, gwzf, irksLf sB nUM Gry rihx dI hdfieq sI. iek bjurg nUM nfky vfilaF ny rok ilaf.

-"sfsrIkfl jI!" bjurg ny pulIs df adb kIqf.

-"kI nF aYN?" cMigafVy Cwzdy puls dy ispfhI ny puwiCaf.

-"swiBafcfr aY jI-nfly sfsrIkfl srkfr!"

-"sfsrIkfl idaf lwgidaf-qYnUM sfzIaF hdfieqF df nHI pqf Auey?" iek BUqry ispfhI ny swiBafcfr dy sfeIkl 'qy zMzf mfiraf.

-"nf sLyrf ieh qF myrf puwqF mFgUM rwiKaf ivaY!" swiBafcfr ny afpxy sfeIkl nUM ploisaf.

-"qYnUM puwiCaf kI aY-qUM boldf kI aYN?"

-"mYN qF srkfr awj pMjvyN idn Gr nUM afAunYN-pMj idnF df Kyq eI qfiVaf ivaf sI jI-kihMdy sI bfvrIaF afly gfiekF ny afAuxYN-AuhnF ny gIq gfAuxyN aY: qyrI qMg pjfmI dyK ky pft igaf myrf Jwgf-iqMn idn mylf lwgxYN-aKy swiBafcfrk mylf-blfAUjL cwzIaF aflIaF bIbIaF vI nwcxgIaF-aKy qUM KrUd kryNgf bIbIaF dIaF nMgIaF lwqF dyK ky-srkfr mYnUM Qozy swiBak bMdy Kyq rihx dI sKLq hdfieq kr afey-kihMdy jy iqMn idn sLihr viVaf qF lwqF BMn idaFgy-mYnUM Qozy hukm df kI pqf lwgxf sI-pr srkfr afh aYnI sPLfeI kIqI peI aY-iksy mhFpurK ny afAuxYN?"

-"qYnUM asLtfm 'qy ilK ky dyeIey? cwl dPLf ho aYQoN!" ispfhI ny iek zMzf hor sfeIkl 'qy mfiraf.

-"srkfr, iehdy nf mfro-myrf CYNkl puwqF mFgUM pfilaf ivaY-myry cfhy do mfrlo!"

-"cwl dPLf ho Xfr." dUjf ispfhI boilaf.

-"srkfr myrI gwl df iksy ny gOgf eI nHI gOilaf-afbdIaF suxF ky eI cuwp krgy-mYN puwiCaf sI beI iksy sfD sMq ny afAuxYN-aYnI sPLfeI hoeI jFdI aY-ikDry JMzIaF-ikDry PuwlJVIaF-ikDry Puwl bUty JUlx lwgpy-aYQoN qF srkfr mwJ vI nwk skoV ky lMGdI sI-qy awj qF Es gwl dy afKx mFgUM rMg Bfg lwgy pey aY---!"

-"mMqrI ny afAuxYN." ispfhI ny KihVf ijhf CuzfAux leI afiKaf.

-"vfh jI srkfr jI vfh! bwly bwly! jy mMqrI afAux nfl sLihr dI aYnI rUh bdl skdI aY qF srkfr inwq eI koeI nf koeI mMqrI CMqrI swd ilaf kro-sLihr dI jUn qF suDry-pr srkfr jdoN mMqrI af ky muV igaf-Pyr rUVIaF iPr aYQy ilaf lfvoNgy?"

-"qYnUM gwlF bhuq afAuNdIaYN."

-"hor gOrimMt jI mYnUM mnIafzr afAuxyN aYN?"

   ispfhI ny swiBafcfr dy tMby vrgy hwz 'qy zMzf mfiraf. 'txn' dI avfjL afeI.

-"jy idl KusL huMdY iek hor mfrlo jI-pr srkfr ieh dws idE beI AuQy qF nHI iksy bfvrIaF afly gfiek jF blfAUjL cwzI aflI bIbI ny nwcxf? nhIN mYN iPr muV ky Kyq jf vVdYN!"

-"cwl Bwj aYQoN! nhIN cwk ky sfilaf aMdr dy idaFgy!"

-"koeI 'qbfr nHI BfeI-afbdI iewjq afbdy hwQ." swiBafcfr ny mn 'c ikhf.

-"cMgf jI Pyr sfsrIkfl srkfr jI!" swiBafcfr sfeIkl 'qy cVH qur igaf.

   swiBafcfr jI ajy gey hI sn ik iek sohxI sunwKI kuVI lyzI sfeIkl 'qy afAuNdI idsI. ispfhI dy 'kuwqy PLylH' hox vfly ho gey.

-"afpF kOx aYN jI?" Auh kuVI dy kfPLI nyVy ho ky boilaf. mUMh 'coN lflH tpkI.

-"kI mqlb?" Aus dI vMJlI vrgI avfjL txkI. Br juafn, grnyz vrgI kuVI dIaF jobn-mwqIaF CfqIaF ny igwDf pfieaf.

-"Qozf sLuB nfm-aYQy kI krn afey EN?"

-"myrf nF qMdrusqI-aYQy qyry sLihr dI sPLfeI dyK ky afeIN aYN!" Aus dy kysU buwlH ihwly.

-"awj ikho ijhy bMidaF nfl vfh peI jFdY?" ispfhI kmlf hoieaf KVHf sI.

-"cwl jfx dy-ijwdyN mMqrI af ky muV igaf-ieh afpy muVjUgI-dyK lYx dy iehnUM iek awDf idn qur iPr ky mylf-dPLf kr!" dUjy ispfhI ny ikhf.

-"jfE jI!" ispfhI ny rfh idwqf qF Auh sfeIkl roVH qur geI.

-"qor shurI dI swp argI aY!" ispfhI izwgx vflf hoieaf KVHf sI.

-"hovy nf? juafnI qF sflI gDy 'qy afeI nHI mfn!" dUjf boilaf.

-"qyry aflI qF hux zMz bYTkF kwZxoN rhI-Auh qF BfeI sfh jy vroldI iPrdI aY!"

-"Auh qF iehdIaF rotIaF pkfeI cwly-vfh BlI aY!"

   puls vfilaF ny awgy kroly dyxy sLurU kr idwqy. irksLy vfilaF dy hwz kuwty, ryVHIaF vfilaF dy mOr syky, aKIr iek sVk dy iek KUMjy peI iek ibrD mfeI nUM jf AuTfieaf. mfeI dI puwC-igwC sLurU ho geI.

-"mfeI qUM aYQy bYTI kI krdI aYNN?"

-"afbdy jxidaF nUM ronIN aYN puwq!" mfeI aqIaMq duKI hoeI bolI.

-"kOx aYN qUM?" JuwgIaF koly sVk kMZy bYTI ies ibrD mfeI dy zMzf mfrnoN sMkoc kridaF Tfxydfr ny puwiCaf.

-"puwq mYN ajfdI aYN!" Aus dIaF JurVIaF Bry mUMh 'coN murdf avfjL inklI.

-"ikwQy rihnI aYN?"

-"JuwgIaF JONpVIaF 'c-kdy ibmfrF koly qy kdy grIb guribaF 'c-kdy kdy sVk dy iknfry-kdy CwpV dy kMZy-kdy isivaF 'c-kdy ikqy-kdy ikqy-hor dws puwq?"

-"ikhVf ipMz aY?"

-"koeI nHI puwq-byipMzI qy byGrI aYN mYN-twprIvfs aYN mYN qF!"

-"aYQy kI krdI aYN?"

-"myry puwq mYnUM Cwz ky qur gey-AuhnF nUM 'zIkdI aF puwqf!" Auh zusk peI. buJIaF awKF 'c pqf nhIN ikwQoN hMJU af gey sn.

-"kI ikhY? Cwz ky qurgy?"

-"vy afho-bVy cMgy-lYk puwq sI myry!"

-"Auh cMgy puwq kfhdy hoey mfeI-ijhVy mF nUM eI Cwz ky qurgy?"

-"vy puwqf qUM nHI smJ skdf ieh GfxIN-qUM ajy inafxYN puwq!"

-"kI nF aYN AuhnF df-KLbr leIey?"

-"sLyr bhfdr Bgq isMG-sUrmF krqfr isMG srfBf-!"

-"buVHIey qyrf idmfg qF nHI Krfb ho igaf?"

-"puwq myiraf zmfk Krfb nHI hoieaf-zmfk Krfb krqf myrf awg lwgVf-qfhIN qF kmlI hoeI iPrdI aF-qUM puwq ajy inafxYN bhuq-qYnUM kI-kI smJfvF?"

-"kIhny Krfb krqf qyrf idmfg?" Tfxydfr ivaMgmeI hwisaf. Aus nUM XkIn ho igaf sI ik ieh buVHI pfgl hY.

-"vy afh ijhVy JMzI aflIaF kfrF 'c jbkdy iPrdy aY-kI kihMdy aY iehnF zwubiVaF nUM? mMqrI-mMqrI!"

-"byby qyry nfl ibrD krky ilhfj krdYN-qUM hux ikrpf kr-ieQoN prHy hojf!" Tfxydfr ny zMzf AuWGridaF ikhf.

-"vy kfhqoN ijAux jokiraf-kfhqoN prHy hojF mYN? mYN ajfdI aF puwq!"

-"mfeI iewQoN dI mMqrI ny gujrnYN."

-"vy qyry mMqrI sLMqrI ipwCoN gujrdy hux 'gujr' jfx-pr mYN ipwCy ikAuN htF-mYN sfry ihMdosqfn dI mF aYN?"

-"Auey muMizE ieh buVHI afpxIaF pytIaF luhfAUgI-mMqrI jI dy lMGx qwk iehnUM afsy pfsy kro!" Tfxydfr ny ispfhIaF nUM abdflI hukm kIqf.

-"vy mYN qyry mMqrI dy kI golI mfrdI aF-myrf nF lY lY ky qF Auh myrI jnqf nUM luwtI jFdy aY tuwt pYxyN-iehnF nUM lwgjy iehnF nUM awg npuwqy idaF nUM!"

-"cwl mfeI KVHI ho!" Tfxydfr dy iesLfry 'qy iek ispfhI ny ibrD dI bFh PV ky AuTfAuxf cfihaf. pr Auh AuT nf skI.

-"vy mYQoN nHI AuiTaf jfxf ijAux jokiraf! myrf iek pfsf mfiraf ivaY!!" Auh iblk AuTI.

-"cwl mfeI qYnUM duafeI bUtI idvfeIey-TIk hojyNgI." ispfhI ny iPr AuTfAux leI ihMmq kIqI.

-"vy hux qUM mYnUM ikwQoN duafeI duafvyNgf kmilaf puwqf-myrf pfsf qF 1947 df mfiraf ivaY-vy kI kI qYnUM dwuK dwsF vy myiraf kmilaf puwqf---!" mfeI ny murdeI avfjL ivc vYx pfAuxy sLurU kr idwqy.

-"-----." ispfhI byvws hoieaf KVHf sI.

-"mYnUM qF rog eI bfhly aY 1947 qoN lY ky hux qwk dfxy mFgUM BuwjdI afAunIN aYN puwq-BuwjdI afAunI aF dfxy mFgUM-bQyrIaF 'vFvF vgIaF myry aYs ipMzy 'qy puwq-mfVy krmF krky Pyr vI bcdI rhI-afh bury idn dyKx afsqy puwq-hux qusIN nHI itkx idMdy---!"

   ibrD mfqf dI gwl aDUrI hI sI ik pihlF JMzI vflIaF gwzIaF dI "tUM-tF" aqy iPr "mMqrI jI - ijLMdfbfd!" df rOlf mwc igaf.

   sfrI puls mMqrI jI dy suafgq leI jut geI.

   mMqrI jI styj 'qy dmgwjy mfr rhy sn.

-"sfzf dysL awj dunIaF dI cOQI qkVI pfvr hY-hmry pfs pRmfxUM sLkqI hY---."

   mMqrI jI dy BfsLx qoN bfad vfrI afeI cfplUsF dI aqy iPr vfrI afeI gfiek joVI dI. styj 'qy gIq cwl irhf sI.

-"nfloN jf ky nfiex cwk leI - mYN qF soicaf ptolHf hwQ af igaf---!" gIq sux ky trwkF vfly "jY - ihMd" kihxf Buwl gey sn. iek pfsy ibrD ajLfdI aqy dUjy pfsy swiBafcfr BuwKy-iqhfey iek dUjy vwl dyK rhy sn. KUMjy KVHI qMdrusqI AuhnF vwl dyK dyK ky JurI jf rhI sI.