Rohit aaj bahut excited thaa. Purani yaade uske dimag par haavi thi. 5 saal baad aaj woh India aa rahaa thaa. Kabhi woh apne mata pitah ke baare main sochta to kabhi school ke dino ko yaad kartaa. College ke masti bhare din koi kaise bhool saktaa hai. Woh canteen, lectures, exams ki tension, teachers par crush, woh dosto ki mandali aur woh pehla pyaar Shaalu. Shaalu ka khyaal dimag main aate hi Rohit ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi. Uske dimaag main abhi bhi woh sab aise taaza thaa jaise mano kal ki hi baat ho. Bahut pyaar kartaa thaa woh Shaalu se. Lekin ab to Shaalu aur Arvind apni family main bachho ke saath khush honge.
College main yeh 3 dost - Arvind, Rohit aur Shaalu. Teeno main gehri dosti thi. Rohit ekdum seedha sadha ladkaa tha. Har cheej main average - padai, sports, extra curricular activities etc. Chote chote sapne the uske. College ke baad koi achhi si job karna aur fir job main promotion lena. Bas ek hi cheej main avval thaa Rohit - dosti nibhane main. Dosto ke liye jaan bhi hajir thi uski. Wahin Arvind bahut smart tha. Handsome, padai main avval, sports main bhi achha. Bas thoda gusse waala tha woh. Shaalu dekhne main bahut hi sweet thi jaise koi masoom si pari. Padai, sports sab main average lekin sapne bade bade. College ke baad USA se MBA karna chahti thi aur fir wahin settle hone kaa plan thaa.
Fir ek din Arvind ne apne mann ki baat Rohit ko batayi. Arvind Shalu se pyaar kartaa tha. Lekin usse samajh nahi aa rahaa thaa ki woh apne mann ki baat Shaalu ko kaise bataye. Ghar aa kar Rohit iske baare main sochta rahaa. Rohit ko mann hi mann main lagne lagaa ki Arvind Shaalu ke liye usse achha jivan saathi hoga. Rohit ki nazar se dekhe to Arvind Shaalu ke liye perfect match thaa. Usne decide kiya ki woh Arvind ke mann ki baat na sirf Shaalu ko batayega balki har tarah se unki help karega. Yeh faisla asaan nahi thaa Rohit ke liye. Apne haatho se apne pyar ko apne dost ko de rahaa thaa woh. Jaha uska dil udas thaa wahi usko is baat ki khushi thi ki woh koi nek kaam karne jaa rahaa hai. Apne dosto ki help karne se jaada khushi usse kabhi nahi hoti thi.
Rohit ki kurbani rang layi. Jaldi hi Arvind aur Shaalu ne college ke baad shaadi karne kaa faisla kar liya.
College khatam ho gayaa. Teeno apni apni rah par chal pade. Arvind ne busness ko career bana liya. Shaalu India main hi reh kar MBA karne lagi. In dono ki life planning se chal rahi thi. Rohit ki life main chota sa change aaya. Job karne ki jagah woh MBA karne USA chalaa gayaa. MBA khatam ki aur fir wahi par ek MNC main achhi naukri bhi mil lagyi. Arvind aur Shaalu se uska contact bhi bahut kam ho gayaa thaa. Fir ek din usse pataa chalaa ki Arvind aur Shaalu ne shaadi kar li hai. Idhar Rohit ne soch liya ki woh zindagi main fir kabhi kisi se pyaar nahi karega, kabhi bhi nahi.
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Ek din 1 store main Rohit ki nazar 1 pyari si bachchi par padi. Bahut hi masoom thi woh bachchi. Aisa lag rahaa thaa jaise shararat koot koot kar bhari ho usme. Lekin fir bhi bahut shaant lag rahi thi. Shayad daant ke dar se koi sharat nahi kar rahi thi. Jab Rohit ki nazar uski mummy par padi to woh hairan reh gayaa. Uske saamne Shaalu khadi thi. Rohit ke dil main Shalu ke liye pyar abhi bhi zinda thaa. Lekin uske liye uski dosti jaada mayne rakhti thi. Woh seedha Shalu ke paas pahucha.
- Hey Shalu, How are you yaar? Long time naa!!
- Rohit!!! kaise ho?
- Main bilkul theek hoon. Arvind kaisa hai? Yeh tumhari beti hai?
- Haan, Shruti.
- Apna mob no bata jaldi se. I'm so excited. Milne kaa plan banate hain.
Rohit jitna khush thaa Shalu ko dekh kar, utna khush Shaalu nahi lag rahi thi. Rohit ko kuchh theek nahi lag rahaa thaa. Shaalu kaa no lene ke baad woh apne ghar chala gayaa. Ghar jaa kar woh Shalu ke saath apni mulakat ke baare main sochta rhaa. "Shaalu mujhse mil kar khush nahi lag rahi thi. Kya baat ho sakti hai? Yaa fir yeh uska vaham to nahi? Akhir Shalu ki ab family life hai. Time bhi bahut ho gayaa hai. Phone karke coffee par invite kartaa hoon. Fir aram se baate karenge." Yeh sochte sochte usme Shaalu ko phone lagaya.
- Shalu, Rohit here. Busy to nahi hai? Sunday ko milte hain, kuchh plan to nahi hai?
- Rohit, woh ... thoda busy hoon Sunday ko ... Shruti ka homework karvana hai
- Arre yaar, homework subah karva dena. Shaam free rakhna. Sunday ko Arvind ki bhi chutti hogi. Shaam ko 5 baje milte hain
- Thoda mushkil lag rahaa hai
- Yaar, tum ladkiya kitne nakhre karti ho. Chal Arvind se baat karta hoon. Baat karva
- Ok. Sunday ko milte hain
Rohit soch rahaa thaa ki pata nahi kyo Shalu hichkichahat mehsoos kar rahi thi. Par socha ki 1 baar milenge to sab theek ho jayega.
Dono Sunday ko ek coffee shop main mile. Is baar bhi Shaalu ke saath Shruti thi lekin Arvind nahi. 'Arvind nahi aaya?' Rohit ne poochha. Shaalu khamosh thi. Rohit apne sawaal ke jawab ke liye Shalu ki aur dekh rahaa thaa. 'Arvind has expired in a car accident' Shalu ne dabi awaz main kaha. Rohit ke raungte khade ho gaye.
- 'Kya!! kab?'
-'2 mahine pehle'
- 'Oh my God.'
Bas itna hi keh paya Rohit. Woh samajh nahi paa rahaa thaa ki Shalu ko kaise sympathy de. Sahi shabd dhoondne ki koshish kar rahaa thaa. Ab usse samajh aaya ki kyo Shalu is tarah se behave kar rahi thi. Vaapis aa kar Rohit isi ke baare main sochta rahaa. Usse Poori raat neend nahi aayi. Uskaa dimag kuchh bhi sochne main uska saath nahi de rahaa thaa. Bahut saare sawaal aur vichar uske dimaag main aa rahe the.
Agle dine bhi woh usi soch main dooba tha. Soch rahaa thaa ki aisa kya kare ki Shalu ki zindagi main khusi aa jaye. Bahut sochne ke baad Rohit ne faisla kiya ki woh Shalu ke saamne shaadi ka proposal rakhega. Rohit Shruti ko apnane ko bhi tayar thaa. Lekin Shalu ke mann main kya hai yeh kaise pataa chalega usse. Abhi Arvind ko gujre 2 mahine hi huye hain. Kya yeh sab baate Shaalu se karnaa theek rahega? Usne yeh baate apne mata-pitah ko batayi. Unhone saaf inkaar kar diya.
- Samaaj kya kahega?
- Maa, shaadi mujhe karni hai. Vaise bhi to main USA main hi rehta hoon. Yaha log kuchh din bolenge fir chup ho jayenge
- Tujhe koi bhi achhi ladki mil jayegi
- Papa, aap Shalu ko achhi tarah se jaante hain. Woh bahut achhi ladki hai aur aapko bhi pasand hai. Arvind ke accident ke baad wohi ladki khraab kaise ho gayi?
- Tujhe wohi ladki kyo pasand hai? Ladkiyo ko kami hai kya?
- Kisi anjaan ladki se shaadi karne se achha hai ki main Shalu ke saath shaadi kar loo. Kam se kam khush to rahunga
- Lekin beta, uska 1 bachha bhi hai. Tu apnaa payega usse? Tere apni family kaise expand hogi?
- Yeh to proven fact hai ki ladko ko yeh sab adjust karne main problem nahi hoti. Ladies hi pyar ke maamle main selfish hoti hain. Main Shruti ko apni beti ki tarah rakhuga.
Mata-pitah ko apne bachho ki khushi se badkar kya ho sakta hai. Rohit ne aakhir kar unko raazi kar liya. Woh khush to nahi the par Rohit ki zid ke aage unki 1 naa chali.Rohit ne Shaalu ko phone kiya aur baato baato main uski planning jaanene ki koshish ki. Lekin Shalu ko kewal Shruti ke liye jeena thaa. Rohit ko samajh nahi aa rahaa thaa ki woh is baat ko kaise aage badaye. Usne ek tarkeeb nikali. Usne Shalu ko milne ke bahane uske ghar jaane kaa faisla kiya. Woh Shalu ke mata-pitah aur saas-sasur se ek baar baat karke jaanana chahta thaa ki woh kya soch rahe hain. Rohit ne baato baato main Shalu ke saas-sasur se poochha:
- Ab kya plan hai aage kaa? Kuchh socha hai Shalu ne?
- Kehti hai ki naukri karegi aur Shalu ki parvarish karegi
- Dubara shaadi kaa koi vichar .....
Thoda jhijhak kar Rohit ne poochha. Situation ki nazukta kaa andaza thaa usse.
- Beta, hum to chahte hain ki aisa ho jaye lekin marzi to Shalu ki hi hai.
- Aur Shalu ke mata-pitah? Kya woh bhi yehi chahte hain?
- Shalu kaa ghar bas jaye to aur kya chahiye unko bhi. Lekin aisa ladkaa dhoondna mushkil hoga jo Shruti ko apni beti ki tarah rakhe. Hame to koi ummeed nahi hai aisa ladka milne ki.
Rohit ko roshni ki kiran nazar aa rahi thi. Kam se kam parivar ke logo ki soch achhi thi. Usne apne mata-pitah ko Shalu ke mata-pita se baat kare ko kaha. Lekin is baat kaa khyal rakhna tha ki yeh baat Shalu ko pataa na chale. Baat karne par pataa chalaa ki Shalu ke mata-pitah Rohit ke liye raazi the. Rohit ko woh bahut pehle se jaante the. Jab unko pataa chalaa ki Rohit Shruti ko apnane ko tayar hai to unko rishte se koi apatti nahi thi. Shalu ke mata-pitah ne Arvind ke mata-pitah se baat ki to unko bhi Rohit achha ladka laga. Ab bas Shalu se baat karne ki der thi lekin iski himmat koi nahi juta paa rahaa thaa. Akhir kar Shalu ke mata-pitah ne usse baat karne kaa faisla kiya. Baat karne par Shaalu ne saaf inkaar kar diya. Woh bas Arvind ki yaado ke sahare hi zindagi guar lena chahti thi. Lekin sab ke dabav daalne se woh sochne par majboor ho gayi. Sab ne usse Rohit se ek baar milne ki salah di.
Rohit soch rahaa thaa ki baat kaha se shuru kare. Lekin woh pehle se jaada comfortable lag rahaa thaa.
- Shalu, please don't misunderstand me. Main India shaadi ke liye koi ladki dekhne aaya thaa. Lekin mujhe samajh nahi aa rahaa thaa ki 1 din main kaise kisi se shaadi karne kaa faisla kar lu. Tum to meri itni achhi dost ho. To socha tumse achhi partner nahi mil sakti mujhe. Main Shruti ko bhi apni beti ki tarah rakhunga. Baaki tum batao.
- I'm not prepared for marriage.
- I understand. Tum mujhe achhi tarah se jaanti ho. Jo bhi decision logi mujhe manjoor hoga.
- Meri zindagi main Arvind ki jagah koi nahi le sakta. Main isi shehar main rahungi, Arvind ki yaado ke saath.
Dono ki mulakat jaada lambi nahi chali. Shalu ne abhi tak kuchh bhi faisla nahi liya thaa. Usse waqt chahiye thaa. Lekin fir bhi Rohit ne India main hi shift karne ka faisla kar liya. Isse woh Shalu ke kareeb reh sakta thaa. Shalu bhi yaha se kahi aur nahi jana chahti thi.
Idhar Rohit ki chutti khatam ho gayi aur roh vaapis USA chalaa gayaa aur idhar Shalu par shaadi ka dabav badhne lagaa. Rohit ne India main naukri dhoond li aur 6 mahine baad India shift ho gayaa. Shalu doosri shaadi bilkul nahi karnaa chahti thi lekin uske ghar waale us par dabav banaa rahe the. Akhir bina mann ke usne haan keh di.
Dono ki shaadi ho gayi. Lekin Shalu abhi bhi khush nahi thi. Uski purani yaade taza hone lagi. Honeymoon par bhi woh Rohit ki jagah Arvind ko hi expect kar rahi thi. Arvind ke saath bitaya huya har pal uske saamne fir se aa rahaa tha. Rohit usse ghoomane ke liye kahi bhi le jata, Arvind ki yaade uske saath hoti. Shaadi ke baad Rohit uska poora khyaal rakhne lagaa. Usse kabhi bhi jhagda nahi karta. Shruti ko bhi bahut pyar karta tha. Shalu bas apne aap main khoyi rehti thi. Keval Shruti ka hi dhyan rakhti. Rohit ki taraf uska lagav bilkul nahi thaa. Rohit Shalu ke liye pareshan rehne laga. Usne socha ki kyo naa Bangalore shift ho jau. Shayad nayi jagah jaa kar Shalu main kuchh badlav aaye. Yeh soch kar usne Bangalore transfer le liya.
Bangalore main Shalu ki halat aur bhi bigadne lagi. Usse lagne lagaa ki Rohit usse sab se door le jaana chahta hai. Rohit ke liye uske mann main nafrat bharne lagi thi. Shruti ki taraf bhi uska dhyan nahi rehta tha. Rohit hi Shruti kaa khyaal rakhta. Woh yehi sochta rehta ki kis tarah se apni 'dost' ki zindagi fir se khushaal kare. Usne apne kamre se Arvind ki tasveer bhi hata di. Lekin Shalu ko yeh bhi manjoor naa thaa. Woh to Rohit ko khud ka dushman bhi maanane lagi. Rohit ne bahut koshish ki Shalu ko khush rakhne ki. Jo usse pasand thaa woh sab kiya - Shruti ka kyaal rakhna, Ghar par time bitana, family ke saath ghoomne jaana etc. Yaha tak ki usne Shalu ke parents ko bhi beech beech main Bangalore aane ke liye raazi kar liya thaa taaki usse unki kami mehsoos naa ho. Arvind ke parents bhi Shalu se phone par baat karte. Lekin uske sabhi prayas nakam hote nazar aa rahe the. Naa khane kaa hosh aur naa hi kisi ki parvah. Shalu ki halat paaglo jaisi thi. Rohit ki har ek koshish bekar saabit ho rahi thi. Woh Rohit ke saath baat baat par jhagda karti. Bas ek hi baat se santusht thi woh ki Shruti Rohit ke saath khush thi. Rohit Shruti ka khyaal rakhta tha.
Ek din Rohit ko office main phone aaya ki Shalu kaa accident ho gayaa hai. Rohit jaldi se hospital pahucha. Shalu kafi serious thi. Who ghar se bahar sadak tak aa gayi thi aur 1 car se uska accident ho gayaa tha. Doctors operation kar rahe the. Rohit ne phone karke Shalu ke mata-pitah ko bhi bula liya tha. 3 ghante ke operation ke baad bhi doctors ne kuchh bhi kehne se manaa kar diya. Bas sab log Shalu ke hosh main aane ka intezar kar rahe the. Shalu ne aankhe kholi. Usne Rohit ki god main Shruti ko dekha fir side par rakhi Arvind ki tasveer ko. Shalu Shruti ke liye santusht kag rahi thi mano Rohit ki ehsan-mand ho. Aur fir uski aankhe hamesha ke liye band ho gayi.
Rohit samajh nahi paa rahaa thaa ki Shalu ki maut kaa jimmedar kaun hai – Arvind kaa pyar, halaat yaa fir Rohit khud. Rohit ne faisla kiya ki who ab keval Shruti ke liye jiyega aur kabhi kisi se pyar nahi karega, kabhi bhi nahi.
