“memsaab pure dus kilo hain, har kilo ke barah rupaye.” Kabadiwaale ne akhbaaron ko bore mein daalte hue kaha. Tabhi ghar ke andar se Raghu borah bharke aur kabaad le aaya, Raghu ki maa ne kaha “beta tu yeh saare magazine aur tasweerein kabadi walein ko bech dega? Aur yeh tasweerein… ye toh tere manpasand abhinetri Chitralekha Sen ke , yeh bhi….” Raghu bina kuch bole ghar ke andar chala gaya.
Kabaadi wale ki dukaan
Botalon ki awaaz sunke kabadiwala, dukaan ke bahar aya “Boss yeh dus beer ke botal, teen whiskey ke botal aur yeh khuch akhbaar hain… batao kitna hua?” Sudhir ne apne bike se bora utaarte hue kaha. Tabhi uski nazar Raghu ke magazine par padi jismein Chitralekha Sen ki tasweerein thi. Sudhir un magazine ke tasweeron ko dhekhne laga, Chitralekha hindi film ki mashhoor abhinetri hai, saawlaan rang, badi badi aankhein , lambe kale baal, naak mein nathni, ankhon mein kajal aur hothon ke theek neeche teen kaale bindu jaise trikon ban rahi ho. Sudhir ko yeh tasweer bahaut pasand aayi, usne chupke se woh tasweer apni jeb mein rakh li. Kabadi waale se kabaad ke paise liye aur waha se chala gaya.
Sudhir aur Mishra ka ghar
Ghar ghuste hi Sudhir ne helmet bister pe pataka, aur jeb se Chitralekha ki tasweer cellotape se saamne deewar par lagayi. Thodi der mein uska room mate Mishra kamrein mein aya “Oh teri Chitralekha, kya baat hai , bahut hot lag rahi hai yaar! iski toh nayi film bhi aa rahi hai na…isse toh…..” “kabhardaar, bhabhi hai teri” Mishra tasweer ke paas jaake khada hua, “Abe Sudhir yeh toh teri woh dost hai na kya naam hai…… kya naam hai…..” “Ankita Rai…..mujhe bhi laga. Usse toh roz baat hoti hai chat par, lekin maine kabhi dhyaan nahi diya”. Sudhir ne agle din office se Ankita ke saath chat ki aur Chitralekha se uski shakal milne ki baat ki. Ankita ne kaha “Sahi hai , flirt karne ka yeh acha raasta dhundha hai,” Par jab Sudhir ke bahaut bolne par ki woh flirt nahi sach keh raha hai toh Ankita ne computer par google karke Chitralekha Sen ki tasveer dhekhi aur turant apne chair se uthkar washroom chali gayi. Apne haathon se baalon mein lagi clip nikal aur apne aap ko sheeshe mein khule baalon mein dhekhkar muskurai.
Agle kuch dino mein Sudhir ne har tarah ke film magazine kareed liye jinmein Chitralekha ki tasweer thi, usne bhi baaki logon ki tarah tasweeron ko ghanto niharna shuru kar diya. Chahe woh dafter ke computer ka wallpaper ho ya apna wallet. Chitralekha ka jaadoo Sudhir pe haavi ho chukka tha. Par baat yahan tak hoti toh theek tha, par jab kisiko junoon sawaar hota hai toh puri kayanaat bhi use pura karne ke liye koi kasar nahi chodti. Sudhir raaston mein ghumta toh kahin na kahin Chitralekha ki tasweer kisi hoarding pe ya kisi bus ke peeche ishtiharon mein nazar aa jati.
Kuch din baad…
Raat ke kareeb gyarah baj rahe the, Ankita ghar pe akeli thi, uske ghar waale kisi shaadi mein shahar ke bahar gaye hue the….tabhi calling bell baji. Ankita ne khidki se bahar jhaank ke dhekha toh Sudhir khada hua tha. Ankita ne kuch socha aur phir darwaaza khol diya “ hi…Ankita sorry iss time par disturb kiya , woh actually …… its little stupid par ..” Sudhir ne Ankita ko ek bag diya. Ankita ne bag ke andar se do cheezein nikali, Chitralekha Sen ki tasweer aur dusri ek dress. Ankita ne dhekha ki Chitralekha ne tasweer mein jo dress pehni thi wahi dress Sudhir laya tha. Ankita kuch bol paati use pehle Sudhir ne kaha “ kya tu yeh kapde pehnke mujhe dhikha sakti hai abhi,.?” “ Tu pagal ho gaya hai kya, yeh kya hai sab? Raat ke saade gyarah baj rahein hain aur tu…. .” “Please please Ankita ek baar yeh kapde pehnke dikha na, I want to see you in this. Dhekh, Chitralekha Sen se pata nahi kab milun par uski hum shakal ke saath agar do pal bitaun toh issmein kya bura hai bata….? Please Ankita….” Ankita kapde aur tasweer lekar apne kamre mein chali gayi. Usne kapde pehne aur phir sheeshe ke saamne khadi hokar muskurane lagi, thodi der mein Ankita bahar Sudhir ke saamne aake khadi hui aur Chitralekha ki tasweer Sudhir ke haathon mein thamai.
Sudhir Ankita ko dhekh kar saamne sofe par bhaith gaya. Use abhi bhi yakeen nahi ho raha tha , wahi aankhon mein mascara, wahi naak mein nathni wahi hothon par laali wahi saawlaan rang mano Chitralekha uske samne khadi hai, woh thoda muskuraya aur phir khada hokar Ankita ke paas gaya aur apne dono haathon se Ankita ke chehre ko chua ki tabhi Sudhir cheekh ke bola “ Ankita kya yaar.. tumne tasweer thik se dhekhi nahi, hothon ke neeche teen kaale bindu hai woh tumne lagai nahi, tumhara …tumhaara dhyaan kahan rahta hai yaar…” Sudhir ne tasweer samne table par patak di. Tabhi Ankita ne kaha “ Get lost…just ..just get out of here, what do you think of yourself , nikal jao. Ek toh tumhare liye main yeh raat ke gyaraah baje nautanki karun aur uske upar se tum mujhe ye attitude dhikhao…enough just get lost….” “ Sorry Sorry Ankita I did not mean to hurt you , oh kya bataun matlab woh teen bindu agar…..ok ok main chala jata hun bura mat mano , I am sorry.” Yeh kehte hue Sudhir bahar chala gaya aur Ankita ne uske muh par darwazaa band kar diya.
Ankita agle din subah bister se uthkar apne balcony mein akhbaar lene gayi ki, uski nazar table par pade Chitralekha ki tasweer par padi. Usne wo tasweer uthai aur apne dressing table pe sheeshe pe laga lee. Apne aap ko sheeshe mein dhekhte hue sochne lagi ki Sudhir jo keh raha tha woh kuch hadh tak toh theek hai . Usse laga ki use Sudhir par cheekhna nahi chahiye tha.
Sudhir aaj office nahi gaya, woh Delhi talkies ke bahar Chitralekha sen ki nayi picture ke poster ko dhekh raha tha. “ Madam, aaj ke chaaron show ki ek-ek ticket dijiye. Sudhir ek ke baad ek show dhekhta raha , sattar mm ke screen par Chitralekha par camera jab shot leta closeup, colgate se manjhe hue Sudhir ke chamkte hue daat bahar nikal aate, picture khatham hui toh Ankita ki yaad aa gayi… ki tabhi phone baj utha. “ Arre Sudhir woh tasweer tayaar kar liya maine, tu aake mere ghar se le jaa.” “ Thanks Vijay, tu nahi hota to mera kya hota” (filmi style).
Mishra ghar ghusta hai “ yeh kya hai, Chitralekha Sen ke tasweer ke saath tune…..” aur Mishra zor zor se zameen par letkar hasne laga…Sudhir bister se utha aur paas padi cigarette ko lighter se jalakar Ankita ki tasweer ko dhekhne laga jo deewar par Chitralekha ke tasweer ke saath lagi hui thi. “ abe Sudhir yeh kya hai, Ankita ki tasweer kahan se mili tujhe, aur yeh kya hubahu uski makeup bhi waise hi kiya hai?” “woh maine uske FB account ke profile pic se picture nikal li thi aur mere ek dost ko bola ki isse Chitralekha jaise computer mein makeup kar de toh…” yeh sunkar Mishra phir se hasne laga” beta tu toh gaya, Ankita ko pata hai?” Sudhir ne sar hilake naa kardiya.
Ek hafte baad…..
Ankita Sudhir ko phone karti hai “ hey, tu chat pe aata kyun nahi aaj kal?, acha sun kal dophar ko mil sakta hai lunch par, ek surprise hai?” “ Kahan milna hai?” “Mandi house, dophar teen baje.” Sudhir thik teen baje mandi house ke paas ek bus stand par cigarette peete hue wait kar raha tha. Tabhi ek auto uske saamne aake ruka, Ankita ek printed cotton ki grey saari aur ek off white rang ka blouse pehne hue auto se utarti hai. Auto wale ko paise dene ke baad woh Sudhir ke paas aati hai muskuraate hue” hello sir kaise hain aap?’” Sudhir Ankita ko iss roop mein dhekh kar sharmane laga aur apne ungliyaan apne baalo mein pherta raha, yeh dhekh kar Ankita hasne lagi, Ankita ne apni hasi ko rokkar Sudhir ko ishaare se apne hothon ke neeche teen binduon ki taraf nazar dene ko kaha joki trikon akaar mein tha. Sudhir abhi bhi sharma raha tha. “ Sudhir…oh gawd you are blushing… tere toh kaan laal ho gaye , kya mein itni hot lag rahi hun is grey saari mein?” Sudhir ne phir haste hue kaha “ yeh un hazzaron kwaishoin mein se ek thi ki koi aisi ladki in kapdon mein mere saamne aaaye , jo tune aaj puri kar dya.” “ chal ab lunch karte hain, par uske pehle hum yahan ek theatre mein natak dhekhne jaayenge” Sudhir tabhi bhi Ankita ko dhekhta raha aur phir kaha “natak kyun ?” “are miyaan aap sirf Chitralekha ki shakal surat tak ki aatke hai, uske baarein mein bhi to jaaniye, maine pura research kiya hai. Chitralekha ko theater dhekhne ka aur usmein acting karne ka bada shauk tha , initially woh theatre karti thi uske baad hi woh filmon mein acting karne lagi, khaane mein use Chinese achi lagti hai, kyunki woh dilli mein pehle rahti thi toh Haus Khas village mein ek naami Chinese restaurant hain wahan pe woh aksar jaati thi, toh hum bhi wahin chalenge” Yeh kehte hue Ankita muskurai “Wah! I am impressed, kya baat hai yaar, tu toh mujhse bhi aage nikal gayi. Kahin tujpar uska asar toh nahi ho raha.?”
Aise kahi din beet gaye, Ankita aur Sudhir ek dusre ko aur kareeb se janne lage shayad Chitralekha ke madhyam se par ab baat sirf chat par nahi ruki thi, jab kabhi akhbaaron mein Chitralekha ki tasweer chhapti toh Sudhir Ankita ko SMS karta ki teri tasweer chhapi hai aur kabhi kabhaar yeh bhi hota ki Sudhir kehta “Arre o Ankita tere duplicate ki tasweer chhapi hai akhbaar mein” Yeh sunkar Ankita bhi zor zor se hans deti, dono ghanto baatein karte kabhi Cannaught Place ke coffee home mein toh kabhi kisi pub mein. Ab Ankita…. Ankita nahi rahi Chitralekha jaise ban gayi thi, uske sochne ka dhang, khana peena, chalna , logon se baatein karna sab mein ek Chitralekha jaisi baat thi. Ek din Ankita ki maa uske kamrein mein aayi, Ankita bister par leti hui Chitralekha ki koi pasandita novel pad rahi thi “ Ankita …. Ankita kahan hai tu?” “maa kya hua , main yahan hun , kya ho gaya hai tumhe?” “ kya ho gaya hai mujhe, yeh sawaal main tujhe poochna chahati hun, mujhe meri beti nahi iss kamrein mein Chitralekha mushoor abhinetri nazar aa rahi hai” Ankita samajh gayi uski maa kis taraf ishaara kar rahi thi, “ nahi maa main toh theek hun woh Sudhir kehta hai na toh ….” “ toh matlab kya , kya tu yeh sab Sudhir ke kehne pe kar rahi hain aur agar haan toh kyun kar rahi hai?” “matlab?” “matlab Sudhir ke liye tu sab kar rahi hai or you are liking the fact that you are now one more Chitralekha types?” Iss sawal ka koi jawab nahi tha uske pass, par woh sochne lagi, ki kya ye Sudhir ke liye uske yeh feelings the ki usne use khush dhekhne ke liye Chitralekha ki har ek cheez ab poori tarah apne zehen mein utaar lee thi ya use ab yeh Chitralekha wali zindagi achchi lagne lagi thi. Par ab shayad bahaut der ho gayi thi, ab use dar lagne laga tha ki agar woh yeh sab bandh kar degi toh shayad Sudhir usse dur ho jayega, jo kushi ke lamhe usne Sudhir ke sath beetayein hain woh shayad phir na bitaa paaye aur dusri taraf Chitralekha ka astitwa usmein aise haavi ho chukka tha ki woh khud ko kahin bhul chuki thi. Dheere dheere mahino guzar gaye, film star Chitraleka ki kuch filmein pitne shuru ho gaye, ab woh pehle ki tarah akhbaaro ke pehle panno mein nazar nahi aati thi, TV par bhi kam interviews aate the uske, kahin na kahin iss film hasti ka suraj doob raha tha aur saath mein Sudhir ka aakarshan bhi. Ankita se bhi ab kam baat hoti thi uski, chat mein bhi baat hoti toh sirf Hi aur Hello tak. Ankita milna chahe toh Sudhir kuch kaam hai karke milne se inkaar kar deta.
July ka mahina tha, mausam apne khel dhikah rahi thi, kabhi baarish toh kabhi dhoop. Ankita ko office se nikalte thodi der ho gayi. bahar nikli toh kisi tarah aapne aap ko raste ke kichad se bachane ke liye dhyan se haath mein chatri lekar bus stand ki taraf jaa rahi thi, achanak dusri taraf se ek car tezi se aakar Ankita ke paas se kichad uchalte hue nikal gayi. Ankita ka poora dress kharab ho gaya, kuch cheethe uske muh par bhi lagi. Usne chunni se muh saaf kiya aur paas khade auto mein sawar ho gayi. Auto mein bhaithte hi auto wale ne kaha, “kahan jana hai memsaab?” Ankita ne auto ke seat ke dono taraf ke deewar par Chitralekha ka poster laga hua paya, woh auto se utar gayi, autowala wahan se chala gaya, Ankita ko yaad aaya ki uski chatri auto mein hi reh gayi, woh akeli bus stand mein baarish mein bheeg ne lagi.
Kabaadi wale ki dukaan
Bottalon ki awaaz sunte hi kabadiwala dukaan ke bahar aya “ Yeh kuch beer ke botal aur kuch magazines hai, batao kitna hua. Kabadiwale ne Sudhir ko dhekha aur phir magazine ko tolne laga “Har ek kilo ab dus kilo ho gaya sahaab, maal kahin aur bik nahi raha , Sudhir ne kuch nahi kaha, paise liye aur bike mein bhaith ke chala gaya.
