PLATFORM NUMBER CHEH

Chapter one

Ek yatri train pakdne ki jaldbaazi mein overbridge ki sidiyaan utarte hue fisal jata hai. Uski hare rang ki ek attaichi sidiyon se lurakd kar pass pade chai ke gilaas se takra jati hai aur usse neeche zameen par gira deti hai.

“Satyanas ho tera, subha ki pehli chai bhi naseeb nahi karne di naaspeetein ne”

Raghu ne us yatri ko aankhein dhikhate hue kaha aur apni jeb se ek bidi nikalte hue apne kamrein ke aur chala gaya.

Raghu Kalkatta ke Howrah railway station pe chotha mota safai ka kam karnewala ek pandra saal ka ladka tha. Joki ki chaar aur logo ke sath platform mein stith ek chothe se kamrein mein rahta tha.

Aaj wahan police aayi hui thi

 “Aur Raghu, kya chal raha hai,?”

Inspector Banwari ne Raghu ke kaan ke upar se beedi nikalte hue kaha.    

“Mil iss khuddar launde se, naam hai Mohanlal Thapa, Nepal.”

“ Foreign country?” Raghu ne maze lete hue kaha.. “ haan toh khuddar kyun ?” Raghu ne pucha.

“Woh Ram kahani tu isse pooch lena, kuch din ke liye isko apne saath rakh le”

“ Par inspector saab, pehle se chaar log rahte hain yahan, yeh paanchwa,”

“ Adjust karle”

Ussi din raat ko kamrein mein

“Haan bhai foreigner, bata teri khuddhari wali  kahani…flashback mein”

Mohan kehta hai ki woh Nepal ke Janakpur ka rahne wala hai. Janakpur se Jaynagar Bihar ke beech train chalti hai, ussi train se uski maa idhar Bihar aati thi aur yahan se samaan khareed kar Nepal mein dukandaaron ko bechti thi jisse unka ghar chalta tha, pita ne pehle hi in logo ko ek aur aurat ki wajah se chod diya tha.

Kyunki yeh samaan awaidh roop se Jayanagar se Janakpur le jaya jata tha toh kabhi kabar Nepal ki police raid karti thi aur inko pakad leti thi.

Ab maa ki umar ho jane par kaam ki zimmedari Mohan Lal par thi. Ab woh yeh kaam karta tha, kabhi Nepal police toh kabhi Bihar ki police se bachkar samaan idhar ka udhar karta tha aur paise kamata tha.

Par is baar Bihar ki police se bach ne ke liye Mohanlal Jayanagar station mein utarte hi ek aur chalti train mein chad gaya. Woh train Mohanlal ko Kalkatta le aayi, par Kalkatta ki police ko yeh baat pata chalte hi usse train se utarte hi pakaad liya.

Woh toh Inspector Banwari ne bacha liya aur isse yahan le aaye. Banwari ne kaha tha ki kuch paise lekar wapas chale jaye, par Thapa khuddar nikla aur usne apne khud ke paise kamake wapas jaane ki man bataya.

Raghu ne ek beedi jalai aur kaha.

“Satta lagaya kabhi ?” “zindagi ka satta lagakar toh yahan tak aaya hun”  Mohan ne kaha.

“Ae chal itni philosophical batein mat kar, Lala chaiwale ki dukaan platform number cheh par hai kal wahan teri baat chalata hun, unko ek ladke ki zaroorat hai”.

Chapter two

“Yeh lijiye aapki do fiki chai aur ek mithi, sath mein do matthi bhi” Mohan grahako ko dukaan par sambhal raha tha.

“Foreigner ek chai meri bhi, khaathe mein likh liyo” Raghu ne kaha.

Mohan ne apni aur Raghu ke liye chai banayi aur dukaan se thodi dur thande paani ki machine ke paas seat par jaake bhaith gaya. “Aur kaisa lag raha hai,” Raghu ne poocha.

“Acha hai, malik ka bharosa bhi mil gaya hai, kabhi kabar dukaan mere hawale chodkar chale bhi jate hain agar unka koi kaam aa jaye”

“Wah bhai yeh toh woh mil gaya, kya kehte hai.. haan promotion, matlab kabhi kabhi tu bhi malik ban jata hai,”

“Haan par ghar wapas janne ke liye promotion nahi paisa chahiye”

“Ghar kyun jana hai, acha khasa sab chal raha hai, matlab tujhe yaha rahte hue do mahine ho gaye, koi poochne aaya tujhe ?, tum log na kabhi khush nahi reh sakte, yahan jab aaya tha toh kuch nahi tha aaj dhekh tere pas kya nahi hai?”

“Par Raghu itna paisa bhi toh nahi hai ke ghar se ghum aane ka bhi soch sakun”

“Jyada paisa kamana hai toh ghee tedi ungli se nikalna padega” pass khade Raghu ka bada bhai Sahu ne bhuji hui beedi phir se jalate hue kaha

Chapter three

 “Aathso, nawso hazaar, ghyarso, baaraso….” Mohan apne jamaye hue paise gin raha tha.

“Foreigner doso rupaye diyo, “tera bhai tujhe agle itwaar ko lauta dega.”

“Kyun lottery lagegi kya?”

“Arre train wala saata lagaya tha na, thoda miss hogaya iss baar, paise lene ke dene pad gaye.”

“Bhai yeh mujhe bhi sikha de, main bhi kuch paise kama lun, “

“Jigra chahiye, jab khud ki kamai se paise satte mein lagana padta hai na toh…?

“Tujhe pata hain na, main Nepal se …” “ haan haan thik hai bas yehi teri ek baat mujhe pasand nahi aati, baat baat pe Nepal gaseeth lata hai, kal subha tu platform number chaar par mil wahin bataunga.

Agle din

“Ek ghante ki chuthi leke aaya hun, jaldi bata kaise khelte hai, aur yeh bidi laa.”   Mohan ne Raghu se kaha.

“Bhai aaram se, tu toh jaise electric engine pe chadke aaya hai, aise kaamo mein jaldbaazi nahi karte, aur haan beta bidi chahiye toh machis leke aao, bidi  jo hai na jalte jalte bhuj gayi hai, aur tere bhai ke paas na sirf ek hi machis ki tilli thi,

Yeh dhek samne Dilli mail khadhi hai, in train ke dabbo ko dhekh, harek dabbein mein ek number hota hai jaise ismein hain banwe teensau ektaalis (92341). Pehle ke do number ka matlab hai yeh boggie saal unniso bawanwe mein taiyaar hua tha aur baad ke teen number ka matlab hai ki yeh us saal mein teensau ektalis number wa boggie factory mein taiyaar hua tha. Jyadatar boggiyan ka numbering aise hi hoti hai. Kabhi kabar alag alag wajah se bhi numbering ki jaati hain boggiyon ki.

Mudde ki baat yeh hai ki satta khelna kaise hai, toh jaana-be-aali gaur farmaiye

Yeh ghadhi dhekh raha hai, numberon wali, ismein time bata rahi hai barah bajke chaautis minute (12:34) ab boggie mein dhekh koi number hai jo isss ghadhi mein dhikha rahi hai?”

Mohan ek baar boggie ke number ko dhekhta hai aur ek baar ghadhi ko

“Haan…234 aur ghadhi mein bhi 234 hai…. yeh lo ab ye 12:35 dhikha rahi hai ”

“Haan ghadhi hai time toh badlega hi, par baat yeh hai ki agar boggie ke number aur ghadhi ka number mil jaye toh satte lagane wala jeet jayega.” Mohan kuch bol paye tabhi Raghu uske taraf haath dhikha ke kehta hai.

“Is satte ke bhi kai niyam hai. Jaise 12:34 ghadhi mein hai, pehle jitne bhi log satta khelenge , sabse ek tay rakam le li jayegi. Samjh le do sau rupaye, yeh rakam kam bhi ho sakti hai jyada bhi ho sakta hai.

Thik hai samajh le paanch log khel rahe hain. Matlab paanch logo ke hisab se 1000 rupaye. Ab jo pure chaar numberon par dao lagayega usko 900 mein challis pratishat (40%) hissa milega matlab teen sau saath(360) rupaye, baki saath pratishat  (60%) phirse chaar logon mein chit ke badaulat lottery nikalne ke baad unmein se koi pehle do naam ko milega. Clear. Acha tu soch raha hai hazaar rupaye jama hue toh 900 pe satta lagega kyun?”

Mohan ne sar hilaya “beta mera commisiion hai sau rupaye, yeh sab jugaad karna , lottery nilkalna, logo ko hath jodke bulana, yeh sab service ke liye mera sau rupaye. Yeh amount bhi fixed nahi hai. Par teen sau ke upar nahi kaat ta hun, woh bhi jab bahaut log khel rahe honge tab, par koi hare ya jeete mera paise taye rahte hain.

Acha ab yeh khambha dhekh raha hai, iss mein ek mark banya gaya hai, iss mark ki seedh mein jo boggie hogi wohi mana jayega, aur aisa mark har platform mein humne banake rakha hai."

“Kya yeh zarroori hai ke ghadhi mein number jaise hai waise hi boggie ke number saaje ho matlab…12:34  wala time le agar toh boggie mein number agar yeh 92341 hai aur agar iske jagah 92431 hota toh paise milte ya nahi?”

“Haan chal sakta hai, maan le ghadhi mein 19:33 baja hai, kisi ne satta lagaya 9,3,aur 3 par aur gaadi ka number hai 98337, toh phir usko jeetne diya jayega kyunki usmein 9 3 3 hai par agar usne 1, 9,3,3 par paisa lagaya , aur usmein se agar number 1 bhi nahi hua toh woh haar jayega. Baaki teen number hone ke bawajood bhi nahi jeet payega”

“Aadha paisa bhi nahi milega ?” Mohan ne poocha

“No boss,”

“Ek baat hai sabko pata toh chal hi jaata hai ki platform number chaar par kaunsi train aati hai, aur coach number bhi likha hota hai toh andazaa toh ho hi jata hai kyun?”

“Dhekh pehli baat toh satte ka koi din taye nahi hota hai, platform satte wale din lottery nikaal ke taye ki jaati hai ki kaunse platform me satta khela jayega. Toh cheeting weeting nahi hota hai, itne saare train hote hain ki boggie number yaad nahi rahte hain. Aur doosri baat boggiyan har waqt ek nahi hote hai, kabhi kabhi adla badli bhi hota hai.” 

“Par tu in sab chakron mein mat pad”

Chapter four

Raghu subah subah bister ke neeche se apne tin ka baksa kheech ke nikalta hai iss tin ke bakse ke gaseetne ki aawaz se Mohan ki neend khul jati hai.

“Subhah subah kya kar raha hai”

“Arre iss kamrein ke kiraye ke liye paisa nikal raha hun, aaj akhri din hai jama karne ke liye.’

Mohan bister mein bhaithe aankhe masal raha tha, uski nazar Raghu ke teen ke bakse mein rakhi ek tasweer par gayi. 

“Yeh tere gharwale hain kya” Mohan ne bister se utarkar bakse ke paas zameen par bhaite hue kaha. 

“Haan, yeh pitaaji, maataaji, yeh mera bada bhai..” “tera bada bhai toh Sahu hai na?” “ nahi be usne to mujhe yahan safai karamchari ki naukri par lagaya tha isliye use bada bhai kehta hun.  

Hum pehle Krishnanagar mein rahte the, bada ghar tha badi badi gaadiyan thi, yeh jo beech beech mein main angrezi jharta huna woh isliye kyunki main ek ache angrezi school mein padta tha, chathi tak padai ki hai maine. Darsal mere pitaji ki bahaut badi kapde ki dukaan thi, Krishnanagar mein. Humare dukaan mein naami dhami grahak aate the, laghbagh har din teen sare teen lakh ki amdani hoti thi, hum wholesale mein bhi kapde bechte the, usmein kaafi paisa tha. Humari koi bhi farmayish poori na ho aisa mujhe yaad nahi. Chotha tha family mein isliye bahaut laad pyar se mujhe rakha gaya tha. Mujhe yaad hai garmiyon ki chuthiyaan thi, main aksar dophar ka khana khane pitaaji ke office mein chala jata tha, unke saath aur baaki logon ke saath lunch karna kaafi acha lagta tha. Toh aise hi ek dophar mein pitaaji ke office pahauncha, wahan ek fakir aaye hue the. Woh pitaaji ko bahaut gyan de rahe the zindagi ke barein mein. Baaton baaton mein usne hum do bhaiyon ki tasweer jo pitaaji ke table par padi thi utha li. Bade gaur se hum dono ki tasweer dhekne ke baad usne kaha” 

“Yeh jo aapka ye wala beta hain na, isko bade sambhal ke rakhiyega, apki jo itni barkat hui hai woh iss ladke ki wajah se hui hai, isko hamesha sambhal ke rakhiyega. Main dhekh paa raha hun isko paani se khtra hai, isiliye thoda dhyaan rakhiyega.  Uske nasihat ki wajah se ghar mein uski jyada dhek rekh hone lagi, uske upar pabandiyaan lag gayi. Mera bhai kaafi tang aa chukha tha itni pabandiyon se.

Paanch saal pehle ki baat hai raviwaar ka din tha, pitaaji kaam se bahar gaye hue the, maa gusalkhane mein thi aur main chath mein patang uda raha tha, golu kaka ke saath, bhaiya ko mauka mil gaya, woh kisi tarah sabse nazar bachakar bahar apne doston ke saath nadi mein nahane chale gaye, aur jiska darr tha wahi hua, woh dub gaye, bahaut dhoodne ki koshish ki par kuch nahi mila, uske baad se ekdum sab kuch badal gaya. Sab kuch khatham hogaya, dukaan band karni padi, bahaut losses hue, mera school chuth gaya. Maa bhai ke gum ko bhula nahi payi aur woh bhi do mahine mein chal basi. Uske baad main aur pitaaji yahan aake bas gaye par pitaaji bete ka phir biwi ka aur phir dukaan ke band hone ka sadma bradhasht nahi kar paye aur pagal ho gaye. Aaj woh Krishnanagar ke ek pagalkhane mein bhartti hai.

Chapter five

“Raghu Raghu Raghu, mujhe aaj satta lagana hai” Mohan ne Raghu ko neend se jagate hue kaha.

“Are bhai kya ho gaya, kal raat tak tu thik tha, aaj achanak satta, woh sab jhamele mein mat pad, so jaa.” Raghu ne apne upar chaddar odte hue kahaa.

“Bhai agar main har hafte hazaar rupaye bacha lun to phir shayad kuch mahino mein main wapas Nepal jaa sakun, meri madad kar. Aaj satta khilwa de.” Mohan ne Raghu ke upar se chaddar hatate hue kaha.

“Bhai dhekh har hafte toh satte nahi khela ja sakta, itne log har baar nahin lagate satta, mahine mein sirf do baar khel sakte hain niyamon ke anusaar warna police ke lafde hone ka chance hota hai, aur doosri baat guarntee thodai hai ki jeetega hi?,  paise chahiye toh mujhse lele.”

“ Tujhe pata hai main…. Main apna paisa” “ haan bhai thik hai, toh malik ko bol pagaar bada de, par satte pe apne paise mat laga” Raghu ne uske khandhe pe haath rakte hue kaha.

“Aath mahine toh hue hain, kya pagaar badayega, teen hazaar kamata hun , jyada kharche bhi nahi hai, agar mahine mein do baar bhi satte khelke jeet paaon to shayad khuch paise jam jaye “

Usi din dophar mein

“Parcha nikal gaya hai bhai log, platform number chauda(14) pe satte ki baaji lagegei. Kam se kam do sau rupaye.” Satte khelne ke liye baarah log jamaa hote hai. Mohan sabse adhik numbero pe baaji lagata hai. Raghu sabse do sau rupaye le leta hai, platform par announcement hoti hai , Dilli se train aa rahi thi, ghadhi pe time tha 02:30. Jo boggie aakar rukti hai uska number tha 00320. Mohan khushi se Raghu se lipat jata hai. Uske do sau ke nauso bees(920) rupaye ban jate hain. 

Baaki saath (60%) mein lottery hoti hai aur uske hisaab se kuch logo ko paisa milta hai aur kuch ko nahi.

Agle satte pe woh phir se paise lagata hai, iss baar Raghu ko woh teen sau rupaye ke liye manata hai, Raghu usse mana karta hai, kehta hai ki jyada log nahi khelenge, Mohan ke bahaut minnate karne ke baad Raghu maan jata hai aur kisi tarah dus logon ko manata hai, iss baar bhi Mohan satte mein sabse jyada paisa lekar jeet ta hai. Iske baad woh kaafi baar iss khel mein jeeta raha, kai baar haara bhi, par usko pata chal gaya tha ki agar paise jamane hain toh yehi satte ka sahara hi hai. Par Raghu ko yeh baat raas nahi aa rahi thi, kahin na kahin uske dil mein achanak se Mohan ke liye ek jalan paida ho raha tha. Hala ki in dono mein bahaut hi kareebi rishta ho gaya tha, par zyada paise jeetne ki baat unki is dosti par haavi ho rahi thi. 

“Foreigner yaar tu apna tikhana kahin aur dhekh le, apne malik ko bol na kahin tere liye kamra dhekhe, thoda na dikkat ho raha hai yahan pe. Dhekh jagah toh chaar logon ki  hai par tere liye adjust” “mujhe kuch din ki mahaulat de , main kamra dhoondh leta hun. “Mohan ne Raghu ki baat ko beech mein kaate hue bola.

Do mahine baad

Mohan dukaan mein grahako ko sambhal raha tha , tabhi wahan pe Raghu ka muh bola bada bhai Sahu aata hai “ bhai chai dena ek, Raghu ke khate mein likh diyo, paise wagera deta hain tujhe ?” Mohan haan mein sar hilata hai. “tera naya kamra kaisa hai, sab theek hai?” Mohan phir se haan mein sar hilata hai. “Raghu bulata nahi hai tujhe satta khelne ke liye?” “ye lo aapki chai, nahi do mahine se toh usne bulaya nahi.  Shayad koi baat hogi, usse pehle bhi pasand nahi tha mera khelna, woh toh mere zabardasti karne ki wajah se woh raazi hua tha.”

“Arre  baaki jo log the na woh tujhe pasand nahi karte the khelne ke liye, unhone Raghu se kaha tha ki agar Mohan khelega toh hum log nahi kelenge. Usse Raghu ko kaafi nuksaan ho raha tha. Toh isiliye, tujhe khelne ke liye nahi bulaya in do mahine mein, aur pata hai tujhe ghar se nikalne ke peeche bhi yehi wajah hai. Agar ek hi kamrein mein rahoge toh majbooran khilana padta, toh isiliye…”

“Mujhe khe diya hota, main nahi khelta” Mohan ne kapde se dukan ka counter saaf karteh hue kaha. 

“haan bol to sakta hi tha , abe woh bhi kya kam harami hai. Chal chod yeh sab baatein, dil mein mat rakh khuch bhi” Sahu ne chai ka gilas rakha hi tha ki tabhi Mohan usse bulata hai  “e bhai, chai ke paise de ke jaa?”

“ are kaha toh Raghu ke khaathe mein likh le?” 

“ abe kuch to sharam kar, Raghu ke peeth peeche uski chugali karta hai, gaali deta hai aur phir ussi ke khaathe mein likhwata hai. Abe harmkhor to tu hai hi, namak haram toh mat ban” Mohan ne gilas dhote hue kaha.

Ek mahine baad Raghu jab satte khelne ke liye platform ki lottery nikalta hai , toh parcha platform number cheh ka nikalta hai. Raghu samajh jata hai ki aaj shayad uska samna Mohan se ho, satte khelne wale sab platform number cheh par pahaunchte hain, Sahu ko jab yeh baat pata chalti hai toh woh bhi wahan pahaunchta hai. Raghu jab sabse paisa le raha tha tabhi Sahu cheekh ke Mohan ko pukarta hai “ Mohan yaar ek cup chai dena” Raghu Mohan ki taraf dhekhta hai, Mohan Sahu ke liye chai lekar uske paas jata hai, Tabhi Sahu kehta hai “ are Raghu Mohan ko bhi khelne ka mauka milna chahiye, Mohan kelega tu?”  Raghu Mohan ke taraf dhekhta hai, Mohan thodi der sochta hai aur kehta hai “nahi, aur wahan se chala jata hai”

Chapter six

“Dhekho bhai log Raghu teen chaar din ke liye apne gaon gaya hai, isliye satte khilwane ka zimedaari ab mere upar hai. Rohan ko satta lagana tha isliye woh mere paas aaj subah aaya. Toh main khilaonga aur iss mein mere niyam chalenge.” Satte khelne wale ek dusre ki taraf dhekhte hain, issi beech Mohan bhi aata hai, Sahu Mohan ko dhekhta hai aur kehta hai, “jo log chaar number pe satta lagayenge unke liye ek insurance plan hai, matlab beema yojna” Mohan Sahu ke taraf dhekta rahta hai..

“ Aap logo mein jo chaar numberon par satta lagayega usse main sau rupaye jyada lunga insurance ke taur par, matlab pehle agar aap chaar numberon waale haar jaate the toh pura paisa gul ho jate the par iss niyam ke anusaar do sau rupaye pakka wapas ho jayenge teen sau rupaye mein, to batao kitne log chaar numberon par satta lagayenge?” Mohan ne teen sau rupaye aage kar diye, saath mein Rohan ne bhi teen sau rupaye diye, baaki logon ne teen numberon aur kuch do numberon mein satta lagaye. 

“kyunki ab chaar numberon ke liye do dawedaar hain to satte ke paise ke chaalis pratishat do mein bhaag honge.  Iska matlab bees bees pratishat(20%-20%). Aaj chauda log hain, do sau rupaye matlab athais sau (2800) rupaye. Usmein mera commission sau rupaye, matlab satais sau (2700) rupaye par baaji hogi.  Train aati hai aur phir se Mohan jeet jata hai, Sahu muskurata hai. Niyam ke anusaar 2700 ke 20 pratishat Mohan ko milta hai matlab Paanch sau chalish rupaye (540) aur insurance ke sau kat kar charso sau challis rupaye (440). Iss baar Mohan thoda nakush tha, dusra dawedaar bhi tha. Woh wapas apne dukaan ki taraf jaate hue Sahu ki tarf peeche murta hai, Sahu bhi usse dhekhta hai aur muskurata hai..

Mohan dukaan ke bahar bhaithkar chai ke gilaas dho raha tha, tabhi Raghu wahan ata hai “Lalaji score kya hua, ?” “ West Indies ek sau pachaas, aath wicket gir gaye hain, are jeet jayegi India”

“Are shubh shubh bolo Lala ji maine satta lagaya hai, West Indies par” “ hath bosidike, nikal yahan se sala, har cheese pe satta lagata hai. Sasura paisa luta hai aur lutwata hai, India harega bhainchod, nikal yahan se, Mohan tera gilas dhona hua ya pura saal laga dega dhote hue” Lala kunas khathe hue kaha ta hai.

Raghu Mohan ki taraf dhekhta hai aur muskurakar aankh marta hai. Mohan bhi halka sa muskurata hai. Raghu jeb se ek bidi nikalta hai aur Mohan ki taraf ishaara karta hai ki agar woh peene ke liye tyaar hai. Mohan Raghu ko ishare mein kehta hai ki malik jaane nahi dega “Are Lala ji woh Inspector Banwari aaya tha. Keh raha tha uske peeth peeche uske ghar pe uske biwi se koi milne jaata hai, us bande ka lal gamcha uske ghar mein mila hai”  Raghu ek chotha sa ghamcha apne jeb se nikalta hai, yeh dhekh kar Lala ke aankhein phathi ki phathi raha jati hai, maathe se paseena aane lag ta hai. “maine mauka pate hi gamcha usske bike se nikal liya kaho toh ….?” Raghu gamche ko apne gardan mein lapetkar tapori jaisa aage peeche karta hai aur Sarfarosh film ka ek dialogue bolte hue Lala ko cheedhta hai “ Aaaaaaasmaaaan mei.. laaaaakhon taaaarien taarrraaaaraaon…Mohan se kuch kaam hai, le jaun?” “ haan bhai le jaa” “ are machis…. le jaun?” Raghu dukan ke counter pe pade machis leta hai aur Mohan ke saath thodi dur wahin thande paani ki machine ke paas seat par jakar bhaith jata hai.  

“Sorry yaar, darsal..” Raghu kuch bolne jaye uske pehle Mohan kehta hai “ mujhe pata hai Sahu ne bataya mujhe, mere wajah se tujhe bahaut nuksaan ho raha tha, isliye tune mujhe ghar se bhi jane ke liye kaha, …”

 “Yaar meri mati maari gayi thi, nahi karna chahiye tha, kaise samajhaun yaar, tubhi toh ghar jane ke liye itna bada dao khel raha hai, yeh main bhool gaya tha, tere jeetne par pata nahi ek jalan si hone lagi thi,.. nahi yaar galat ho gaya sab” Mohan sun raha tha “ab toh dikaat nahi aati hain na?” Mohan ne kaha

“Yaar maine woh sab khelna band kar diya hai, sirf safai bus.”

“aur cricket mein satta, ?”

“Arre yaar woh toh mazaak kar raha tha, pagal hai West Indies mein paisa lagaonga?”

“Aur yeh Lala wali baat, yeh chakkar wagera?”

“Yeh sach hai, tu jo kehta tha na beech beech mein Lala dukaan tere hawale karke apne kaam se bahar jata tha, yeh wahi kaam hai…uska gamcha Banwari ke ghar mein chooth gaya hoga, wahi lekar ghum raha tha, humarein wahan aaya aur keh raha tha, maine mauka paate hi chura liya uski bike se. Banwari ko nahi pata kiska ghamcha hai, par main pahachaan gaya, tu chahe toh woh kar sakta hai.. Blackmail Lalaji ko” Mohan halke se muskurata hai aur phir platform se dur apne nazarein railway line mein gaad leta hai “ab toh Sahu ke bharose hi rahana padega.” Mohan ne kaha

Chapter seven

Mohan platform ki seedion se jaldabazi mein neeche utar raha tha ke tabhi uska pair fisalta hai aur woh loodkte hue neeche Raghu ke upar aa girta hai. Raghu chai pee raha tha.

Raghu palat te hue bola “abe kaun bosdike ne..”

“Are woh bosidika main hun, sasura pair fisal gaya, abe maine suna, Sahu sabse bada satta lagane jaa raha hai, agle mahine ki do tariq ko?”

“Haan toh…aur tu soch raha hai ki tu baaji lagake jeet jayega, aur phir phurr se  Nepal chala jayega Foreigner ?”

“Nahi…matlab haan jeetunga ke nahi pata nahi, par satta toh lagana hai,” Mohan thoda dheere awaz mein bola.”

“Tujhe pata hai Sahu ne Rohan ko tere saath khelne ke liya kaha tha, sabko pata hai tu khelega toh sabse jyada numberon par hi dao lagayega, isliye Sahu ne chaal chali, usne pehle se hi Rohan ko chaar numberon pe dao lagan ke liye kah diya tha, paise bhi Sahu ke hi the, tu jab jeet gaya usne Rohan ke naam se apna bhaag le liya. Aur commission alag se. Samjha.”

Mohan chup chaap apne dukaan ke taraf chalne lagta hai

“Abe kahan jaa raha hai?” Raghu poochta hai

“Tere liye chai lane”

Do April do hazaar gyarah

Jahan saara desh India Sri lanka World Cup final ka intezaar kar raha tha wahi Raghu kisi aur game ko anjaam dene ke liye yojanaye bana raha tha.

“Inspector Banwari se baat ho sakti hai, main Raghu baat kar raha hun”

“Inspector Banwari speaking”

“Saab aaj shaam ko Sahu satte ka game khelne jaa raha hai..”

“Cricket?”

“ Are nahi dusre type ka, “

Raghu train ke numberon par satte lagane wali baat kehta hai, aur shaam ko usse railway station aane ke liye anurodh karta hai.

Chapter eight

“Bhai log lottery nikali hai, platform number cheh ka, chalo pahauncho sab wahan”

Mohan ki chai ki dukaan par kahfi bheed lagi hui thi, log World cup ka match dhekh rahe the, ghadi mein raat ke saare aath baje hue the, tabhi announcement hoti hai ki station mein Bihar jane ke liye train platform pe thodi der mein aa rahi hai. Sahu sabse paise ikhte karne laga.

“Chaar numberon mein paise lagana hai, kitne ka hai?”

Sahu Mohan ko dhekhta hai aur muskurata hai.

“Kya baat hai aaj pura boriya bistara leke aay hai, harne ke baad issi train se chala jayega kya?”

Mohan kuch bolein uske pehle Raghu kehta hai.

“Woh sab chod main bhi chaar numberon pe satta lagaunga, kitne ka hai?”

“Paan sau ke hai, upar se do sau rupaye insurance ke, matlab saat sau ke, agar chaar numberon pe nahi lagana hai toh do sau rupaye maaf, dhekho aaj bahaut log khel rahe hain, mere hisaab se koi khali haath nahi jayega kya kehte ho. Aaj kareeb bees log khel rahein hai bhai, paanch sau ke hisaab se dus hazaar sorry sorry, atahrah log paanch sau denge, tum log saath sau matlab dus hazaar chaar sau (10400), usmein mera commission alag teen sau, bada game bada commission matlab dus hazaar ek sau (10,100). Khuda na khasatha tum log haar gaye toh do sau do sau wapas karne ke baad bhi 

bahaut paise bachenge”

Mohan aur Raghu chup chap sun rahe the, tabhi train platform pe aati hai, sabki nazar TV par thi Dhoni aur Ghambir khel rahe the, Raghu ek baar time dhekhta hai ghari mein 20:33(8:33 PM) baj rahe the. Train ki jo boggie us khambe ke mark ki seedh mein rukhti hai usse dhekh kar Mohan wahin bhaith jata hai, aur tabhi Ghambhir ka wicket bhi ukhad jata hai, poore platform mein sanatta cha jata hai, sab numberon ka khel tha us samay, Gautam Ghambhir 3 run se shatak nahi ban paya woh sattanve(97) run par out ho jate hai aur boggie par jo number tha woh tha 97330. Kyunki Mohan aur Raghu ne chaar numberon par paisa lagaya tha, toh ek number na hone ki wajah se woh paise har jaate hain, haan par insurance wala paisa mil jayega yeh tassli thi.

Tabhi platform mein Inspector Banwari aate hain aur idhar maidaan mein agla batsman. Inspector Banwari  Sahu ke paas jate hain aur kuch poochtach karte hain, Mohan aur Raghu yeh sab dhekh rahe the, Inspector ko dhekh kar baaki saate baaj log bhaag jate hain, Sahu saare paise Inspector Banwari ko de deta hai aur haath jod leta hai, Inspector banwaari ki aankhein laalch se badi ho jati hai, yeh Raghu aur Mohan dhekh rahe the. Unhe laga tha inspector Banwari Sahu ko pakad lenge aur inke paise inko wapas mil jayenge. Woh Sahu se aise badla lena chahte the, par paise dhekh kar Inspector Banwari Sahu ko chod dete hain aur paise ginne lagte hain. Sahu phir se Raghu aur Mohan ke taraf dhekh kar hasta hai.

Mohan ussi train se Bihar janne ke man banya hue aaya tha boriya bisterin bhandhe, jo paise usne mushkil se jamaye the usse woh Nepal jane wala tha, par Sahu se badla lene ke baad, par kahani palat gayi. Raghu ne Mohan ko kuch kaha, Mohan ne pehle mana kiya par fir boriya bistaran leke do boggie peechein bhagne laga, issi beech train chalne lag gayi, Mohan unmein se ek boggie mein chad gaya, aur emergeny window ke paas jake khada ho gaya, aur jab woh boggie Inspector Banwari jahan khade the wahan se guzri to emergency window pe khade Mohan ne unke haath se paise cheen liye.

Inspector Banwari kuch samaj paye usi waqt pura platform chillah utha, aur talliyan marne laga, kyunki Dhoni ne gend boundary ke bahar pahauncha diya tha aur India World Cup jeet chukka tha. Khushi ke mare bheed mein se kuch log Inspector Banwari ko khandhe pe utha lete hain, Raghu uss boggie ke peeche bhagne laga tha jismein Mohan tha. Bahut tej bhagne par woh uss boggie tak pahunch paya, Mohan ne apne paise liye aur baaki paise Raghu ko dena chaha toh Raghu ne inkaar kar diya, Raghu ab bhi train ke saath bhag raha tha. Mohan ke jabardasti karne par Raghu ne woh paise le liye, tabhi uska dhyan us boggie ke number pe jata hai. Boggie ka number tha 20133, woh Mohan ko ishara karta hai, Mohan bhi emergeny window se sar nikalke boggie ke number ko dhekhta hai aur halke se muskurata hai. Tabhi Raghu ko dhyaan ata hai ki ab woh Mohan se kabhi nahi mil payega, uske pair wahin rukh jate hain, train platform se bahar nikal rahi thi, Mohan emergeny window se Raghu ke taraf rote hue haath hila raha tha.

Raghu thodi der wahin khada raha, train platform se nikal chuki thi. Raghu chup chap chai ki dukan ke paas jata hai, jahan abhi bhi log TV dhekh rahe the, Raghu ne Lalaji se poocha

“lalaji mere chai ke khathe mein kitne paise hain, Raghu likh ke gaya hoga. ?”

“koi paise nahi hai, woh jaane se pehle saara hisab chukka ke gaya hai"