b~s-A~fy ‘c svyr dy tweIm vwLI ieh b~s ‘mwstrW dI b~s’ dy nW nwL mShUr sI[ ieMj nhI sI ik ieh inrHI-purI skUl-mwstrW nwL l~dI huMdI sI[ kuJ bYNk krmcwrI sn, kuJ ibjlI borf dy mulwjm qy srkwrI ifspYNsrI ‘c kMm krn vwLIAW do-iqMn ishq-ivBwg dIAW nrsW[ pr ‘mwstrW dI b~s’ dw nwmkrn dw kwrn srkwrI AiDAwpkW dI bhu-igxqI sI[

jgrWau qoN Drmkot q~k jWdI ies b~s dy rwh ‘c AnykW ipMf sn[ ividAw dw cwnx phuMcwx leI smyN dIAW srkwrW ny QW-QW inky-v~fy skUl KolHy hoey sn[ byt-eyrIey ‘c audoN ividAw dw bhuqw pswrw nhI sI[ lok jW qW AwriQk p~KoN bhuq qkVy sn, ijMnHW leI Awpxy jvwkW dI pVHweI kuqy r~Kx dy sONk vrgI cIj sI- jW mULoN grIb sn, ijhVy Awpxy jvwkW nUM skUl ‘c smW brbwd krdy vyKx nwLoN dirAw dy kMFy srwb k~Fx ‘c Awpxy nwL h~Q vtwaoux nUM ibhqr smJdy sn[ jgrwEN qy lwigEN-cwigEN mwstr qy hor krmI Awpxy-Awpxy mukwm qy phuMcx leI rMg-brMgIAW puSwkW ‘c sjI A~fy dy insicq sQwn qy ‘mwstrW dI b~s’ leI ieMj KVHy huMdy ijvyN pyfUM brwq ‘c jwx leI nhw-Dohky qy bx-Tx ky svyry-svyry brwq cukx vwlI lwrI nUM aufIkdy huMdy ny[ mYN vI iesy BIVH dw iek ih`sw hW- srkwrI skUl-AiDAwpkw!

EhI b~s, EhI frweIvr-kMfktr, EhI svwrIAW-iekw-du~kw muswiPrW qoN ibnHW[ A~KoN mwVHw ijhw tIr mwrdw b~s dw kMfktr ‘guiVAW vwLw mlkIqw’ Awm kMfktrW vWg cwlU cIz sI[

"s~srI ‘kwl mwstr swb—do itktW?" auh bzurg pI tI mwstr qoN itktW k~tx dI SurUAwq krdw ijhVy Twtw bMnHI hmySW vWg pihlI sIt qy ibrwjmwn sn[

"mYN qW k~lHw eI AW beI, Awh dUjI itkt kIhdI?"

"Awh frYvr dI[ ieh btUAw Gry BulH AwieAw, A~j qusIN iehdI itkt ktwlo, k~lH nUM ieh QofI ktwlU["AKbwrW ‘c isr deI keI svwrIAW hI-hI krky h~s peIAW[

"Eey mlkIiqAw!" pItI swhb nMU cup dyK frweIvr hrI isEN nMU inENdw moVxw ipAw,"ipEAW nUM itcrW? jy iehnW vrigAW mwstrW ny qYnUM cwr A~Kr nw isKwey huMdy, AOh nihr dI ptVI qy bYTw hux s~ukw lMgr cbdw hoxw sI, qUM v~g cwrdw!"

‘itkt beI itkt’ krdw mlkIqw frweIvr nMU AxsuixAW krky AgWh lMG igAw[

"pYsy pUry eI Aw?" ibjlI mihkmy dy kwimAW nMU itktW idMdw, auhnW vloN id`qI Bwn ibnWH igxy Awpxy JoLy ‘c pwENdy auhny ikhw[

"igx lY Brwvw, Awpxy vloN qW pUry eI idqy Aw["

"miKAw QonUM ibjlI vwiLAW nMU k~t lwaux dI vwdI Aw, hor nw pYisAW dI k~t lwky ikDry grIb-mwr kr idE myry vwLI[" swrIb~s h~s peI[ kwmyN grIbVw ijhw mUMh bxwky bwkI BIVH nwL jwAlI KIN-KIN krn ‘c ruJ gey[

"fwktr BYx jI, iqMn itktW?"

"nhI vIrw, do dy dy!" nrs ny pYsy kMfktr vl vDWEdy ikhw[

"qIjy BYx jI?—Awey nhIN?"

"nhI, auhnW nMU kMm pY igAw[ CutI qy ny["

"hW jI mYnyjr swhb, ikMnIAW k~tW?" kihrI ijhI ingHw nwL auh bYNk krmcwrI vl Jwkdw boilAw[

"mYnMU qW iek eI cwhIdI Aw, aUN qMU BWvy pMjwh k`tky nihr ‘c qwrdy!"

mlkIqy dI FUhI l`gI dyK kuJ hwsw iKlirAw[ bYNk mulwjm auqswihq hoky boilAw, "mlkIq isAw, bMdw qMU bIbw[ ijvyN Awh nrs bIbIAW nUM jI-jI krdW, bwkI svwrIAW nMU kdy mwx-iejq bKS idAw kr!"

"duKdy-suKdy fwktrW ny Awauxw soO kMMm[ qy qusIN bYNk-bwbU ikhVw mYnMU ibnW ivAwjoN krjw dy dENgy?" hwsw ipAw[ pwsw puTw hox qy mlkIqw vI hwsy ‘c Swml sI[ bYNk-bwbU ny muV Awpxw isr AKbwr ‘c quMn ilAw[

"hY bVHw nwtI ieh kMfktr BweI", iek nrs ny Awpxw iDAwn suAwtr bunx qoN pryH krky dUjI nrs dy kMn ‘c ikhw[

"hW nwtI qW heI[ qYnMU svyry-svyry nrs qoN fwktr ijEN bxw idMdw[ pr qMU rihxdy ieMnHw dIAW qrIPW krn nUM, lsUVy dI igVHk vrgy huMdy ny ieh frweIvr-kMfktr, cuMbV jwx qW lwhuMidAW dy nhMu Bur jwdy ny!"

"kwPI qjurbw lgdw?"

"hOlI bol, bIbIAW dwVHIAW vwLy ies b`s ‘c bYTy swry bIby nhIEN["

"iqMn jI, mwstr jI", mlkIqy ny mwstr koL Awpxy pYisAW vwly JoLy ‘c peI Bwn nMU ibnWH vjHw Clkwaudy puiCAw[

"nhI , do eI[" v`fI swrI p`g vwLy mwstr ny btUey ‘coN pYsy k`Fdy ikhw[

"kI g`l AY, ihMdI AwLy BYx jI Awey nI?" kMfktr ny mwstr dy kMn ‘c hOlI dy ky ikhw[

"auhny ij`dx ju`qI lwhI nw mlkIiqAw, guiVAW dw rwh BuljU qy nwLy Awh itMf ijhI hojU swP["

"lY iPr kI AY, nweI nUM pYsy dyky vI krvweI dI AY["

"inrny kwLjy qyry nwL svyry-svyry ikhVw jBlIAW mwry!"

"qdy qW jw ky jvwkW nMU Gry l`sI lYx Byj dyxw, ikhVw ihswb dy svwl h`l krvwExy ny[" itkt-beI –itkt krdw auh AgWh lMG igAw[

"ieh bweI jI hY bVHI kuqI cIj!" v`fI p`g vwLy dy nwL bYTy ies b`s dI BIVH ‘c QoVHy smyN qoN Swml hoey mwstr ny ikhw[

"iehnW dy ie`k rg vwDU huuMdI AY!" v`fI p`g vwly ny kMfktr dI tIrI A`K qy koJI itcr krdy ikhw[

"iehdy qW keI rgW vwDU AY bweI jI, swrI b`s nMU vkq pweI r`Kdw["

hOlI-hOlI boly ies mwstr dy bol myry kMnW ‘c sur bx gUMjy[ ikMnHy eI idnW qoN mYN ies lMby, kxk-vMny mwstr vl dyK rhI sI[ b`s ‘c bYTky AMgryjI-pMjwbI AKbwrW ‘c isr dyky hI bYiTAW vyKdI sI iehnUM-nw suixAW sI iehnUM iksy nwl g`l kridAW qy nw suixAW sI iksy dI g`l dw huMgwrw BridAW[ hr roj v`fI p`g vwly mwstr nwL bihMdw sI, jIhnUM bweI jI, bweI jI kihMdw sI[ koeI Aloikk cIj vI nhI sI- pr myrI itkitkI pqw nhIN ikauN auhdy qy itkI hoeI sI[

"BYx jI itkt?" kMfktr dI Awvwj ny mYnUM ijvyN smwDI ‘coN jgwieAw hovy[

"hW jI, hW jI[" auBV peI mYN, "do itktW[" isr GuMmw ky dyiKAw qW myrI swQI AiDAwpkw AwSw BYxjI h`Q ‘c itktW PVHI muskrw rhI sI[

"rwxI, qUM kdoN jwgidAW sOx l`g peI jy[ mYN ktW leIAW jy itktW[" mlkIqw kMfktr KcrI hwsI h`sdw AgWh lMG igAw[

myry skUl dw ipMf Aw igAw[ auh ikqy AgWh jWdw sI[ bwrI ivc mYN jwx-buJky pYr hOLI kr ley, pr AKbwrI pMinAW ‘coN auhdy isrP vwL njr Awey[‘Fih jwxw, pqw nhIN AKbwr ‘coN kI guAwicAw lBdY[’ gu`sy ‘c pYr mwrdI mYN b`soN auqr geI[

ivhly pIrIAf ‘c kosI Du`p mwnx leI mYN cpVwsI qoN drKq Q`ly kursI fuhw leI[ buFw pMjwbI mwstr KaUN-KaUN krdw myry isrhwxy Aw KVHw hoieAw[

"rwxI, BweI rwxI—‘k`lI kIhdy nwL g`lW krI jwnIN eyN?"

"mYN kmLI AW ‘k`lI g`lW krn nMU!" jIA krdw sI igAwnI dI gq bxwaux nMU, pr auh kwhlI-kwhlI auQoN cldw bixAw[

"vy ,ikqy qMU eysy skUl pVHwaudw huMdw!" mYQoN ‘k`lI qoN ibnW boly rih nw hoieAw[

iek svyr hjUm b`s dI aufIk ‘c KVHw sI[ AwSw BYxjI CutI qy sI[ v`fI p`g vwLw qy auh g`lW krn ‘c msrUP sn[ Awsw-pwsw bcwky mYN auhnW dy kwPI njdIk clI geI[

"beI mMn BWvy nw, Aiqvwd leI AkwlI qy kWgrsIey hY ieko ijhy ksUrvwr!" v`fI p~g vwLw mwstr auhnMU kih irhw sI[

"mYN nhI sihmq bweI jI," mYnUM auhdy bol suxy,"bwhr bYTy isK qy pwiksqwn jy ienWH dI ip`T nw Tokx qW Aiqvwd ny do GMty nI k`txy pMjwb ‘c["

"beI mYN nI mMndw—[" v`fI p`g vwLw kih irhw sI[ myrw jIA krdw sI, khW-v`fI p`g vwilAw, ieh jo kihMdw, iblkul TIk kihMdw, pr jyrHw nw kr skI[ b`s Aw geI[ dovyN iek sIt qy ibrwjmwn ho gey[ Awdqn auhdw isr AKbwr ‘c guMm ho igAw[ gu`sw mYnUM bhuq sI[‘ieh v`fI p`g vwLw ikqy ibmwr vI nI huMdw[ pr ksUr qW swrw auhdw, bweI jI, bweI jI krdw auhdy moiFAW qy ciVHAw rhU[ lih jwxy nMU pMjwb dy Aiqvwd dw vQyrw iPkr AY, Awh do Put dUr KVHI dw icq-cyqw vI nhIEN!’

iek idn myrI suKxW ijvy pUrI ho geI[ v`fI p`g vwlw ikDry njr nhIN Aw irhw sI[ sIt qy auh iek`lw AKbwr ‘c isr GsoeI bYTw sI[ mYN auhdy nwL bYT geI[ keI vwr PokI KMG vI KMGI, pr auhdI iSv vwlI smwDI nMU Borw Prk nw ipAw[‘ vy cMdirAw, qyrI iek q`kxI leI mYN kI-kI pwpV vyldIN AW roj[ AYnI geI-gujrI qW nhI ik qyry qy myrw jUMA ijMnHW Asr vI nhIN[’ Pyr socdI- Swied ivAwihAw nw hovy?

‘lgdY qW nhIN, dwhVI qW hux Putx l`gI Aw[ jMmdy dy pwxI vwrqw mhwrwjw rxjIq isEN dy poqry qy!’

‘mMigAw nw hovy?’

‘mMgx vwilAW ny A`KW ‘c nIlw QoQw qW nhIEN pwqw[ AOh cwr-cwr jvwkW dy ipE qW buVIAW-kuVIAW vl AWfy A`fxo nI h`tdy!’

‘hIjVw nw hovy?’ hwsy dI Jwl ijhI PYL geI myry ichry qy[

‘l`CxW qoN qW lgdw nhIN[’ myry mukwm qy phuMc ky b`s ruk geI[ ‘byVI bihjy iehdI, kI vkq pwieAw iehny mYnMU[’ gusy nwL TUhyN JwVHdI mYN b`soN auqr geI[

Pyr iek idn auh ikDry nw idisAw[ v`fI p`g vwLw buFy pI.tI.mwstr koL g`lW ‘c ruiJAw hoieAw sI[ AwpxI sIt qy bYTI mYN auhdy bwry socdI rhI[ svwrIAW nwL KcwKc BrI b`s auhdI AxhoNd kwrn KwlI-KwlI l`g rhI sI[ iek idn, do idn, hPqy—[ pqw nhINikDr Alop ho igAw sI[ b`s ‘c bYTI mYN iKlwA nUM GUrdI rihMdI[ auhdy ichry ibnHW b`s ivcly Anyk ichry myry leI ArQ-ivhUxy sn[

v``fy idnW dIAW CutIAW kwrn skUl kuJ idnW leI bMd ho gey[skUl Ku`lHy[‘mwstrW dI b`s’ ‘c ivAwh vrgw mhOl sI[

"ssrI ‘kwl mwstr jI", mlkIqy kMfktr ny pI.tI. swihb qoN AwpxI bohxI SurU kIqI[ "Sukr Aw mwstr jI, QofIAW CutIAW mukIAW[ mYN qy hrI isEN qW KwlI b`s nUM v`g ‘coN guAwcI vihV vWg KwlI leI iPrdy rhy CutIAW ‘c[ hW qW mwstr jI, do itktW?"

"ikauN A`j Pyr qyrw frweIvr btUAw Gry Bul AwieAw?" pI.tI. swihb ny moVvW auqr idqw[

"A`j qW mwstr jI qwjI cwh pIky Awey l`gdy ny", mlkIqy ny ‘itkt beI itkt’ dw rOLw pwky AwpxI jwn-KulwsI krvw leI sI[ v`fI p`g vwLw mwstr AKbwr ‘c fuibAw hoieAw sI[ bweI jI kihx vwly dw ikDry Aqw-pqw nhI sI[ Cu`tIAW bwAd kMm qy Awaux dw myrw cwA musk-kPUr vWg auf igAw[ Sor-Srwby qy gihmW-gihmI ‘c vI sog ‘c fubI bYTI sI mYN[ mn ‘c iKAwlW dI JVIH PutI hoeI sI-‘bdlI nw krw leI hovy? nOkrI nw C`f idqI hovy? ibmwr nw ho igAw hovy? mr nw igAw hovy?’ sihjy myry mUMhoN inkilAw[

‘nI rwxI bMdIey, tut jy qyrw mUMh[ idn-rwq qyry h`Q auhdI KYr mMgdy nI Q`kdy, A`j qyry mMUh ‘coN auhdy mrn dI g`l ikvyN in`kl geI[ ikAwsy hoey PrjI s`c nUM mn ‘c JTlwauNdI rhI[ s`c dy froN myrI rUh kMb geI[ myrIAW A`KW coN pwxI vg quirAw[ b`s-A`fy qoN skUl v`l quridAW AwSw BYx jI myrIAW lwl A~KW vl q`k rhI sI[

"rwxI, duKdw ku`J? A~KW lwl peIAW jy!"

"hW!" myrw bolx nMU jIA nhI sI krdw,"isr["

"c`l skUl c`l ky cwh pIny jy[ myry prs ‘c isr-duKdy dIAW golIAW dw pqrw hYgw, Kw lvIN-ho jweyNgI TIk["

vkq dy gujrn nwL auhdI Xwd nw-mwqr m`TI qW peI, pr auhnUM Bulx dIAW sB koiSSW bykwr sn[ v`fI p`g vwly mwstr qoN auhdy bwry pu`Cx dy bhuq Xqn kIqy, pr AsPl[ Aksr auh hor mwstrW nwL isAwsq qy bihs irhw huMdw sI[ dMd pIhky rih jWdI, ‘bihjy byVI iehdI[ swrw idn iehdI pOlyitks nIN lot AwauNdI, ijvyN AsMblI dIAW coxW lVnIAW hMudIAW[ kdy mokw imLdw qW l`qW mULo jvwb dy idMdIAW jW jIB nUM Twkw l`g jWdw[

kdy-kdy auhdIAW XwdW dIAW GMumxGyrIAW bOrI bxw idMdIAW[ iek idn v`fI p`g vwLy nMU iek`ly KVHw dyK mYQoN irhw nw igAw[

"BwA jI! siq sRI Awkwl!"

"beI swsrI ‘kwl, swsrI ’kwl!" AcMBw ijhw l`igAw auhnMU[

"BwA jI, ijhVy Qofy nwL mwstr huMdy sI, auh hux kwhqoN nI Awaudy?"

"beI ikhVw mwstr?" v`fI p~g vwLw hQlw AKbwr sMBwldw boilAw[

"ijhVw QonMU bweI jI ,bweI jI krdw rihMdw sI"[

"beI, A`Cw-A`Cw! qUM sUjwpurIey gurdIp dI g`l krdI eyN"[

socW ‘c grk geI mYN,‘qW gurdIp eyN qMU, sUjwpur vwlw gurdIp!’ v`fI p`g vwly dIAW suAwlIAw njrW mYnMU q`k rhIAW sn[ ‘beI hW, gurdIp— auh qW pVHwauxw C`f kYnyfw cilAw igAw[ Awh iqMn-cwr mhIny pihlW FufIikAW vl dI koeI PYimlI knyifEN AweI sI AwpxI DI ivAwhux[ dyK-idKwaux ‘c auhnW nUM gurdIp psMd Aw igAw[ J`t-p`t ivAwh ho igAw[ id`lI kwgj Br idqy[ vIjw iml igAw[ Pyr AwieAw sI sB nUM imlx[ EdUM qIjy idn auhdI PlweIt sI"[

c`kr Aw igAw mYnMU[ ifgdI-ifgdI msW sMBlI[ v`fI p`g vwLw ijvyN iksy KUh ‘coN bol irhw sI, "beI, qMU auhnMU ikvyN jwxdI eyN? kI irSqw sI Qofw? auhny kdy g`l qW kIqI nI sI?"

‘ikhVy irSqy dI g`l krdw auh! auhdy qy myry irSqy dw dunIAw ny Ajy nW nI r`iKAw!’ myrI soc nMU mlkIqy kMfktr dy lMby hoky ny BMg kIqw, "Awjo beI isDvW byt, ikSnpurw—Drmkot["

v`fI p`g vwLw mwstr kdy-kdy AwpxI bihs qoN ivhlw hoky ‘suxw beI rwxI, rwjI-KuS eyN?’ kihky bulw lYdw sI[ ‘hW jI TIk-Twk AW[’ ies qoN v`D guPqgU nw mYN A`gy qordI nw Ehdy qorn dy Xqn nMU sPl hox idMdI[ auhdy Prkdy bulHW qoN lgdw sI ik auhnMU kuC pu`Cx dI qWG hY[ pr auhdI Xwd dy q`qy mwrUQl ‘c bQyry pYr Bu`jy sn, mYN qy Bulx dI koiSS ‘c sW aus AqIq nUM[ ies kwrn v`fI p`g vwLy mwstr dw svwl auhdy Prkdy bulHW dI lCmx-ryKw pwr nw kr sikAw[

vkq dI mrhm nwL z^mW dy nwsUr qW Bry, pr inSwn ipCy rih gey sn[ kdy-kdy auhdI Xwd bihbl kr C`fdI sI, auNj ijMdgI TIk qurI jw rhI sI[ mlkIqy kMfktr dI b`s ‘c iCVHy hwsy, skUl ‘c vkq dI cMgI fMg-tpweI nwL sB A`Cw sI[ mW-ipE ny AwpxI DI ivAwh ky gMgw nhw leI sI[ Awpxy KwvMd ‘coN vI mYN auhdw pRCwvW qlwSx dw Xqn krdI[

b`s ivclIAW svwrIAW ie`kw-du`kw rItwier hoieAW qy srIr C`fx vwilAW qoN ibnW qkrIbn auhI sn-ichry jrUr kuC-kuC bu`Fy ho gey sn[ v`fI p`g vwLy mwstr dI bihs nw mu`kx vwlI pMfq dI kQw vrgI sI[

"beI rwxI, suxw beI rwjI-KuS eyN? v`fI p`g vwLw mwstr sI[

"siq sRI Akwl, BwA jI! bs TIk-Twk AW["

"swsrI ‘kwl beI –rwxI, gurdIp AwieAw knyfw qoN—pMj-Cy idn hoey ny[" auhdy bolW ‘c sunyhw phuMcwx dI kwhl spSt sI[

"vDIAw!" ikhw qW mYN AYnw hI, pr kihxw cwhuMdI sI, ‘Aw igAw myry Bry hoey nwsUrW nUM p`C mwr-mwr lhU-luhwx krn, golI-l`gixAW[’

"mYN g`l kIqI sI, imlx leI kihMdw sI["

"ikauN? kwhqoN kwhLw imlx leI?" pqw nhI ikauN kih id`qw mYN!

"beI rwxI, s`c d`s, qyrw idl vI EhI kihMdw, jo qMU mUMhoN kih rhI eyN? kmlIey! mYN vI h`f-mws dw puqlW, koeI ie`t-b`tw qy nhIN jo qyrI pIV nhIN pCwxdw[ jjibAW nMU idl qy p`Qr r`Kky nI dbweIdw, hONkw bx swrI aumr leI rog bxky cuMbV jWdy ny bMdy nUM!"

mYN cu`p sI[ muSkl nwL A`KW qoN bwhr jwxoN roky hMJUAW ny myrI jbwn is`lHI kr idqI sI[

"beI rwxI, k`lH nMU AwaU gurdIp p`pU dy Fwby qy ds vjy, iml lieE[ A`Dy idn dI CutI dI ArjI r`K AweIN A~j[ beI rwxI, b`s Aw geI cl c`lIey["

‘imLW? nw imLW? imLI qW ikvyN imLWgI? kI hY d`sx-pu`Cx jW kihx-sunx nUM? kI lgdY auh myrw?’ sPr dOrwn myry ijhn ‘c pqw nhIN ikMny ku svwlW dI vwCV huuMdI rhI[ skUloN Gr jwky vI C`q vl ieMj q`k rhI sW ijvyN auQy myry pRSnW dy auqr luky hoey sn[ pqI-dyv myrI mno-dSw qy hYrwn sI, qy myrI by-iDAwnI qy kuC-kuC gusy vI!

"guf-mOrinMg rw-A-xI!" Fwby dy bYNc qy bYTI dI iksy ny myrI jwgo-mItI dI ibrqI nMU BMg kIqw[ swhmxy auh KVHw sI[ bwhrlI Awbo-hvw dw Asr sI jW ivdysI k`piVAW dI cmk-bhuq jc irhw sI[ myrw nw auhdy bulHW ‘coN inklky koeI sur bx myry kMnW ‘c v`ijAw[ ‘cMdirAw, AwhI guf-mOrinMg ikqy audoN bulw idMdw!’

"mYN ikhw, rwxI jI ,siq sRI Akwl!"

"auh! auh!! siq sRI Akwl! muAwP krnw, byiDAwnI jyhI ho geI sI["

"gusw qW nhIN kroNgy, jy bYNc qy bYT jwvW?"

jIA krdw sI khW,‘vy vkqoN KuMiJAw, iek vwr kihMdw qW shI, qyry bYTx leI qW mYN Awpy nUM ivCw dyxw sI[’ pr idl qy jbwn dI sWJ hI nhIN sI[ "Fwby AwiLAW dw bYNc Aw-koeI mrjI bYTy, gu`sw ikhVI g`l dw!"

auh bYT igAw[ myry ichry qy auhdIAW A`KW ivCIAW sn[ A`j mYynMU auh q`kxI nsIb ho rhI sI, jIhdy ieMqjwr ‘c myrw vjUd vlMUDirAw ipAw sI[ jIA krdw sI r`j ky rox nMU qy auhdy gl l`gx nUM, pr mYN Awpxy sbr nMU sMBwlI r`iKAw[

"rwxI, kI hwl AY qyrw? bweI jI d`sdw sI--!"

"hwl myrw TIk hY," mYN auhdI g`l ivckwroN k`tidAW ikhw, "BwA jI ny quhwnMU kI d`isAw, mYnMU pqw nhIN[ auNj mYN auhnW qoN sihjy hI quhwfy ie`kdm AwExoN htx dw kwrn puiCAw sI["

"rwxI, qMU koeI corI kIqI AY ik sPweI dyx l`g peI[ KYr, qYnMU myry knyfw jwx dw pqw l`g igAw sI["

"Awho!"

"gu`sw AwieAw sI ik APsoS hoieAw sI?"

"myrI qnKwh bMd ho geI sI qyry kYnyfw jwx nwl ik mYnUM gusw AwauNdw[" ‘qusIN’ dI rsmI siBAqw dI kuMj auqwrdy mYN auhnMU ‘qMU’ kihky muKwiqb hoeI[

"rwxI!" moh-Bry bolW nwL auhny myrw nW ilAw, "mlkIqy kMfktr horW dI b`s ‘c bYTw mYN qyrw mYnMU q`kdw ichrw hI pVHdw huMdw sI[ AKbwrW qW iek prdw sI[ myrw jIA krdw sI qYnMU blwaux nMU, pr PokI SrwPq dI pMf Q`ly d`ibAw kdy hIAW nw kr sikAw["

"bhuq qkVw pVHwkw Pyr qW qMU[" mYnMU auhdy iezhwr qy gusw vI AwieAw qy imXUsI vI hoeI[ "mYN kuVI hoky vI qyrI dId leI hr hrby-jrby nMU vriqAw, qMU muMfw hoky kbUqr vWg A~KW mItI bYTw irhw["

"sMXog bVHy blvwn huMdy ny rwxI!"

"ijhVw A`j rwxI, rwxI krdYN, audoN kuC qW mUMhoN boldw[ sMXogW dI lkIr qW bxw hI lYxI sI BWvy cwkU nwL h`Q qy ikauN nw qrwsxI pYNdI[" bulHW ‘coN inkLy hrPW qy mYN Kud hYrwn sI[

"ikQy qMU iek blvwn kuVI qy ikQy mYN iek kwier bMdw[ bwhr jwx nMU aukw idl nhIN sI krdw, pr mW-ipE dI ‘swrw t`br qrjUgw’ dI rt kwrn l`qW ‘c pUC dyxI peI[ pr rwxI, s`c d`sW? mYN auQy Borw KuS nhIN["

"ikauN? Lok qW kihMdy ny kYnyfw svrg AY!"

"hoaUgw, mYN qW dyiKAw nhIN[ vweIP korI AnpVH Aw, rihMdI-KUMhdI ksr mYnUM knyfw s`dx dy DOx ivcly kIly ny pUrI kIqI hoeI Aw[ XunIvristI dIAW ifgrIAW dy blbUqy mYnMU auQy klIn-A`p krn dI jOb imlI hoeI AY["

swhmxy b`s-A`fy ‘c JwVU lgw rhy jmWdwr nMU vyKidAW mYN auhnMU kYnyfw dIAW gLIAW swP krdI ny ikAwisAw[ hwsy qy qrs nwL myrw mMn pMGr igAw[ ‘vy kmilAw, bwhrly mulkW dIAW sVkW swP krn nMU Awbdw mulk ikvyN iek-dUjy qoN mUhry ho-ho C`fI jwny EN[ AYQy huMdw, dyK mwstrW dI qnKwh[ horW vWg AwpW vI Sihr ‘c koTI pw ky rihMdy[ f`kw dUhrw nw krdw BwvyN, rwjw bxky rihMdw AwpxI rwxI nwL[’ myrI soc auhdy bolW ny qoVI, "rwxI, cwh-pwxI nI puCxw?"

"mYN qW suixAw sI ik qusIN bwhrly kOPI qy jUs pIny EN[ soicAw Swied kYnyfIAn swihb nMU swfy grIb BwrqIAW dI cwh psMd eI nw Awvy!"

p`pU Fwby vwLy dw nOkr do k`p cwh dy r`K igAw[

"AYfI CyqI ikvyN gyVw mwr ilAw? suixAW lok qW EDr jwky ip`Cw aUeIN Bul jWdy ny!"

"bwpU jI ibmwr sn, kwPI sIrIAs[ Pon igAw sI qW Acwnk Awauxw ipAw["

"hux ikvyN ny?" mYN iPkrmMd huuMdI ny puiCAw[

"TIk ny[ hspqwLo C`utI ho geI Aw[ myry hI do-iqMn hjwr nUM cUnw l`gxw sI"[

"bhuq lwlcI bx jwny EN bwhr jwky! vy, mW-ipE l`KIN nw hjwrIN[ vQyrI aumr peI Aw, bxweI jweIN idn-rwq fwlr!"

"fwlrW dw ikhVy BVUey nUM lwlc AY rwxI[ myrI qW v`FI rUh nIN krdI vwps jwx nMU[" Pyr ijvyN auhny Awpxw hONslw btorn nMU lMbw swh ilAw, "rwxI! c`l AwpW ies ADUry irSqy nMU jbwn dyeIey["

‘qyry ies s`dy-p`qr nUM ikhVy Kwny ‘c r`KW, cMdirAw[ myry ArmwnW dw qW isvw m`cky vI TMfw ho igAw[ TMfI rwK nUM PUkW mwr ky mGwaux dI koiSS kIqI qW mMUh eI kwLy hoxgy[’ kihxw chuMdI sI, pr kih nw skI[ "mYnMU lgdY , qYnUM pqw nhIN ik myrw ivAwh ho igAw?" mYN auhqoN puiCAw[

"qyry ivAwh dw mYnMU pqw, pr lgdY, qMU vI myry vWg KuS nhIN!"

"b`ly vy pVHwikAw," QoVHw ijhw qYs ‘c Awky mYN ikhw, "ichry pVHky bVHy qkVy tyvy lwaunw qMU! pr sux, mYN Awpxy shury Gr bhuq KuS hW["

"r`b qYnMU bhuq KuS r`Ky rwxI! myrI qW mrdy dm q`k hr swh ‘coN qyry leI iehI duAw inklUgI[ AweI AYm sOrI[ jjbwqI hoky mYQoN glq boilAw igAw["

mYN bYNc qoN auT ky KVoH geI[ b`s iqAwr sI[ prs smytdI ny auhnMU kuJ kihx dw hOslw iek`Tw krdI ny ikhw, "sux, bhuq PqUr sI qYnMU nyiVEN q`kx dw, koL bYTky qyry nwL g`lW krn dw, auqr igAw[ irSqw auhI huMdw, jIhnUM smwj kbUly, bwkI sB ku`J K`tIAW-imTIAW XwdW dy Kwqy ‘c pw C`fIdw[ supinAW dy mgr nI B`jIdw, A`K KulHI qy bVHI qklIP huuMdI AY[ jwh muVjw kYnyfw nMU, ijQy koeI krmW vwLI qyry rwhW ‘c A`KW ivCweI qYnMU aufIk rhI AY[ b`s jwx nMU iqAwr Aw—cMgw Pyr- siq sRI Akwl!"