Platform
“Uff! sham ko bhi kitni garmi hai, signal abhi bhi laal hai. Pata nahi hara kab hoga” Bikram Ghosh, Mizapur ke rehne wale the. Wo peshe se station master the aur peechle chaar saal se Howrah station mein kaam karte the. Ab Mizapur ke station mein tabaadla lekar wapas jaa rahe the. Mizapur ek chota station tha aur wahan unhi logon ko bheja jata tha jo shaadishuda nahi hote, kyunki wahan jagah ki thodi tangi thi, isliye railway quarter ki jagah platform mein hi station master ke kamrein se laga hua ek chota kamara banaya gaya tha, wahin Bikram Ghosh ke rehne ki waiwastha ki gayi thi.
Dusre din se hi Bikram ko yeh lagne laga ki, yahan sabse jyada maatra mein jo cheez milti thi woh thi boriyat. Bikram Ghosh ke aelawa yahan ek chaiwala aur ek railway sahayak Roku hi tha. Chota station hone ke wajah se koi train rukti nahi thi. Kisi ko utarna ho toh train ki chain keech deta aur utar jaata, yahan train ki awajahi kam hoti thi toh platform mein bhi hulchul na ke bararbar hi thi.
‘Do din baad’
Beeti raat kuch aisi ghatna ghati ki Bikram uske baad se thoda soch mein pad gaye the. Hua yun ki waise to station mein sanatta pehle jaisa hi tha, akhri train ko jhandi dhikhane ke baad Bikram ne kamrein mein jakar angraian lete hue socha ki aaj ka kaam toh nipat gaya hai, ab araam farmaya jaye, ki tabhi chaiwala aa dhamka, “Bikram ji chai lenge thodi si bachi hui hai, agar aap yeh chai ka akhri pyaala le lenge toh main bhi ghar chala jaaonga” Bikram ne ghari mein samaye dhekha. Saare barah baj rahe the. Bikram ne chai ka glass usse liya aur saath wale kamrein mein chale gaye jahan woh rahte the…..thodi der mein ek tez rafter train platform se guzarne lagi, andazaan 180 kilometre prati ghante ki raftaar se, Bikram apne bister mein bhaithkar kitab padte hue chai ki chuski le rahe the, train ki awaaz sunte hi unhone kitab bister par rakhi aur sochne lage iss samay par toh koi train guzarne ki baat hai nahi, aur guzar bhi rahi hai toh jab tak woh hari jhandi nahi dhikahyenge toh train platform se guzar kaise sakti hai.. Bikram bhag kar apne kamrein ki chaukhat par aakr kahde samne platform ka nazara dhekhte hain, unki aankhein pahti ki pahti raha jati hai.
Roku us train ko hari jhandi dikha raha tha aur chaiwala chalti hui train mein lapak lapak kar chai bech raha tha, yeh nazara dhekh kar Bikram sochne lage bhala 180 kilometre prati ghante ke raftar se chalne wali train mein chaiwaalein ko kya nazar aa raha tha? aur woh us chalti hui tain mein chad kaise raha tha ?, aur wapas apne kamrein mein chale gaye ke tabhi kisi ne peeche se Bikram ke khandhe par haath rakha, jab unhone ghabrakar peeche dhekha toh chai wala khada tha “saab chai ke paise” Bikram ka pura shareer kaanp raha tha, unhone kisi tarah pocket se batua nikala aur paise de diye, woh wahan se chala gaya, saamne pade paani ke gilas ki taraf Bikram ne jaise hi haath badaye to laga ki ek aur train station se guzar rahi thi, woh turant bahar gaye …aur iss baar bhi wahi nazaara tha …
Bikram ne agle do din railway ke bade adhikariyon se baat-cheet karne ke liye bahaut baar phone ghumaya, par asafalata hi haath lagi. Do din se wahi chai wala unhe chai bhi pila raha tha, aur raat ke nazare mein bhi koi parivartan nahi tha, Aise hi ek raat ki hi baat hai Bikram apni kursi par bhaithe akhri train ke platform par aane ka intezaar kar rahe the ki achanak unke kamrein mein Roku aa dhamka, Bikram Roku ko acahnak apne kamrein mein dhekh kar hadbadi mein kursi se neeche zameen par gir pade. Tabhi unki nazar uske pairon par gayi, unhone socha ki bhooton ke pair ulte hote hai. Par iske toh pair seedhe the!, toh yeh bhooth toh nahi ho sakta wo yeh soch hi rahein the ki Roku ne poocha “saab aapko chot toh nahi lagi?” Bikram abhi bhi ghabraye hue the aur iski wajah se unka gala bhi suukh raha tha, Roku ne phir poocha “ aap khana abhi lenge ya baad mein?” Roku ke sawal ka Bikram ne koi jawab nahi diya par ek aur sawal khud kar bhaithe “raat ko 180 kilomtre prati ghante wali train ko jhnada kaun dhikhata hai?” Roku yeh sun kar zor zor se hasne laga, Bikram ke paseene abh bhi choot rahe the “aji saab pehle aap yeh toh sochiye jo banda 180 kilometer ki raftar se train chala raha hoga, kya woh train se hari jhandi dhekh bhi paya tha? nahi na…” Roku Bikram ki shakal dhekh kar phir se hasne laga.”toh phir” Bikram ne phir poocha “saab woh jhanda dhekh paya tha kyunki jhanda dhikhane wala bhi bhooth tha aur woh train bhi bhootiya hi thi” bolke woh phir se hasne laga…. Bikram kuch bole uske pehle hi Roku ne phir kaha “darasal saab aapke pehle mera judwa bhai jo hubabu meri tarh dhikne mein tha wo yahan station master tha” “acha yeh baat hai…tumhare bhai ki maut kaise hui?” tabhi chaiwala wahan aa jata hai aur Bikram phir se ghabrake kursi se gir padte hain….
Roku
“Panch din se yeh jo naye station master aye hai, mujhe ekdum pasand nahi…. Chotha sa toh station hai iske liye phir se ek station master! Sare kaam toh main hi nipta raha tha abhi tak, phir inki kya zarroorat. Par yeh thoda ajeeb sa hai, kal ki hi baat hai, dar toh aise rahe the bhoot ki baaton se jaise unke liye koi nayi cheez ho. Matlab jab main unke kamrein mein gaya yeh poochne ki khana aap abhi khaoge ya akhri train ko hari jhandi dhikhane ke baad.... toh maine dhekha bhaisaab apni kursi samet deewaar par tange hue hain, aur mujhe dhekh kar ghabraa kar kursi se niche gir pade, hala ki kursi abhi bhi deewar par tangi hui thi. Main bhi ghabhra gaya, maine phir bhi unke sawaalon ka jawab diya, har sawal jawab pe unki aankhon ki putliyan laal ho jati aur phir kaali. Bhala aisa bhi kabhi hota hai, meri aankhon ki putliyan toh kisi ki baat sunkar laal nahi hoti, haan hari zaroor ho jati hai.
Buri Aadat
“Maa mere jootein kahan hai, yahin toh rakhe the maine,” “ are yahin kahin honge, kitne baar bola hai ki jooton ko joote ke rack mein rakho, par nahi, sahab toh bus apne hi dhun mein rahte hain, “ “abhi taane mat do bolo mere jootein kahan hai…maa o maa kahan chali gayi….”
Usi raat ko achanak dhai baje Raghu ki neend khul gayi, use yaad ayaa ki uske jootein store room mein pade hain. Raghu ka kamra dusri manzil par tha, aur store room pehli manzil par. Ghar ke andar se hi seediyan neeche wali manzil pe jati thi, Raghu ne kuch socha aur phir dabe pao se seedi utarkar store room mein chala gaya, idhar udhar dhekne par usse apne jootein mil gaye jo neele rang ke the. Woh unhe dekh kar khush ho gaya, usne jootein pehane hi the ki.. uski cheekh nikal gayi…..Raghu ki maa cheekh sun kar achanak se uthi aur apne pati ko jagaya. “tumhe cheekhne ki awaaaz sunayi di ?” Raghu ke pitaji ne neend mein kaha “haan sunai di,“ “shayad store room se aa rahi hai” Raghu ki maa ghabraa kar boli. Raghu ke pitaji thoda chidke ke bolein “theek hai tum chalo main aata hun,” “Raghu ki maa bhagte bhagte store room ki taraf ja rahi thi, Raghu abhi bhi wahin bhaitha hua tha uske pairon se khoon nikal ke store room ke pharsh par phail gaya tha, Raghu ki maa store room mein pahaunch te hi khoon bhare pharsh par phisal gayi, magar woh jhat se uth bhaithi aur Raghu ke pairon se khoon nikalta dhekh rone aur cheekhne lagi. Raghu ke pitaji bhi peeche peeche bhaghte hue aaye aur store room mein Raghu ki maa ko rote hue paya “kya hua Mandakni kya hua? ro kyon rahi ho?..” Raghu ki maa ne uske pitaji ke taraf dheka aur cheekh kar boli “dhekho Raghu ke pairon se kitna khoon nikal raha hai…” Raghu ke pitaji ne apna sar phir se cheedh kar hilaya aur apni patni ke sar ko pakad ke kaha “Mandakni kya bol rahi ho khoon to tumhare sar se nikal raha hai, na ki Raghu ke pairon se, yeh dhekho,” “par kaise?” Mandakini hosh mein aao Raghu chaar saal pahle mar chukka hai, thak gaya hun main tumhari yeh sab harkate dhekh kar…” “par tumne toh kaha tha ke cheekh tumhe bhi sunayi di hai?” “kya karun ab nahi sunne ke bawajood bhi bolna padta hai, warna tum ladai karna shuru kar deti ho….” “papa aap phir se store room mein bhaithe ho, aur apne aap mein badbada rahe ho, aapko mana kiya tha na yahan aane se,..?” “main kahan aaya, yahan teri maa zabardasti mujhe yaha khinch ke le aayi, kaha Raghu ki cheekh sunayi de rahi hai, maine kaha Raghu chaar saal pehle mar chukka hai par phir bhi nahi man rahi thi, keh rahi thi is jootein mein jung wale keel se Raghu ko chot aayi hai, jab maine kaha ki uske pairon se nahi tumhare sar se khoon nikal raha hai tab woh meri taraf hi dhekhne lagi jaise maine kuch galat kaha ….bol?” “Papa aap chalo apne kamrein mein.
“hello doctor main Raghu bol raha hun, its getting insane, har chauthe din papa ko ab attack aa raha hai, “ “ kya hua relax, ?” Raghu rote hue “main kya karun its been 15 years mom ki death ko, but he is still in that thing, har dusre din koi na koi purani situation ubhar aati hai and then he starts….” “ ok have some water and then talk to me” “15 saal pehle main jab hostel se wapas aaya toh ek din store room mein aise hi khuch doondne ke liye gaya, mujhe mere purane neele jootein nazar aaye, maine unmein se ek jootein mein pair rakha hi tha ki uske andar ek jung wala keel mere par mein ghus gaya. Mere cheekhne par maa kamrein se nikal ke aane wali thi par pitaji ke jootein jinhe bister ke neeche hona chahiye, pitaji ke buri aadat ke wajah se kamrein ki chaukhat par hi pade the, un jooton mein maa ka paair phas gaya aur woh wahin gir padi aur unka sar phat gaya jisse unki mauth ho gayi ….. yeh itna jaldi hua ki pitaji kuch samajh hi na paye, main bhi langdate hue khoon se sane pairo ke saath maa ki taraf aaya par bahaut der ho gayi thi.” “Raghu Ghosh I think you need to see a psychiatrist” “haan pata hai par papa taiyar ho tab na” “ look Raghu tumhe yeh maan lena chahiye ki for past four months tum mujhe yeh kahani baar baar bata rahe ho par tum yeh kyun nahi man na chahte ke in that incident jab tumahare mom ki death hui uss shock mein tumhare dad ki bhi death ho gayi thi, please apne aap ko sambhalo…
Gas
Mukund ki tabiyaat subah se thik nahi thi, baar baar sandaas jane par bhi tabiyat mein koi sudhaar nahi hua, aaj kaam par bhi jana tha. Mukund D.M. movers & Packers ke liye kaam karta tha aur aaj kisi ke ghar ke kirayedaaron ke samaan ek ghar se dusre ghar rakhwaana tha. “sahab aaj meri tabiyat thik nahi hai pet mein gadbad hai, aaj agar chuthi mil jaaye toh badi meharbani hogi.?” “are paas mein dawai ki dukaan hai wahan se hajmein ki goli leke kha le aur kaam pe lag ja, beta humari jaat hi aisi hai ki hum chuthi nahi le sakte, chal bhai jaldi kar” thekedaar ne kaha. Mukund ne paas wali dukaan se haajmein ki goli ka ek patta khareeda aur jeb mein rakh liya yeh sochkar ki jahan kaam ho raha hai wahan jaake paani ke saath dawai lega, par jaise hi woh wahan pahauncha toh thekedaar ne use kaam par laga diya, usse dawai lene ka mauka hi nahi mila….
“Aaj lagta hai garmi aur badegi,” Girish ne apne ghar se nikalte hue rumaal se paseene pocha aur kaha, Girish Ghosh ek wehmi manushya tha, woh har kaaam paachas baar sochne ke baad karta tha. Agar daftar bhi jana ho toh pehle yeh dhekhta ke din kaunsa hai, uss din ke hissab se woh hare, peele, kaale, ya neele rang ka rumal jeb mein rakta, billi agar raasta kaat jaye, toh raasta badal leta chahe usse jahan jana hai wahan der se hi kyun na pahunche, ek din toh bhaisaahb ne hadh hi kar di, usne kahin akhbaar mein pad liya ki uski raashi ke logon ke liye phalana kisi din mein laal raang shubh hai, bas fir kya tha bhaisaahab ne laal rang ki chaddi, baniyaan, laal rang ki shirt, aur kaale rang ki patloon pahan kar laal rang ke bus ke intezaar mein aadha din bus stand par hi guzaar diya, laal rang ki patloon unke paas thi nahi. Bhaisaahab jab office pahaunche toh table par kaali, hari, peeli, neeli aur baaki rango ki filon ko ek taraf kar diya aur boss ko bola main sirf laal rang ki filon par kaam karunga, boss ke wajah poochne par wo bola “ its lucky for me today, so I’ll not do any paperwork which are not in files with red colour” boss hasne laga aur bola par laal rang ki filein toh bahaut hain tumhare table par aur unmein kaam karte karte to raat ho jayegi aur zaroori kaam to un baaki ki filon mein hai, jinko aaj hi khatam karna zyada zaroori hai, par bhaisaahab na mane….
Aaj Girish ke liye peela rang acha hai, isiliye woh apne ek dost ke saath peele rang ke autorikshaw mein safar kar rahe the. Tabhi autorickshaw ek signal par ruka, aur uske phone par message aaya…
‘Hare hare baba kaaleshwar Naath
hare hare baba Kaaleshwar Nath,
paar lagaye sabko jab, maan le unko Ishwar Nath.,
hare hare baba Kaleshwar Naath
hare hare baba Kaaleshwar Nath…
zindagi mein jitna andhera hai
ujaale mein badle kaaleshwar Nath’
iss msg ko delete mat kariye, forward kariye aur uplabdhi paiye
Girish message padne ke baad jaise hi usse forward karne jaye ki tabhi ek naariyal bechne wala inke auto ke paas akar nariyal bechne ki koshish karne laga, uske dost ne kaha “Girish nariyal kahyega” “nahi aur tu bhi mat kha, bhaisaahab aap aage jao” nariyal wala aage chala gaya toh Girish ne phir se kaha “tujhe nahi pata ki yeh naariyal kahan se laate hain?’ “nahi, kahan se?” “are shamshaan ghaat se, jo mritako ko chadhaye jaate hain, woh naariyal pehle dhote hain aur phir unhe kaat kar signal par bhechte hain, thodai na dukaan se laate hain, “yeh sun kar uska dost phir se auto ke bahar dhekhne laga , naariyal walein ne nariyal ke tukre BMW gaadi mein bhaithe ek aadmi ko bech diye…issi beech signal hara ho gaya, auto walein ko auto start karne se pehle bidi peene ki icha hui. Girish ne jab auto driver ko maachis jalate dekha to use yaad aaya ki shayad usne ghar par gas ka chulah band nahi kiya hai yeh soch uski bechani badne lagi, paas bhaithe Raghu ki koi bhi baat uske kaano mein nahi jaa rahi thi, use bas ek hi chinta khayi jaa rahi thi ki shayad ghar par… “bhaisahab auto wapas ghumao?” Raghu bola “ kyun” “ jo kehta hun woh karo” bees minute mein Girish ghar pahauncha, Girish jin seediyon se chad raha tha unhi seediyon se do majdoor Mukherjee babu ke ghar se dressing table ko niche le ja rahein the, unhe dhekte hi Girish bola “zara hatna bhaisaab” dono majdoor dressing table lekar wahin kahde ho gaye, Girish paas se nikalne laga ki issi beech mein usne apna pratibimb uss dressing table ke aaine mein dhekha, jo ki usse dhekh kar muskura raha tha, usse ajeeb laga woh thodi der khada raha, ki tabhi usse ghar jaane ki yaad aayi, woh wapas seediyan chadne laga aur phir ghar ka taala kholke tezi se rasoighar ki taraf bhaga, gas chullah pehle se hi band tha, uski jaan mein jaan aayi, usne fridge se paani ki bottle nikali aur paani peetein peetein balcony mein gaya, uski nazar neeche wali balcony mein gayi jahan do mazdoor ek almaari ko bahar railing se latka kar neeche bhej rahe the, usse yaad aya ki neeche wale floor ke Mukherjee babu apne naye makan mein jaa rahe the or unhi ke ghar mein shifting ho rai thi, woh thodi der ruk kar yeh sab dhekh raha tha, achanak Raghu ka phone aate hi woh ghar ka darwaza band karke phone pe baat karte hue seediyon se niche uttarne laga..
Is waqt tak Mukund ne dawai nahi li thi, jiski wajah se pet mein gas hone ke kaaran dard aur bad gaya tha, jisse usske haath se almaari se bandhi rassi chuth gayi aur almaari Girish par aa giri jo us samay building se nikal hi raha tha. Girish ke laash dekh kar Kaafi log jama ho gaye, ek majdoor ne mauka pate hi Girish ke haath se phone le liya…usne mobile dhekha jismein likha tha
‘Hare hare baba kaaleshwar Naath
hare hare baba Kaaleshwar Nath,
paar lagaye sabko jab, maan le unko Ishwar Nath.,
hare hare baba Kaleshwar Naath
hare hare baba Kaaleshwar Nath…
zindagi mein jitna andhera hai
ujaale mein badle kaaleshwar Nath’
Ek haweli
“Raka iss kamrein mein energy meter lagate hain shayad kuch mile,” Karan ne kaha. Raka, Karan, Utpal aur Pankaj chaar dost the, yeh chaaro milkar ek company chalate the jo bhooth preton ko purani haveliyon se, ya shrapith gharon se dhundte the aur unko mukti bhi dilate the. Mahine mein do aise kaam milne se unka gujara ho jata tha. “bhai yahan bahaut badboo aa rahi hai, mujhe ajeeb sa lag raha hai, ghutan si ho rahi hai, chal bahar chaltein hain” “boss, thand bahaut lag rahi hai, thodi daaru mil jaati toh,iss thand ke raat mein mazaa aa jata” “shhh shhh ek minute udhar maine kisi ko dhekha hai” Tabhi Raka walky talky par Pankaj ko dhekhne ke liye kehta hai. Thodi der mein Pankaj ki awaaz walky talky par sunai deti hai “Raka ek ladki hai, kaale rang ke kapdon mein, abhi yahin thi pata nahi kahan chali gayi…”Raka aur Utpal haveli ke dusre maale par the aur Pankaj ne iss ladki ko haveli ke pehle maale par dhekha tha.
“Bahut der ho gayi, baarish aane wali hai baadal bhi garaj raha hai” Pankaj ne kaha “haan bhai abhi thodi der mein kahin se ek kaali billi bhi nazar aa jayegi to aur bhi mazaa ayega.” Utpal ne haste hue kaha…“ do baj rahein hain yaar par neend nahi aa rahi, thodi daaru peetein hain” Karan ne bag se daaru ki bottle nikali, sabne thodi thodi pee li, thand ka mausam tha chaaro taraf kohrein ki chadar bichi hui thi, do khambe daaru ke kab inn chaaron ne khatham kar diye unko khud hi pata nahi chala, tabhi Karan ne apne bag se SLR camera nikal liya aur khada ho gaya “ab main photography karunga” “abe pagal ho gaya hai kya andhere mein kya aayega chor bhaith jaa, “Utpal ne kaha “ nahi, main jaa raha hun uss sukhe talaab ke paas“ “chal main bhi chalta hun “ Raka ne kaha. Dono talab ke paas gaye aur tasweerein kheechne lage aur unhone apni bhi ek do tasweere talaab ke paas kheechi. Raka ne Karan ki ek aur tasweer kheechni chahi aur camera ko apne ankhon ke saamne jaise hi rakha ki usi waqt us camera mein Karan ke peeche talaab ke dusri taraf wohi ladki nazar aayi jo kaale rang ke kapde pehni hui thi…usne tasweer kheech li aur Karan ko ishaara kiya. Karan jaise hi peeche mura uska paaon fisala aur woh talaab mein gir gaya, Raka bhi ghabrakar bina soche samjhe Karan ko bachaane ke liye talaab mein kood gaya.
“hi how was the trip. Bhooth wagera kuch mila madam. “ Raghu ne Deepika se poocha. Deepika Ghosh ek patarkaar hai aur paranomial research weekly column par article likhti hai, iss baar woh shehar se bahar thi. Shehar se kuch dur Raigarh namak ek jagah hai wahan pe gayi thi. “ khuch khas nahi par suna hai ki wahan ek purani haweli hai aur wahan har raat ek aurat kale rang ke kapde pehne hue ghumti rehti hai. “ toh tujhe dhikhayi di?” “nahi par suna hai kareeb paanch saal pehle chaar ladke gaye the wahan, iski khoj mein par agle din wahn unki laash mili thi. “ yeh kahani kaafi charchit hain logo ke beech, kehtein hai aaj bhi unki aatmayein wahan bhatakti hai.” “toh tune kya kiya” “maine socha thik hai ek raat guzaarke dhekhti hun, phir kya tha parso maine wahin raat guzaari par koi nazar nahi aaya.” Yeh kehkar Deepika chup ho gayi” “ kya hua” Tabhi Deepika ne kaha “par ajeeb si baat hai uss raat jab main wahn thi toh koi nahi tha par jab main puri haveli ghumne ke baad nikalne lagi toh… wahan ek talaab hai uske andar ek camera pada hua mila usmein kuch tasweerien thi.” “kya tha unme?” “sirf haveli ke tasweerin, saare raat mein khichi hui, do teen toh tasweerien talaab ke paas ki thi, aur yeh dhekh” Deepika Ghosh ek tasweer dhikhati hai jismein woh haveli mein raat ko talab ke paas khadi thi laal t shirt aur khaki patloon mein.
