Inquilab

"Just tell me that it was all a misunderstanding!" Unhone dard bhari awaz mein pucha, aur bebasi unki awaz mein saf sunai de rahi thi jisne mera dil kachod kar rakh diya.

"Please, I am begging you." Yeh alfaaz jaise teeron ki tarah seedha dil ke paar ho gaye. Unki awaaz ki dard bhari kapkapahat, unki aankhon ki nami, aur woh bebasi jo unke har shabd ke saath aur gehri hoti ja rahi thi-sab kuch mujhe tod raha tha.

Meri saanson ki raftaar tez ho gayi. Maine apni aankhein band kar li, jaise agar maine unki taraf dekha toh apne jazbaat par kabu na rakh paungi. Lekin meri chup, meri khamoshi, unke sawalon ka jawab de chuki thi. Aur shayad yehi jawab unke dil ko sabse zyada chot pahuncha gaya.

Ek lamba sannata chha gaya. Main bas unki saans lene ki awaz sun sakti thi-tez, bechain, aur dukh se bhari hui. "Was that all a lie?" Unki awaaz ab ek kanpate hue ilzaam ki tarah lagi. "Did you never love me? Not even for a moment?"

Meri ungliyan meri dupatte ko bechaini se muthhi mein jakkar rakhne lagi. Main unse aankhein nahi mila paayi. Phir unhone woh shabd kahe jo mujhe meri hi nazron mein gira gaye.

"Was this marriage also a part of your plan?"

Ab ki baar, unki awaaz mein sirf dukh nahi, ek toot chuki rooh ki goonj thi. Jaise har umeed, har yakeen, har pyaar ek pal mein bikhar gaya ho.