Raaste aur Yaadein
Shaam dheere-dheere utar rahi thi.
Suraj pahaadon ke peeche kho raha tha, aur sadak par padi narangi roshni kisi purane khat jaisi lag rahi thi — jise padhte waqt dil halka bhi ho jata hai aur thoda bhaari bhi.
Main apni bike dheere-dheere chala raha tha.
Kahin pahunchne ki koi jaldi nahi thi. Shayad isliye kyunki kuch jagahen manzil nahi hoti… bas dil ko halka karne ka ek bahana hoti hain.
Hawa thandi thi, lekin andar kahin ek garam si halchal chal rahi thi.
Kuch yaadein thi… jo ab bhi mere saath safar karti hain.
Ajeeb baat hai na —
Kabhi hum kisi ke saath chalne ka sapna dekhte hain, aur phir ek din wahi raaste hume akele chalna sikha dete hain.
Maine bike roki.
Saamne pahaadon ke beech ek chhoti si chai ki dukaan thi.
Uthti hui chai ki bhaap aur door tak phaili khamoshi.
Maine chai ka cup haath mein liya aur socha —
kabhi isi tarah hum dono bhi baithe the.
Tum hans rahi thi…
aur main bas tumhe dekh raha tha.
Tab laga tha shayad safar lamba hoga.
Lekin kuch kahaniyaan kitab banne se pehle hi khatam ho jaati hain.
Ab jab bhi aise raaston se guzarta hoon,
to lagta hai — tum kahin gayi hi nahi.
Tum bas…
mere har safar mein thodi si reh gayi ho.
Raat ab utar chuki thi.
Maine bike phir start ki.
Saamne ek lamba raasta tha.
kuch log bhale saath nahi chalte…
par unki yaadein hamesha hamare saath safar karti rehti hain.