Parchhayi

"Kya soch rahe the? ankhein moond ke."
"Kuchh nahi, zara si ankh lagg gayi thi. Tum yaha kaise?" Sudipto hadbada ke aramkursi se khada ho gaya.
"To fir ye ansoo? Baba se milne ayi thi, Bade Babuji se ijazat mile to kuchh din Baba ko apne sath le jaungi. Hisaab kitaab lagate lagate ankhein kamzor ho gayi hain, ilaaj karwana hai." Lekha ne chintit svar mein kaha.
"Baba ijazat dedenge, apne purane munim ko ankhein khone na denge. Pakke vyapari hain mere Baba." Sudipto dilasa dete huye bola.
"Madhu kaha hai? Dikh nahi rahi." Lekha idhar udhar dekhte huye boli.
"Maayke gayi hai. Dus mahine hone aaye. Usey yaha ke taur tareeke raas nahi aa rahe the." Sudipto udaas ho gaya.
"Isiliye ankhein band karke ro rahe the?"
"Nahi, wo to ek sapna dekha, ek purani yaad dimag ke kahi kisi kone mein baithi huyi thi, wahi nikal ayi."
"Kya dekha?"
Sudipto ek nazar Lekha ko dekha, fir munh fer liya. Ek aansoo ab kayi ban chuke the.
"Bolo na, aisa kya dekha jisne dara diya?"
Lekha uske samne jaa khadi huyi.
"Ro kyu rahe ho? Sab thik ho jayega. Pareshan na ho, Madhu zyada din door thodi rah payegi apne asli ghar se."
"Yaad hai jab hum sab school jaate the bachpan mein? Main, tum, Madhu aur muhalle ke baki sab?"
"Haan yaad hai, bade babuji to Alakh kaka ko bhi bhejte the tumhare sath, tum hi unhe wapis bhej dete the."
Fir Lekha hans padi. Shikayat ke lahje mein bol padi fir, "Kaka to chinta lagi rahti ki unke chhote Babuji ko dhoop na lag jaaye,
isiliye mujhe tumhare peeche peeche chatri leke daudna padta tha."
Sudipto ke chehre pe halki si muskaan aa gayi. "Haan, wahi yaad aa gaya"
"Ek dopahar, jab tum mere sath sath chhatri pakad ke chal rahi thi, main kabhi pedd ki chhanv, kabhi sadak mein tumko dhakelta hua age age Madhu ke pichhe bhagta tha."
"Bachpan se hi chanchal the tum", Lekha fir se hanss padi.
" Madhu, agey agey apni saheliyon ke sath hansi mazak karte huye chalti thi, din duniya se bekhabar. Mujhe uski muskaan bahut passand thi. Aur jo wo karine se baal banake ati thi!"
"Aur jo tum, daudke uske pass usse phool dene jaate the, baalon mein lagaane ke liye!"
"Haan, aur uski kaali ankhein, uspe kajal laga ke ati thi. Uski rang birangi chhatri... main dhoop mein daudta tha aur fir tum mere picche.. mere upar chhaya karne ke liye."
"Sach mein, meri parchhayi ki tarah tum mere sath rahti thi, hamesha. Aur main kisi aur ki parchhayi ke pichhe bhagta tha."
Sudipto Lekha ki ore dardbhari nigaahon se dekhne laga.
"Ab der ho gayi hai."
Lekha ki awaz se Sudipto jaise nind se jaga ho.
"Mujhe chalna chahiye, suraj dhalne wala hai. Fir kabhi aungi. Namaste"
Sudipto khidki se mudke Lekha ki ore dekhne laga, dhalte huye suraj ki kiran se Sudipto ki parchhayi fir se ban rhi thi Lekha ki ore, lekin uspe girne se pahle hi khatm ho rahi thi iss baar.