Na Jaane Kyon...

Chaand ne kuch kaha

Sameer stepped out in the backyard. It always gave him solace to sit near the swimming pool and watch the night sky reflected in smooth surface of water. He needed to calm his chaotic thoughts to decide what to do next.

"Arre Sameer, tujhe bhi neend nahi aa rahi? Aa, idhar aake baith mere paas." Nanu called out the moment he saw Sameer.

The voice startled Sameer, but he gathered himself and settled next to nanu on white marble steps of the pool.

"Aapko neend kyon nahi aa rahi, nanu? Aap toh hamesha jaldi so jaate hain." Sameer asked.

Nanu let out a deep exhale, "Aaj teri nani ki bohot yaad aa rahi hai toh maine socha aake thodi der usse baat kar lun."

Sameer looked at him sharply.

Nanu laughed at his shocked expression, "Arre nahi, na main pagal hun na woh bhoot hai. Bas inn taaron mein usse dekh leta hun, aur dil ki do chaar baatein kar leta hun."

Looking up wistfully at the stars, his voice turned softer, "Practically socho toh yeh sach nahi hota magar dil se maano toh sab sachha lagta hai. Chahe meri baatein ek tarfa hoti hain lekin sukoon deti hain. Mujhe mehsoos hota hai ki maine apne dil ki aawaz uss tak pohoncha di."

Sameer looked up at the bright stars glittering in the inky sky. It looked like a celebration.

"Nanu, aapko nani se kab pyar hua tha?" Sameer did not even realise what he had asked.

"Pehli nazar mein." Nanu let out a deep breath.

Sameer turned to look at him.

"Haan beta. Usse dekhte hi main jaise kho gaya tha. Dil kiya bas dekhta hi rahu. Aankhen uske chehre pe atak gayi thi. Woh kaafi door thi mujhse phir bhi uski aankhon ki gehrai mere hosh udda rahi thi." Nanu was clearly reminiscing about their first meeting.

"Kahan mile the aap nani se?" Sameer was suddenly very keen to know everything.

Nanu shook his head, "Mila nahi tha, chup ke dekhne gaya tha uss ladki ko jisse gharwale mere rishte ki baat kar rahe the."

Sameer was surprised.

"Haan beta. Hamara rishta ghar ke bade hi tay karte the. Humein bas mandap mein jaana hota tha, bina jaane ki jisse zindagi bhar ka rishta judd raha hai woh dikhta kaisa hai." Nanu chuckled, patting Sameer's chhek, "Lekin main teri tarah shareef nahi tha... mujhe dekhna tha Gayatri ko. Bas, phir kya tha... doston ko kaam diya, unhone thode din uske ghar pe nazar rakhi, aur mujhe pata chal gaya ki woh hafte mein do baar mandir jaati hai. Baaki sab jagah koi na koi saath hota tha par mandir akele jaati thi. Toh hum pohoch gaye mandir, agle somvaar ko."

Sameer was more curious, "Aapne baat ki unse?"

Nanu laughed, "Pyar karne wale logon ke paas kuch ho na ho, ek cheez ki hamesha kami rehti hai... kismat. Uss din teri nani ke saath uski bua aa gayi mandir. Ab unke saamne main apna chehra bhi nahi dikha sakta tha kyonki woh hamare ghar aake mujhse mil chuki thi... fauran pehchan jaati."

"Oh no! Phir?" Sameer sat upright.

Nanu straightened his shoulders, "Phir kya, haar manne walon mein se thodi hun main. Ek dost ne safed kurta pyjama pehna hua tha... bas ek ram naam ka kapda mandir ke neeche ki dukaan se khareed ke uske kandhe pe daala aur bada se teeka laga ke bhej diya."

"Nani se baat karne?" Sameer asked anxiously.

Nanu gave him a small pat on the head, "Meri hone wali biwi se baat karne kisi aur ko kyon bhejta? Dost ko bheja buaji ka dhyan batane... taaki main Gayatri se baat bhale hi na kar paun lekin kareeb se dekh toh lun."