ieh Srwb dI mihPl sI jo pihlW bVy siBAk ijhy mwhOl ivc SurU hoeI qy Pyr Bkx lg peI[ CotIAW nIvIAW myzW auqy vMMn suvMMnIAW ivskIAW Aqy bIArW peIAW hoeIAW sn qy Awly duAwly bwrW pMdrW bMdy bYTy hoey sn- dosq imqr qy irSqydwr[ swry pVHy ilKy qy shI puSwkW vwly sn[ ienHW ivc p`cI qIh virHAW dy jvwn vI sn qy s`TW pYNhTW vwly vI[ KuSI dw smwgm sI[ kuJ ku smW pihlW hI, iesy QW mhwrwj dw Bog pY ky hitAw sI[ mhwrwj dI bIV jdoN gurduAwry Byjx leI kwr ivc r`K idqI geI qW ausy vyly ies QW qy myzW fwhIAW geIAW sn[

A`TW dsW virHAW mgroN sMDU swihb, Pyrw mwrn AmrIkw qoN ieMfIAw Awey sn[ aunHW dI pqnI dI BYYx Aqy BxoeIAw ieQy rihMdy sn- cMfIgVH dy nwl lgvyN AYYs ey AYYs ngr ivc[ AmrIkw ivc sMDU swihb bhuq shI rih rhy sn, pr eyQy ieMfIAw ivc vI auh shI hI rihxw cwhuMdy sn[ ies leI ieQy koeI Gr bnwauxw cwhuMdy sn[ shI hY, ipMf ivc zmIn vI sI qy Gr vI, pr ipMf ivc hux aunHW leI rih skxw sMBv nhIN sI[ Awp qW rih skdy sn, ikauNik Awp qW ieDr hI jMmy ply sn, b`icAW dI muSikl sI[ jMmx dI qW gl hI kI, ijhVy b`cy CotI aumry auDr cly jWdy hn qy auDr hI jw ky pldy hn, aunHW leI vI ieDr Aw ky rihxw muSkl ho jWdw hY[ ipMf ivc qW bhuq muSkl[ cMfIgVH kuJ ibhqr hY[ ieh Awm Sihr vWg nhIN hY, dunIAW dy kuJ KUbsUrq SihrW ivcoN iek hY[ iek qW ies dIAW lIkW kwrbUzIAr ny vwhIAW hn- PrWs dy mhwn AwrkItYkt kwrbUzIAr ny - dUjy ies dy au~qr ivc jo iSvwilk dIAW phwVIAW hn, auh ies nUM iek bVI hI suMdr ipT BUmI dy rhIAW hn[ ihmwlw, ies Sihr vl, hr smyN hI imhr BrI idRStI nwl q`kdw rihMdw hY, ijvyN koeI vfwrU iksy suMdr Aqy gol mtol ijhy bcy vl q`kdw rihMdw hovy[

sMDU swihb cMfIgVH ivc Gr bxwauxw cwhuMdy sn, pr cMfIgVH ivc DrqI qy mkwn mihMMgy ho cuky sn[ imswl vjoN, ijMnI DrqI iek lK dI huMdI sI kdy aunI Aj vIh jW qIh lK dI ho cu`kI sI[ AYYs ey AYYs ngr ivc, cMfIgVH dy twkry ivc, kImqW kuJ nrm sn[ Aqy Pyr AYYs ey AYYs ngr vI cMfIgVH hI sI? shI hY, eyQy Ajy ivkws kMm kuJ G`t sI, pr AwiKr kdy qW hovygw hI? ies leI auhnW soicAw ik AYYs ey AYYs ivc hI Gr bxw lYxw jW koeI bixAw hoieAw hI KrId lYxw AYYs ey AYYs ngr vI Asl ivc cMfIgVH hI hY[ iSvwlk dIAW phwVIAW, jo cMfIgVH dy ipCy hn, AYYs ey AYYs ngr dI ipT BUUmI bx rhIAW hn[ ihmwlw auNJ qW swry ihMdusqwn vl qkdw hY, ijho ijhI nzr nwl auh cMfIgVH nUM qkdw hY auho ijhI nzr nwl hI AYYs ey AYYs ngr nUM[ cMfIgVH ivc sYktr hn, AYYs ey AYYs ngr ivc vI, Pyz hI nhIN, sYktr vI hn[ imswl vjoN ds Pyz, ieQoN dw cONhT sYktr hY[ ieauN vI, ienHW sYktrW nwl ieh cMfIgVH bx jWdw hY[ Aqy jdoN cMfIgVH pMjwb nUM dy idqw igAw, auh XU tI nhIN rhygw, ieh vKrw AYYs ey AYYs ngr nhIN[ ieh qy auh, ieko pMjwb dI rwjDwnI bx jwvygw[

ies qoN ibnW pujq vI qW AwpxI dyKxI huMdI hY[ AmrIkw ivc jy rihMdy hW qW ies dw mqlb ieh qW nhIN ik kyvl auQy rihx nwl hI ArbW pqI bx jWdy hW[ bQyry hn jo auQy vI dsONty ktdy rihMdy hn[ iek hn jo CyvIN mhInI Pyrw mwr jWdy hn, ieMfIAw[ iek hn jo bwrHIN vrHIN vI muSkl nwl Aw skdy hn[ AwpxI AwpxI hwlq hY[

KYYr, PYsLw hoieAw ik AYYs ey AYYs ngr ivc hI Gr bxwauxw cwhIdw hY[ bVI cMgI jgHw hY[ ipMf vI hY qy Sihr vI[ swnUM pyNfUM pMjwbIAW nUM ipMf C`fxw AOKw hY[ AsIN jy Sihr AwauNdy hW qW Awpxw ipMf, Awpxy mn ivc, nwl lY ky AwauNdy hW[ Sihr dy vI auhIE ih`sy swnUM cMgy lgdy hn jo bhuqy ipMfW vrgy hn[ Sukr hY Ajy ihMdusqwn, lgBg swrw, ipMf hI hY[ id`lI iek ipMf hI hY[ Sihr hY lMMfn, pYirs jW inaUXwrk[ iesy qrHW mwsko, tokIE jW rom Awid[ ieMglYNf, AmrIkw jW Xurp dw koeI vI vDIAw bMdw- klwkwr, swihqkwr, pyNtr jW dwinSvr- Sihr nwloN ipMf ivc rihxw v`D psMd krdw hY[ SihrW ivc KcKc, ipMfW ivc SWqI[ auQy Sihr, loV Anuswr, ipMf ivc puijAw hoieAw hY[ SWqI qy hry Bry BU idRS vwDy dy hn[

sMDU swihb dy irSqydwr, aunHW dI pqnI dy BYYx BxoeIAw, pMj Pyz ivc rihMdy sn, pr sMDU swihb leI ds Pyz ivc bixAw bxwieAw iek Gr KrId idqw igAw sI, jo kwPI suhxw bixAw sI qy nkSw bhuq hI cMgw sI[ ivc AwpxI mrzI dw kuJ hor bxw ilAw igAw sI[ AmrIkw ijhy GrW dI nuhwr ijhI nuhwr sI[ ijs iksy bxwieAw sI, SONk nwl bxwieAw sI, pr auh Awp ies mkwn ivc rih hI nhIN sikAw sI[ sMDU swihb nUM mkwn KrId ky qs`lI hoeI[ mkwn kI, ieh koTI hI sI[ bVy hI mwfrn qrIky nwl auswrI geI husIn koTI[ A`j ies koTI ivc pRvyS kIqw igAw sI[ ieh gRih pRvyS dI rsm sI[

ies smyN Srwb pIx leI ijhVy bMdy bYTy sn, Awps ivc auh iek dUjy dy aukw jwxUM nhIN sn[ sMDU swihb dy sWFU dy zrUr auh swry jwxUM sn[ sMDU swihb dy sWFU ny hI aunHW nUM sidAw hoieAw sI[ ikauNik auhIE auhnW vloN swrw kuJ kr rhy sn[ sMDU swihb qW A`TW dsW virHAW mgroN Awey sn[

bMdy sB ieauN sn ijvyN iksy rotrI klb dy mYNbr huMdy hn[ iek cotI dw drzI, iek cotI dw mocI, cotI dw AiDAwpk, cotI dw vkIl, iek ieQy kvI sI, iek eyQy AiDAwpk, iek POjI Apsr sI, iek pulIs dw AYYs AYs pI[ ies qrHW hor sn[ sMDU swihb dy sWFU swihb Awp styj Ayktr sn qy sMDU swihb vI kwPI suhxw gw qy nc lYNdy sn[ v`Ko v`K KyqrW dy bMdy juVy hoey sn[ ienHW ivc hI l`kV dw iek imsqrI vI bYTw sI[ ijs ny ies koTI dw swrw l`kV dw kMm kIqw sI[ kMm bhuq suhxw sI[ auhny iek sqUn dy nwl bwr bxweI hoeI sI jo bhuq KUbsUrq sI! kI ieMglYNf AmrIkw ivc ieauN bwrW bxdIAW hoxgIAW[

"ieh kI hY? sqUn auqy lkV lweI hoeI hY? bhuq KUbsUrq hY!" iksy ny q`k ky puC hI ilAw:

"nhIN jI, ieh bwr hY!"

"bwr?"

"hWjI"[

"bhuq KUbsUrq hY!"

"lE jI dyKo!" iksy ny bwr dI qwkI KolHI ijs dw pqw hI nhIN sI lgdw ik ieh qwkI hovygI[

bwr dI qwkI KulHI qW vMn suvMnIAW vweInW Aqy ivskIAW peIAW nzr AweIAW[

"iehnW ny bxweI hY jI ieh bwr! ieh imsqrI hn"[

"A`Cw A`Cw! vwh vwh"[

"swrw kMm iehnW ny hI kIqY jI ies koTI dw[ bUhy, bwrIAW, Aqy ieh bwr"[

"shI shI, bhuq KUbsUrq hn"[

hux q`k Srwb dy do do jwm pIqy jw cuky sn[ Coty, do do jwm[ kvI Aqy AiDAwpk ny Srwb nhIN sI leI, isrP bIAr eI leI sI[ idn dy igAwrW vjy hI Srwb pIxw auhnW nUM suKwvW nhIN sI lg irhw[ iek s`jx isrP jUs jW kok hI pI rhy sn, bwkI sB ivskIAW[ koeI vD, koeI Gt[ Ajy qk Awps ivc koeI gl surU nhIN sI hoeI[ eyny jxy bYTy hox qy g`l koeI vI hovy nw....shI hY, auh Awps ivc Guly imly hoey nhIN sn, qW vI ieauN iekTy ho ky jdoN kuJ bMdy bihMdy hn qW koeI nw koeI g`l qW auh krn lg hI jWdy hn[ pr eyQy Ajy koeI vI gl iksy dy hoTW auqy Awauxw nhIN sI cwh rhI[ ies dw kwrn iek dUjy leI QoVHw QoVHw siqkwr vI sI ijhVw iek dUjy nwl vwkPI nw hox kwrn Awpy hI bixAw hoieAw sI[ jdoN iek dUjy nwl kuJ KulH fulH ho jwvygI...Ajy eynI hI sWJ sI ik auh iek sWJy im`qr dy s`dy auqy Awey sn qy bVI hI SrwPq nwl ivskIAW dIAW boqlW dy Awly duAwly bYTy sn[ do do pYg pIx nwl ieh sWJ kuJ vD geI sI[ pr ieh sWJ Ajy qIkr eynI aunq nhIN sI hoeI ik g`lW SurU ho jWdI[ shI hY, Srwb dw nSw vI sWJ pYdw kr idMdw hY, pr Srwb vDIAw qy pYg Coty hox kwrn, ieh AvsQw Ajy qIkr pYdw nhIN sI ho skI[ hW hux ieh CyqI hI pYdw hox vl jw rhI sI[

nyVy hI iek kony vl stIrIE r`iKAw hoieAw sI[ typW v`j rhIAW sn, qUqk qUqk qUqIAW-heI jmwlo! bly nIN grDwrI lwl-Swbw nIN grDwrI lwl!"

jwm vDx lg pey[ pihly Coty Coty sn, hux ieh v`fy hox lgy[ keI Awpxy Awp hI hux Awpxw jwm Brn lgy[ ijvyN dUjy dy Brn nwl qs`lI ijhI nw huMdI hovy[

"qUqk qUqk qUqIAW-heI jmwlo!"

bly nIN grDwrI lwl-Swbw nIN grDwrI lwl!"

hux ieh typW n`cx leI bulwvw dyx lg peIAW sn[

pry, QoVI dUrI auqy, AOrqW bYTIAW hoeIAW sn jo sofw, iSkMjvI jW jUs Awid pI rhIAW sn[ KuSI dw vwqwvrx sI, ies leI aunHW dIAW A`KW ivc vI nSw nzr Aw irhw sI-ijvyN Srwb dw kuJ kuJ nSw aunHW dy iglwsW ivc vI auf auf puj igAw hovy[ BwvyN auh iSkMjvIAW jW jUsW dy iglws hI sn[

"quqk qUqk qUqIAW-heI jmwlo!"

bly nIN grDwrI lwl- Swbw nIN grDwrI lwl!"

eyDroN iek nOjvwn, ijs ny hux q`k cwr ik Cy cMgy pYg pI ley sn, mihPl ivcoN auiTAw qy qUqk qUqk qUqIAW dy auqy n`cx lg ipAw[ n`cx kwhdw lg ipAw, Ajy auh SurU hoieAw hI sI ik aus dw bUt vwlw pYr Srwb nwl BrI iek myz nwl tkrw igAw[ is`ty vjoN swrw kuJ, jo myz auqy ipAw sI, drhm rm ho igAw ‘qy bIAr dw iek BirAw m`g, swrw, iek Blymwxs dy kpiVAW auqy ful igAw[

clo, ieh ho hI jWdwhY[ AijhIAW g`lW nwl hI ieho ijhIAW mihPlW ivc rMg Bry jw skdy hn[

BwvyN sMDU swihb hux AmrIkw ivc rih rhy sn, pr qUqk qUqk qUqIAW qW aunHW dIAW keIAW pIVHIAW q`k nUM iK`cW pwaux vwly sn[ aunHW dy puqr poqry AmrIkw dy vsnIk bx jwx qy pUrI qrHW auQoN dy hI siBAwcwr ivc rc imc jwx, pr aunHW ivcoN pMjwbI Kslq kdy vI mr nhIN skygI[ iksy nw iksy rUp ivc auh prgt ho hI jweygI[ auh qW clo aunHW dIAW AglIAW Awaux vwlIAW pIVHIAW hn, scweI aunHW bwry kuJ hor vI ho skdI hY[ pr ieh qW sMDU swihb sn Kud jo pUry sUry pMjwbI sn[ ienHW nUM ieh qUqk qUqk qUqIAW ikvyN nw iK`cW pwauNdy? sMDU swihb au~Ty qy qUqk qUqk qUqIAW auqy n`cx lg pey[ sMDU swihb s`cm`uc hI bhuq suhxw n`c rhy sn[ kmwl dIAW mudwvW sn[ sMDU swihb dy sWFU swihb ny hOlI ijhI d`isAw ik ieh vI kuJ ku AYYktr hn qy kdy kdy aunHW dy nwtkW ivc vI kMm krdy rhy hn[ sMDU swihb dy sWFU swihb iek`ly hI AYktr nhIN sn, aunHW dy pqnI vI AYYktr sn[ mIAW bIvI dovyN AYYktr[ ies leI sMDU swihb nUM vI ienHW dohW dIAW CohW nwl kuJ AYkitMg Aw hI geI sI[ auNJ ifsko gIqW kwrn AjklH qW hr iek hI AYYktr bixAw hoieAw hY[ ikauNik Aj klH swDnW dI loV qW ienHW leI hY hI nhIN[

sMDU swihb KUb n`cy’[ qUqk qUqk qUqIAW- "bly nIN igrDwrI lwl"! pihlW auh iek`ly sn, Pyr AwpxI pqnI nUM auh bwhoN PVH ilAwey qy auh nwl n`cx l`g pey[ AOrqW mrd , muskrwey[ dovyN KUbsUrq sn[ bhuq suhxy lgdy sn pqI pqnI dovyN ncdy[ kdy kdy auh ieho ijhIAW hrkqW vI krdy sn jo sB nUM hswauNdIAW[ pr auh ieho ijhIAW hrkqW kyvl sMDU swihb hI krdy sn, pqnI vloN nhIN sn huMdIAW[ pqnI sMDU swihb nwl ieho ijhIAW hrkqW krdI cMgI nhIN lg skdI sI[ Kwskr sB dy swhmxy hI[

sMDU swihb hux AwpxI pqnI dI BYYx nUM hI bwhoN PVH ky ncx leI lY Awey sn qy aus nwl n`c rhy sn[ swlI nwl vI kuJ ku hrkqW kIqIAW jw skdIAW sn jo sImq Gyry vwlIAW sn[ swlI, pqnI nhIN sI, pqnI dI v`fI BYYx sI qy aunHW leI vI BYYx vwly siqkwr dI hI pwqr sI[ ies nwc ivc swlI vwlI hlkI hlkI KulH vI sI qy BYYx vwlw siqkwr vI[ cMgw irhw ieh vI nwc[ hlkI ijhI iek lIk hI pqnI vwly hI nwc nwloN ies nUM v`K kr rhI sI[

sMDU swihb AwpxI iek BrjweI nwl vI n`cy sn[ A`j auh ieQy hIro sn[ aunHW leI hI swrw kuJ ieh A`j eyQy ho irhw sI[

iek mrd nUM bwQrUm jwx dI loV mihsUs hoeI[ sMDU swihb auhnUM lY ky aupr gey[ hyTlw bwQrUm Ajy mukMml nhIN hoieAw sI[ auqy bhuq vDIAw ieMgilS twielt bxI hoeI sI jo kmry nwl sMimlq sI[ pOVI v`fy kmry ivcoN hI aupr vl jw rhI sI[ mihmwn koTI dI iSPq krdw aupr vl jw irhw sI[ mihmwn AMMdr clw igAw[ sMDU swihb dy sWFU swihb kmry ivc, mihmwn dy nwl rihx leI, Kloqy rhy[

AMMdr, bUhy nUM iK`cx leI, iek fUfxw lgw hoieAw sI[ hQI dI QW gol fUfxw[ mihmwn ny bUhy nUM KolHx leI jdoN fUfxw iKicAw qW fUfxw hQ ivc Aw igAw qy bUhw bMd dw bMd irhw[ hux auh ikvyN KoLHy bUhw? QoVI koiSS kIqI vI, pr bUhw KulH nhIN skdw sI[ mihmwn ny Awvwz idqI[ sMDU swihb dy sWFU swihb ny bwhroN bUhw D`ikAw qy qd hI bUhw KulH sikAw[

sMDU swihb dy sWFU swihb ny ie`k g`l mihsUs kIqI "hYN!" ieh imsqrI ny fUfxw ikvyN lwieAw hY? hux qW eyQy mYN sW, mYN eyQy nw huMdw qW bUhw ikvyN Kul kdw? eynI byiDAwnI?’ sMDU swihb dy sWFU swihb mihPl ivc gey qy imsqrI nUM sd ilAwey: "ieh fUfxw ikvyN lwieAw ey? bt hI bwhr AwigAw[ hux qW mYN eyQy sW, jo mYN eyQy nw huMdw?"

sMDU swihb dy sWFU nwloN bhuqw kMm swlI ny hI imsqrI qoN krvwieAw sI[ imsqrI auqy igAw qy auh vI phuMc geI[ imsqrI nUM mihPl ivcoN ijvyN auhdw pqI sd ky aupr lY igAw sI, auhnUM Kutk geI sI ik g`l kuJ ieh shI nhIN[ auh cwhuMdI sI ik ies smyN auhnUM kuJ nw AwiKAw jwvy[ ies smyN auh imsqrI nhIN, mihPl ivc horW mihmwnW vWg hI bYTw hoieAw hY[ pqI dI soc ieh sI ik shI hY, ik mihmwnW ivc ibTwl ilAw igAw hY, pr hY qW auh imsqrI hI! jy ikqy koeI nuks hY qW auhnUM huxy hI ds dyx ivc kI burw ho skdw hY? bVI mwmUlI g`l sI[ pr kyvl eynI g`l leI hI pqI pqnI bihsx lgy:

"Atvwl! ieh shI nhIN! ies smyN qYnUM iehnUM kuJ nhIN AwKxw cwhIdw!"

"ikauN nhIN AwKxw cwhIdw?"

"ies smyN qUM Awp iehnUM mihmwnW ivc ibTwieAw ey-mihmwnW ivcoN lY ky Awauxw"[

"imsqrI qUM c`l hyT"[ Atvwl ny AwiKAw[ imsqrI hyTW clw igAw[

"ieh vI AwKxw glq ey- imsqrI qUM c`l hyT-ies smyN qUM nW lY auhdw!"

"rwjo! qUM myry nwl ieh kI glW kr rhI hYN?" qUM AweI hI aupr kwhqoN AYN?"

"mYN qyry leI AweI hW[ ikQy auh, ikQy qUM! qUM auhnUM ies mOky GUrdw cMgw nhIN lgdw"[

"ikauN nhIN lgdw Gurdw cMgw? pYsy nhIN id`qy auhnUM? muPq kMm krvwieAw ey? Aqy Pyr mYN GUr vI auhnUM ikhVy pwisEN irhw hW? puC irhw hW isrP auhnUM!"

"AYs vyly pu`Cx dw vI auhnUM koeI mqlb nhIN[ ies vyly auh imsqrI nhIN[ jW Pyr auhnUM ivc nw ibTwauNdy AwpxI mihPl ivc!"

"bVI AjIb gl hY ieh!"

"AjIb qW qUM kIqI ey!"

mIAW bIvI cly Awey[ pr m`Qy ivc dohW dy hI iqaUVIAW Aw geIAW sn[

Atvwl KulHy Aqy audwr idl dw bMdw sI[ pr ie`k g`l kMfy vWguM auhnUM cuBx lg peI sI- "imsqrI! imsqrI! imsqrI! imsqrI! nUM kuJ nw AwK! ies vyly auh imsqrI nhIN! rwijMdr pqnI myrI hY jW imsqrI dI pqnI hY? mYN nhIN,imsqrI! imsqrI hI imsqrI....’

pqw nhIN, auh dovyN jxy kdoN bwhr jw cuky sn ijQy swhmxy KwlI QW ivc kwrW KVHIAW hoeIAW sn[ grm bihs SurU hoeI: "ku`qIey! hrwmzwdIey! d`s qUM kIhdI qIvIN eyN? myrI hYN jw imsqrI dI?"

"Atvwl, mYN qyrI qIvIN AW"[

"nhIN qUM myrI qIvIN nhIN[ qUM imsqrI dI qIvIN eyN!"

"Atvwl, qUM Akl kr!"

"ku`qIey! hrwmzwdIey! qUM dyvyNgI Akl mYnUM? imsqrI dI qIvIN eyN!"

eynI g`l suxidAW hI,Atvwl dI pqnI rwijMdr Atvwl ny, Atvwl dy mUMh auqy ieauN cpyV mwrI ijvyN swfIAW iPlmW ivc A`j klH mwrI jWdI hY[ cpyVH leI cpyV[ Awly duAwly mrd AOrqW ikMny lok Kloqy sn qy sB hYrwn rih gey[ ieh s`c sI jW nwtk? iksy nUM vI ies bwry ieh aumId nhIN sI ik ieauN vI ho jwvygw[ pr ieauN ho igAw sI[ bVI nwvwjb gl sI[

Atvwl dy QoVI QoVI dwVHI r`KI hoeI sI[ auNJ klIn Syv sI[ cpyV dw kwPI ihsw auhdy vwlW auqy vjw sI qy QoVI ijhI cpyV leI hI g`lH dw ih`sw AwieAw sI[ ies leI ijhVI hlkI ijhI gulwbI Bwh auT AwauxI sI, auh QoVHy ijhy ih`sy auqy hI a~uTI hoeI ids rhI sI[ auh vI nW mwqr hI[ pr ieh eynI Bwh vI iksy nUM cMgI nhIN sI lgdI peI[ ieh swfI sMsikRqI Aqy siBAwcwr dy ault sI[ shI hY, gwhlW vI swfy siBAwcwr ivc nhIN sn, pr eynIAW ku gwhlW qW mrd AOrqW nUM k`F hI lYNdy hn[