ipCly qoN ipCly swl Bolw iek idn g`fI ciVHAw qW auhdI itkt ikDry if`g peI[ Agly stySn qoN do iqMn tItI Aw gey[ auhny jyb ivc h`Q mwirAw qy iJjk igAw[ tItI auhdy kol AwieAw qW kih idqw, "jI itkt if`g pI"[ tItI Aynk ivcoN pihlW kuJ GuUUr ky JwikAw[ Pyr muskrw ky ivAMMg nwl ikhw, "swry eyvyN eI kihMdy huMdy AY, byitkty"[

"nhIN jI, mYN JUT nhIN boldw"[

"shI AY, shI AY"[ tItI cu`p krky AgWh qur ipAw[ koeI ikrwieAw jW zurmwnw auhny nhIN mMigAw[

pr biTMfy g`fI rukidAW eI puls f`by ivc cVH AweI[ tItI ny auhdy sxy iqMnW cOhW v`l ieSwrw kr id`qw[ puls ny Boly nUM vI Aw ky PVH ilAw[ l`kV dy pul kol iek tr`k KVHw sI[ is`Dy, lweInW auqoN dI tpw ky puls vly auhnW nUM tr`k kol lY gey[ koeI vIh bMdy aus ivc pihlW hI qUVy hoey sI[ Boly horW nwl cwr hor vD gey[

"A`j qW Aw-gy bylIE ig`dVW vwly B`qy!....swirAW nUM K`sI kr ky qorngy!" prly KUMjy iek mu`CI, krV brVI dwVHI vwlw ruK`V ijhw bMdw kih kih ky h`s ipAw[

auhdy kol KVoHqw iek g`BrU muMfw boilAw, "cMgw, qorIAW qW qIAW bx jwxgIAW!"

Bolw ieh sux ky qRih igAw[ pr krdw kI? auhny ingw mwrI ik auhnW dy ipMf dw qW koeI bMdw nhIN sI[ koeI nhIN sI[

qy kuJ idnW mgroN jdoN auh Gr muiVAw qW auhdw ichrw pIlw ipAw hoieAw sI[ sMgidAW auh iksy nUM d`s vI nhIN sI skdw ik ikQoN AwieAw sI[ ieh koeI d`sx vwlI g`l sI?

jYbo kol auhny JUT qUPwn bol ky AKIr S`k twlx leI ikhw, "Awpxy ipMf vwlw ienspYtr t`kr ipAw[ auh m`lomlI nwl lY igAw[ XUrIey dIAW borIAW, qy iek nvIN juAwr dw bI lYx luiDAwxy lY igAw[ EQoN mYN soicAw AwieAw qW hW BUAw nUM iml c`lW[ b`s AYvyN auDr aur igAw...."

keI idn auh srn vwlI gaU vWg qurdw irhw[ kMm vI zor dw koeI nw krdw[ jYbo nUM S`k ipAw, "ikqy prySwn qW nHIN kr qw jweyKwixAW ny?" auhny mMUh pwV ky pu`C eI ilAw[

auhny jYbo nUM iJVk ky cu`p qW krw idqw, pr auhdw S`k sgoN hor vDdw igAw[ mhInw ho c`ilAw sI, koeI vweI DweI eI nhIN sI[ cu`p kr ky, pwsw v`t ky sON rihMdw[ auNj vI hux iF`lw ijhw rihx l`g ipAw sI[

pUrw swl lMG igAw[ Boly nUM Acwnk hor S`k ipAw[ auhny jYbo nUM tohx leI pu`iCAw, "kuS hY...aumYdvwrI?"

"qYnUM qW s`qW swlW dy sUpny AweI jWdy AY! r`b dI ingwh is`DI huMdI qW hux nUM BwvyN s`q ho jWdy[ hux kI ho jU?"

auh cu`p kr igAw[ iksy guJI qs`lI nwl auhdw idl qkVw ho igAw[ pr aus idn mgroN auhny kdI rwqW jwg ky k`tIAW[ AYvyN A`cvI l`gI rihMdI qy mMjy auqy jwgdw ipAw pwsy mwrdw rihMdw[ jYbo vI gUMgI ijhI ho ky peI rihMdI[ ijvyN su`qI hoeI hovy[ pr doey ijvyN swrI rwq sulI tMgy rihMdy[

hor do mhIinAW mgroN jYbo ny auhdI auqsukqw vyK ky iek idn muskrw ky, sMg nwl ikhw, "hux jwrW bylIAW Kwqr bot Kohlx dI iqAwrI kr lY, cwr mhIny ho gy[ AYqkI mYnUM pUrI qs`lI AY beI r`b zrUr JolI Kyr pwaU"[

ipCly CIAW mhIinAW ivc iek hor Alokwr g`l ieh hoeI sI ik v`fw bweI, sMqoK, bhuqw eI nyVy nyVy v`Cy bMnHx l`g ipAw sI[ kdy lsI pIx Aw jWdw, kdy kuVIAW leI koeI k`pVw lIVw lY ky iksy idn idhwr dy bhwny gyVw mwr jWdw, kdy koeI hor cIz bsq mMgx dy bhwny eI Aw jWdw[

jYbo vI auhnUM m`lom`lI ibTw lYNdI[ cwh kr ky idMdI[ auh nWh nWh krdw PVH ky pI lYNdw[ bhwny nwl Psl bwVI dIAW g`lW krn l`g pYNdw[ Boly nUM iksy kMm DMMdy leI pu`C jWdw[

Boly nUM jwipAw, koeI hor g`l vI sI[ auhny Awpxy ijgrI bylI pohly pMfq nwl g`l kIqI[

auhny soc swc ky ikhw, "qUM ausy fwktr kol jw ky Awvdw tSt krw[ swrI g`l dw pqw l`g jU[ Esy fwktr kol jweIN ijhVy ny prySwn kIqw sI"[

Boly nUM bVI Srm AweI[ auhny BwvyN pohly qoN ibnW Ajy qk iksy nUM kuJ nhIN sI d`isAw, pr qW vI hux ieauN lgdw sI ijvyN swry ipMf nUM pqw l`g igAw hovy[

cOQy idn auh biTMfy igAw[ kuJ icr hspqwl ivc corW vWg ieDr auDr auirAw iPirAw[ auh fwktr vI l`B ipAw ijhVy ny EprySn kIqw sI[ pr aus kol mrIz bhuq bYTy sI[ kuJ auh auNJ eI sMg igAw[ prcI bxvw ky Du`py jw bYTw[ A`Dw pihr aufIkx ipCoN fwktr kol jdoN BIV GtI qW Jkdw Jkdw bUhy kol jw KVHoqw[ iek do ibmwr Ajy vI bYTy sI[ aunHW dy bwhr inklidAW hI AMMdr lMG igAw[

fwktr ny rqw ghu nwl aus v`l vyKidAW pu`iCAw, "kI g`l BweI swihb,myry nwl Gulx Awey EN"?

fwktr hsmu`K sI[ jdoN auh hspqwl irhw sI, audoN vI auh eyvyN mKOL krdw rihMdw sI[ pr A`j auhdw mKOl Boly nUM cMgw nhIN sI l`igAw[ auhny ibnW muskrwieAW ikhw, "Gulx jogy jI hux ik`Qy AYN"[

"ikauN?" su`K nwl nvIN nroeI idh AY[ h`fW pYrW dy moklHy EN, Gul ikauN nhIN skdy?" Pyr AwpxI Awdq Anuswr fwktr Thwkw mwr ky h`isAw qy iekdm gMBIr ho ky boilAw, "hukm PrmwE?"

"qusIN jI ipCly qoN ipCly swl myrw prySn kIqw sI..."

"zrUr kIqw hoaU[ audoN qW AsIN k`ty-v`Cy, Fty Joty nhIN sI C`fy, qusIN qW bMdy E!"

"Eho tYks krwauxw sI, beI shI hoieAw ik...."

"ikauN, koeI gVbV ho gI?"

"hW jI"[

"koeI nHIN Pyr kI Prk pYNdy....nW qW Qofw eI v`fU!"

fwktr Ajy vI muskrw irhw sI[ Boly nUM auhdI muskrwht ivauh vrgI l`gI[ pr auhny iF`lI vwj ivc ikhw, "Prk dw qW swnUM eI pqY nw jI"[

"h`Cw!" fwktr Thwkw mwr ky Pyr h`isAw[ g`l ivcoN tUtIAW lwh ky KVHw huMidAW boilAw, "AwE Pyr ieDr, AwpW Prk huxy dUr kr idnyN AYN"[

auhny Boly nUM au~cy myz auqy iltw ilAw[ auhdw kuVqw cu`k ky iF`f d`b d`b ky vyKdw irhw[ Pyr tUtIAW lw ky vyKx l`g ipAw[ tohw twhI krdw keI pu`Ty is`Dy svwl vI puCdw irhw[ Bolw hOlI hOlI jvwb idMdw irhw[

"sB shI AY, BweI swhb!.....jy koeI S`k dI gMF bx gI AY qW AwpW tYst krky dyK lvWgy"[ fwktr muV AwpxI kursI auqy bYTidAW boilAw qy prcI auqy kuJ ilKx l`g ipAw[ Pyr myz qoN au`T ky swhmxy Awey Boly nUM prcI PVwauNidAW kihx ligAw, "jy qW tYst huxy krwauxY qW ipCly pwsy vrWfy ivcoNlMG ky qyrW nMbr kmry ivc jWdy rho[ jy hux vwps muVnY qW k`lH prsoN nUM Aw ky krw ilE[ smJI g`l?"

Bolw prcI PVHky cu`pcwp bwhr Aw igAw[ iPr kuJ soc ky sMgdw sMgdw mgrly vrWfy v`l cilAw igAw[

qy jdoN qIjy idn ausy fwktr kol prcI lY ky Pyr AwieAw qW fwktr ny auvyN muskrw ky ikhw, "EprySn qW BweI swhb iblkul shI hoieAY....hux qusIN Awpxw Gr pVqwlo jw ky!"

fwktr A`j auhnUM hor vI burw l`igAw[ auhny ijvyN auhdy isr ivc sMMm vwlI fWg mwrI hovy[ swrw hspqwl GuMmdw l`igAw[ A`gw ip`Cw vyK ky bwhr Aw igAw[ ipMf Aw ky bUhy vVidAW eI jYbo v`l v`F KwixAW vWg JwikAw[ auh vI auhdy ichry v`l vyK ky sihm geI[ "kI g`l hriKAw quirAw AwaunY?"

Bolw BirAw-pIqw ivhVy ivc pey mMjy auqy ilt igAw[ kuVIAW bwhroN AweIAW qy auhdy nwl cOV krn l`g peIAW[ auh ibMd J`t qW cup irhw, mgroN iKJ ky v`fI nUM iJVk idqw, "qUM hux AYfI swrI cOV krdI cMgI l`gdI AYN? bwrW virHAW dI hox vwlI AYN[ inAwxI qW nHIN!"

kuVI mUMh ivc auNgl pw ky prHW ht geI[ CotI vI v`Cy nwl Kyfx dy bhwny KurlI v`l qur geI[

jYbo ny Boly v`l ghu nwl vyiKAw[ jwipAw dwl ivc zrUr kuJ kwlw sI[ auhny dohW kuVIAW nUM b`Tl qy C`j puCx dy bhwny guAWFIAW dy Gry Byj id`qw[ Awp ivhVy vwlw bUhw BIV ky auhdy kol AwauNidAW bolI, "koeI g`l qW d`s? Ayny idnw dw AY mUMh ikauN sujweI iPrdYN?

Bolw iek vwrI auhdy mUMh v`l Jwkx ipCoN auhdy bwhr nUM auBry hoey pyt v`l ingw itkw ky ieMj Jwkx l`g ipAw ijvyN iehnUM iPhxw cwhuMdw hovy[ cwxc`k auhdIAW A`KW lwl ho geIAW[

iek motI gwlH k`F ky auTidAW auhny ju`qI cu`k leI qy ieko swh jYbo dy isr qy mOrW ivc mwrn l`g ipAw[ ieko dbvIN cIk suxI, Pyr isrP ju`qI dw KVwk eI suxdw irhw[ auh iF`f Gu`t ky pYrW Bwr bih geI[ isr goifAW ivc dy ilAw qy sMG Gu`t ky mUMh ivc quMnI cuMnI hMJUAW nwl iBauNdI rhI[

Boly dw gu`sw dsW pMdrW ju`qIAW nwl TMMfw ho igAw[ pMj s`q koh B`j ky Awey bMMdy vWg auh hONkx l`g ipAw[ mUMhoN gwlH vI nhIN sI inkldI[ Pyr Acwnk auhnUM BIiVAw bUhw KulHdw l`igAw qy kuVIAW dw iKAwl Aw igAw[ Esy vyly pYrIN ju`qI pw ky bwhr nUM qur cilAw[ audoN qWeIN KwE pIE vylw ho c`uikAw sI[

jYbo kuVIAW dy Awaux qoN pihlW eI au~T ky AMMdr clI geI[ auqy Kys lY ky lMmI pY geI[ auhdI h`k ivc cIsW pYx l`g peIAW sn[

kuVIAW b`Tl qy Cj lY ky muVIAW qW cu`lyH auqy r`iKAw dwl vwlw qplw aublI jWdw sI[ auhdy ivcoN in`kilAw vswr vwlw pwxI l`kVW auqy pY irhw sI[ l`kVW buJ ky "sUM suUM krn l`g peIAW sn[ v`fI kuVI ny au~cI swrI ikhw, "nI byby, dwl qW swrI au~bl gI!"

pr jdoN iksy pwisEN koeI moV nw suixAw qW auh doey fOr BOrIAW eyDr auDr Jwkx l`g peIAW[

v`fI ny qply dw F`kx iek pwsy iKskw idqw[ buJIAW hoeIAW l`kVW AgWh krky PUkW mwrn lg peI[

"byby, bwpU ikDr igAw?" CotI ny B`j ky AMMdr AwauNidAW puiCAw[

"Kuh ivc!" jYbo ijvyN gu`sy nwl BrI pIqI roxI vwj ivc auBVvwhI bolI[ suxidAW eI kuVI fr geI[ sihmI ijhI hOlI hOlI auhdy mMjy kol jw ky bol, "qUM bmwr AYN byby?"

"mr gI qyry byby qW....."

"nI qwro!....byby mr gI!" CotI Awpxy suBw mUjb iKViKV hsdI bwhr v`l B`j AweI[ auhdw hwsw sux ky jYbo dI ih`k dI pIV eynI vDI ik cIkW in`klx vwlIAW ho geIAW[ pl ku pihlW kuJ KuSk hoeIAW A`KW muV vihx l`g peIAW[

Bolw keI idn jYbo nwl nhIN boilAw[ nw auhny eI bulwaux dw Xqn kIqw[ rotI tu`k vyly vI kuVIAW dy h`Q rotI pwxI PVHw idMdI[

iehnIN idnIN v`fw bweI vI rotI aunHW dy Gry eI Kwx lg ipAw sI-m`lom`lI dy prwhuxy vWg[ rotI vyly Aw ky mMjy auqy bih jWdw[ dohW kuVIAW nUM kolo s`d ky aunW nwl in`kIAW in`kIAW g`lW krn l`g pYNdw[ au~cI hsdw, aunHW nUM bwqW suxwauNdw rihMdw[ bolw keI idn qW auhdy nwl cMgI qrHW nw boilAw[ pr Pyr dovyN BrwvW ny ijvyN purwxI GroV bulw id`qI[ nwly GroV sI vI kwhdI? pMj ku vrHy hoey v`fy bweI ny Awpxy ih`sy dI pYlI vMfw leI sI[ rotI tu`k vI Awpy pkwaux l`g ipAw[ boly ny keI vwr ikhw, "swnUM nmoSI AwaU"[ pr bweI kihMdw, "jdoN AwpW jYdwq vMf lI, hux QonUM kwhdI nmoSI?....nwly mYN koeI kuVI AYN beI QonUM nmoSI AwaU!"

auhdw h`k sI, Bolw kI krdw? pr Boly dw h`Q bhuq qMg ho igAw sI[ Psl eI A`DI rih geI sI[ auqoN AMqW dI mihMgweI[ KyqI dw Krc vI vDdw jWdw sI[ nw bIAW qy KwdW ibnW srdw sI, nw mihMgy mu`l KrId ky pUrI pYNdI sI[ suswietIAW dw krzw eI nhIN sI isroN lihMdw[ keI vwrI jIA kIqw ik beI v`fy bweI nUM AwKy, "vwhI k`TI kr lIey"[ pr mn nhIN mMinAw[ hux jdoN auh Awp eI nyVy hox l`g ipAw sI qW boly nUM kwhdw ieqrwz ho skdw sI! auh qW sgoN KuS sI[ pr iek hor DuVkU AMdroN nhIN sI jWdw[ cUhy vWg AMMdro AMMdrI kuqrI jWdw sI[

iek idn pohly pMfq Pyr g`l kIqI[ auh KocrI h`s ky kihMdw, "lY jo hoaU qW Gr dI g`l AY, bweI ikhVw bgwnY! nwly ieh koeI jgoN bwhrI g`l qW nhIN[ Brw sWJI KyqI jugW jugWqrW qoN krdy Awey AY"[ Pyr kuJ gMBIr ho ky boilAw, "nwly qUM AYN soc, beI bweI AWGUM jy qYnUM vI koeI ibMgI bOlI nw juVdI qW quM vI iksy dy gofy l`g ky jUn pUrI krdw ik nw? hYN! Bolw bMdw"[

pohlw dMd k`F ky jdoN hsdw qW Boly nUM l`gdw, auh auhdw mKOl aufw irhw sI[ iPr Awpy eI auh socdw ik hux iehdw ielwj vI kI AY? nwly KbrY r`b Bu`l eI pey[ vsidAW ivc ho jW gy[ pr pqw nhIN iks kwrn hr vyly auhdy mUMh dw suAwd kusYlw ijhw rihMdw[

iek idn rwq nUM bhuq kuvyly, jdoN kuVIAW sO geIAW qW auhny ikhw, "s`co s`c d`s!...

jYbo qoN boilAw nw igAw[

Bolw ibMd ku iJjikAw, pr A`k dy du`D vrgw kOVw Qu`k lMGwauNidAW Pyr boilAw, "myrw qW do swl dw prySn hoieAw ivAY..."

jYbo ny hnyry ivc Gur ky aus v`l vyiKAw[ kuJ icr ipCoN ihrKI ijhI vwj ivc ijvyN auhdy mUMhoN Awpy in`kl igAw, "v`fy bweI dw vI hoieAw ivAY prySn?"

Boly dy dMd juV gey[ iek vwr qW isr nUM Gyr ijhI cVHI, pr Pyr mn lMmy vihxIN pY quirAw[

jYbo Pyr bolI, "jdoN qUM auhdy nwl ik`dyN dw vwhI sWJI krn nUM iPrdY, hux auh rotI iksy hor dy Gry Kwx jwieAw kry?" Gr dw bMdw qW Aksr Gr dw eI rhU, bgwnw ikvyN bx jU...."

kuJ idnW mgroN bweI AwQxy rotI Kwx AwieAw kuVIAW nwl cOV krn l`g ipAw[ aunHW dy isrW ivc Tyly mwr mwr Kyfdw, hsdw irhw[ kuVIAW cwmHl peIAw[ auhdy moFy cVHIAW rhIAw[ Bolw duic`q ivc ipAw cu`p kr ky bYTw irhw[ rotI Kw ky bwhrly Gr nUM muVdw bweI boilAw, "AYqkIN AwpW rOxI k`TI krky k`TI eI vIj lIey[ pwxI cwr ku idnW qweIN Aw jU sUey ivc"[

Bolw ibMd dw ibMd EvyN guMm ijhw hoieAw bYTw irhw[ Pyr iJjkidAW boilAw, "Pyr Awpxw hswb kqwb ikvyN hoaU?"

"lY! hswb kqwb t`tU dY! mYN auh ikqy c`k ky ljwxI AYN? Awh do gu`lIAYN, ieh hux vI Kw jwnYN, mgroN Kw ijAw krUM[ k`pVw lIVw dy idAw kroN gy, pw ilAw krUM, nhIN Swm dws swD AWGUM lMgotI pweI iPrUM[ Awpy sMg AwaU qW QonUM AwaU! myrw kI AY, sMq lok dw!"