tI.vI cl irhw sI[

^brW vl iDAwn igAw, dunIAW dI l`gI hoeI qIjI jMg (ierwn qy ierwk dI jMg vyly jdoN dunIAW dIAW v`fIAW qwkqW ny swQ dy ky hmlw kIqw) dy isqm, b`icAW dIAW lwSw dy Fyr, msUm Pu`l iksy kUVy dy Fyr vWg su`ty jw rhy sn[ qy Pyr hspqwlW dIAW JlkIAW, ienswnW dy jly hoey ipMfy, iC`l hoieAw mws lu`tk irhw sI[ AOrqW dy AD-nMgy ipMfy jly-B`ujy pey sn[

... qy mYN bYTI soc rhI sW[

nw hI mn tI.vI. iv`c sI qy nw hI mn socW iv`c[ pr mYN Pyr vI soc rhI sW qy dyK rhI sW ienHW v`fIAW qwkqW dw idKwvw[ myrIAW socW kdI tI.vI vl jWdIAW ... rUh dy Cwly iP`sdy qy Pyr by-iDAwny hI vih qurdy[ pl ku bwAd Pyr isMmx lg pYNdy[

socW AMdr cl rhIAW sn, qyz r&qwr nwL ... iek qU&wn dI qrHW[ ... qy mYN bYTI sW bybsI dy Awlm iv`c ... qsvIrW vwr-vwr tI.vI ’ qy idKweI dy rhIAW sn[

mYN soc rhI sW aunHW qU&wnW bwry ... ijhVy AwauNdy ny GrW iv`c, irAwsqW iv`c qy mulkW iv`c[ ienswn dI bybsI ausnUM jkV-jkV r`KdI hY, ... Aqy auh kuJ vI nhIN kr skdw[ ausdI mzbUrI, isr& mzbUr krdI ey, ies qrHW dy isqm J`lx leI[

mYN vyK rhI sW iek bwp dy kIrny jo Awpxy t`br dy igAwrW jIA C`f AwieAw sI, lukx dy leI iksy bMb dy bcwA qoN bxy SYltr iv`c ... qy Awp rih ipAw sI ienHW v`fIAW qwkqW dy A`gy ih`k Tok ky KVox dy leI, ienHW dw swmHxw krn leI[ ausnUM kI pqw sI ik auh lukx vwlw SYltr bMbW dy dbwA hyTW hI qbwh ho jwvygw ... ikauNik duSmx ny aunHW bMbW dy bcwA qoN bxy SYltrW dI surwK BwL leI sI[

aus vyly auh bYTw Koh irhw sI Awpxy hI isr dy vwl qy BMn irhw sI Awpxw isr Awpxy hI h`QW nwL[ ienHW v`fIAW qwkqW dy ByV iv`cwly, auh qbwh ho igAw sI[ kI krygw hux auh jIA ky? qy ikauN ienHW qwkqW nUM iBVidAW, ausnUM Awpxy DIAW pu`qrW dI blI cVHwauxI peI sI? auh nhIN sI smJ skdw ... qy auh ro irhw sI Awpxw m`Qw BMn-BMn ky, qy mYN vyK rhI sW ausdy rudn ... soc rhI sW ... hzwrW socW ... AnykW iKAwl jo hr bybs rUh socdI ey ... [

AwiKr ikauN? ikauN J`lxw pYNdw ey isqm ienswn nUM[

... tI.vI Pyr vI cl irhw sI[

mYN socW nUM CMfkxw cwihAw[ soicAw koeI kMm-kwr hI krW, jW Pyr kuJ socW ies qrHW dw jo jIvn nUM syD dyvy ... mn nUM Drvws qy rUh bwZ-bwZ kr dyvy[ jIA kIqw au~TW qy koeI kMm kr hI vyKW, qWik mn ies kwlI gu&w iv`coN inkly[

mYN tI.vI. bMd kr id`qw[ au~TI[ KVoNidAW ieMj mihsUs hox l`gw ijvyN ijsm iv`c swh-s`q hI nw hovy[ ip`T, l`qW, CwqI, ijvyN pIV nwl npIVy pey hox[ isr vI ckrw irhw sI[

bYTx nUM jIA kIqw qWik ieh sB TIk ho jwvy pr Pyr vI ieauN BwisAw ijvyN Awpxw-Awp lIro-lIr hoieAw ipAw hovy[ b`s auqy qrHW ijvyN tI.vI ’ qy aus AwdmI dw hwl sI[ jo Awpxw sB kuJ lu`tw cu`kw sI[

mYN KVoqI soc rhI sW ... suMn, nw jwxy ikhVy Awlm iv`c[ mYnUM ieauN BwisAw ijvyN myrIAW l`qW vI swQ nhIN sn dy rhIAW, qy mYN kMD dw Awsrw lY ky KVo geI[ Pyr vI mYnUM koeI Fwrs nw imlI[ kol hI pOVIAW sn, mYN do kdm cl ky pOVIAW ’ qy hI bYT geI[

isr Pyr vI ckrw irhw sI[ Gr swrw hI Awly-duAwly GuMm irhw sI[ pqw nHIN mYN ikMnw-ku-icr pOVIAW ’ qy bYTI rhI sW[ ... vkq dw koeI AMdwzw hI nhIN sI irhw[ ieh vI koeI pqw nhIN sI ik, mYN aus vyly kI soc rhI sW ... iks dy bwry iv`c soc rhI sW[ pr soc zrUr rhI sW, AYvyN hI aUl-jlUl ijhIAW socW[

sBo kuJ idmwg dI qwxI iv`c auliJAw ijhw ipAw sI[ koeI soc vI sQweI nhIN sI[ pr mYN bYTI sW pOVIAW 'qy ... nw jwxy ikauN[

jIA kIqw koeI kMm hI krW ... pr ikhVw kMm? Pyr soicAw Gr hI sw& krW? mn ny a~uqr id`qw ik ieh qW qUM kuJ pl pihlW hI JwV-pUMJ htI eyN[ clo rsoeI iv`c hI kuJ krdI hW ... pr kI? ... ikhdy leI? svwl m`Qy iv`c Twh krdw v`ijAw[ Pyr vI mYN Pir`j KoilHAw ... dyiKAw, bVw kuJ bixAw ipAw sI, swrw Pir`j BirAw-BkuMinAw ipAw sI[ kuJ vI qW krn vwlw nhIN sI[

soc pl-dI-pl b`icAW vl prq geI[ ... jy kr b`cy Gr huMdy qW ieh sB kuJ GVIAW plW iv`c hI mu`k jwxw sI[ aus vyly ievyN BwisAw ijvyN keI in`ky in`ky kMm mYN aunHW leI kr rhI hovW ... qy auh huxy hI swmHxy drvwzy rwhIN Awauxgy Aqy kihxgy, 'mW bVI Bu`K l`gI hY, ilAw CyqIN-CyqIN, jo kuJ bixAw ipAw hY, ... bs iek dm kwhlI nwL hI['

... qy mYN auTWgI rpw-rp ... qyz-qyz kdmIN ... CyqIN-CyqIN iqAwr krWgI auhnW dy mn psMd dIAW cIzW qy jIA Br ky KuAwvWgI[ auh h`sxgy, qy mYN vyK-vyK KuS hovWgI[ ... auh Awpo-iv`cIN g`lW-bwqW krngy, lVngy qy mYN hor iksy Awhry lg jwvWgI[

ieh socidAW hoieAW nzr bwhrly drvwzy qy Atk geI hY[ koeI nhIN Aw irhw sI ... koeI nhIN drvwzw KVkw irhw sI[

b`cy? b`cy qW izMdgI dIAW pulWGW pu`tdy hoey, Awpxy rwhW ’ qy qur pey sn[ 'ieh kYnyfw ey mW ... vI hYv ey rweIt tU ilv Awvr En lweI&['

'SUAr' AwK id`qw sI, pr GyrnI ny myrw swh Gu`t id`qw[ AYfI CyqIN? hwlIN qW mYN ienHW nUM pwldI hI peI sW[

soc b`icAW dIAW g`lW vl Pyr prq geI, jdoN auh AwiKAw krdy sn, 'mW qusIN ieMfIAn lok AwpxI izMdgI nhIN ijauNdy ... [ ikauN AwpxI izMdgI b`icAW rwhIN ijaux dI koiSS krdy ho?'

aus vyly smJ nhIN sI AweI[ 'AwpW swry hI ieMfIAn hW, Pyr b`cy hI qW swfI izMdgI hYn byty', mYN AwK id`qw sI[ ijvyN hor koeI au~qr su`iJAw hI nhIN sI[

‘nhIN, swfw kMtrI kYnyfw hY[ vI vr bOrn ihAr[ AYNf vI Awr nOt XUAr hol lweI&[ vweI fONt dw ieMfIAnz AMfrstYNf ids? mwmw XU hYv tU krIeyt XUAr En lweI&[ stwp holifMg AOn tU A`s[ ... E.ky.[’

iek Jtky nwL myrI soc Pyr tu`tdI hY ... , mYN qW KVoqI sW iek`lI, koeI a~uQy nhIN sI, nw hI b`cy qy nw hI koeI Awvwz iksy pwisEN Aw rhI sI[ Awly-duAwly suMn-mswn sI[ ies KmoSI dy kwrn, myrw isr Bwrw-Bwrw ijhw jwipAw, soicAw clo Gu`t cwh dw hI bxw lvW ... kuJ vkq qW inkLygw hI ... [ Pyr cwh dI ipAwlI pINidAW hoieAW, Swied socW dI lVI juV hI jwvy[

cwh bxw ky mYN Pyr isitMg rUm iv`c Aw bYTI[ cwh dI ipAwlI hwlIN myry h`Q iv`c hI sI jdoN nUM drvwzw KVkx dI Awvwz AweI[ ieh Awvwz vI pqw nhIN sI lg irhw ijvyN socW vWg hI aulJI ijhI, mDm r&qwr iv`c cl rhI sI[ A`j-kl drvwzw KVkxw vI AjIb hI g`l hY[ koeI Awvy qW drvwzw KVkwvy[

mYN do kdm A`gy v`D ky drvwzw KoilHAw[ myrI guAWFx bwhr KVoqI sI, h`Q iv`c ivAwh dw ienvItySn kwrf leI[

"BYx jI siq sRI Akwl[" ausny bVy hI qpwk nwl AwiKAw[

"siq sRI Akwl jI", mYN nw jwxy ikauN qy iks qrHW aus nUM AwK id`qw[ ausdy h`Q iv`c ivAwh dw kwrf kMb irhw sI[ mYnUM smJ nhIN sI Aw rhI ik mYN iesnUM, ies qoN A`gy kI AwKW[ mYN hwlIN idmwg qy zor pw hI rhI sW jdoN nUM auh A`goN bol peI, "su`K nwL kwky dw ivAwh DirAw, soicAw pihlW kwrf quhwnUM hI dy ky AwvW["

"A`Cw! A`Cw!! ivAwh ... hWA, kwky dw ivAwh[" mYnUM A`goN pqw nhIN sI l`g irhw, kI kihxw hY[ kwrf hY ... ivAwh hY ... , qy A`goN ... pqw nhIN?

mYN idmwg qoN mxW mUMhIN Bwr lwhuMidAW hoieAW ausnUM AwiKAw ... "bhuq sohxw hoieAw ... AwE lMG AwE["

auh DV`m krky Awpxw Bwrw pYr AMdr DrdI hoeI qy drvwzy nUM iek h`Q nwL PVdI hoeI rpw-r`p AMdr lMG AweI[

mYN kyqlI 'c vwDU bxI peI cwh dI ipAwlI ausdy A`gy rKidAW AwiKAw ... "Sukr hY, ivAwh dy bhwny qusIN Awey ... ["

"jIA qW bVw krdY BYx jI ... quhwnUM pqw hI AY, bs vkq AYNvy hI inkl jWdY["

'vkq AYNvy hI inkl jWdY ... ?' mYN soc rhI sW[ iks qrHW vkq AYNvy hI inkl jWdY? myry koloN qW ivhlw vIk-AYNf nhIN k`itAw jWdY[ ikMny cMgy ny auh lok ijnHW dw vkq AYNvy hI inkl jWdY ... mYN qW Q`k jWdI hW pl-pl nUM ikxkw- ikxkw Bor ky kyridAW hoieAW[

auh myry vl vyKdI hY ... ijvyN mYnUM pVH rhI hovy ... inhwr-inhwr ky ... qy Pyr dyKdI hY Awlw-duAwlw[ myrw BirAw-BkuMinAW Gr vI ievyN jwpdw hY ijvyN KwlI-KwlI hovy[ sweIf frwA ’ qy peIAW kuJ qsvIrW ijvyN ib`t-ib`t q`k rhIAW hox[

mYN AMdro-AMdrI KurdI ijhI jWdI hW[ myrI ku`K dy iksy kony iv`c cIs au~TdI hY ... bs ausy qrHW dI cIs ijhVI tI.vI qy cl rhIAW ^brW iv`c aus AwdmI dy AMdr vlyt pwauNdI sI ... qy auh ivlk-ivlk ky ro irhw sI[

mYN Awpxy m`Qy ’ qy AweIAW hoeIAW k`cIAW qRylIAW dw psInw ijhw pUMJ ky koeI g`l qornI cwhMudI hW ... pr ikhVI g`l? koeI smJ nhIN AwauNdI[ myrw jIA kIqw AwK dyvW ... 'qyry pu`qr dw ivAwh hovygw ... qy Pyr bwAd iv`c qyrw frwieMg rUm qsvIrW nwL Br jwvygw ... jo ib`t-ib`t qyry vl qkxgIAW['

pr mYN kuJ nhIN ikhw[ guAWFx au~TI qy rpw-rp qur geI ...'qwvlI 'qwvlI ho[ mYN bYTI hW Pyr vI socW iv`c glqwn[ nw jwxy kI soc rhI hW ... aulJy ijhy Awlm iv`c[

tYlIPon dI GMtI KVkdI hY[ mYN byiDAwny ijhy hI hYlo AwKdI hW[ dUjy bMny myrI DI XUnIvristI qoN bol rhI hY[ auh mYnUM bhuq kuJ pu`C rhI hY ... qy bhuq kuJ d`s vI rhI hY[ ... mYN nw jwxy kI AwK rhI hW ausnUM ... AYvyN hI[ kuJ vI p`ly nhIN pY irhw[ myrI DI mYnUM vwr-vwr pu`CdI hY ... 'mwmw kI g`l ey ... ? mwmw d`so vI ... ? plIz mwmw syA smiQMg ... ?"

"kuJ vI qW nhIN ... AYvyN hI soc rhI sW mYN ... guAWFx byby bwry["

guAWFx byby vl soc prqdI hY, byby rqnI jo bu`Fy-bwry DIAW-pu`qrW ny kYnyfw idKwaux leI mMgw leI ... qy do mhIinAW bwAd iek JoLw aus dy gL iv`c pw ky kMm ’ qy qor id`qI[ ie`Qy swry hI kMm krdy hn ... ausdw ieMfIAw iv`c jMimAw-piLAw hoieAw pu`qr AwKdw sI[

... byby rqnI Awpxy foldy gofy lY ky, mINh-hnHyrI iv`c, pYNdI br& iv`c, hOlI-hOlI kMm ’ qy qur pYNdI[ kMm ’ qy nhIN jwvygI ... qW rotI ik`QoN KwvygI? ip`Cy nUM vI qW prq nhIN sI skdI[ au~Qyy irhw hI koeI nhIN sI[ ... qy auh AwpxIAW socW guMddI hr roz b`s stwp qy jw KVoNdI ... qW ik auh ^brW ’ c bolx vwly bwp vWg ik`Dry sB kuJ huMidAW-su-huMidAW iek`lI nw rih jwvy[

myrI DI mYnUM fWtdI hY, "mwmw! lokW dy du`KW iv`c nw jIivAw kro[ lrn tU ilv ivd dw tweIm["

s`c hI qW AwKdI hY, mYN socdI hW[ pr Pyr socdI hW ieho hI qW du`K izMdgI dw ih`sw ny[ ... qy ikauN bx jWdy ny sB AxgOly ijhy p`K? Awlw-duAwlw hr roz dyKdI hW, pwrk iv`c iek`Ty hoey bzurgW vl vI, ... qy myrI rUh iv`c iek dm soc auBrdI hY ... KMBy, KMBy hI qW ny ieh sB[ loV vyly roSnI id`qI qy Pyr AYNvy vwDU cIz vWg KVoqy ny AxgOLy ijhy ... cldI sVk ’ qy ... l`gy hoey KMBy[