Chattaanon Me Fire

Colonel Pratap bechaini se kamre me tahal raha tha.

Ye ek adhed umar ka balisht aur robdaar chehre waala aadmi tha. Moochhen ghani aur niche ki taraf
dhalki huyi thin. Baar baar apne kandhe ko is tarah jhatakta tha jaise usay aashanka ho raha ho ki uska
coat kandhon se sarak kar niche aa girega. Ye uski bahut purani aadat thi. Wo har do minut baad aisa
zaroor karta tha. Usne wall clock par chinta bhari drishti daali aur phir khidki ke paas khada ho gaya.

Door ki pahaadiyon ke pichhe se chaand ubhar raha tha. Mausam bhi anand-daayak tha.......aur
pahaadiyon ka drishya bhi atyant aakarshak.

Lekin colonel Pratap ki bechaini.....wo mausam aur un dilkash nazaaron ka anand nahin le sakta tha.

Achanak wo kisi ki aahat par chaunk kar muda........darwaaze me uski jawan beti Komal khadi thi.

"Owww.....daddy....das baj gaye lekin...."

"Aaannn......haaannn..." Pratap kuchh sochta hua bola...."Shayad gaadi late hai."

Woh khidki se baahar dekhne laga. Komal aage badhi aur apne daddy ke kandhe par hath rakha.......lekin
colonel Pratap waise hi khidki se baahar dekhta raha.

"Aap itne pareshan kyon hain?" Komal dhire se boli.

"Uff....ohh..." Pratap mud kar bola..."Mera kahna hai......ki aakhir tumhari nazron me un ghatnaaon ka
koi mahattva kyon nahin hai?"

"Maine ye to kabhi nahin kaha." Komal boli. "Mera matlab to kewal ye hai ki atyadhik chinta kar ke apne
dimaag ko thakaane se kya laabh?"

"Ab main iska kya karun ki har pal meri uljhanon me vridhi hoti jaa rahi hai."

"Kya koi nayi baat?" Komal ke swar me aashcharya tha.

"Kya tumne cptain Faiyaz ka telegramme nahin padha?"

"Padhi hun......aur iss samay mai usi ke sambandh me aap se baat karne aayi hun."

"Hmm......to tum bhi uske kaaran uljhan me pad gayi ho."

"Jee haan. Aakhir iska kya matlab hai? Unhone likha hai ki.........ek aisa aadmi bhej raha hun jis se aap log
tang na aa gaye to kaafi laabh utha sakenge.......main kahti hun aisa aadmi hi kyon jis se ham tang aa
jaayen.........aur phir ye ki wo koi sarkari aadmi bhi nahin hai."

"Bass yahi baat......mujhe bhi uljhan me daale hui hai." Colonel ne wall clock ki taraf dekhte huye kaha.
"Aakhir wo kis tarah ka aadmi hai........ham tang kyon aa jaayenge?"

"Unhone apne hi department ka koi aadmi kyon nahin bheja?" Komal ne kaha.

"Bhejna chaahta to bhej hi sakta tha. Lekin Faiyaz bada siddhaant waala aadmi hai....ek private maamle
keliye usne kisi sarkari aadmi ko bhejna uchit nahin samjha."
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Colonel Pratap ke donon bhatije Rajat aur Pawan Railway station par train ke aane ki pratiksha kar rahe
the. CIB ke superintentent Captain Faiyaz ne unke chacha ke request karne par ek aadmi bheja
tha......jise lene wo station aaye the. Train ek ghanta late thi.

Un donon ne bhi captain Faiyaz ka telegrame dekha tha aur aane waale ke baare me soch rahe the. Ye
donon yuwa, sundar, smart aur educated the.

Pawan Rajat se kewal 2 saal bada tha......isliye unme doston jaisi betakallufi thi......aur Rajat Pawan ko
uska naam lekar hi bulaata tha.

Capt Faiyaz ka telegramme kitna ajeeb tha?" Rajat ne kaha.

"Iss stupid train ko bhi aaj hi late hona tha." Pawan budbudaaya.

"Lekin wo kis prakar ka aadmi hoga?" Rajat ne kaha.

"Unhhh.....chhodo....hoga koi chirchida....khoosat." Pawan bola. "Colonel sahab akaaran khud bhi bore
hote hain aur dusron ko bhi bore karte hain."

"Ye tum chacha ka insult kar rahe ho." Rajat ne kaha. "In paristhitiyon me tum bhi wahi karte jo woh kar
rahe hain."
"Aray....chhodo....kahaan ki paristhiti aur kaisi paristhiti.....sab unki jhuti shanka hai. Main aksar sochta
hun un jaise shankaalu vyakti ko ek poori batalian ki command kaise saunp di gayi thi......koi tuk bhi
hai......ghar me billiyan royengi to khandan par koi na koi aafat zaroor aayegi....ulloo ki awaaz sun kar
dam nikal jaayega......agar khana khaate samay kisi ne plate me chhuri aur kaante ko cross karke rakh
diya to ap-shagun.....subah sawere agar koi kaana vyakti dikh gaya to musibat."

"Iss baare me to mujhe unse hamdardi hai." Rajat ne kaha.

"Mujhe taao aata hai." Pawan bhinna kar bola.

"Puraane aadmi hai.....kuchh consider karo..."

"Ye puraane aadmi hain...?" Pawan ne jhunjlaa kar kaha. "Mujhe to unki kisi baat me puraana-pan nahin
dikhayi deta.....siwaaye andh-vishwaas ke."

"Yahi sahi.....any way wo pichhle daur ke uttaradhikari hain."

Tez ghanti ki awaaz se wo chaunk pade......ye train ke aagaman ki suchna thi. Ye ek chhota sa pahaadi
station tha. Yahaan yaatriyon ko sachet karne keliye ghanti bajaayi jaati thi. Poore plateform par 8-10
aadmi dikhayi de rahe the.

Train dhire dhire rengti huyi plateform par lag gayi. Pawan aur Rajat gate par khade rahe. Poori train se
kewal 3 aadmi utare. 2 budhe dehaati aur ek jawaan aadmi......jiske sharir par brown gowardian ka suit
tha. Baayen kandhe par cover kiya hua bandook latak rahi thi......aur daahine hath me ek bada sa suit-
case tha.

Shayad ye wahi aadmi tha jiske liye Pawan aur Rajat aaye the. Donon uski taraf lapke.

"Kya aapko captain Faiyaz ne bheja hai?" Pawan ne puchha.

"Agar main khud hi yahan aana nahin chaahta to uski himmat nahin thi mujhe bhej deta." Uss yaatri ne
hans kar kaha.

"Ji haan thik hai." Pawan garbada kar jaldi se bola.

"Kya thik hai?" Yaatri apni aankhen mitmita kar puchha.

Pawan bokhla gaya......"Yahi jo aap kah rahe hain."

"Ohh....." aagantuk ne aise kaha jaise wo pahle kuchh aur samjha ho.

Pawan aur Rajat donon ne arthpoorn dhang se ek dusre ko dekha.

"Ham aapko lene keliye aaye hain." Rajat ne kaha.

"To le chaliye na." aagantuk ne apna suit-case plateform par rakh kar uspar baithte huye kaha.

Pawan ne coolie ko aawaz di.

"Kya??" aagantuk ne hairat se kaha. "Ye ek coolie mujhe suit-case sahit utha sakega?"

Pahle donon bokhla gaye phir hasne lage.

"Jee nahin." Pawan ne apni aankhen nachaate huye kaha...."Aap khade ho jaaiye."

Aagantuk khada ho gaya. Pawan ne coolie ko suit-case uthane ka ishaara karte huye aagantuk ka hath
pakad liya "Aise chaliye."

"O.....teri.....main kuchh aur samjha tha." aagantuk sharmaate huye bola.

Pawan ne Rajat ki taraf dekh kar kaha...."Telegramme ki baat ab tumhari samajh me aa chuki hogi."

Rajat hasne laga lekin wo aagantuk apni dhun me aise chalta raha jaise usko in baaton se koi lena dena
nahin ho. Station se baahar aakar car me baith gaye. Pichhli seat par Pawan aagantuk ke sath tha aur
Rajat drive kar raha tha.

Pawan ne Rajat ko sambodhit karte huye kaha....."Kya colonel sahab aur Captain Faiyaz me koi mazaak
ka rishta bhi hai?"

Rajat ne phir thahaaka lagaya. Wo donon soch rahe the..........ki iss moorkh aagantuk ke sath samay
achha guzrega.
"Shriman ka shubh naam?"

"Shubh vivaah?" aagantuk ne chaunk kar puchha.

Donon hans pade.

"Maine aapka naam puchha tha."

"Ali Imran M Sc, Ph D...."

"M Sc.....Ph D.....bhi?" Rajat phir hans pada.

"Aap hanse kyon?"

"Ohh.....main dusri baat par hansa tha." Rajat jaldi se bola.

"Achha to ab mujhe teesri baat par hasne ka parmission den." Imran ne kahaa aur moorkhon ki tarah
hansne laga. Wo donon aur zor se hasne lage. Imran ne unse bhi tez kahkahaa lagaya. Aur thodi hi der
me Pawan aur Rajat ne mahsus kiya jaise wo khud bhi moorkh ho gaye hain.

Car pahaadi raaston se chakraati huyi aage badh rahi thi. Thodi der car me khamoshi rahi. Imran ne un
donon ke naam nahin puchhe the.

Pawan soch raha tha ki achha manoranjan hua kareega. Colonel sahab ki jhallaahat dekhne laayak hogi.
Ye moorkh praani unka jeena dubhar kar dega. Wo pagalon ki tarah sar peetate phirenge.

Pawan thik hi soch raha tha. Colonel tha bhi khadoos. Agar usay koi baat dobaara kahni padti to uska
paara chadh jaata.....kahaan ye Imran jaisa aadmi......!!!

Aadhe ghante me car ne colonel ki kothi tak ki duri tai kar li. Colonel ab bhi bechaini me usi kamre me
tahal raha tha. Komal bhi wahin mojood thi.

Colonel ne Imran ko upar se niche tak alochnaatmak drishti se dekha. Phir muskura kar bola......"Captain
Faiyaz to achhe hain?"

"Jee....tauba kijiye....ekdam bekar vyakti hai." Imran ne sofe par baithte huye kaha. Kandhe se bandook
utaar kar sofa ke hatthe se latka di.

"Kyon? Bekar vyakti kyon?" colonel ne ashcharya se puchha.

"Bas aise hi..." Imran gambhirta se bola. "Mere vichar se bekaar hone ka koi kaaran nahin hota."

"Well..." Colonel usay ghoorne lage..."Aap ki tareef?"

"Ajee.....hihihihihi.....ab apne muhh se apni tareef kya karun." Imran sharma kar bola.
Pawan kisi prakar bhi bardaasht nahin kar saka. Usay hansi aa gayi.....aur uske hanste hi Rajat bhi hanss
pada.

"Ye kya battamizi hai?" colonel unki taraf muda. Donon achanak chup hokar idhar udhar dekhne lage.
Komal ajeeb nigaahon se Imran ko dekh rahi thi.

"Maine aapka naam puchha tha..." Colonel ne phir Imran ko mukhatib kiya.

"Kab puchha tha?" Imran chaunk kar bola.

"Abhi..." Colonel ke muhh se anayaas nikal pada.....aur wo donon bhai apne apne muhh dabaaye kamre
se baahar nikal gaye.

"In london ki shaamat aayi hai." Colonel ne krodh bhare swar me kaha.....aur wo bhi tezi se kamre se
baahar nikla. Aisa laga jaise wo un donon ko daudaa kar maarega.

Imran murkhon ki tarah baitha raha. Ekdam aise hi anjaan sa jaise usne kuchh dekha suna hi na ho.

Komal kamre me hi rah gayi thi. Uski aankhon me shararat bhari chamak thi.

"Aap ne apna naam nahin bataya?" Komal boli.

Is par Imran ne apne degriyon samet naam duhra diya. Komal ke chehre se lag raha tha jaise usay
vishwaas na hua ho.

"Kya aapko yahan apne aane ka maqsad maloom hai?"

"Maqsad....?" Imran chaunk kar bola..."Jee haan maqsad mujhe pata hai......tabhi to air-gun sath laaya
hun."

"Air-gun..." Komal ne hairat se kaha.

"Jee haan...." Imran ne gambhir swar me kaha..."Main hath se makkhiyaan nahin maarta."

Colonel jo pichhe darwaaze me khada unki baaten sun raha tha......jhalla kar aage badha.

"Main nahin samajh sakta ki Faiyaz ne aisi behoodgi kyon ki." usne kathore swar me kaha aur Imran ko
ghoorta raha.

"Dekhiye......hai naa...bekar vyakti....maine to pahle hi kaha tha." Imran chahak kar kaha.

"Aap kal pahli gaadi se waapas jaayenge." Colonel ne kaha.

"Nahin..." Imran ne gambhirta se kaha..."Main ek saptah ka programme bana kar aaya hun."

"Jee nahin.....dhanyawaad..." Colonel berukhi se bola. "Main aadha paarishramik dekar aapko vida karne
par taiyar hun.....aadha fee kitna hoga?"

"Ye to makkhiyon ki sankhya par nirbhar karta hai.'' Imran ne sar hila kar kaha. "Waise ek ghante me
dedh darzan makkhiyaan maarta hun......aur....."

"Bass....bass...." Colonel hath utha kar bola. "Mere paas bekaar ka samay nahin hai."

"Daddy please...." Komal ne jaldi se kaha. "Kya aapko telegramme ka matter yaad nahin?"

"Hmm..." Colonel kuchh sochne laga. Uski nazar Imran ke chehre par thi.....jo murkhon ki tarah baith kar
palken jhapka raha tha.

"Hmm.....tum thik kahti ho." Colonel bola. Aur ab uski nazar Imran ke chehre se hat kar uski bandook par
jam gayi.

Usne aage badh kar bandook uthaayi aur usay cover se nikaalte hi buri tarah biphar gaya.

"Kya behudgi hai....." wo chillaaya. "Ye to sach-much air gun hai.

Imran nishchint sa baitha raha. usne sar hila kar kaha....."Main kabhi jhoot nahin bolta."

Colonel ka para itna chadh gaya ki uski ladki usay dhakelti huyi kamre se baahar le gayi. Colonel Komal
ke alawa kisi ki nahin sunta tha. Agar koi dusra usay aise le jaata to wo uska gala ghont deta. Unke jaane
ke baad Imran is tarah muskurane laga jaise ye ghatna bahut mazedar raha ho.

Kuchh der baad Komal wapas aayi aur usne us se dusre kamre me chalne ko kaha. Imran khamoshi se
uth kar uske sath ho liya. Komal ne bhi us se aur koi baat nahin ki. Wo ek dusre kamre me aaye. Shayad
ye kamra pahle hi se Imran keliye tayar rakha gaya tha.
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Clock ne ek bajaaya aur Imran bistar se uth gaya. Darwaza khol kar baahar nikla. Charon taraf sannaata
tha. Lekin kothi ke kisi kamre ki bhi light nahin bujhayi gayi thi.

Baraamde me ruk kar usne aahat li. Phir teer ki tarah usi kamre ki taraf badha
jahaan colonel ke pariwar ke log ikatthe the. Komal ke alawa har ek ke aage ek ek
rifle rakhi huyi thi. Pawan aur Rajat bahut adhik bore dikhayi de rahe the. Komal ki
aankhen nind ke kaaran laal ho rahi thin. Colonel is tarah sofe pe akad ke baitha
tha jaise koi statue ho. Uski palken tak nahin jhapak rahi thin.
Imran ko dekh kar uske sharir me harkat paida huyi.

"Kya baat hai? Yahan kyon aaye?" Usne garaj kar puchha.

"Ek baat samajh me nahin aa rahi." Imran ne kaha.

"Kya??" Colonel ke lahje ki kathorta kam nahin huyi thi.

"Agar aap kuchh agyat logon se bhaybheet hain to police ko iski suchna kyon nahin dete?"

"Main jaanta hun ki police kuchh nahin kar sakti."

"Kya wo log sach much aapke liye agyaat hain?"

"Haann."

"Baat samajh me nahin aayi."

"Kyon?"

"Sidhi si baat hai.....agar aap unhen nahin jaante hain to unse darne ka kya kaaran ho sakta hai?"

Colonel uttar dene ke bajaaye Imran ko ghoorta raha,

"Baith jaao." usne thodi der baad kaha. Imran baith gaya.

"Main unhen jaanta hun."

"Tab phir.......police.......clear si baat hai."

"Kya tum mujhe murkh samajhte ho?" Colonel bigad kar bola.

"Jee haan." Imran ne gambhirta se sar hilaaya.

"Kya??" Colonel uchhal kar khada ho gaya.

"Baith jaaiye......maine ye baat isliye kahi thi ki aap log kisi bhi samay unki goliyon ka nishana ban sakte
hain."

"Kyon??"

"Wo kisi bhi samay is building me prawesh kar sakte hain."

"Nahin ghus sakte......baahar kayi pahaadi pahra de rahe hain."

"Phir iss tarah rifles saamne rakh kar baithne ka kya matlab?" Imran sar hila kar bola. "Nahin colonel
sahab....agar aap bhi Ali Imran, M Sc, Ph D se koi kaam lena chaahte hain to aapko shuru se saare halaat
mujhe batana hoga. Main yahan aapke body-guard ki duty karne nahin aaya."

"Daddy.......bata dijiye na...thik hi to hai." Komal boli.

"Kya tum is aadmi ko bharose-mand samajhti ho?"

"Inki abhi umar hi kya hai." Imran ne Komal ki taraf ishara kar ke kaha...."60-60 saal ki buddhiyan bhi
mujh par bharosa karti hain." Komal bokhla kar Imran ko dekhne lagi. Uski samajh hi me kuchh nahin
aaya.

Pawan aur Rajat hasne lage.

"Daant band karo.....!" Colonel ne unhen danta......aur woh donon bura sa muhh bana kar chup ho gaye.

"Aap mujhe un aadmiyon ke baare me bataaiye." Imran ne kaha.

Colonel kuchh der chup raha phir bola "Main nahin jaanta......kya bataaun."

"Kya aapne is bich un me se kisi ko dekha hai?"

"Nahin."

"Phir shayad main pagal ho gaya hun." Imran ne kaha.

"Colonel use ghoorta raha.....kuchh der baad bola...."Main unlogon ke nishan(symbol) ko jaanta hun....us
nishan ka yahaan meri kothi me paaya jaana iss baat ka sanket hai ki main khatre me hun."

"Ohhhh...." Imran ne seeti bajaane waale andaz me apne hont sikode phir dhire se bola...."Woh nishan
aapko kab mila?"

"Aaj se 4 din pahle."

"OK.....kya main usay dekh sakta hun?"

"Bhai....ye tumhaare wash ka rog nahin lagta." Colonel ukta kar bola. "Tum kal subah waapas jaao."

"Ho sakta hai main bhi rogi ho jaaun......aap mujhe dikhaaiye na."
Colonel bezaari prakat karta hua utha....table ka drawer khola. Imran usay dhyan se dekh raha tha.

Colonel ne drawer se koi wastu nikaali. Phir apne sofe par waapas aa gaya. Imran ne uski taraf hath
badhaya. Pawan aur Rajat ne arthpurn drishti se ek dusre ko dekha jaise jaise wo Imran ke muhh se kis
murkhta poorn baat sunne ki aasha rakhte hon.

Colonel ne woh wastu usi table par rakh di. Ek 3 inch lamba lakadi ka bandar tha. Imran usay table se
utha kar ulat-palat karne laga......wo usay thodi der tak dekhta raha......phir table par rakh kar colonel ko
ghoorne laga.

"Kya main kuchh puchh sakta hun?"

"Puchho.....lekin bore mat karo."

"Rukiye..." Imran hath utha kar bola phir Komal ityadi ki taraf dekh kar kaha..."Ho sakta hai ki aap in
logon ke saamne mere prashnon ke uttar dena pasand na karen."

"Unhhh.....jo puchhna hai puchho."

"Ok....maine sawdhani wash ye vichar rakha tha." Imran le laparwahi se kaha. Phir colonel ko ghoorta
hua bola..."Kya kabhi aapka sambandh maadak padarthon(Narcotics) ke dhande se raha hai?"

Colonel anayaas uchhal pada......phir woh Imran ki is tarah ghoorne laga jaise usne dank maar diya ho.
Phir jaldi se ladkon ki taraf mud kar bola...."Jaao.....tum log aaram karo."

Uske bhatijon ke chehre khil uthe.....lekin Komal ke andaz se aisa lag raha tha ko woh nahin jaana
chaahti.

"Tum bhi jaao." Colonel utaawale dhang se hath hila kar bola.

"Kya ye zaruri hai?" Komal ne kaha.

"Jaaaaaooooo." Colonel cheekha. Wo teenon baahar nikal gaye.

"Haan.....tumne kya kaha tha?" colonel ne Imran se puchha. Imran ne phir se apni baat duhra di.

"To kya tum iske baare me kuchh jaante ho?" colonel ne lakdi ke us bandar ki taraf ungli se ishara kar ke
puchha.

"Bohot kuchh."
"Tum kaise jaante ho?"

"Ye bataana bahut kathin hai." Imran muskura kar bola. "Lekin aapne mere sawaal ka koi jawaab nahin
diya.

"Nahin....mera sambandh narcotics ke dhande se kabhi nahin raha."

"Tab phir...." Imran kuchh sochta hua bola...."Aap unlogon ke baare me kuchh jaante hain.....warna ye
nishan is kothi me kyon aaya?"

"By Goddd...." colonel bechaini se apne hathon ko malte huye kaha...."Tum bahut kaam ke aadmi lagte
ho."

"Lekin main kal subah waapas ja raha hun."

"Hargiz nahin......hargiz nahin."

"Agar main kal waapas nahin gaya to us murgi ko kon dekhega jise main andon pe bitha ke aaya hun."

"Achhe ladke.....mazaak nahi......main bahut pareshan hun."

"Aap 'Li yo Ka' se bhaybheet hain?" Imran sar hila kar bola.

Iss baar phir colonel usi prakar uchhlaa jaise imran ne dank maar diya ho.

"Tum kon ho??" colonel ne dari huyi aawaz me puchha.

"Ali Imran M-S-C-P-H-D."

"Kya tumhen sach much captain Faiyaz ne bheja hai?"

"Aur main kal subah waapas chala jaaunga."

"Impossible......impossible.....main tumhen kisi qeemat par nahin chhod sakta......lekin tum Li yo Ka ko

kaise jaante ho?"

"Ye main nahin bata sakta......lekin Le yo Ka ke baare me aapko bahut kuchh bata sakta hun......wo ek
chaabhi (Key) hai....uske naam par narcotics ke gair-qanooni dhande hote hain. Lekin usay aaj tak kisi ne
nahin dekha."

"Bilkul thik......ladke tum khatarnak maloom hote ho."

"Main duniya ka sab se bada moorkh insan hun."

"Bakwaas hai....lekin tum kaise jaante ho?' Colonel barbadaaya...."Kahin tum usi ke aadmi na ho?"
Colonel ki aawaz kanth me phans gayi.

"Behtar hai main kal subah......."

"Nahin......nahin.....nahin...." colonel cheekha.

"Behtar hai main kal subah......."

"Nahin......nahin.....nahin...." colonel cheekha.

"Achha ye bataaiye ki ye nishan aapke paas kyon aaya?" Imran ne puchha.

"Main nahin jaanta."

"Shayad aap iss maha-murkh vyakti ki pariksha lena chaahte hain." Imran ne gambheerta se kaha.

"Ok.....to suniye.....Li yo Ka 200 years purana naam hai."

"Ladke tumne ye saari jaankaariyaan kahan se li?" Colonel usay prashansa bhari drishti se dekhte huye
kaha...."Ye baaten Li yo Ka ke giroh waalo ke siwaa koi nahin jaanta."

"To main samajh lun ki aapka bhi sambandh uske giroh se rah chuka hai."

"Bilkul nahin......tum galat samjhe."

"Phir ye nishan aapke paas kaise pahucha? Aakhir wo log aap se kis chiz ka demand kar rahe hain?"

"Aur tum ye bhi jaante ho?" Colonel zor se bola aur phir uth kar kamre me tahalne laga. Imran ke
honton par natkhat si muskaan thi.

"Ladke....." achanak colonel tahalte tahalte ruk gaya. "Tumhen saabit karna hoga ki tum wahi aadmi ho
jise captain Faiyaz ne bheja hai."

"Aap bahut pareshan hain." Imran hans pada...."Mere paas Faiyaz ki chitthi hai......lekin abhi se aap itna
kyon pareshan hain? Ye to pahli warning hai......bandar ke baad saanp aayega......agar aap ne us bich bhi
unka demand poora nahin kiya to phir wo chhota sa pistal bhejenge.....aur uske dusre hi din aap ka kaam
tamaam ho jaayega.......lekin wo kon sa demand hai?"
Colonel kuchh na bola.......uska munhh hairat se khula hua tha aur aankhen Imran ke chehre par thin.

"Lekin...." Colonel apne honton ko apni zubaan se tar karte huye bola...."Itna kuchh jaan'ne ke baad tum
ab tak kaise zinda ho?"

"Kewal Coca Cola ke kaaran...."

"Be serious.....please." Colonel ne hath utha kar kaha. Uske haav bhaav se bechaini aur utaavlaapan
prakat ho raha tha. "Mujhe Faiyaz ka letter dikhao."

Imran ne pocket se letter nikal kar colonel ki taraf badhaya. Colonel bahut der tak us par nigaahen
gadaaye dekhta raha......phir Imran se bola..."Samajh me nahin aata.....tum kis prakar ke vyakti ho?"

"Main har prakaar ka vyakti hun.....abhi aap mere baare me mat sochiye." Imran ne kaha...."Jitni jaldi
aap mujhe apne baare me bataa denge utna hi achha hoga."

Colonel ke chehre par hichkichaahat dikhayi de rahi thi. Woh kuchh nahin bola.

"Achha rukiye..." Imran ne kuchh der baad kaha...."Li yo Ka ke aadmi kewal ek hi paristhiti me iss prakar
ki harkat karte hain.....woh ek aisa giroh hai jo maadak padarth ka awaidh dhanda karta hai. Li yo Ka kon
hai ye kisi ko nahin pata......lekin business ka saara laabh usi ko pahuchta hai. Kabhi uske koi agent be-
imaani par utaaru ho jaate hain.....wo Li yo Ka ke demand poora nahin karte......us sthiti me unhen is
tarah ki warning milti hain. Pahli dhamki bandar; dusri dhamki saanp aur teesri aur nirnaayak dhamki
Pistal. Agar antim dhamki ke baad bhi wo maang poori nahin karte.....to unko maut ki nind sula diya
jaata hai."

"To.....kya tum ye samajhte ho ki main Li yo Ka ka agent hun?" Colonel gala saaf karke bola.

"Aisi haalat me koi kya samajh sakta hai?"

"Nahin......ye galat hai."

"Phir......sahi kya hai?"

"Mera vichar hai ki......mere paas Li yo Ka ka suraag hai." Colonel dhime swar me budbudaaya.

"Suraag.....? Wo kaise?"

"Kuchh aise papers hain.....jo kisi prakar Li yo ka ke liye haanikaarak ho sakte hain."

"Haanikaarak hona alag baat hai.....lekin suraag?"

"Ye mera apna vichar hai."

"Parantu aapne kis aadhar par apna ye vichar banaya?"

"Ye bataana kathin hai.......waise main un papers me se kuchh ko bilkul nahin samajh paya."

"Lekin wo papers aapko mile kahan se?"

"Ashcharya-janak dhang se.." Colonel cigar jalaata hua bola...."Pichhle maha-uddh ke dauraan main
Hong Kong me tha.....wahin ye papers mere hath lage. Aur ye sachayi hai ki jis ke dwaara mujhe ye
papers mile woh mujhe galat samjha tha. Hua aise ki ek raat main Hong Kong ke ek hotel me dinner le
raha tha....tabhi ke pilpila sa chinese aakar mere saamne baith gaya. Maine mahsoos kiya ki bahut adhik
daraa hua hai....uska poora sharir kaanp raha tha. Usne jeb se ek bada sa lifaaf nikaal kar table ke niche
se mere ghutnon par rakh diya.....aur dhime swar me bola.....main khatre me hun......isay B-14 tak
pahucha dena. Phir iss se pahle ki main kuchh bolta wo utha aur tezi se baahar chala gaya. Baat hairat-
angez thi. Maine chup-chap lifaafa apni jeb me daal liya.....maine socha.....sambhav hai ki wo chinese
militery secret service ka aadmi raha ho....aur kuchh important papers mere dwara kisi aise section me
pahuchana chaahta ho jiska naam B-14 ho."

Kuchh thahar kar colonel ne phir kaha.

"Main us samay full uniform me tha. Hotel se apne residence waapas aane ke baad main envelop jeb se
nikaala. Wo seal kiya hua tha. Maine usay usi haalat me rakh diya. Dusre din maine B-14 ke baare me
puch gachh shuru kiya. Lekin military secret service me iska kuchh pata nahin chal saka. Poore Hong
Kong me B-14 ka koi suraag nahin mil saka. Ant-tah maine tang aakar us envelop ko khol diya."

"To kya usme Li yo Ka se sambandhit poori report thi?" Imran ne puchha.

"Nahin wo to kuchh business se sambandhit papers hain. Lekin usme busines ke type ka clear pata
chalta hai. Li yo Ka ka naam unme kayi jagah duhraaya gaya hai. Kai papers chinese aur japanese bhasha
me bhi hain jinhen main nahin samajh saka."

"Phir aapko Li yo Ka ki history kaise pata chala?"

"Wo to maine Hong Kong me Li yo Ka se sambandhit chhaan-been kiya tha.....tab mujhe sab kuchh
maloom ho gaya.....lekin ye nahin pata chal saka ki Li yo Ka kon hai aur kahaan hai? Uske agent aaye din
arrest hote rahte hain....lekin unme se koi aaj tak Li yo Ka ka pata nahin bata paaya."

Imran thodi der tak kuchh sochta raha phir bola...."Ye log kab se aapke pichhe lage hain?"

"Aaj ki baat nahin." Colonel bujha hua Cigar jala kar bola...." Papers milne ke 6 month baad hi se wo
mere pichhe lag gaye the. Lekin maine unhen waapas nahin kiya. Kayi baar wo chori chhipe mere
residence me bhi ghuse lekin unhen papers ki hawa bhi nahin lag paayi. Ab unhone apna antim
hathiyaar istemal kiya hai.....arthaat maut ke pratik bhejne aarambh kiye hain. Jis ka arth hai ab wo
mujhe jeewit nahin chhodenge."

"Achha wo chinese bhi kabhi dikhayi diya jis se papers aapko mile the?"

"Nahin....wo phir kabhi nahin dikhayi diya."

Kuchh der tak khamoshi rahi....phir Imran dhire se bola....."Aap usi samay tak zinda hain......jab tak
papers aapke qabze me hain."

"Bilkul thik...." Colonel chonk kar bola...."Tum vastav me genius ho.....yahi kaaran hai ki main un papers
ko waapas nahin karna chaahta.....warna mujhe un me thodi si bhi ruchi nahin hai. Bass ye samajh lo ki
maine ek saanp ka sar pakad rakha hai......agar chhodta hun to palat kar wo nishchit roop se kaat lega."

"Kya main un papers ko dekh sakta hun?"

"Bilkul nahin.....tum mujh se saanp ke phan par meri jakad ko dheeli karne ko kah rahe ho."

Imran hansne laga. Phir usne kaha....."Aapne captain Faiyaz ko kyon bich me daala?"

"Uske farishton ko bhi asli ghatnaao ka pata nahin. Wo to kewal ye jaanta hai ki mujhe kuchh logon ki
taraf se khatra hai aur main kisi kaaran-wash police ki hastakshep bhi nahin chaahta."

"To aap mujhe bhi ye saari baaten nahin bataate." Imran ne kaha.

"Bilkul yahi baat hai. Lekin tumhare bhitar shayad kisi shaitaan ki aatma hai."

"Shaitan ki nahin Imran ki" Imran gambhirta se sar hila kar bola. "Any way.....suniye....aap ne mujhe
bodyguard ki haisiyat se yahaan bulwaaya hai."

"Main kisi ko nahin bulwaata......ye sab kuchh Komal ne kiya hai. Usay haalat ki jaankari hai."

"Aur aapke bhatije?"

"Unhen kuchh bhi nahin pata."

"Aapne unhen kuchh na kuchh to bataya hi hoga."

"Bass ye ki kuchh dushman meri toh me hain aur bandar unka nishan hai."
"Lekin iss tarah bhari huyi rifles ke saath jaagaran ka kya arth hai? Kya aap ye samajhte hain ki wo aapke
saamne aakar hamla karenge?"

"Main ye bhi bachchon ko bahlane keliye karta hun."

"Ok.....maariye goli" Imran ne laparwahi se apne kandhe hilaaye aur kaha..."Main subah chai ke sath
bataashe aur lemon drops leta hun."

***************************************************************
***************************************************************

Dusri subah!!! Komal ke aashchrya ka koi thikaana nahin tha jab usne dekha ki colonel uss ardh pagal
vyakti ki awashyakta se adhik aadar satkar kar raha hai.

Pawan aur Rajat apne kamron me naashta karte the. Kaaran ye tha ki colonel ko vitamins ka kuchh adhik
hi chinta rahti thi.

Uske sath un donon ko bhi B/F me kuchh vegetables, bhigoye huye chane.....kisi kisi prakar kanth se
utaarna padta tha.

Isliye unhone der se sokar uthna arambh kar diya. Aajkal to acha bahana hath aaya hua tha ki wo der
raat tak rifle lekar gasht karte hain.

Aaj naashte ke table par kewal Komal, Imran aur colonel the. Aur Imran colonel se bhi kuchh adhik
"vitamin-grast" dikhayi de raha tha. Colonel to bhigoye huye chane hi chaba raha tha lekin Imran ne ye
kiya ki chanon ko chheel chheel kar chhilke alag aur daane alag rakhta gaya. Komal usay hairat se dekh
rahi thi. Jab chhilkon ki maatra adhik ho gayi tab Imran ne unhen chabaana shuru kar diya.

Komal ko hansi aa gayi. Colonel ne shayad udhar dhyan nahin diya tha. Komal ke hasne par wo
chaunka.....aur phir uske honton par bhi halki si muskurahat phail gayi.

Imran murkhon ki tarah un donon ko baari baari se dekhne laga. Lekin chhilkon ke sath ab bhi insaaf
jaari tha.

"Shayad aap kuchh galat kha rahe hain." Komal ne hansi ko rokne ki koshish karte huye kaha.

"Haaiiiinnnn....?" Imran aankhen phaad kar bola...."Galat kha raha hun?"

Phir wo ghabra kar iss tarah apne donon kaan jhaadne laga jaise wo ab tak kaanon ke dwaara hi khata
raha ho. Komal khilkhila kar hans padi.
"Mera.....matlab ye tha ki aap chhilke kha rahe hain." usne kaha.

"Ohh....achha achha!!" Imran hans kar sar hilaane laga. Phir usne gambhir lahje me kaha....."Mera health
din prati din kharab hota jaa raha hai. Isliye main food ka woh bhag khane me prayog karta hun jinme
kewal vitamins hi paaye jaate hain. Ye chhilke vitamins se bharpoor hain. main kewal chhilke khata
hun......aaloo ke chhilke, pyaaz ke chhilke, gehun ki bhoosi ityadi ityadi....."

"Tum shaitan ho......" colonel hasne laga "mera mazaaq udaa rahe ho?"

Imran apna muhh peetne laga......."Aray tauba tauba.....ye aap kya kah rahe hain...?" colonel waise hi
hasta raha.

Komal hairaton ke samandar me thi. Agar ye harkat kisi aur ne ki hoti to colonel shayad rifle tak nikaal
leta. Kabhi wo Imran ko ghoorti thi aur kabhi colonel ko jo baar baar achhi achhi dishes ki taraf Imran ka
dhyan dilata jaa raha tha.

*************************************************

Naashta se nibat kar Imran baahar aa gaya.

Pahaadiyon me dhoop phaili huyi thi. Imran kisi soch me dooba hua dur ki pahaadiyon ko taraf dekh
raha tha. Sonagadhi ki hari bhari pahaadiyan garmiyon me kaafi aabad ho jaati hain.

Nikat evam dur ke maidani bhagon ki garmi se ghabraaye huye sampanna log aksar yahin panaah lete
hain. Hotel aabad ho jaate hain aur sthaniye(Local) logon ke chhote chhote ghar bhi swarg se sundar ban
jaate hain. Wo generally garmiyon me unhen kiraya par laga dete hain.....aur khud chhoti chhoti
jhopadiyaan bana kar rahte hain. Apne atithi kiyadaaron ki sewa bhi karte hain. Jiske badle me unhen
achhi khasi aamdani ho jaati aur bhi sardiyon ka samay usi kamaayi ke bal-boote par guzar dete hain.

Colonel Pratap yahan ke sthayi niwasi the aur unki ginti yahan ke oonche aur dhani logon me hoti thi.
Komal unki iklauti beti thi. Pawan aur Rajat bhatije the jo waise to dusre shahar me rahte the lekin
garmiyaan aksar usi ke sath bitaate the.

Imran ne ek lambi angdaayi li aur saamne se nazren hata kar idhar udhar dekhne laga. Shatoot ki mithi
mithi sugandh charon taraf phaili huyi thi. Imran jahan khada tha wo chhota sa bagicha tha.
Aadu....khubaani....seb....aur shahtoot ke ped charon or phaile huye the. zamin par gire huye shahtoot
se bhi mithi sugandh aa rahi thi.

Imran andar jaane ke liye muda hi tha ki............................

Imran andar jaane ke liye muda hi tha ki saamne se Komal aati huyi dikhayi di.....andaaz se lag raha tha
ki woh Imran hi ke paas aa rahi hai. Imran ruk gaya.
"Kya aap private detective hain?" Komal ne aate hi sawal kiya.

"Detective?" Imran ne aashcharya vyakt kiya. "Nahin to....hamaare desh me to private detective type ki
koi chiz nahin paayi jaati."

"Phir aap kya hain?"

"Main....??" Imran ne gambhirta poorvak kaha..."Main kya hun.......mirza Ghalib ne mere liye ek she'r
kaha tha....

"Hairaan hun dil ko roun, ki peetun jigar ko main;

Maqdoor ho to sath rakhun noha-gar ko main."

(Noha-gar=Kiraya par rone aur marsiya arthaat dukh bhari kavita gaane waala)

"Main vaastav me ek 'Noha-gar' hun. Sampann log dil ya jigar ko pitwaane keliye kiraaya par haasil karte
hain. Aur phir main unhen hairaan hone ka bhi..........wo nahin deta......kya kahte hain
usay.....mauka......mauka....."

Komal ne niche se upar tak usay ghoor kar dekha.....Imran ke chehre par barasne waali murkhta kuchh
adhik ho gayi.

"Aap dusron ko ulloo kyon samajhte hain?" Komal bhinna kar boli.

"Mujhe nahin yaad padta ki maine kabhi kisi ulloo ko bhi ulloo samjha ho."

"Aap aaj jaa rahe the."

"Ohh.....ohh....mujhe khed hai....colonel sahab ne apni tasalli ke liye meri sewaayen praapt kar li
hain.....mera side business tasalli aur dilaasa dena bhi hai."

Komal kuchh der chup rahi phir usne kaha...."To iska matlab hai ki aapne saare maamlaat samajh liye
hain."

"Main aksar kuchh samjhe bujhe bina bhi tasalliyaan deta rahta hun." Imran ne dukhi lahje me kaha. "Ek
baar ki baat hai.....ki ek aadmi ne meri sewayen li....main raat bhar usay tasalliyan deta raha. Lekin jab
subah huyi to maine dekha ki uski khopadi me do chhed hain aur woh na dil ko ro sakta hai aur na jigar
ko peet sakta hai."

"Main nahin samjhi."

"Un chhedon me baad men revolver ki goliyaan paayi gayin......chamtkaar tha sahab
chamatkaar....sachmuch ye chamatkaaron ka zamaana hai. Parson hi akhbaar me maine padha tha ki
Iran me ek hathi ne murgi ke ande diye hain."

"Aap kitna kathore dil insan ho?" Komal muh bigaad kar boli.

"Aap ki kothi badi shandar hai." Imran ne topic badla.

"main puchhti hun aap daddy keliye kya kar sakenge?"

"Dilaasa de sakunga."

Komal kuchh kahne hi waali thi ki baraamde ki taraf se colonel ki awaaz aayi...."Aray....tum yahan ho?"

Phir wo nikat aakar bola..."11 baje train aati hai. Wo donon gadahe kahan hain......tum log station chale
jaao......main nahin jaa sakunga."

"Kya ye waapas nahin jaayenge?" Komal ne Imran ki taraf dekh kar puchha.

"Nahin..." colonel ne kaha. Jaldi karo....9 baj gaye hain."

Komal Imran ko ghoorti huyi andar chali gayi.

"Kya aapke yahan guest aa rahe hain?" Imran ne colonel se puchha.

"Haan.....mere dost hain." Colonel bola. "Colonel Dixon.....ye ek angrez hai. Miss Dixon uski ladki aur Mr
Bartosch..."

"Bartosch...." Imran bola. "Kya Czeck Republic ka naagrik hai?"

"Haan....kyon? Tum kaise jaante ho?"

"Iss prakar ke naam kewal udhar hi paaye jaate hain."

"Bartosch Dixon ka dost hai. Maine usay pahle kabhi nahin dekha. Wo chitrakaar bhi hai."

"Kya wo kuchh din thahrenge?"

"Haan....shayad garmiyaan yahin guzaaren."

"Kya aap un logon se Li yo Ka waale maale ki charcha karenge?"

"Bilkul nahin...." Colonel ne kaha "Lekin tumhen aisa vichar kaise aaya?"
"Bass aise hi. Lekin main ek khaas baat soch raha hun."

"Kya...??"

"Wo log aap par abhi tak lagbhag saare upaaye kar liye lekin papers praapt nahin kar sake. Papers haasil
kiye bina wo aapko maar bhi nahin sakte......kyonki ho sakta hai ki uske baad wo kisi aur ke hath lag
jaayen. Ab main ye soch raha hun......kya aap apni ladki ya bhatijon ki maut bardaasht kar sakenge?"

"Kya bak rahe ho?" Colonel kaanp kar bola.

"Main thik kah raha hun....maan lijiye ki wo Komal ko pakad len phir aap se papers ka demand karen....is
sthiti me aap kya karenge?"

"My Godddd....." colonel ne aankhen band kar ke ek khambe se tek laga li.

Imran khamosh khada raha phir colonel aankhen khol kar murda si awaaz me bola. "Tum thik kahte
ho.....maine iss tarah se kabhi socha hi nahin."

"Komal ko station mat bhejiye."

"Ab main Pawan aur Rajat ko bhi nahin bhej sakta."

"Thik hai.....aap khud hi kyon nahin jaate."

"Main unlogon ko akela bhi nahin chhod sakta."

"Iski chinta mat kijiye.....main hun naa."

"Tum....??" Colonel ne usay is tarah dekha jaise wo dimag se khali ho. "Tum......kya tum kisi khatre ka
mukaabla kar sakoge?"

"Haha.....kyn nahin? Kya aapne meri hawaayi bandook nahin dekhi?"

"Seriously baat karo mere bache...." Colonel bechaini se hath utha kar bola.

"Kya aap captain Faiyaz ko bhi murkh samajhte hain?"

"Aaann......nahin..."

"Tab phir aap bedhadak ja sakte hain.....meri hawaayi bandook ek chidiye se lekar hiran tak ka shikar kar
sakti hai."
"Tum mera revolver apne paas rakho..."

"Array.....tauba tauba..." Imran apna muhh peetne laga...."Kahin wo sach much chal gaya to.....??"

Colonel thodi der Imran ko ghoorta raha.....phir bola...."achha main unhen rok deta hun."

"Rukiye.....ek baat aur sun lijiye...." Imran ne kaha....aur bhi bahut dhimi awaaz me kuchh kahta
raha....colonel ke chehre ki rangat kabhi peeli pad jaati aur kabhi wo phir apni asli haalat par aa jaati.

"Lekin..." Thodi der baad apne sukhe honton par zubaan pher kar bola...."Main nahin samajh sakta."

"Aap sab kuchh samajh sakte hain. Ab jaaiye."

"Ohh....magar..."

"No colonel.....main thik kah raha hun..."

"Tumne mujhe uljhan me daal diya hai."

"Kuchh nahin.....bass aap jaaiye."

Colonel chala gaya. Imran wahin khada kuchh der tak apne hath malta raha phir uske honton pe phiki si
muskurahat phail gayi.

Pawan aur Rajat ko is baat ka bahut dukh tha ki colonel ne unhen station nahin jaane diya. Unhen is se
pahle colonel Dixon ya uski ladki se milne ka awsar nahin mila tha. Komal bhi station jaana chaahti thi.
Usay bhi bahut bura laga.

"Aap nahin gaye colonel sahab ke sath." Rajat ne hairan ho kar puchha.

"Nahin...." Imran ne laparwahi se uttar diya aur chewigum chabaata raha.

"Maine suna hai colonel sahab aap se bahut khush hain."

"Haan.....main unhen raat bhar jokes sunaata raha."

"Lekin ham log kyon hata diye gaye?"

"Jokes bachchon ke sunne layak nahin the."

"Kya kaha.....bachche....?" Rajat jhunjala gaya.

"Haann.....bachche..." Imran muskura kar bola. "Colonel sahab mujhe jawaani ke apne prem prasang
suna rahe the."

"Kya bakte ho."

"Haann.....bakwaas to thi hi." Imran ne gambhir swar me kaha..."Unki jawaani ke samay fojiyon me prem
karne ka riwaz nahin tha. Uss samay ki ladkiyan kewal premiyon se prem karti thin."

"Kuchh samajh me nahin aata aap kaise vyakti ho."

"O...teri....aap samajhte hain ki kasoor mera hai?" Imran ne aashcharya vyakt kiya..."Colonel sahab khud
hi suna rahe the."

Rajat hasne laga.....phir thodi der baad kaha...."Wo bandar kaisa tha?"

"Achha tha..."

"Bhagwan samjhe aap se..." Rajat ne bhinna kar kaha. Phir Imran tahalta hua us kamre me
aaya......jahaan Pawan aur Komal shatranj khel rahe the. Wo chup chap khada hokar dekhne
laga...achanak Pawan ne komal ko shah di. Usne baadshah ko utha kar dusre khaane me rakha. Dusri
taraf Pawan ne hathi ko utha kar phir se shah di. Komal bachne hi jaa rahi thi ki Imran bol
pada...."No....no....yahan rakhiye."

"Kyaaa??" Komal jhalla kar boli "Aapko shatranj aati bhi hai ya yun hi.....baadshah ek ghar se adhik nahin
chal sakta."

"Tab wo baadshaah hua ya kechuwa......baadshah to apni marzi ka maalik hona chaahiye. Jitni dur
chaahe jaa sake....."

"Yaar....tum vaastav me Bokraat ho...." Pawan hans kar bola.

"Chalo chaal chalo." Komal ne jhunjala kar Pawan se kaha. Komal soch kar nahin khel rahi thi isliye jaldi
hi maat ho gayi. Pawan usay chiraane ke liye hasne laga. Komal uski taraf dhyan diye bina Imran se boli...

"Aap ne daddy ko akela kyun jaane diya?"

"Main nihattha hokar kahin nahin jaana chaahta."

"Kya matlab?"

"Main unse kah raha tha ki main apni hawaayi bandook sath le chalunga. Lekin wo ispar tayar nahin
huye."

"Kya aap vaastav me hawaai bandook se makkhiyaan maarte hain?" Pawan ne muskura kar usay chheda.

"Jee haan sirjee." Imran apne seene par hath rakh kar aur thoda jhuk kar bola..."Pichhli yuddh me mujhe
'victoria cross' milte milte rah gaya. Main hospital me makkhiyaan maarne ki duty kar raha tha. Sanyog-
wash ek din ek doctor ki naak par baithi huyi makkhi ka nishaana lete samay thodi si chook ho gayi,
Galati meri nahin us makkhi ki hi thi.....ki wo naak se udd kar aankh par jaa baithi. Anyway us ghatana ke
baad meri saari pichhli sewaaon par soda-water pher diya gaya."

"Soda-wate...?" Pawan ne thahaaka lagaya. Komal bhi hasne lagi.

"Ji haan....us zamaane me shuddh paani nahin milta tha.....warna main kahta ki mere kiye par paani pher
diya gaya."

"Bahut khoob.....aap bahut funny aadmi hain." Komal boli.

"Mera daawa hai ki mera nishaana bahut pakka hai."

"To phir dikhaaiye naa." Pawan ne kaha.

"Abhi lijiye..."

Imran apne kamre se air-gun nikaal laaya. Phir chharra daal kar bola...."Jis makkhi ko kahiye."

"Saamne diwaar par baithi ek makkhi ki taraf Pawan ne ishara kiya.

"Jitni doori se kahiye."

"Dusri taraf deewar tak chale jaaiye."

Doori lagbhag 18 feet raha hoga. Imran ne nishana liye aut tragger daba diya. Makkhi diwaar se chipak
kar rah gayi. Komal dekhne ke liye daudi. Phir usne Pawan ki taraf mud kar harsh aur aashcharya bhare
swar me kaha...."Sach-much.....kamaal hai. Daddy ka nishaana bahut achha hai lekin shayad wo bhi....."

"Ohh.....kon si badi baat hai..." Pawan ghamand se bola..."Main khud bhi laga sakta hun."

Usne Imran ke hath se bandook le li. Thodi der baad Komal bhi iss nishanebaazi me shamil ho gayi.
Diwaaron ka plaste barbaad ho raha tha......aur unpar samajhiye makkhiyaan maarne ka junoon sawaar
ho gaya tha. Phir Rajat bhi aakar shamil ho gaya. Kitni hi der tak khel jaari raha. Lekin kaamyabi kisi ko
nahin mili.
Achanak Komal budnudaayi....."OMG....kya murkhta hai.....diwaaren barbaad ho gayin."

Phir wo sab jhenpi huyi hansi hasne lage. Lekin Imran ki Murkhta bhari gambhirta me thodi bhi kami
nahin huyi.

"Really.....diwaaren barbaad ho gayin." Rajat bola. "Colonel sahab sab ko goli maar denge."

"Sab aapke karan...." Pawan ne Imran ki taraf hath se ishara karke kaha.

"Mere kaaran kyun? Maine to kewal ek hi makkhi par nishana lagaya tha."

Pawan hasne laga. Phir usne Imran ke kandhe par hath rakh kar kaha..."Yaar sach bataana kya tum
vaastav me murkh ho?"

Imran ne dukhiyon ki tarah sar hila diya.

"Lekin kar raat tumne Maadak padarth ki gair-kaanooni dhande ke baare me kya baat kahi thi?"

"Mujhe yaad nahin..." Imran ne hairat prakat kiya.

"Phir colonel sahab ne hamen hata kyon diya tha?"

"In se puchh lijiyega." Imran ne Rajat ki taraf ishara kiya......aur Rajat hasne kaga.

"Kya baat thi?" Pawan ne Rajat se puchha.

"Aray kuchh nahin bakwaas..." Rajat hasta hua bola.

"Lekin baat kaya thi?"

"Phir bata doonga."

Komal Imran ko ghoorne lagi.

"Wo bandar kaisa tha?" Pawan ne Imran se puchha.

"Achha khaasa tha. Art ka behtareen namoona."

"Ghaas kha gaye ho shaya?" Pawan jhalla gaya.

"Sambhav hai lunch me ghaas hi mile." Imran ne kaha. "Naashte me to chane ke chhilke khaaye the."
Teeno betahaasha hasne lage. Lekin Komal jaldi hi gambhir hokar krodhit swar me boli...."Aap mere
daddy ka mazak udaane ki koshish kar rahe hain. Pata nahin wo kyon chup rah gaye."

"Ho sakta hai unhen yaad aa gaya ho ki mere paas bhi hawaayi bandook hai." Imran ne gambhir swar me
kaha..."Aur sach ye hai ki main unka mazaak udaane ki koshish bilkul nahin kar raha tha.....main bhi
vitamins par jaan chhidakta hun. Vitamins ko khatre me dekh kar mujhe pura desh khatre me dikhayi
dene lagta hai."

Kya baat thi?" Pawan ne komal se puchha.

"Kuchh nahin..." Komal ne baat taalni chaahi. Lekin Pawan pichhe pad gaya. Tab Komal ko sab baat
bataani padi, Ispar thahaaka pada.

"Yaar kamal ke aadmi ho." Pawan hasta hua bola.

"Pahli baar aapke muhh se sun raha hun.....warna mere daddy to mujhe bilkul buddhu samajhte hain."

"To phir aapke daddy hi...."

"Arrrrr....." Imran hath utha kar bola..."Aisa na kahiye.....wo bahut bade aadmi hain....director general of
intelligence bureo."

"kya....??" Imran hairat se aankhen phaad kar bola...."Mm....matlab Rahman sahab?"

"Jee haan...." Imran ne laaparwahi se kaha.

"Arre....to aap wohi Imran hain....jisne London me American gunde aur smuggler McLowrence ka giroh
toda tha."

"Pata nahin aap kya kah rahe hain?" Imran ne hairat prakat kiya.

"Nahin......nahin aap wahi hain....." Pawan ki shakal dekhne layak ho raha tha. Vibhinn prakar ki
bhavnaaon ke ek sath ubhar aane par uski shakal haasyaaspad lag rahi thi.

Wo Komal ki taraf mud kar khed bhare andaz me bola...."Ham abhi tak ek bahut hi khatanaak vyakti ka
mazaak udaate rahe hain."

Komal phati phati aankhon se Imran ki taraf dekhne lagi aur Imran ne ek murkhta purn thahaaka lagaa
kar kaha..."Aap pata nahin kahaan ki haank rahe hain."

"Nahin Komal...." Pawan bola...."Main thik kah raha hun......mera ek dost Sameer Oxford me inke sath
tha.....usne mujhe McLawrance ki ghatna sunayi thi. Woh mcLawrance jiska wahan ki police kuchh nahin
bigaad payi thi.....Imran sahab se takrane ke baad giroh samet Fana ho gaya. tha."

"Khoob hawayi chhodi kisi ne." Imran ne muskura kar kaha.

"McLawrance ke sar ke do tukde ho gaye the." Pawan bola.

"Array tauba.......tauba....." Imran apna muhh peetne laga. "Agar maine usay maara ho to meri qabar me
kattar ghuse....nahin baghu.....bhaggu.....uhh...nahin galat.....kya kahte hain uss chhote se jaanwar ko jo
qabron me ghusta hai....."

"Bijju...." Rajat bola.

"Bhagwan jeeta rakhe....lambi umar de....haan....bijju...bijju."

"Imran jee....main maafi chaahta hun...." Pawan ne kaha.

"Aray.......aapko kisi ne bahkaaya hai."

"No sir.......mujhe vishwas hai..."

Komal ab tak kuchh nahin boli thi. Wo Imran ko ghoor ghoor kar dekhe jaa rahi thi. Phit usne
kaha..."Mujhe kuchh kuchh yaad padta hai ki ek baar captain Faiyaz ne aapka zikar kiya tha."

"To kya hua.....mujhe wo aadmi sakht naapasand hai.....pichhle saal mujh se derh sau rupiye udhar liye
the......aaj tak waapas nahin kiye."

***********************************************************************************

12 baje se kuchh pahle colonel Dixon, uski ladki aur Mr Bartosch colonel ki kothi me prawesh
kiye..........lekin colonel unke sath nahin tha.

Colonel Dixon adhed umar ka ek dubla patla aadmi tha. Aankhen neeli.....lekin dhundli thin. Uski ladki ek
ati sundar nav-yuvati thi. Haste samay uske gaalon me padne waale gadhe uski sundarta ko aur
badhaate the.

Bartosch achhi health ke mota taaza aadmi tha. Uske chehre par badi artistic dhang ki daadhi thi. Chehre
ke rang me phikaapan tha magar uski aankhen badi jaandar thin.....aur wo agar itni jaandar na hoti to
chehre ki rangat ke aadhar par piliya ka rogi zaroor samjha ja sakta tha.

"Hello baby..." colonel Dixon ne Komal ke kandhe thapthapaate huye kaha...."Achhi to ho.....maine
socha tha ki tumlog station awashya aaoge."
Is se pahle ki Komal kuchh kahti Dixon ki ladki uss se aakar lipat gayi.

Phir parichay ka daur shuru hua......jab Imran ki baari aayi to Komal kuchh jhijhki.

Imran aage badh kar khud bola...."Main colonel Pratap ka secretary hun........"

"Pratap kahan hai?" Dixon ne puchha.

"Kya......?? wo aapke sath nahin hain?" Komal chaunk kar boli.

Komal soch kar nahin khel rahi thi isliye jaldi hi maat ho gayi. Pawan usay chiraane ke liye hasne laga.
Komal uski taraf dhyan diye bina Imran se boli...

"Aap ne daddy ko akela kyun jaane diya?"

"Main nihattha hokar kahin nahin jaana chaahta."

"Kya matlab?"

"Main unse kah raha tha ki main apni hawaayi bandook sath le chalunga. Lekin wo ispar tayar nahin
huye."

"Kya aap vaastav me hawaai bandook se makkhiyaan maarte hain?" Pawan ne muskura kar usay chheda.

"Jee haan sirjee." Imran apne seene par hath rakh kar aur thoda jhuk kar bola..."Pichhli yuddh me mujhe
'victoria cross' milte milte rah gaya. Main hospital me makkhiyaan maarne ki duty kar raha tha. Sanyog-
wash ek din ek doctor ki naak par baithi huyi makkhi ka nishaana lete samay thodi si chook ho gayi,
Galati meri nahin us makkhi ki hi thi.....ki wo naak se udd kar aankh par jaa baithi. Anyway us ghatana ke
baad meri saari pichhli sewaaon par soda-water pher diya gaya."

"Soda-wate...?" Pawan ne thahaaka lagaya. Komal bhi hasne lagi.

"Ji haan....us zamaane me shuddh paani nahin milta tha.....warna main kahta ki mere kiye par paani pher
diya gaya."

"Bahut khoob.....aap bahut funny aadmi hain." Komal boli.

"Mera daawa hai ki mera nishaana bahut pakka hai."

"To phir dikhaaiye naa." Pawan ne kaha.

"Abhi lijiye..."
Imran apne kamre se air-gun nikaal laaya. Phir chharra daal kar bola...."Jis makkhi ko kahiye."

"Saamne diwaar par baithi ek makkhi ki taraf Pawan ne ishara kiya.

"Jitni doori se kahiye."

"Dusri taraf deewar tak chale jaaiye."

Doori lagbhag 18 feet raha hoga. Imran ne nishana liye aut tragger daba diya. Makkhi diwaar se chipak
kar rah gayi. Komal dekhne ke liye daudi. Phir usne Pawan ki taraf mud kar harsh aur aashcharya bhare
swar me kaha...."Sach-much.....kamaal hai. Daddy ka nishaana bahut achha hai lekin shayad wo bhi....."

"Ohh.....kon si badi baat hai..." Pawan ghamand se bola..."Main khud bhi laga sakta hun."

Usne Imran ke hath se bandook le li. Thodi der baad Komal bhi iss nishanebaazi me shamil ho gayi.
Diwaaron ka plaste barbaad ho raha tha......aur unpar samajhiye makkhiyaan maarne ka junoon sawaar
ho gaya tha. Phir Rajat bhi aakar shamil ho gaya. Kitni hi der tak khel jaari raha. Lekin kaamyabi kisi ko
nahin mili.

Achanak Komal budnudaayi....."OMG....kya murkhta hai.....diwaaren barbaad ho gayin."

Phir wo sab jhenpi huyi hansi hasne lage. Lekin Imran ki Murkhta bhari gambhirta me thodi bhi kami
nahin huyi.

"Really.....diwaaren barbaad ho gayin." Rajat bola. "Colonel sahab sab ko goli maar denge."

"Sab aapke karan...." Pawan ne Imran ki taraf hath se ishara karke kaha.

"Mere kaaran kyun? Maine to kewal ek hi makkhi par nishana lagaya tha."

Pawan hasne laga. Phir usne Imran ke kandhe par hath rakh kar kaha..."Yaar sach bataana kya tum
vaastav me murkh ho?"

Imran ne dukhiyon ki tarah sar hila diya.

"Lekin kar raat tumne Maadak padarth ki gair-kaanooni dhande ke baare me kya baat kahi thi?"

"Mujhe yaad nahin..." Imran ne hairat prakat kiya.

"Phir colonel sahab ne hamen hata kyon diya tha?"

"In se puchh lijiyega." Imran ne Rajat ki taraf ishara kiya......aur Rajat hasne kaga.
"Kya baat thi?" Pawan ne Rajat se puchha.

"Aray kuchh nahin bakwaas..." Rajat hasta hua bola.

"Lekin baat kaya thi?"

"Phir bata doonga."

Komal Imran ko ghoorne lagi.

"Wo bandar kaisa tha?" Pawan ne Imran se puchha.

"Achha khaasa tha. Art ka behtareen namoona."

"Ghaas kha gaye ho shaya?" Pawan jhalla gaya.

"Sambhav hai lunch me ghaas hi mile." Imran ne kaha. "Naashte me to chane ke chhilke khaaye the."

Teeno betahaasha hasne lage. Lekin Komal jaldi hi gambhir hokar krodhit swar me boli...."Aap mere
daddy ka mazak udaane ki koshish kar rahe hain. Pata nahin wo kyon chup rah gaye."

"Ho sakta hai unhen yaad aa gaya ho ki mere paas bhi hawaayi bandook hai." Imran ne gambhir swar me
kaha..."Aur sach ye hai ki main unka mazaak udaane ki koshish bilkul nahin kar raha tha.....main bhi
vitamins par jaan chhidakta hun. Vitamins ko khatre me dekh kar mujhe pura desh khatre me dikhayi
dene lagta hai."

Kya baat thi?" Pawan ne komal se puchha.

"Kuchh nahin..." Komal ne baat taalni chaahi. Lekin Pawan pichhe pad gaya. Tab Komal ko sab baat
bataani padi, Ispar thahaaka pada.

"Yaar kamal ke aadmi ho." Pawan hasta hua bola.

"Pahli baar aapke muhh se sun raha hun.....warna mere daddy to mujhe bilkul buddhu samajhte hain."

"To phir aapke daddy hi...."

"Arrrrr....." Imran hath utha kar bola..."Aisa na kahiye.....wo bahut bade aadmi hain....director general of
intelligence bureo."

"kya....??" Imran hairat se aankhen phaad kar bola...."Mm....matlab Rahman sahab?"

"Jee haan...." Imran ne laaparwahi se kaha.

"Arre....to aap wohi Imran hain....jisne London me American gunde aur smuggler McLowrence ka giroh
toda tha."

"Pata nahin aap kya kah rahe hain?" Imran ne hairat prakat kiya.

"Nahin......nahin aap wahi hain....." Pawan ki shakal dekhne layak ho raha tha. Vibhinn prakar ki
bhavnaaon ke ek sath ubhar aane par uski shakal haasyaaspad lag rahi thi.

Wo Komal ki taraf mud kar khed bhare andaz me bola...."Ham abhi tak ek bahut hi khatanaak vyakti ka
mazaak udaate rahe hain."

Komal phati phati aankhon se Imran ki taraf dekhne lagi aur Imran ne ek murkhta purn thahaaka lagaa
kar kaha..."Aap pata nahin kahaan ki haank rahe hain."

"Nahin Komal...." Pawan bola...."Main thik kah raha hun......mera ek dost Sameer Oxford me inke sath
tha.....usne mujhe McLawrance ki ghatna sunayi thi. Woh mcLawrance jiska wahan ki police kuchh nahin
bigaad payi thi.....Imran sahab se takrane ke baad giroh samet Fana ho gaya. tha."

"Khoob hawayi chhodi kisi ne." Imran ne muskura kar kaha.

"McLawrance ke sar ke do tukde ho gaye the." Pawan bola.

"Array tauba.......tauba....." Imran apna muhh peetne laga. "Agar maine usay maara ho to meri qabar me
kattar ghuse....nahin baghu.....bhaggu.....uhh...nahin galat.....kya kahte hain uss chhote se jaanwar ko jo
qabron me ghusta hai....."

"Bijju...." Rajat bola.

"Bhagwan jeeta rakhe....lambi umar de....haan....bijju...bijju."

"Imran jee....main maafi chaahta hun...." Pawan ne kaha.

"Aray.......aapko kisi ne bahkaaya hai."

"No sir.......mujhe vishwas hai..."

Komal ab tak kuchh nahin boli thi. Wo Imran ko ghoor ghoor kar dekhe jaa rahi thi. Phit usne
kaha..."Mujhe kuchh kuchh yaad padta hai ki ek baar captain Faiyaz ne aapka zikar kiya tha."
"To kya hua.....mujhe wo aadmi sakht naapasand hai.....pichhle saal mujh se derh sau rupiye udhar liye
the......aaj tak waapas nahin kiye."

***********************************************************************************

12 baje se kuchh pahle colonel Dixon, uski ladki aur Mr Bartosch colonel ki kothi me prawesh
kiye..........lekin colonel unke sath nahin tha.

Colonel Dixon adhed umar ka ek dubla patla aadmi tha. Aankhen neeli.....lekin dhundli thin. Uski ladki ek
ati sundar nav-yuvati thi. Haste samay uske gaalon me padne waale gadhe uski sundarta ko aur
badhaate the.

Bartosch achhi health ke mota taaza aadmi tha. Uske chehre par badi artistic dhang ki daadhi thi. Chehre
ke rang me phikaapan tha magar uski aankhen badi jaandar thin.....aur wo agar itni jaandar na hoti to
chehre ki rangat ke aadhar par piliya ka rogi zaroor samjha ja sakta tha.

"Hello baby..." colonel Dixon ne Komal ke kandhe thapthapaate huye kaha...."Achhi to ho.....maine
socha tha ki tumlog station awashya aaoge."

Is se pahle ki Komal kuchh kahti Dixon ki ladki uss se aakar lipat gayi.

Phir parichay ka daur shuru hua......jab Imran ki baari aayi to Komal kuchh jhijhki.

Imran aage badh kar khud bola...."Main colonel Pratap ka secretary hun........"

"Pratap kahan hai?" Dixon ne puchha.

"Kya......?? wo aapke sath nahin hain?" Komal chaunk kar boli.

Iss baat par Martha zor se hans padi.

"Inse adhik rahassyamayi tum ho..." Colonel ne vyang kiya.

"Jee haan...." Imran ne dhire se sar hila kar kaha..."Makkhiya maarne ka suggestion maine hi diya tha."

"Dekhiye main bataati hun...." Komal ne kaha..."Mujhe ghatnaaon ki adhik jaankaari nahin hai.....daddy
ko ek din daak se ek parcel mila......jise kisi agyaat vyakti ne bheja tha. Parcel me se lakadi ka ek chhota
sa bandar nikla.....aur usi samay se daddy pareshan dikhayi dene lage. Uss raat unhone tahal tahal kar
bitaaya.....aur rifle liye rahe....dusre din unhone aath pahaadi naukar rakhe jo raat bhar rifles lekar
building ke charon taraf pahraa dete the, Daddy ne hamen kewal itna bataaya ki woh kisi prakar ka khtra
mahsus kar rahe hain."

"Aur us bandar ka matlab kya tha?" Bartosch ne kaha jo ab tak khamoshi se sab baat sun raha tha.
"Daddy ne uske baare me hamen kuchh nahin bataya. Ham agar adhik zid karte to gussa ho jaaya karte
the."

"Lekin tumne ye baat ham se kyun chhupani chaahi thi?" Dixon bola.

"Daddy ka order......unhone kaha tha ki is baat ko phail jaane par khtra aur adhik badh jaayega."

Vichitr baat hai..." Dixon kuchh sochta hua bola. "Kya main inn paristhitiyon me iss chhat ke niche chain
se rah sakunga?"

"Mera vichar hai ki khtra kewal colonel keliye tha." Imran ne kaha.

"Tum moorkh ho..." Dixon jhunjla kar bola..."Main khatron ki baat nahin kar raha....main Pratap keliye
chintit hun."

"Confucius ne kaha hai..............."

"Jab tak main yahaan hun.....tum Confucius ka naam mat lena......samjhe?" Colonel bigad gaya.

"Achha..." Imran kisi aagyakari baalak ki tarah sar hila kar kahaaur pocket se chewingum ka packet nikaal
kar uska wrapper phaadne laga. Martha phir hans padi.

********************************************

Police head-quarter ke ek kamre me Inspecter Chirag apne table par rakhe daak khol raha tha. Ye ek
swasth aur jawaan aadmi tha. Pahle fauj me tha. Ab CIB department me le liya gaya tha. Aadmi genius
tha isliye is vibhaag me koi kathinayi nahin huyi.......apni uplabdhiyon ke kaaran lokapriye bhi tha. Uske
nain-naksh teekhe awashya the lekin aisa lagta tha jaise uske chehre ka uske dil se koi sampark na ho.
Chehre ki banawat kathore dil vyaktiyon jaisi thi......lekin vyawahaar se kathorta zaahir nahin hoti thi.

Apni daak dekhne ke baad usne chair ki back se tek lagaayi hi thi ki table par rakhe phone ki ghanti baj
uthi.

"Yess...." usne receiver utha kar mouth-piece me kaha. "Ohh....achha....abhi aay sir."

"Wo apane kamre se nikal kar department ke DSP ki office ki taraf chal pada. Darwaaze par pahuch kar
parda hataaya.

"Aa jaao..." DSP ne kaha.....aur kursi ki taraf ishara kiya.

Inspecter Chirag baith gaya.

"Maine ek private kaam keliye tumhen bulaaya hai."

"Aadesh kijiye..."

"Federol department ke captain Faiyaz ka ek personel letter mere paas aaya hai."

"Captain Faiyaz..." Chirag kuchh sochta hua bola. "Jee haan.....main unhen jaanta hun."

"Unka ek aadmi yahan aaya hua hai.....wo chaahte hain ki usay jis prakar ki sahayata ki zarurat ho di
jaaye. Uska naam Ali Imran hai......aur woh colonel Pratap ke yahaan thahra hua hai."

"Kis silsile me aaya hai?"

"Ye bhi usi aadmi se pata chal sakega. Ye raha uska photo....." DSP ne drawer se ek photograph nikal kar
Chirag ki or badhaaya.

"Ohh....achha...." Chirag picture par nigaah jamaate huye kaha "main dhyan rakhunga."

"OK.....dusri baat..." DSP ne apne pipe me tambaaku bharte huye kaha. "Shifton ke case me kya ho raha
hai?"

"Ye ek continue headache hai sir." Chirag ne lambi saans li. "Mera vichar hai ki isme jaldi safalta nahin
milegi."

"Kyon?"

"Ham ye bhi nahin jaante ki Shifton ek vyakti hai ya giroh.....aur iss Shifton ki taraf se jitne logon ko bhi
dhamki bhare patra mile huye hain.......wo ab tak zinda hai aur na hi unme se kisi ne bhi ye suchna di hai
ki unse kisi raashi ki wasooli ki gayi hai. Sambhav hai koi shararti vyakti bematlab sansani phailaane
keliye aisa kar raha ho....shahar ke lagbhag har bade aadmi ko iss tarah ke letter mile hain.....aur unmen
kisi badi raashi ka demand kiya gaya hai."

"Koi aisa bhi hai jisne iss tarah ki koi shikayat nahin kiya ho?" DSP ne muskura kar puchha.

"Meri samajh se shayad hi koi aisa bacha ho." Chirag ne kaha.

"Apne dimaagh par zor do...."

"Ho sakta hai koi rah hi gaya ho."

"Colonel Pratap..." DSP ne muskura kar kaha. "Uski taraf se abhi tak is prakar ki koi suchna nahin
mili......jabki wo bahut dhani vyakti hai."

"Ohhh...."

"Aur ab samajhne ki koshish karo..." DSP ne kaha...."Colonel Pratap iss tarah ki koi suchna nahin
deta.......aur federal department ka SP ek aise aadmi keliye ham se help chaahta hai jo colonel Pratap ke
yahaan hi thahra hua hai.....kya samjhe?"

"Tab to zarur koi vishesh baat hogi."

"Bahut hi vishesh...." DSP ne muhh se pipe nikaal kar kaha....."Mera vichar hai ki tum swayam us aadmi
se......kya naam hai.....haan Imran se milo."

"Sure.....lekin pata nahin wo kon hai aur kis prakar ka vyakti hai."

"Anyway....ye to milne ke baad hi pata chelega...." DSP ne kaha.....aur apne table par rakhe huye papers
ki ore jhuk gaya.

Dinner ke samay dinning table ka vatawaran shok bhara tha. Unhon ne badi khamoshi se dinner
samaapt kiya....aur phir coffee pine keliye lounge me jaa baithe.

"Komal.." Colonel Dixon bola...."Main kahta hun police ko iski suchna zaroor deni chaahiye."

"Meri bhi yahi raai hai..." Bartosch ne kaha. Wo bahut kam bolta tha.

"Main kya karun...?" Komal ne uktaaye huye swar me kaha. "Daddy is maamla ko phailaana nahin
chaahte.....police ke ti sire se khilaaf hain....unhone ek baar yeh bhi kaha tha ki agar main kabhi achanak
gayab ho jaaun to tum log chinta mat karna.....main khtara dur hote hi waapas aa jaaunga.....lekin police
ko iski suchna hargiz mat dena."

Imran ne Komal ki taraf prashansha bhari drishti se dekha.

"Pratap hamesha rahassyamayi raha hai." Colonel Dixon barbadaaya.

"Yahaan sab hi rahassyamayi hain..." Imran ne kaha aur Martha ki taraf dekh kar hasne laga.

"Main sach kahta hun ki tumhen abhi tak nahin samajh saka..." Colonel ne Imran se kaha. "mujhe
aashcharya hai ki Pratap ne tumhen apna secretary kaise bana rakha hai.....wo to bahut hi gusse waala
hai."

"Main unhen Confucius ke quotations sunaata rahta hun." Imran ne gambhirta se kaha.
"Tumne phir uska naam liya......kya tum mujhe chiraate ho?" Colonel biphar gaya.

"Nahin uncle..." Komal jaldi se boli. "Ye inki aadat hai."

"Gandi aadat hai...."

Imran apne aap me magan coffee pita raha.

"Ye M.Sc aur Ph.D. hain...." Rajat hans kar bola.

"Phir tumne bakwas shuru ki..." Pawan ne daant pees kar kaha.

"Bolne do main bura nahin maanta....Confucius........arrrr....nahin hippp...." Imran ne kaha aur bokhlaane
ki acting karta hua zor se donon hathon se apna muhh band kar liya. Martha aur Komal hans padi aur is
baar Colonel bhi hasne laga. Bartosch ka chehra banjar ka banjar hi raha. Halki si muskan ki jhalak bhi
nahin dikhayi di.

Achanak unhone baahri gate par kadmon ki awaz suni....aane waala udhar hi aa raha tha....wo sab
andhere me aankhen phaadne lage.....bagiche ke antim sire par ghana andhkaar tha. Bulbs ki roshni
wahaan tak nahin jaa paa rahi thi. Phir aane wale ki taangen dikhayi dene lagi. Kyonki usne raasta
dekhne keliye torch jala rakha tha. Phir aane waala roshni me aa gaya......wo un sab keliye ajnabi hi
tha.....sharir par kathayi rang ka suit tha. wo un sab keliye ajnabi hi tha.....sharir par kathayi rang ka suit
tha.

"Excuse me...!!" Usne baramde ke nikat aakar kaha...."Shayad maine aap sab ko disturb kiya. Kya colonel
sahab hain?"

"Jee nahin..." Komal jaldi se boli...."Padhariye.."

Agantuk ek kursi par baith gaya. Komal boli....."Woh baahar gaye hain."

"Kab tak unka aagaman hoga?"

"Kuchh kaha nahin jaa sakta.....ho sakta hai ki kal hi aa jaayen.....ho sakta hai ek saptah ke baad."

"Ohh.....bad-luck...." Ajnabi ne kaha aur sarsari nigaah wahan par mojood sab par daali. Imran ko dekh
kar ek pal uspar nazar jamaaye raha phir bola..."Kahaan gaye hain?"

"Sorry.....wo apna programme kisi ko nahin bataate." Komal ne kaha. "Aap apna card chhod
jaaiye.....aate hi unko aapke baare me bata diya jaayega."

"Lekin........bahut jaldi ka kaam tha..." Ajnabi ne nirasha jataayi.

"Aap wo kaam mujh se kah sakte hain...." Imran ne kaha..."Main colonel ka private secretary hun."

"Ohh..." Ajnabi ne hairat prakat kiya aur phir sambhal kar bola...."Tab to thik hai....kya aap alag thoda sa
kasht karenge...?"

"Bas itna sa kaam?" Imran ne moorkhon ki tarah kaha....Lekin main alag thoda sa kasht ka arth nahin
samjha. Wo kasht kis prakar ka hoga? Gala to nahin ghutwaana hoga?"

"Ohh....mera matlab tha thoda alag chalenge?"

"Main alag hi chalta hun.....aaj tak kisi ke sath apni taang baandh kar nahin chala."

"Arre sahab kahne ka matlab hai thoda mere sath aaiye."

"Ohh.....to pahle kyon nahin kaha..." Imran uthta hua bola "Chaliye chaliye."

Wo donon uth kar main gate tak aaye.

"Aap Ali Imran sahab hain?" Aagantuk ne puchha.

"Main colonel ka secretary hun."

"Wo to thik hai.....dekhiye.....mera sambandh CIB se hai....Chirag naam hai. Hamen federal department
ke captain Faiyaz ki taraf se nirdesh praapt hua hai ki ham aapki hat prakar se sahayata karen."

"Ohh....Faiyaz.....haha....bada great aadmi hai.....aur yaaron ka yaar hai....mujhe nahin pata tha ki wo itni
si baat keliye apne deptt. tak ke aadmi ko patr likh dega.....bhai waah..."

"Baat kya hai?" Insp Chirag ne puchha.

"Kya usne wo baat nahin likhi?"

"Jee nahin...."

"Likhta bhi kya......baat ye hai Mr Chirag ki mujhe bater khane aur bater ladaane ki hobby hai......aur
aapke yahan bateron ke shikar par paabandi hai. Faiyaz ne kaha tha ki main anumati dilwa doonga."

Chirag kuchh pal hairat se Imran ko dekhta raha phir bola..."Aap ne ye kyon kaha tha ki aap colonel ke
secretary hain?"
"Phir kya kahta.....infact main yahan aaya tha guest ki hi tarah lekin baad me naukari mil gayi.....colonel
ne mujhe bahut pasand kiya......main unke liye air-gun se din bhar makkhiyaan maarta rahta hun."

"Aap mujhe taal rahe hain shriman....." Cirag hans kar bola.....phir gambhir swar me kaha...."Halaaki yah
maamla bahut mahatwapurn hai."

"Kaisa maamla...?"

"Kuchh bhi ho aap bahut gahre vyakti lagte hai....iska mujhe vishwas hai ki aap captain Faiyaz ke khaas
aadmiyon me se hain." Achha chaliye main aap se kewal ek sawaal karunga."

"Zaroor kijiye..."

"Kya colonel ne vidhivat federal deptt. se sahaayata maangi thi?"

Imran chaunk kar usay ghoorne laga.

"Sahayata...? Main samjha nahin..."

"Dekhiye sir!! " Chirag ne kaha..."Ho sakta hai aap iss department me bahut dinon se hon....lekin main
abhi bilkul anaadi hun....nishcit roop se aap mujh se senior hi honge....isliye main aap ki baraabari ke
layak nahin hun.....isliye ab thoda khul kar baat kijiye to kripa hogi..."

"Achha main khul kar baat karunga....lekin pahle mujhe kuchh samajhne dijiye....colonel ke sambandh
me aapke dimag me kya hai?"

"Kuchh nahin lekin ek baat..." Chirag kuchh sochta hua bola. "Rukiye main bataata hun......baat ye hai ki
ham log pichhle ek mahina se ek 'Shifton' naamak rahassyamyi vyakti ya giroh ki talaash me hain. Usne
yahaan ke dhanwan logon ko dhamki bhare patr likhe hain aur un sab se badi badi raashiyon ka demand
kiya hai. Dhamki ke anusar maang puri nahin karne par maar diya jaayega.......haan to kahne ka matlab
ye hai ki un sab ne iski report ki hai.....parantu......"

"Parantu kya?"

"Hamen colonel Pratap ki taraf se is prakar ki koi shikayat nahin praapt huyi hai?"

"To aap zabardasti shikayat likhwaana chaahte hain?" Imran hans pada.

"Ohh....dekhiye....aap samjhe nahin. Baat ye hai ki aakhir colonel ko kyon chhoda gaya aur isi tarah ki koi
dhamaki usay mili to usne iski report kyon nahin ki?"

"Aap bhi bahut gahre aadmi lagte hain..." Imran ne kaha.

"Achha chaliye....maan lete hain ki colonel ko bhi dhamki mili....to kya ye zaroori hai ki aap ke vibhaag ko
uski suchna de. Sambhav hai ki wo usay mazaak samjha ho. Ya kisi aadmi ko apne baahu-bal ke alawa
kisi par bharosa nahin hota.....main kewal itna jaanna chaahta hun ki colonel ko bhi is prakar ka koi patra
mila hai ya nahin?"

"Mujhe iski koi jaankari nahin hai."

"Aapko captain Faiyaz ne yahaan kyon bheja hai?"

"Meri khopadi ka gudda bich se crack ho gaya hai....isliye garmiyon me thandi hawa laabh pahuchati
hai."

"Ohh....ap kuchh nahin bataayenge....Ok iss kasht ke liye bahut bahut dhanyavad. Mujhe colonel ki
waapsi ka pratiksha rahega."

"Anyway....ham phir bhi aksar milte rahenge." Imran ne apna hath badaya.

"Avashya...avashya..." Chirag ne kaha aur hath mila kar vida ho gaya.

Imran phir baraamde me laut aaya. Yahaan sab log bechaini se uski waapsi ke intezar me the.

"Kon tha?" Komal ne puchha.

"Khufiya vibhag ke Inspector....Chirag."

"Kya....?" Colonel Dixon ne hairat se kaha.

"Kya baat thi?" Komal bechaini se puchhi.

Ispar Imran ne puri baat duhra di. Wo sab hairat se uski taraf dekh rahe the. Usne Komal se
puchha...."Kya colonel ko Shifton ki taraf se koi khat mila hai?"

"Nahin."

"Yahi to main kah raha tha ki aisi baat hoti to woh apne jaan se bhi priye secretary ko kyon nahin
bataate."

"Tumne dusre maamle ki charcha nahin kiya?" Dixon ne puchha.

"Bilkul nahin.....bhala kis prakar karta?"

"Tum vaastav me crack hi lagte ho."

"Jee haan......confucius.....arrr....nahin mera apna kathan hai.....ki achha naukar wahi hai jo maalik ke
aadesh se ek inch idhar......na ek inch udhar..."

"Go to hell...." colonel gurraa kar bola aur wahaan se uth gaya.

*******************************************

Inspector Chirag Sonagadhi ke Heven Hill Hotel ke dance hall me khada nachte huye jodon ko dhyan se
dekh raha tha. Uske sath uska DSP bhi tha.

"Dekhiye wo raha..." Chirag ne Imran ki taraf Ishara kar ke kaha....jo Dixon ki ladki Martha ke sath nach
raha tha.

Aaj Komal apne atithiyon ke sath yahan aayi thi. Lekin usne dance me bhag nahin liya tha.

"Achha.....!" DSP ne aashcharya se kaha..."Ye to abhi londa lagta hai.....anyway.....maine capt Faiyaz se
uski position ke baare me puchha hai....ohh....udhar shayad Pratap ki ladki Komal hai......uske sath wo
daadhi waala kon hai?"

"Koi guest hai....Bartosch....Czeck Republic ka niwasi....aur wo colonel Dixon hai.....uski ladki Martha
Imran ke sath nach rahi hai."

"Iss Imran par gahri nigaah rakho...." DSP ne kaha....."Achha ab main jaaunga...." DSP chala gaya.

Dance bhi khatam ho gaya. Imran aur Martha apne table ki taraf laut aaye. Chirag kuchh der unko
ghoorta raha.....phir wo bhi wahaan se chala gaya.

Imran bade hi mauj me tha. Martha do teen hi dinon me kaafi khul chuki thi. Wo thi bhi kuchh aisi hi.
Pawan aur Rajat se bhi wo aise ghul mil gayi thi jaise barson ki jaan pahchan ho."

"Tum achha nachte ho." Usne Imran se kaha.

"Sachmuch...?" Imran ne hairat prakat kiya. "Agar aisi baat hai to ab main din raat naacha karunga. Mere
papa bahot great aadmi hain......unhen badi prasannata hogi."

"Kya tum sach me moorkh ho?" Martha ne muskura kar puchha.

"Papa yahi kahte hain."

"Aur bachche ki mammy ka kya vichar hai?"

"Mummy jootiyon se marammat karne ki specialist hain isliye bahut khaas awasaron par hi apna vichar
prakat karti hain."

"Main samjhi nahin..."

"Haann....nahin samjhi hogi......England me jootiyon se vichar prakat karne ka system nahin hai." Itne me
Rajat ki kisi baat par Martha uski taraf aakrisht ho gayi....waiter unke liye coffee ki tray laa raha tha.
Usme ek glass orange squash ka bhi tha. Komal ne apne liye mangwaaya tha. Waiter abhi dur hi tha ki
uske nikat se jaata hua ek aadmi us se takra gaya. Waiter larkhadaaya zaroor lekin sambhal gaya aur
usne tray bhi sambhaal li.

Imran saamne hi dekh raha tha. Uske hont thoda sa khule aur phir barabar ho gaye. Wo us aadmi ko
dekh raha tha jo waiter se takrane ke baad us se maafi mang kar aage badh gaya.

Jaise hi waiter ne tray table par rakha Imran is prakar dusri ore muda ki uska hath orange squash ke glass
se laga aur glass ulat gaya.

"Ohhoo.....kya musibat hai...." Imran bokhla kar bola aur glass sidha karne laga.

"Tum kabhi sharif logon ke sath nahin rahe." Colonel Dixon jhunjlaa gaya lekin Bartosch usay ajeeb
nazron se ghoor raha tha.

"Main abhi dusra laata hun." Imran ne Komal ki taraf dekh kar kaha....aur glass utha kar khada ho gaya.
Komal kuchh na boli. Uske chehre par bhi aprasannata ke bhaaw the.

Imean counter par pahuch kar dusra glass manga. Itni der me waiter table ko saaf kar chuka tha. Imran
glass lekar waapas aa gaya. Komal ki shalwar aur Martha ke skirt par orange squash ke dhabbe pad gaye
the. isliye donon hi atyadhik bore dikhayi de rahi thin. Aisi sthiti men wahaan adhik der tak thaharna
lagbhag asambhaw tha. Lekin ab prashn ye the ki wo uthen kis tarah? Skirt aur Shawar ke dhabbe kaafi
bade the.....aur dur se hi saaf dikhayi dete the.

"Tum jaise bad-hawaas aadmiyon ka anjaam maine aksar buraa dekha hai." colonel Imran se kah raha
tha.

"Haann...." Imran sar hila kar bola...."Mujhe iska anubhav ho chuka hai....ek baar maine sankhiya ke
dhoke me lemon drop kha liya tha."

Martha jhallahat ke baad bhi hans padi.

"Phir kya hua tha....?" Rajat ne pucha.

"Bachcha hua tha......aur mujhe uncle kahta tha." Imran ne Hindi me kaha....."Tum bahut chahak rahe ho
lekin Martha tum se nahi patne waali...."

"Kya bekar bekar ki bakwas karne lage?" Komal bigad kar boli.

Imran kuchh na bola. Wo kuchh soch raha tha. Jaldi hi wo sab waapsi keliye uth gaye. Komal ke shalwar
ka dhbba to lambe frock ke niche chhup gaya lekin Martha ke white skirt ka dhbba bahut bura dikhayi de
raha tha. jaise taise wo gaadi tak aayi.

Imran ke kaaran jo maza kirkira hua tha us ka ahsaas sab ko tha. Lekin gaaliyon ke alawa koi kuchh kar
bhi kya sakta tha.

Station Vagon colonel Pratap ki kothi ki taraf chal padi thi. Raat bahut ki suhaani thi......aur Martha
Pawan ke paas hi baithi huyi thi. Isliye Pawan ne gaadi ki speed kam hi rakhi thi.

Tabhi ek sunsaan sadak par unhen teen wardi-dhaari police waale dikhayi diye jo hath utha ke gaadi ko
rokne ka ishara kar rahe the. Pawan ne speed aur kam kar di. Station Vagon unke sameep pahuch kar
ruk gayi.

Unme se ek Sub-inspector tha aur do constable. SI aage badh kar gaadi ke nikat pahuchta hua
bola...."Andar ki light jalaao."

"Kyon?" Imran ne puchha.

"Hamen suchna mili hai ki si gaadi me ek behosh ladki hai."

"Hahaha...." Imran ne thahaaka lagaya. "sure sure.....zarur hai..."

"Imran ne bhitar ki light on kar di.....aur SI chaudhiyaayi huyi aankhon se ek ek ki taraf dekhne laga.
Imran badi dilchaspi ke sth unke chehron par nazar jamaaye huye tha.

"Kahaan hai...?" SI garjaa.

"Kya main behosh nahin hun?" Imran naak par ungali rakh kar lachakta hua bola..."Main behosh hun
tabhi to ladkon ke dress pahanti hun......aye hato alag....!!!"

Komal Pawan aur Rajat betahasha hans rahe the.

"What's nonsense." SI jhalla gaya.

"Lekin kya main puchh sakta hun ki is prakar ki suchna kahaan se mili hai?" Imran ne puchha.
"Kuchh nahin jaao...wo koi dusri gaadi hogi." SI gaadi ke paas se hat gaya. Gaadi phir chal padi.

Martha Komal se thahaakon ka kaaran puchhne lagi. Phir woh bhi hasne lagi.

"Pata nahin kis tarah ka aadmi hai..." Martha boli.

Usay aasha thi ki Imran is baat par kuchh kahega zaroor. Lekin Imran khamosh hi raha. Wo kisi gahri soch
me lag raha tha.

Abhi adhik raat nahin beeti thi. Isliye ghar pahuch kar wo sab ke sab kisi na kisi entertainment me busy
ho gaye. Pawan aur Bartosch bilierd khel rahe the. Colonel aur Rajat breeze khelne ke liye Komal aur
Martha ka wait kar rahe the jo dress change karne ke liye apne kamron me chali gayi thin.

Thodi der baad Imran ne Martha ke kamre ka darwaza par dastak di.

"Kon hai?"

"Imran the great fool."

"Kya baat hai?" Martha ne darwaza kholte huye puchha. Wo skirt change kar chuki thi.

"I'm very sorry....mere kaaran tumhara skirt kharab hua."

"It's ok.....koi baat nahin."

"Ohh....nahin....laao....skirt mujhe do warna wo dhabba pakaa ho jaayega."

"Arre nahin.....tum iski chinta mat karo."

"Laao to warna mujhe aur adhik dukh hoga."

"Tumse to pichha chhudaana kathin ho jaata hai."

Thodi bahas ke baat Martha ne apna skirt Imran ko de diya. Ab wo Komal ke room me pahucha. Uske ek
hath me Martha ka skirt tha.....aur dusre hath me milk ki bottle.

"Ye kya hai?" Komal ne hairat se puchha.

"Dhabba chhudaane jaa raha hun....laao tum bhi shalwar de do..."

"Kya betuki baat hai.....Imran sahab sachmuch aap kabhi kabhi bahot bore karte hain."
"Nahin....laao....paani nahin lagega...doodh se saaf karunga."

"Main nahin jaanti..." Komal bhinna gayi.

Imran ne shawar utha li jo abhi ek sofe ke hathe par padi huyi thi.

Komal uktaaye huye andaz me uski harkaton ko dekhti rahi. Usne ek bade se katore me doodh daal kar
dhabbon ko us me nichodna shuru kiya. Kuchh der me dhabbe saaf ho gaye. Komal ki bade bade baalon
waali Irani billi baar baar katore par jhapat rahi thi. Imran usay hataata jaata tha. Jab wo apne kaam se
free ho gaya to billi doodh par toot padi. Is baar Imran ne usay nahin roka.

"Kya paani se nahin dho sakte the? Aakhir aapko apni moorkhta show karne ka itna shauk kyon hai?"
Komal bolo.

"Aray to kya mujh se koi murkhta ho gayi." Imran ne hairat se kaha.

"Bhagwan ke liye bore mat kijiye." Komal tang aa kar boli.

Achanak billi doodh peete peete ek taraf ludhak gayi.

"Haaiinn.....ye kya ho gaya?" Wo uski taraf badhti huyi boli.

"Kuchh nahin....." Imran ne billi ki taang pakad kar usay hath me latkaa liya.

"Kya hua isse?" Komal cheekh kar boli.

"Bass kewal behosh ho gayi hai.......Ishwar ne chaaha to subah se pahle tak hosh me nahin aayegi."

"Aakhir ye sab aap kya kar rahe hain..." Komal phaad khaane waale andaz me boli.

"Wo nakli police waale ek behosh ladki hamari gaadi me avashya paate......lekin main iss prakar latka
nahin paata."

"Kyaaaaaa??" Komal aankhen phaad kar boli. "Tt....to....ye dhabbe......."

"Sidhi baat ki ye amrit dhaara ke dhabbe nahin the."

"Lekin iska matlab?"

"Tumhara apharan......lekin maine unki nahin chalne di."

"Aapne jaan-bujh kar glass me hath maara tha?"

"Haann...." Imran sar hila kar bola..."Kabhi kabhi aisi murkhta bhi ho jaati hai."

"Aapko pata kaise chala tha?"

Imran ne ek agyat vyakti ke waiter se takrane ki kahani sunaate huye kaha "Meri baayin aankh hamesha
khuli rahti hai....maine usay glass me kuchh daalte dekha tha."

Komal bhaybheet si dikhayi dene lagi. Imran ne kaha...."Don't fear when I'm here.....lekin main jo
kahunga wahi tumko karna padega...."

Komal kuchh na boli. Wo is maha-murkh genius vyakti ko hairat se dekh rahi thi.

"Aur haan dekho....is ghatna ki charcha kisi se mat karna..." Imran ne behosh billi ki taraf ishara kar ke
kaha. "Pawan aur Rajat se bhi nahin."

"Nahin karungi Imran sahab.....aap vastav me great hain."

"Kaash mere Papa bhi yahi samajhte."

Inspector Chirag ne bahut harbadi me phone ka receiver uthaya........

"Main Chirag hun...." Usne mouth piece me kaha...."Kya aap abhi mujhe samay de
sakenge?.....Ohh....thank you sir....main abhi haazir hua."

Usne tezi se receiver rakha aur kamre se nikal gaya.

DSP ke office ke ardali (Orderly) ne uske liye parda sarkaaya aur wo andar chala gaya.

DSP ne sar ke ishara se baithne keliye kaha.....aur pipe ko daanton se nikaal kar aage jhuk aaya.

"Colonel Pratap ka maamla bahut adhik ulajh gaya hai."

"Kyon.....koi nayi baat?"

Jee haan.....aur bahut hi mahattvapurn....maine colonel ke naukaron ko tatolne ki koshish ki thi.....ant-

tah ek ne ugal hi diya....colonel kahin baahar nahin gaya balki achanak gayab ho gaya hai."

"Well...." DSP ne pipe ash-tray me jhaadte huye kaha.....aur Chirag ki aankhon me dekhne laga.

"Wo apne guests ko receive karne akela station gaya tha.....phir wapas nahin aaya."

"Waahh...!!" DSP ungali se table khatkhataata hua kuchh sochne laga phir usne kaha. "Uske ghar waalon
ko to bahut chinta hogi?"

"Bilkul nahin.....yahi to aashcharya ki baat hai."

"Hmm...." DSP apni chair ke back se peeth tikaate huye kaha.

"Phir tumhara kya vichar hai?" kuchh der baad dsp ne puchha.

"Main abhi tak kisi parinaam tak nahin pahuch paaya."

"Waahh.....ye bhi koi kathin maamla hai?" DSP muskuraya. "Colonel Pratap bhi Shifton ki dhamkiyon se
nahin bacha hoga......lekin wo gayab ho gaya. Usne police ko suchna nahin di. Dusron ne police ko
suchna di thi....aur wo sab mojood hain.......iss line par sochne ki koshish karo..."

"Main soch chuka hun..."

"Aur phir bhi kisi khas natije par nahin pahuche?"

"Jee nahin..."

"Kamal hai!!........Arre bhai ye to ekdam bahut hi spasht prakar ka sanket hai."

"Aap hi kuchh prakash daaliye. Main to kisi ke kahne ke anusar abhi iss line ka student hun....aap se hi
seekhna hai mujhe..." Chirag ne kaha.

"Dekho.....tum do aise aadmiyon ke naam dhamki bhara patra loikho......jinme se ek tumko jaanta ho aur
dusra anjaan ho....maan lo ki tum apni vartmaan haisiyat me dono ko likhte ho......ki wo khatre me hain
aur kisi samay bhi arrest kiye jaa sakte hain. Wo vyakti jo tumhen nahin jaanta iss baat ko mazaak
samjhega. Yahi sochega ki kisi ne usay moorkh banaya hai. Lekin us vyakti par iska kya prabhav hoga jo
tum se aur tumhare post se bhali bhaanti parichit ho."

"Bhaybheet ho jaayega..." Chirag bola.

"Thik isi prakar Shifton ke maamla ko le lo......hamaare liye bhi ye naam naya hai....aur jinko letters mile
hain wo to aur bhi anjan honge. Colonel hamaare paas shikayat lekar nahin aaya. Iska ye matlab hai ki
wo Shifton se parichit hai aur iss prakar gayab ho jaane ke ye arth hua ki Shifton atyadhik khatarnak
hai.....itna khatarnak ko police bhi uska kuchh nahin bigaad sakti."

"Main to ye soch raha tha ki kahin Colonel Pratap hi Shifton na ho..." Chirag ne kaha.

"Agar wo shifton hai to uske stupid hone me koi sandeh nahin." DSP bola. "Agar wo shifton hi hai to usay
hamaare paas awashya aana chaahiye tha...nahin Chirag wo Shifton nahin hai. Warna iss tarah se gayab
nahin hota."

"To phir ab mujhe kya karna chahiye?"

"Colonel Pratap ko talash karo.."

"Kuchh der ki chuppi rahi phir DSP ne puchha...."Imran ka kya raha?"

"Kuchh nahin.....wo bhi rahassya hi hai."

DSP hasne laga.....phir usne kaha..."Captain Faiyaz ne mere telegramme ka uttar diya hai. Imran ke baare
me usne likha hai ki wo bahut bada murkh vyakti hai. Faiyaz ka dost hai. Yahan ghumne aaya hai. Prayah
apni murkhtaaon ke karan musibat mol le leta hai. Isi kaaran Faiyaz ne mujhe khat likh diya tha ki agar
aisi koi baat ho to uski madad ki jaaye."

"Magar sir....wo colonel Pratap ka secretary kaise ho gaya?"

"Mujhe bhi Faiyaz ki kahani par vishwas nahin." DSP ne kaha. "Ye federal waale kabhi khul kar koi baat
nahin bataate."

Iske baad kamre me gehri khamoshi chha gayi.

*************************************************
*************************************************

Guests ke kaaran Pawan aur Rajat ko ek hi room me rahna pad raha tha. Ye room Komal ke room se mila
hua tha. Bich me kewal ek darwaza tha.

Imran ne Rajat ko ek suggestion diya. Usay vishwaas tha ki Rajat turant taiyar ho jaayega. Suggestion ye
tha ki Rajat Imran ke room me chala jaaye aur Imran Rajat ki jagah Pawan ke sath rahna shuru kar de.
Rajat iss baat par khil utha. Kyonki Imran ka room Martha ke room ke barabar me tha. Pawan ko is
pariwartan par aashcharya hua aur sath sath dukh bhi. Wo soch raha tha ki kaash Imran ne apni jagah
usay bheja hota.

"Lekin aapne wo room kyon chhod diya?" Pawan ne Imran se puchha.

"Aray bhai.....kya bataaun....bade bade daraawane sapne aane lage the." Imran ne gambhirta se kaha.

"Daraawane sapne?"

"Aaha....kyun nahin....mujhe angrez ladkiyon se bahut darr lagta hai."

Pawan hasne laga lekin Imran ki gambhirta me koi antar nahin hua. Thodi der baad Pawan ne kaha.

"Lekin aapne Rajat ko wahaan bhej kar achha nahin kiya."

"Achha to tum chale jaao..."

"Mm....mera ye matlab nahin." Pawan haklaaya.

"Phir kya matlab hai?"

"Rajat koi kaam soch samajh kar nahin karta."

"Arre......to kya maine usay wahaan koi kaam karne keliye bheja hai?"

"Matlab ye nahin.......baat ye hai...."

"To wahi baat bataao.......bataao naa...."

"Kahin wo koi harkat na kar baithe..."

"Kaisi harkat?" Imran ki aankhen aur adhik phail gayin.

"Wo.....aap samjhe hi nahin.....ya ban rahe hain. Mera matlab ye hai ki kahin wo uspar dore nahin
daale."

"Ohh....samjha..." Imran ne sar hila kar kaha. "Lekin dore daalne me kya kharabi hai? Chinta ki baat tab
hoti jab wo rassiyaan daalta."

"Dore daalna muhawara hai Imran sahab.." Pawan jhalla kar apna sar peetate huye kaha.

"Main nahin samjha." Imran ne murkhon ki tarah kaha.

"Uff....ohh....mera matlab hai ki kahin wo usay phasa na le...."

"Haat....tere ki.....to pahle kyun nahin bataaya...." Imran ne uthte huye kaha.

"Kahaan chale?"

"Zara Martha ko sachet kar aaun..."

"Kamaal karte hain aap bhi...." Pawan bhi khada ho gaya. "Ajeeb baat hai."
"Phir tum kya chaahte ho?"

"Kuchh bhi nahinnnn." Pawan apna matha pitate huye kaha.

"Yaar tum apne dimag ka ilaaj karaao." Imran baithta hua khinnata se kaha.

"Jab kuch nahin tha to tumne mera itna samay kyon barbaad kiya?"

"Chaliye so jaaiye..." Pawan bed par girta hua bola. "Aap se bhagwan hi samjhe."

"Nahin balki tum se bhagwan samjhe....aur phir mujhe Hindi me samjhaaye.....tumhari baaten to mere
palle hi nahin padtin."

Pawan ne chaadar sar tak khich liya. Imran waise hi easy-chair par pada raha. Pawan ne sone ki koshish
shuru kar di thi. Lekin aise me nind kahan. Usay ye soch soch kar kudhan ho rahi thi ki Rajat Martha ko
Jokes suna raha hoga....aur Martha hans rahi hogi. Martha khud bhi badi baatooni thi....aur bakwaas
karne waale usay pasand the. Pawan me sab se badi kamzori ye thi ki wo jis ladki ke baare me adhik
sochta tha uss se khul kar baat nahin kar sakta tha. Aajkal Martha har samay uske mastisk par chhaayi
huyi rahti thi. Iss kaaran wo us se baat karte samay haklaata zarur tha. Usne Imran ki taraf karwat
badalte samay chaadar muhh se hata di.

"Aakhir colonel sahab kahaan chale gaye?" Usne Imran se puchha.

"Aahaa....bahut der me chauke..." Imran ne muskura kar kaha. "Mera vichar hai ki unke sath koi ghatna
ghat gayi."

"Kyaaaaaaa???" Pawan uchhal kar baith gaya.

"Ohhoo.....chinta mat karo.....ghatna aisi nahin hogi ki tumhen pareshan hona pade."

"Dekhiye Imran sahab.....ab ye maamla bardaasht se baahar ho raha hai. Main kal subah bina kisi baat ke
parwaah kiye colonel sahab ke laapata hone ki report darj karaa dunga."

Imran kuchh na bola. Wo kisi gahri soch me khoya hua tha. Pawan barbadaata raha.

"Colonel sahab budhe ho gaye hain.....mujhe to ab unke sahi dimaag hone par sandeh hai."

"Haan....achha to wo report kya hogi?" Imran ne puchha.

"Yahi ki colonel sahab kisi agyaat vyakti ya giroh se bhaybheet the aur achanak gayab ho gaye."
"Hmm....aur report karne me deri ka kaaran kya bataaoge?"

"Ye bhi koi badi baat nahin......kah dunga ki colonel sahab ke dar se decision me der huyi.....wo police ko
report karne ke khilaaf the."

"Thik hai." Imran ne kaha. Thodi der kuchh sochta raha phir bola..."Zaroor report karo."

Pawan hairat se usay dekhne laga.

"Lekin." Imran ne kaha..."Tum mere sambandh me kuch nahin kahoge. samjhe. Main kewal colonel ka
private secretary hun."

"Kya aap iss samay serious hain?'

"Main kab serious nahin rahta?"

"parantu ab achanak aap report ke samarthan me kaise ho gaye?'

"Zaroorat.....paristhitiyan hamesha badalti rahti hain."

"Meri samajh me nahin aata aap kya karna chaahte hain."

"Haaa..." Imran thandi saans lekar bola..."Ek chhota sa banglow banwaana chaahta hun.....ek sundar si
patni chaahta hua.....aur dedh darzan bachche."

Pawan phir jhalla kar let gaya aur chaadar sar tak khich liya.
Inspector Chirag ne bahut harbadi me phone ka receiver uthaya........

"Main Chirag hun...." Usne mouth piece me kaha...."Kya aap abhi mujhe samay de
sakenge?.....Ohh....thank you sir....main abhi haazir hua."

Usne tezi se receiver rakha aur kamre se nikal gaya.

DSP ke office ke ardali (Orderly) ne uske liye parda sarkaaya aur wo andar chala gaya.

DSP ne sar ke ishara se baithne keliye kaha.....aur pipe ko daanton se nikaal kar aage jhuk aaya.

"Colonel Pratap ka maamla bahut adhik ulajh gaya hai."

"Kyon.....koi nayi baat?"

Jee haan.....aur bahut hi mahattvapurn....maine colonel ke naukaron ko tatolne ki koshish ki thi.....ant-
tah ek ne ugal hi diya....colonel kahin baahar nahin gaya balki achanak gayab ho gaya hai."

"Well...." DSP ne pipe ash-tray me jhaadte huye kaha.....aur Chirag ki aankhon me dekhne laga.

"Wo apne guests ko receive karne akela station gaya tha.....phir wapas nahin aaya."

"Waahh...!!" DSP ungali se table khatkhataata hua kuchh sochne laga phir usne kaha. "Uske ghar waalon
ko to bahut chinta hogi?"

"Bilkul nahin.....yahi to aashcharya ki baat hai."

"Hmm...." DSP apni chair ke back se peeth tikaate huye kaha.

"Phir tumhara kya vichar hai?" kuchh der baad dsp ne puchha.

"Main abhi tak kisi parinaam tak nahin pahuch paaya."

"Waahh.....ye bhi koi kathin maamla hai?" DSP muskuraya. "Colonel Pratap bhi Shifton ki dhamkiyon se
nahin bacha hoga......lekin wo gayab ho gaya. Usne police ko suchna nahin di. Dusron ne police ko
suchna di thi....aur wo sab mojood hain.......iss line par sochne ki koshish karo..."

"Main soch chuka hun..."

"Aur phir bhi kisi khas natije par nahin pahuche?"

"Jee nahin..."

"Kamal hai!!........Arre bhai ye to ekdam bahut hi spasht prakar ka sanket hai."

"Aap hi kuchh prakash daaliye. Main to kisi ke kahne ke anusar abhi iss line ka student hun....aap se hi
seekhna hai mujhe..." Chirag ne kaha.

"Dekho.....tum do aise aadmiyon ke naam dhamki bhara patra loikho......jinme se ek tumko jaanta ho aur
dusra anjaan ho....maan lo ki tum apni vartmaan haisiyat me dono ko likhte ho......ki wo khatre me hain
aur kisi samay bhi arrest kiye jaa sakte hain. Wo vyakti jo tumhen nahin jaanta iss baat ko mazaak
samjhega. Yahi sochega ki kisi ne usay moorkh banaya hai. Lekin us vyakti par iska kya prabhav hoga jo
tum se aur tumhare post se bhali bhaanti parichit ho."

"Bhaybheet ho jaayega..." Chirag bola.

"Thik isi prakar Shifton ke maamla ko le lo......hamaare liye bhi ye naam naya hai....aur jinko letters mile
hain wo to aur bhi anjan honge. Colonel hamaare paas shikayat lekar nahin aaya. Iska ye matlab hai ki
wo Shifton se parichit hai aur iss prakar gayab ho jaane ke ye arth hua ki Shifton atyadhik khatarnak
hai.....itna khatarnak ko police bhi uska kuchh nahin bigaad sakti."

"Main to ye soch raha tha ki kahin Colonel Pratap hi Shifton na ho..." Chirag ne kaha.

"Agar wo shifton hai to uske stupid hone me koi sandeh nahin." DSP bola. "Agar wo shifton hi hai to usay
hamaare paas awashya aana chaahiye tha...nahin Chirag wo Shifton nahin hai. Warna iss tarah se gayab
nahin hota."

"To phir ab mujhe kya karna chahiye?"

"Colonel Pratap ko talash karo.."

"Kuchh der ki chuppi rahi phir DSP ne puchha...."Imran ka kya raha?"

"Kuchh nahin.....wo bhi rahassya hi hai."

DSP hasne laga.....phir usne kaha..."Captain Faiyaz ne mere telegramme ka uttar diya hai. Imran ke baare
me usne likha hai ki wo bahut bada murkh vyakti hai. Faiyaz ka dost hai. Yahan ghumne aaya hai. Prayah
apni murkhtaaon ke karan musibat mol le leta hai. Isi kaaran Faiyaz ne mujhe khat likh diya tha ki agar
aisi koi baat ho to uski madad ki jaaye."

"Magar sir....wo colonel Pratap ka secretary kaise ho gaya?"

"Mujhe bhi Faiyaz ki kahani par vishwas nahin." DSP ne kaha. "Ye federal waale kabhi khul kar koi baat
nahin bataate."

Iske baad kamre me gehri khamoshi chha gayi.

*************************************************
*************************************************

Guests ke kaaran Pawan aur Rajat ko ek hi room me rahna pad raha tha. Ye room Komal ke room se mila
hua tha. Bich me kewal ek darwaza tha.

Imran ne Rajat ko ek suggestion diya. Usay vishwaas tha ki Rajat turant taiyar ho jaayega. Suggestion ye
tha ki Rajat Imran ke room me chala jaaye aur Imran Rajat ki jagah Pawan ke sath rahna shuru kar de.
Rajat iss baat par khil utha. Kyonki Imran ka room Martha ke room ke barabar me tha. Pawan ko is
pariwartan par aashcharya hua aur sath sath dukh bhi. Wo soch raha tha ki kaash Imran ne apni jagah
usay bheja hota.
"Lekin aapne wo room kyon chhod diya?" Pawan ne Imran se puchha.

"Aray bhai.....kya bataaun....bade bade daraawane sapne aane lage the." Imran ne gambhirta se kaha.

"Daraawane sapne?"

"Aaha....kyun nahin....mujhe angrez ladkiyon se bahut darr lagta hai."

Pawan hasne laga lekin Imran ki gambhirta me koi antar nahin hua. Thodi der baad Pawan ne kaha.

"Lekin aapne Rajat ko wahaan bhej kar achha nahin kiya."

"Achha to tum chale jaao..."

"Mm....mera ye matlab nahin." Pawan haklaaya.

"Phir kya matlab hai?"

"Rajat koi kaam soch samajh kar nahin karta."

"Arre......to kya maine usay wahaan koi kaam karne keliye bheja hai?"

"Matlab ye nahin.......baat ye hai...."

"To wahi baat bataao.......bataao naa...."

"Kahin wo koi harkat na kar baithe..."

"Kaisi harkat?" Imran ki aankhen aur adhik phail gayin.

"Wo.....aap samjhe hi nahin.....ya ban rahe hain. Mera matlab ye hai ki kahin wo uspar dore nahin
daale."

"Ohh....samjha..." Imran ne sar hila kar kaha. "Lekin dore daalne me kya kharabi hai? Chinta ki baat tab
hoti jab wo rassiyaan daalta."

"Dore daalna muhawara hai Imran sahab.." Pawan jhalla kar apna sar peetate huye kaha.

"Main nahin samjha." Imran ne murkhon ki tarah kaha.

"Uff....ohh....mera matlab hai ki kahin wo usay phasa na le...."

"Haat....tere ki.....to pahle kyun nahin bataaya...." Imran ne uthte huye kaha.

"Kahaan chale?"

"Zara Martha ko sachet kar aaun..."

"Kamaal karte hain aap bhi...." Pawan bhi khada ho gaya. "Ajeeb baat hai."

"Phir tum kya chaahte ho?"

"Kuchh bhi nahinnnn." Pawan apna matha pitate huye kaha.

"Yaar tum apne dimag ka ilaaj karaao." Imran baithta hua khinnata se kaha.

"Jab kuch nahin tha to tumne mera itna samay kyon barbaad kiya?"

"Chaliye so jaaiye..." Pawan bed par girta hua bola. "Aap se bhagwan hi samjhe."

"Nahin balki tum se bhagwan samjhe....aur phir mujhe Hindi me samjhaaye.....tumhari baaten to mere
palle hi nahin padtin."

Pawan ne chaadar sar tak khich liya. Imran waise hi easy-chair par pada raha. Pawan ne sone ki koshish
shuru kar di thi. Lekin aise me nind kahan. Usay ye soch soch kar kudhan ho rahi thi ki Rajat Martha ko
Jokes suna raha hoga....aur Martha hans rahi hogi. Martha khud bhi badi baatooni thi....aur bakwaas
karne waale usay pasand the. Pawan me sab se badi kamzori ye thi ki wo jis ladki ke baare me adhik
sochta tha uss se khul kar baat nahin kar sakta tha. Aajkal Martha har samay uske mastisk par chhaayi
huyi rahti thi. Iss kaaran wo us se baat karte samay haklaata zarur tha. Usne Imran ki taraf karwat
badalte samay chaadar muhh se hata di.

"Aakhir colonel sahab kahaan chale gaye?" Usne Imran se puchha.

"Aahaa....bahut der me chauke..." Imran ne muskura kar kaha. "Mera vichar hai ki unke sath koi ghatna
ghat gayi."

"Kyaaaaaaa???" Pawan uchhal kar baith gaya.

"Ohhoo.....chinta mat karo.....ghatna aisi nahin hogi ki tumhen pareshan hona pade."

"Dekhiye Imran sahab.....ab ye maamla bardaasht se baahar ho raha hai. Main kal subah bina kisi baat ke
parwaah kiye colonel sahab ke laapata hone ki report darj karaa dunga."
Imran kuchh na bola. Wo kisi gahri soch me khoya hua tha. Pawan barbadaata raha.

"Colonel sahab budhe ho gaye hain.....mujhe to ab unke sahi dimaag hone par sandeh hai."

"Haan....achha to wo report kya hogi?" Imran ne puchha.

"Yahi ki colonel sahab kisi agyaat vyakti ya giroh se bhaybheet the aur achanak gayab ho gaye."

"Hmm....aur report karne me deri ka kaaran kya bataaoge?"

"Ye bhi koi badi baat nahin......kah dunga ki colonel sahab ke dar se decision me der huyi.....wo police ko
report karne ke khilaaf the."

"Thik hai." Imran ne kaha. Thodi der kuchh sochta raha phir bola..."Zaroor report karo."

Pawan hairat se usay dekhne laga.

"Lekin." Imran ne kaha..."Tum mere sambandh me kuch nahin kahoge. samjhe. Main kewal colonel ka
private secretary hun."

"Kya aap iss samay serious hain?'

"Main kab serious nahin rahta?"

"parantu ab achanak aap report ke samarthan me kaise ho gaye?'

"Zaroorat.....paristhitiyan hamesha badalti rahti hain."

"Meri samajh me nahin aata aap kya karna chaahte hain."

"Haaa..." Imran thandi saans lekar bola..."Ek chhota sa banglow banwaana chaahta hun.....ek sundar si
patni chaahta hua.....aur dedh darzan bachche."

Pawan phir jhalla kar let gaya aur chaadar sar tak khich liya. Imran ne ganbhir se shakal waale Bartosch
ko hairat se dekha jo zamin par ghutnon ke bal baitha hua ek nanhe se jangli podhe par jhuka hua
shayad usay soongh raha tha.

Phir shayad Bartosch ne bhi Imran ko dekh liya. Usne sidhe khade hokar apne kapade jhaade aur
muskura kar bola......

"Mujhe jadi bootiyon ki khoj ki hobby hai."

"Achha...!" Imran ne hairat prakat kiya. "Tab to aap uss booti se awashya parichit honge jise khakar
aadami kutton ki tarah bhokne lagta hai."

Bartosch muskura pada. Usne kaha "Meri samajh se maine aaj tak kabhi aisi kisi booti ke baare me nahin
suna."

"Na suna hoga.....lekin maine suna hai.....mujhe jadi-butiyon se atyadhik prem hai."

"Ohhho...." Bartosch ne hairat aur prasannata prakat karte huye kaha..."Agar ye baat hai to aap awashya
meri sahayata karenge."

"Sahayata...?" Imran ne usay tatolne waali drishti se dekha.

"Haan....ek booti hi ki khoj mujhe Sonagadhi laayi hai." Bartosch bola "agar wo mil jaaye...."

Imran ne pahli baar uske chehre se gambhirta hat'te huye dekhi. Uski sapaat aankhon me halki si
chamak aa gayi aur ek pal keliye aisa laga jaise wo kisi bachche ka chehra ho."

"Agar wo booti mil jaaye...." Bartosch ne gala saaf karte huye kaha "Maine suna hai ki wo yahan kisi
sthan par kaafi maatra me milti hai."

"Lekin uski visheshta kya hai?" Imran ne puchha.

"Abhi nahin......abhi nahin. Main phir bataaunga."

"Achha......kya sona banta hai?"

"Ohh.....tum samajh gaye." Bartosch ne thahaka lagaya.

"Booti ki pahchaan kya hai?" Imran ne puchha.

"Poore podhe me kewal 3 pattiyaan hoti hain. Gol gol si."

"Ham awashya talash karenge."

Wo colonel ki kothi se adhik dur nahin the. Bartosh ne bahut dur tak phaile dhalaan ki taraf ishaara karte
huye kaha..."Hamen wahan se apni khoj aarambh karni chaahiye, Lambi pattiyon waali kaantedar
jhaadiyaan wahaan bahut dikhayi de rahi hain."

"Lekin abhi to gol pattiyon ki baat thi." Imran bola.

"Ohh....thik hai....wo booti vaastav me aisi hi jhaadiyon ke nilat ugti hain." bartosch bola.

Dono dhalaan me utarne lage.

"Mr Pawan kahaan hain?" Bartosch ne puchha.

"Main nahin jaanta."

"Main jaanta hun." Bartosch muskura kar bola. "Wo colonel Pratap ke laapata ho jaane ki report
likhwaane gaye hain."

"Kyaaa?" Imran chalte chalte ruk gaya.

"haan....unhone mujh se yahi kaha tha."

"Sab chaupat ho gaya." Imran apna maatha ragadte huye kaha.

"Lekin isme kya kharabi hai? main nahin samajh sakta."

"Aap kabhi nahin samajh sakte Mr Bartosch." Imran zameen par ghutnon ke bal baithta hua bola. Phir
usne apne donon hathon se sar pakad liya.....kisi aisi vidhwa aurat ki tarah jiski insurance ki policy zabt
kar li gayi ho.

"Aap bahut pareshan lag rahe hain?" Bartosch bola.

"Rang me bhang pad gaya.....pyare Mr Bartosch."

"Kya hua?"

"Kuchh nahin...." Imran ruwaasa sa hokar bola..."Ab ye shadi kabhi nahin ho paayegi."

"Kaisi shaadi?"

"Colonel Pratap ki shaadi."

"Saaf saaf bataaiye." Bartosch usay ghoorne laga.

"Wo apni beti se chhupa kar shaadi kar rahe hain."

"Ohh.....tab to.......sach-much..." Bartosch kuchh kahte kahte ruk gaya. Kuchh pal sochta raha. Phir hans
kar bola...."Meri samajh se colonel kaafi aged hoga.....budhaape ki shadi bahut be-maza chiz
hai......mujhe dekhiye.....maine aaj tak shadi nahin ki."
"Ye bahut achhi baat hai." Imran sar hila kar bola. "Ham shayad kisi booti ki khoj me niche jaa rahe
the..."

"Ohh.....haan." Bartosch ne kaha aur phir wo dhalaan me utarne laga. Niche pahuch kar unhone booti ki
talaash shuru kar di. Imran is kaam me bahut lagan prakat kar raha tha. Aisa lag raha tha jaise khud hi
Bartosch ko is kaam ke liye apne sath laaya ho. Wo kothi se bahut dur nikal aaye the.....aur kuchh is
prakar ki chattaanen bich me aa gayi thin ki kothi bhi dikhayi nahin de rahi thi.

"Mr Bartosch!" Imran achanak bola...."Abhi tak to hamen ek bhi khargosh dikhayi nahin diya.....mera
vichar hai ki iss taraf khargosh paaye hi nahin jaate."

"Khargosh....?" Bartosch ne hairat se kaha.

"Bekar hai.....waapas chaliye..." Imran bola. "Mujhe pahle hi sochna chaahiye tha ki yahan khargosh
ekdam nahin hain."

"ham booti ki talaash me aaye the." Bartosch ne kaha.

"O...teri....tauba tauba....main abhi tak khargosh khoj raha tha...." Imran ne bura sa muhh banaaya.

Lekin infact wo apne aas paas se bekhabar nahin tha. Usne daayen taraf ki chattanon ke pichhe se
teen(3) sar ubharte dekh liye the.

Bartosch ki nazar podhon me bhatak rahi thi.

Achanak 6 aadmiyon ne chattan ki oat se nikal kar unhen apne ghere me le liya. Unhone apne chehre
kapadon se chhupa rakhe the. Unme se do aise the jinke hathon me revolver the.

(Continue......)
"Ye kya hai?" Bartosch ne bokhla kar Imran se puchha.

"Pata nahin...." Imran ne laaparwahi se apne kandhe uchkaaye.

"Kya chaahte ho tum log?" Achanak Bartosch cheekh kar un logon ki taraf
jhapta......lekin dusre hi pal ek aadmi ne uske maathe par ek mukka de
maara.....aur Bartosch tyori kha kar iss tarah gira ki phir na uth saka.
Shayad wo behosh ho chuka tha.

"Chalo baandh lo isay." Ek ne Imran ki taraf ishara kar ke apne sathiyon se

kaha.
"Ek minut." Imran ne hath utha kar kaha. Kuchh pal unhen ghoorta raha.
Phir bola..."Main jhoot kah raha tha. Yahan khargosh paaye jaate hain."

"Kya bakwaas hai."

"Jee haan..."

"Pakdo isay..." Usne phir apne sathiyon ko lalkaara.

"Bas ek minut." Imran ne yachna bhare andaz me kaha. "Main thoda time
dekh lun. Mujhe diary likhni padti hai."

Usne apni wrist watch ki taraf dekha.....aur phir nirasha bhare swar me
kaha....."Mujhe khed hai ki ghadi band ho gayi hai. aap log phir kabhi
miliyega."

3 aadmi uspar toot pade. Imran uchhal kar pichhe hat gaya. Wo teeno apne
hi zor me ek dusre se takra gaye. Phir ek ne sambhal kar Imran par dubaara
chhalaang lagayi.

"Aray.....aray....ye kaya mazaak hai....!" Imran ne kahte huye jhuk kar uske
seene par takkar maari.....aur wo chaaro khaane chit jaa gira.

"Khabardar.....goli maar dunga...." Imran ne jeb se foutain pen nikaal kar

baaki do aadmiyon ko dhamki di jo uski taraf badh rahe the. Un me se ek ko
hansi aa gayi.

"Hath uthao apne." revolver waala garja.

Imran ne chupchap apne donon hath upar utha diye.

Uski taraf badhte huye vyaktiyon me se ek ne apni jeb me se nilon ki dor ka

lachha nikaala......aur jaise hi usne Imran ke hath pakadne ki koshish ki
Imran ne fountain pen uske daayen kalaayi par rakh diya.

Wo achanak cheekh maar kar na kewal pichhe hat gaya balki uchhal kar un
donon ki taraf bhaga jinke paas revolver the. Aur phir ek ke hath se revolver
chheen kar betahaasha Imran par fire jhonk diya.

Phir unhone Imran ki cheekh suni. Wo zameen par gir kar dhalaan me
ludhak raha tha.

"Ye kya kiya tune." Wo aadmi cheekha jiske hath se revolver chheena gaya
tha......phir wo fire karne waale ko ek taraf dhakel kar tezi se aage badha.

Chattaan ke sire par aakar usne niche dekha......usay Imran ki taangen

dikhayi din. Baaki sharir ek bade se patthar ki oat me chhipa hua tha. Wo
tezi se niche utarne laga.

Phir jaise hi wo patthar par hath tika kar "Imran ki lash" par jhuka......lash
ne donon hathon se uski gardan pakad li.

Us vyakti ne bahut zor lagaya lekin uski gardan Imran ke changul se na nikal
saki. Ab Imran uth kar baith gaya tha. Upar dusre aakraman-kari bhi
chattaan ke sire par aa gaye the.

"Khabardar.....chhod do warna goli maar doonga." upar se kisi ne cheekh

kar kaha.

Imran ke shikaar par lagbhag behoshi chha rahi thi.....isliye usne yahi
munasib samjha ki ab usay apni dhal hi bana le.

"Maaro goli." Imran ne kaha. "Magar shart ye hai ki goli iska seena chhedti
huyi mere kaleje ke paar ho jaaye......ya phir apne donon revolver yahaan
mere paas phenk do.....warna main isay swarg ka raasta dikha raha hun."

"Uski giraft me jakde huye vyakti ke hath pair dheele ho gaye the. Upar se
kisi ne koi uttar nahin diya.

Imran ne phir haank lagaayi..."To main khatam karta hun kahani."

"Thahro...." Upar se awaaz aayi.

"Kitni der thahrun.....maine aisa bekaar business aaj tak nahin kiya. Bhai is
hath de us hath le."

"Maar do goli. Parwaah mat karo." Kisi dusre ne kaha.

Achanak ek fire hua aur wo sab bokhlaa gaye.....kyonki saamne waale

chattaanon se kisi ne do fire unpar kiye the.

Unhone bhi ek bade patthar ki aad le li aur saamne waali chattaanon pe fire
karne lage. Imran ne behosh vyakti ko to wahin chhoda.....aur khud tezi se
ek dusre oatthar ki oat me ho gaya.....jo donon taraf ke morchon ke range
se baahar tha. Wo soch raha tha ki ye dusri taraf se fire karne waala kon
hoga. Kya kothi tak is hangaame ki khabar pahuch gayi? Phir usay Bartosch
ka khayaal aaya jise wo upar hi chhod aaya tha.

Bahut der tak donon taraf se goliyan chalti rahi. Imran patthar ki oat me
waise hi chhipa raha. Agar wo thoda bhi sar nikaalta to kisi taraf ki goli uske
sar me chhed kar hi deti. Uske hath me ab bhi fountain pen daba hua tha
lekin usme nib ki jagah ek chhota sa chaaku tha. Imran ne pocket se uska
dhakkan nikal kar uspar fit kiya aur phir usay jeb me daal liya. Achanak fire
ki aawazen band ho gayin. Shayad 3-4 minut tak fire nahin hua. Phir
saamne se ek fire hua. Lekin naqaab-poshon ki taraf se uska jawaab nahin
diya gaya. Thode thode antaraal par do-teen fire aur huye......lekin naqaab-
poshon ki taraf khamoshi hi rahi.

Imran rengta hua patthar ki oat se nikla......aur phir us taraf badha jahaan
usne behosh aakraman-kaari ko chhoda tha......magar wo ab wahaan nahin
tha.

Usne apne pichhe kadmon ki aawaz suni. Wo tezi se mudaa......lekin dusre

hi pal uske honton par muskuraahat phail gayi.......kyonki aane waala
inspector Chirag tha.

"Kahin chot to nahin aayi?" chirag ne aate hi puchha. Phir wo upar ki taraf
dekhne laga.

"Aayi to hai...." Imran ne muhh bisoorte huye kaha.

"Kahaan?"

Jawaab me Imran neseene par hath rakhte huye kahaa....'Yahaan.....kyonki

muqaabala kuchh parda-nashin mahilaaon se tha."

"Chirag haste huye upar chadhne laga. Imran uske pichhe tha.

Upar unhen behosh Bartosch ke alaawa aur koi nahin dikhayi diya. Nikat hi
revolver ke bahut se khali kartoos pade huye the. Chirag chattanon ko
falaangta hua kaafi aage nikal gaya. Imran Bartosch par nazar jamaaye
khada raha.

"Itni lambi behoshi pyare Bartosch....!!" Imran honton me hi

budnudaaya.....aur uske sameep hi iss tarah baith gaya jaise koi mahila
apne pati ki lash dekh kar rote rote abhi chup huyi ho.

Chirag haanfta hua waapas laut aaya.

"Bhaag gaye...." Usne Imran ke nikat baithte huye kaha. Phir Imran se
kaha..."Ab aap inkar nahin kar sakte."

"Kis baat se?" Imran ne shokaakul swar me kaha.

"Isi se ki aap unse anjaan hai."

"Ohh.....maine bataaya na ki kuchh parda waali mahilaayen....."

"Imran sahab....." Chirag virodh-swaroop hath utha kar bola...."Aap qanoon
se takraane ki koshish kar rahe hain. Hamen majboor mat kijiye.....ki ham
aapke viruddh koi karrwayi kar baithen."

"Yaar akal ko ghaas charaane le gaye....ya jo bhi muhaawara ho...." Imran

bedili se bola...."Agar main unhen jaanta to wo muhh chhupa kar kyon
aate.....waah kya parda hai ki chilman se lage baithe hain....haha.."

"Chirag kisi soch me pad gaya.

"Tum yahan tak pahuche kis tarah?" Imran ne puchha.

"Aapki talaash me kothi tak gaya tha.....wahaan pata chala ki aap idhar aaye
hain....yahaan aaya to ye maamla saamne aaya. majburi-wash mujhe bhi
goliyaan chalaani padi."

"Shukriya...." Imran ne sanjidagi se kaha. "Lekin ek baat samajh me nahin

aayi."

"Kya?" Chirag usay ghoorne laga.

"Kothi yahan se bahut duri par nahin hai ki wahaan tak fire ki aawaz na
pahuchi hogi...."

"Zaroor pahunchi hogi."

"Lekin phir bhi koi idhar na aaya....aashcharya ki baat hai ya nahin?"

"Hai to..." Chirag bola aur uski taraf prasn-wachak drishti se dekhne laga.

"Bartosch do teen baar hila dula aur phir harbada kar uth baitha. Charon
taraf phati-phati aankhon se dekh kar usne aankhen malni shuru kar di. Phir
uchhal kar khada ho gaya.

"Ww...wo...wo...log!" Wo Imran ki taraf dekh kar haklaaya.

"Wo log saari bootiyaan khod kar le gaye." Imran ne dukhi swar me kaha
phir uthta hua bola......."Ab hamen waapas chalna chaahiye."

"Woh kothi ki taraf chal pade. Bartosch sahaare keliye Imran ke kandhe par
hath rakh kar langdaata hua chal raha tha.

"Inhen kya hua tha?" Chirag ne puchha.

"Inhen booti ho gaya tha." Imran bola.

***********************************************
(......contd.)
NEXT

Kothi ke sameep pahuch kar Imran apne nathune is prakar sikodne laga
jaise kuchh soonghne ki koshish kar raha ho...........phir wo achanak chalte
chalte ruk kar Chirag ki taraf muda.

"Kya aap bhi kisi prakar ka gandh mahsus kar rahe hain?" usne puchha.

"Haan....mahsus to kar raha hun...kuchh mithi mithi si boo......shayad ye

sadte huye shahtooton ki mahak hai."

"Bilkul nahin....." wo kothi ki taraf daudta hua hua chala gaya......phir

pichhle darwaaze me prawesh karte hi dubaara uchhal kar baahar aa gaya.
Itne me chirag aur Bartosch bhi uske nikat aa gaye.

"Kya baat hai?" Chirag ne ghabraaye huye swar me puchha.

"Andar kuchh garbad zaroor hai...." Imran dhire se bola. "Nahin andar mat
jaao.....synthalic gas bhari huyi hai. Ye meethi meethi si mahak usi ki hai."

"Synthalic gas....." Chirag budbudaaya...."Ye hai kya balaa?"

"Mastishk ko thode samay ke liye bekaar bana dene waali gas hai. Mera
khayal hai ki andar koi bhi hosh me nahin hoga." Imran bola.

Tabhi unhone ek cheekh suni aur sath hi colonel Dixon building ke pichhle
darwaaze se uchhal kar niche gira. Wo bahut hi kasht me hone jaisa hath
pair patak raha tha. Chehra laal ho gaya tha, ankhon aur naak se paani bah
raha tha.

"Chirag ne us se kuchh puchhna chaaha lekin Imran ne jaldi se hath utha

kar kaha....

"Iska samay nahin hai.....bhitar waalon keliye kuchh karna

chaahiye.....nahin to sambhav hai unme se ekaadh mar hi jaaye." Phir usne
Bartosch ko wahin thaharne ko kaha aur Chirag ko apne pichhe aane ka
ishaara kar ke be-tahaasha daudne laga. Wo donon chakkar kaar kar kothi
ke baahri baraamde me aaye. Yahaan gandh aur adhik tez thi. Imran ne
apni naak dabaayi aur teer ki tarah andar ghusta chala gaya. Chirag ne bhi
uska anusharan kiya. Lekin thodi hi dur jaane ke baad uska dam ghutne
laga. Wo palatne ke baare me soch hi raha tha ki usne Imran ko dekha jo
kisi ko peeth par laade huye waapas aa raha tha. Chirag ek taraf hat gaya.
Aur phir wo bhi usi ke sath baahar chala gaya.
Imran ne behosh Rajat ko baahar bagiche me daalte huye kaha..."Yaar
himmat karo....in sab ki zindagiyaan khatre me hai. Kya tum das-paanch
minut saans nahin rok sakte?"

Phir kisi na kisi tarah unhone ek ek karke un sab ko kothi se nikaala......lekin

Komal un me nahin thi. Imran ne poori kothi ka chakkar laga daala......lekin
Komal kahin nahin mili.

Un sab ko hosh me aane aur kothi ka watavaran saaf hone me lagbhag 2

ghante lag gaye.

Unme se kisi ne bhi koi dhang ki baat nahin bataayi. Kisi ko ye pata hi nahin
chal paaya ki ye sab kaise hua.

"Imran sahab...." Chirag bade gusse me bola....."Paani sar se uncha ho

chuka hai....ab aapko bataana hi padega! Ye ghatna itna pechida bhi nahin
ki main kuchh samajh hi na sakun. Aakhir colonel ki beti kahan gayab ho
gayi?"

"Agar tum samajh gaye ho to mujhe bhi bata do. main to kuchh nahin
jaanta." Imran ne aasha ke vipareet bade hi shushk swar me kaha.

"Yaa to ye un suputri ki hi harkat hai....ya phir kisi aur ki jo iss prakar unhen
utha le gaya." Chirag bola.

"Usay Shifton le gaya hai." Imran ne kaha.

"To ab tak itna samay barbaad karne ki kya zarurat thi?" Chirag jhunjhla
gaya.

"Samay ki barbaadi se tumhaara kya taatparya hai?" Imran ne rookhe swar

me puchha.

"Jab maine Shifton ke baare me puchha tha tab aapne agyaanta prakat ki
thi.....phir aapne is sambandh me uska naam kyon liya?"

"To kya Barack Obama ka naam leta?"

"Dekhiye aap aisi haalat me bhi maamlaat ko uljhaane se nahin ruk rahe
hain."

"Yaar main hun kon?" Imran gardan jhatak kar bola..."Tum sarkari aadmi
ho.....iss sambandh me ham sab ke bayaan note karo.....kuchh tasalli-
dilaasa do....mujh par kuchh muh-chor logon ne hamla kiya tha is ka haal-e-
dard bhi likho.....ityaadi ityaadi."
"Main aapko apne sath office le chalna chaahta hun." Chirag bola.

"Dekho dost.....main samay barbaad karne keliye taiyar nahin."

"Mujhe kisi sakht kadam uthane par majboor mat kijiye." Chirag ki aawaz
kuchh unchi ho gayi.

"Achha.....ye baat hai...!" Imran vyangaatmak swar me bola..."Kya kar

lenge shriman.....kya is kothi ke kisi vyakti ne aap se sahayata maangi hai?
Aap hamaare maamle me dakhal dene waale hote kon hain?"

Dusre log sofon par khamosh pade unki baaten sun rahe the.....kisi me bhi
itni shakti nahin thi ki wo apne vichar prakat karne keliye apni zubaan hila
saken. Unki haalat ekdam asambandhit darshakon jaisi thi. Inspector Chirag
ne un par ek uchatati si nigaah dali aur Imran se kaha....

"Imran sahab....mujhe kewal captain Faiyaz ka khayal kai warna....."

Tabhi Bartosch ne kaha..."Ladki keliye tumlog kya kar rahe ho? Nihsandeh
ye unhin badmashon ki harkat maloom padti hai."

"Yes my dear Mr Chirag....abhi hamen ye dekhna chahiye ki Komal kahan

gayi."

Chirag kuchh na bola. Imran kamre se baahar baraamde me aa gaya. Chirag

bhi uske pichhe aaya.

"Kisi veerane me makan banwaana bahut bura hai." Bartosch ne kaha.

Achanak Imran baraamde se utar kar ek taraf chalne laga. Phir wo gulab ki
jhaadiyon ke paas ruk kar jhuka.

Ye ek black colour ka ladies sandle tha.....jisne uska dhyan apni taraf

kheecha tha.

Chirag aur Bartosch bhi uske nikat pahuch gaye.

"Ohh....ye to ladki ka hi lagta hai." Bartosch budbudaaya. Imran kuchh na

bola. Uski nazar sandle se hat kar kisi anya chiz par jam gayi......phir
achanak Chirag ki taraf mudaa.

"Tum to Sonagadhi ke chappe chappe se parichit hoge?" Usne chirag se

puchha.

"Na kewal Sonagadhi balki aas paas ke aur bhi chhetron se bhi parichit hun."
Chirag ne kaha. Lekin uska lahja achha nahin tha.
"Kya yahaan koi aisa area bhi hai jahaan ki mittee red colour ki ho."

Chirag soch me pad gaya. Kuchh der baad usne kaha...."Aap ye kyon puchh
rahe hain?"

Imran ne zameen se laal chikni mittee ka ek tukda uthaya.....jisme halki si

nami bhi maujood thi.

Mera vichar hai..." Imran ne kaha..."Ye mittee kisi joote ke sole ke gap me
chipki rahi hogi aur yahaan kam se kam 2-2 km ke ghere me maine kahin
narm zameen nahin dekhi.......isay dekho isme abhi bhi nami baaki hai."

Chirag ne usay apne hath me lekar ulat palat kar kaha....

"Paltan-padaao ke area me ek jagah aisi narm zameen milti hai. Infact

wahan ek chhoti si nadi bhi hai.....uske kinaare ki zameen.....uski mittee me
hamesha nami vartmaan rahti hai.

"Kya wo koi nirjan sthaan hai?"

"Nirjan nahin kah sakte....kam aabadi avashya hai.....wahaan adhiktar

unche warg ke log aabad hain.

"Kya tum mujhe apni byke par wahaan le ja sakoge?"

"Ho sakta hai..." Chirag ne kuchh sochte huye kaha.

"Achha to thahro..." Imran ne kaha aur kothi ke andar chala gaya. Usne
Pawan ko sambodhit kiya jo ek sofe par druggist ki tarah oongh raha tha.

"Suno.....main Komal ki talash me jaa raha hun. Tum agar apni jagah se hil
na sako to police ko phone par iss ghatna ki suchna de dena. Lekin ye
naukar kahaan mar gaye?"

"Baahar hain.." Pawan ne kamzor aawaz me kaha. "Subah hi wo shahar

gaye the ab tak waapas nahin aaye."

Colonel Pratap ka ye niyam tha ki wo saptaah me ek din apne naukaron ko

aadhe din ki chhutti deta tha.

Imran kuchh der khada sochta raha phir us kamre me aaya jahaan uska
samaan rakha tha. Usne jaldi jaldi suit-case se kuchh chizen nikaaliaur
unhen jebon me thoosta hua baahar nikal gaya.

(.........contd.)
(Ab aage...)
Aasman me subah se hi safed baadal tairte phir rahe the.....aur is samay to
suraj ki ek kiran bhi baadlon ke kisi daraad se nahin jhaank rahi thi. Mausan
bahut hi manoram tha.

Inspector Chirag ki motorcycle Paltan-padaao ki taraf jaa rahi thi. Imran

pichhe baitha ungh raha tha. Uske chehre par gahre chinta ke lakshan
dikhayi de rahe the. Murkhta-bhari saadgi gayab ho chuki thi. Paltan padaao
ke nazdik pahuchte pahuchte boonda-baandi shuru ho gayi. Chirag ne
motorcycle ki speed kam kar di.

"Lekin ham wahan jaakar unhen dhoondenge kaise?" Chirag ne Imran se

puchha.

"Kya....bbaatt....hai.....ye ek cid officer mujh se puchh raha hai."

"Imran sahab is moka par mujhe aap se gambhirta ki aasha hai."

"Aahhaa.....kisi na kisi ne awashya kaha hoga ki duniya ummeed par qayam

hai. Waise is area me koi aisa hotel bhi hai jisme nimn warg ke log baithte
hon? Agar aisa koi hotel hai to mujhe wahaan le chalo."

Inspector Chirag ne bike ek patli si sadak par mod di. Tabhi Imran ne usay
rokne ko kaha.

Chirag ne bahut harbadi me bike rok di. Kyonki Imran ke lahje me usay
ghabrahat ki jhalak mahsus huyi thi. Ye ek ramneek sthan thi. Sadak ke
donon taraf samtal zameen thi.....aur wahaan phulon ke baagh dikhayi de
rahe the. Paltan padaao ke iss bhag ki ginti paryatak sthal ke roop me hoti
thi.

Chirag ne bike rok kar apne pair zameen par tika diye.

Achanak usne engine bhi band kar di......aur phir wo ye bhi bhool gaya ki
bike Imran ne rukwaayi thi. Usne daahini taraf ke ek baagh me ek ladki ko
dekh liya tha jo usay aakrisht karne ke liye rumaal hila rahi thi. Chirag bike
se utarta hua bola.

"Imran sahab thoda thahriye..."

"Kya wo tumhari parichit hai?" Imran ne muskura kar puchha.

"Haan." Chirag hasta hua bola.

"Bahot achha tum jaa sakte ho. Lekin bike yahaan akeli rah jaayegi." Imran
ne kaha aur baayin taraf ke bagichon me nazar daudaata hua bola...."Main
udhar jaaunga....mamduha....ohh....shayad main galat bol raha hun kya
kahte hain usay....jis se muhabbat ki jaati hai....?"

"Mahbooba."

"Mahbooba.....mahbooba.....yess udhar meri mahbooba.....achha to main

chala." Imran bike se utarta hua bola.

Left side ke bagiche me usay kuchh aisi shaklen dikhayi di thi jinhone
achanak uske dimag me us raat ki yaad taaza kar di jab Komal ko orange
squash me koi nasheela padarth diya gaya tha. Un me se ek ko to usne
achhi tarah pahchan liya. Ye wahi tha jiski takkar hotel ke waiter se huyi thi.
Do vyaktiyon ke baaare me usay sandeh tha. Wo vishwas ke sath nahin kah
sakta tha ki ye donon us sub-inspector ke sathi the ya nahin jisne sunsaan
sadak par unki car rukwa kar kisi behosh ladki ke baare me puchha tha.

Imran unhen dekhta raha....wo char the. Unke sath koi aurat nahin thi.
Imran bagiche ke rakhwaale se khubaaniyon aur sebon ki paidawar ke baare
me baaten karne laga.

*************************************************

Komal aankhen phaad phaad kar charon taraf dekh rahi thi. Lekin uski
samajh me nahin aa raha tha ki wo kahan hai. Kamra hi class decorated
tha.....aur wo ek comfortable bed par padi huyi thi. Usne uthna chaaha
magar uth na saki. Usay aisa mahsus ho raha tha jaise uske sharir me jaan
hi na rah gayi ho. Mastisk kaam nahin kar raha tha. Us par dubaara behoshi
chha gayi.....aur phir dusri baar jab uski aankh khuli tab diwaar se latka hua
clock aath bajaa raha tha.....aur sirhaane rakha hua table lamp jal raha tha.

Is baar wo pahle hi prayas me uth gayi. Thodi der sar pakde baithi rahi. Phir
khadi ho gayi. Leki is zor se sar chakraaya ki usay sambhalne ke liye mez ka
kinaara pakadna pada. Saamne ka darwaaza khula hua tha. Wo baahar
jaane ka nishchay kar hi rahi thi ki ek aadmi kamre me prawesh kiya.

"Aapko colonel sahab yaad kar rahe hain..." Usne bahut hi aadar ke sath
kaha.

"Kyaaaa?? Daddy...??" Komal ne aashcharya ke sath puchha.

"Jee haan."

Kamzori ke baad bhi Komal ki raftaar bahut tez thi.....aur us vyakti ka andaz
aisa lag raha tha jaise wo kewal usi ke kaaran jaldi jaldi kadam utha raha
ho.

Wo kayi raah-daariyon se guzarte huye ek bade kamre me aaye. Aur phir

wahaan Komal ne wahaan jo kuchh bhi dekha.....wo uski aadhi jaan nikaal
dene keliye kaafi tha.

Usne colonel Pratap ko dekhajo ek kursi se bandha hua tha.....aur uske paas
chaar aadmi khade usay kha jaane waali nazron se dekh rahe tthe.

"Tummmm??" Achanak colonel cheekh pada. Sath hi usne uthne ka prayas

kiya....lekin hil bhi nahin saka. Bandhan bahur mazboot thi.

Wo donon khamoshi se ek dusre ki taraf dekhne lage.

Achanak ek bhari jabadon waala vyakti bola...."Colonel tum Li yo Ka se

takraane ki koshish kar rahe ho....!! Li yo Ka jisay aaj tak kisi ne bhi nahin
dekha."

"Colonel kuchh nahin bola. Uski aankhen Komal ke chahre se hat kar niche
jhuk gayi thin. Bhaari jabdon waala phir bola..."Agar tum ne wo kaagzaat
waapas nahin kiye to tumhari aankhon ke saamne iss ladki ki botiyaan kaati
jaayengi. Ek ek boti......kya tum iske tadaone ka drishya dekh sakoge?''

"Nahin...." Colonel anayaas cheekh pada. Uske chehre par paseene ki

boonden chhalak aayi thin.

KOmal khadi kaanpti rahi. Uska sar dubaara chakraane laga tha. Aisa lag
raha tha jaise kamre ki roshnipar dhund chadhti chali jaa rahi ho. Aur phir
us aadmi ne jo uske sath aaya tha usay aage badh kar sambhal liya. Wo phir
behosh ho chuki thi.

"Usay easy chair me daal do." Bhari jabdon waale ne kaha. Phir colonel se
bola....."Agar tumhen ab bhi hosh na aaye to isay tumhari durbhaagya hi
samjhunga."

colonel usay kuchh der ghoorta raha....phir apne hont bheench kar
bola..."Udaa do uski botiyaan.....main colonel Pratap
hun....samjhe....tumhen papers ki parchhayi tak nahin naseeb hogi."

Bhari jabdon waale ne thahaaka lagaya.

"Colonel tum Li yo Ka ki shaktiyon se parichit hone ke baad bhi bachchon

jaisi baaten kar rahe ho." Usne kaha. "Li yo Ka ki shaktiyon ne tumhen
kahaan se khod nikaala.....waise tum aisi jagah chhipe the jahaan parinde
bhi par nahin maar sakte the....wo Li yo Ka ki hi shakti thi ki din dahaade
tumhari ladki ko yahaan utha laayi....main kahta hun aakhir wo kaagzat
tumhare kis kaam ke hain? Vishwaas karo tum un se koi faaida nahi haasil
kar sakte. Waise tum buddhimaan zaroor ho ki tumne abhi tak wo papers
police ke hawaale nahin kiya......mujhe bataao.....tum chaahte kya ho?"
"Main tumhaare kisi sawaal ka jawaab nahin dena chaahta.....tumhara jo
dila chaahe kar lo..." Colonel gurraya.

"Achha..." Bhari jabde waale ne apne ek aadmi ko ishara karte huye

kaha...."Iss ladki ke pair ka angutha kaat do..."

Uss aadmi ne table par se ek chamakdar kulhaadi uthayi......aur behosh

Komal ki taraf badha.

"Thahro..." Achanak ek garjdaar aawaz sunaayi di....."Li yo Ka aa gayaaa."

(..........jaari)
(Ab aage.....)

Uss aadmi ne table par se ek chamakdar kulhaadi uthayi......aur behosh

Komal ki taraf badha.

"Thahro..." Achanak ek garjdaar aawaz sunaayi di....."Li yo Ka aa gayaaa."

Sath hi ek zordar dhamaka bhi hua....aur saamne waali diwar par ek

chakachondh kar dene waali chamak dikhayi di.....aur saara kamra dhuyen
se bhar gaya. ......safed rang ka gahra dhuwaan......jisme bitte bhar dur ki
chiz bhi nahin dikhayi de rahi thi.

Dhadadhar furniture ulatne laga......colonel Pratap ki kursi bhi ulat

gayi.....lekin usay itna hosh tha ki usne apna sar farsh se nahin takraane
diya. Kamre ke dusre log nind se chaunke huye kutte ki tarah shor macha
rahe the. Achanak colonel kursi chhod kar utha khada hua.....koi uska hath
pakade huye usay ek taraf khich raha tha. Colonel dhuwen ki ghutan ke
kaaran kuchh aisa bad-hawaas ho raha tha ki wo us agyaat vyakti ke saath
khichta chala gaya.

Aur phir thodi der baad usne khud ko taaza hawa me mahsoos kiya....uske
sar par khula hua aur taaron bhara aasman tha. us ne andhere me us aadmi
ko pahchaan'ne ki koshish ki jo uska hath pakde huye tezi se dhalaan me
utar raha tha. Usne apne kandhe par kisi ko laad rakha tha. Iske baad bhi
uske kadam bahut tezi se uth rahe the.

"Tum kon ho?" Colonel ne bharrayi huyi aawaz me puchha.

"Ali Imran M Sc, Ph D." Uttar mila.

"Imran.....!!"

"Shshhh.....chup-chap chale aaiye...."

Wo jaldi hi chattano me ek surakshit jagah pahuch gaye. Ye chattane kuchh

iss prakar ki thin ki khojne waalo ko ghanton chakkar me daala ja sakta tha.

Imran ne behosh Komal ko kandhe se utaar kar ek patthar par lita diya.

"Kyon.....! Kya hua?" Colonel ne puchha.

"Zara ek chwingum khaunga." Imran ne apni jeben tatolte huye kaha.

"Ajeeb aadmi ho....! Aray wo imarat yahan se adhik dur nahin hai. " Colonel
ghabraaye huye swar me kaha.

"Isiliye to main ruk gaya hun.....lage hathon ye tamasha bhi dekh lun...Kya
yahan se fire station nazdik hai?"

"Kya wahaan aag lag gayi hai?" Colonel ne puchha.

"Jee nahin.....be-matlab ab baar ka batangad banega.....wo to kewal

dhuwen ka ek sadharan sa bomb tha......zara dekhiyegaa.........dhuwen ka
baadal."

Colonel ne building ki taraf nigaah daali.....uske upari hisse par dhuwen ka

ghana sa baadal mandlaa raha tha. .

"Kya.............wo bomb tumne.......?"

"Arre....tauba tauba...." Imran apna muhh peetata hua bola...."Main to usay

ek tooth-paste ka tube samjhe huye tha......lekin mujhe un becharon par
taras aata hai....kyonki building se baahar nikalne ke saare raaste band
hain. Mujhe pichhli raat sapne me kisi farishte ne kaha tha.....ki Qayamat ke
nikat aane par aisa awashya hoga....ityadi ityadi....."

"Imran.....by God.....tum heere ho..." Colonel dabe huye josh ke sath bola.

"Ohh....aisa na kahiye....warna custom waale duty wasool kar lenge." Imran

ne kaha. "Lekin aap yahan kaise aa phase?"
"Main aisi jagah chhupa hua tha Imran jahaan parinda bhi par nahin maar
sakta tha. Lekin unhone mujhe ek plague se peedit chuhe ki tarah baahar
nikaal liya."

"Gas?" Imran ne puchha.

"Haan....main ek gufaa me tha. Unhone baahar se gas daal kar mujhe baahr
nikalne par majboor kar diya. Lekin KOmal yahan kaise pahuchi?"

"Thahariye....." Imran hath utha kar bola....aur shayad door ki koi aawaz
sunne laga. Phir usne jaldi se kaha....."Iske baare me phir kabhi
bataaunga....uthiye gaadiyaan aa gayin..."

Usne phir Komal ko uthaana chaha....lekin colonel ne rok diya.....aur usay

goad me utha kar Imran ke pichhe chalne laga. Dhalaan ka raasta bahut
khatarnak tha. Phir bhi wo sambhal sambhal kar niche utarte rahe. Phir
unhen patli si bal-khaati huyi sadak dikhayi di. Mausam saaf hone ke kaaran
taaron ki chhaon me sadak saaf dikhayi de rahi thi. Tabhi niche se laal rang
ki prakash ki ek kiran aakar chattaanon me phail gayi. Colonel ke muhh se
ajeeb si awaaz nikli.

"Ohh....chinta mat kijiye....police hai..." Imran ne kaha.

Phir jaldi hi paanch....chhah vyakti unki sahayata ke liye upar chadh aaye.
Unmen Inspector Chirag bhi tha.

"Uss building me to aag lag gayi hai...." Usne Imran se kaha.

"In logon ko bhijwaane ki vyawastha karo." Imran bola "Aur tum mere saath
aao...kewal das aadmi kaafi honge..."

"Phir usne colonel se kaha..."Aap bahot kamzor ho gaye hain isliye iss
samay police ko koi bayaan na dijiyega....."

"Kya matlab?" Chirag bhinna kar bola.

"Kuchh nahin pyare.....tum mere sath aao....apne aadmiyon ko bhi sath le

lo."
"Sab wahin mojood hain."

Colonel aur Komal niche pahuchaaye ja chuke the. Imran Chirag ke sath phir
us building ki taraf badha.......jiski khidkiyon se gahra dhuwaan nilal kar
hawa me bal khaate huye upar uth raha tha. Imran ke nazdik kaafi bheed
jamaa ho gayi thi. Chirag ke sathi jald hi aa mile......aur Imran unhen sath
lekar andar ghusta chala gaya. Baahar ke saare darwaaze usne pahle hi
band kar diye the. Isliye bhitar ke log baahar nahin nikal sakte the......aur
baahar waalon ki abhi tak himmat nahin ho saki thi ki makaan me kadam
rakhen.

Building me kuchh kamre aise bhi the jahan abhi tak dhuwaan gahara nahin
hua tha. Aise hi kamron me se ek me unhen paanchin aadmi mil gaye. Wo
sab paseene me nahaaye huye buri tarah haanf rahe the.

"Kya baat hai?" Imran ne pahuchte hi lalkaara.

Usay dekh kar unsab ki haalat aur kharab ho gayi.

"Bolte kyon nahin." Imran phir garja. Un me se koi kuchh na bola. Imran ne
Chirag se kaha..."Ye Shifton ke aadmi hain.....dhuwen ke bomb bana rahe
the......ek bomb phat gaya."

"Bakwaas hai..." Bhari jabde waale ne cheekh kar kaha.

"Ok koi baat nahin..." Chirag gardan jhatak kar bola. "Main tumhen apharan
aur bandhak bana ke rakhne ke aarop me hirasat me leta hun."

"Ye bhi bekaar ki baat hogi....." Bhari jabde waale ne muskura kar kaha.
"ham ne na kisi ka apharan kiya aur na kisi ko bandhak banaaya."

"Yess.....Chirag sahab..." Imran murkhon ki tarah aankhen nacha kar

bola...."Is se kaam nahin chalega.....bandhak aur apharan ka proof to yahan
se jaa chuka.....nahin nahin.....ye log bomb bana rahe the."

"Hathkadiyan laga do...." Chirag apne aadmiyon ki taraf mud kar bola.

"Dekho....musibat me phans jaaoge tum sab....." Bhari jabde waala jhalla

kar bola.
"Chinta mat karo....." Chrag ne revolver nikaalte huye kaha....."Chupchap
hathkadiyaan lagwa lo....warna anjaam bahut bura hoga.......main thoda
fauji kism ka aadmi hun."

Un sab ke hathkadiyaan lag gayin. Jab wo sab police ki gadi me laade jaa
chuke....to Chirag ne Imran se kaha...."Ab bataaiye kya charge lagaya jaaye
inke khilaaf?"

"Bomb nirman....aas paas ke logon ne dhamaaka avashya suna hoga....10-

12 kg gandhak aor 2-1 jar acid building se baraamad kar
lo....samjhe.....bass itna hi kaafi hai."

"Aur wo Shifton waala maamla?" Chirag ne puchha.

"Filhaal tumhare farishte bhi uske liye saboot avalable nahin kar
sakte.......achha main chala.......kuch din insab ki zamanat to hone nahin
dena."

NEXT

Dusre din Colonel Pratap ki kothi ki compound me CIB ke DSP ki gaadi khadi
dikhayi di......aur wo andar colonel ka statement le raha tha. Imran ne raat
hi me colonel ko achhi tarah pakka kar liya tha. Iss samay colonel ne wahi
sab kuchh duhraaya tha jo usay Imran ne sikha diya tha. Usne DS ko bataya
ki usay bhi rahassyamayi Shifton ka letter mila tha.....aur wo kewal usi ke
dar se chhup gaya tha. Phir usne DSP ke cross ka uttar dete huye kaha ki
wo iss se pahle bhi ek baar Shifton ka shikar ho chuka hai.,,,,aur uss samay
usay 5 lacs rupees se hath dhone pade the. Lekin usay aaj tak ye nahin pata
chal saka ki Shifton kisi ek vyakti ka naam hai ya ek giroh ka.

Anyway colonel ne Li yo Ka aur uske maamlaat ki hawa bhi nahin lagne di.
Pichhli raat ki ghatnaaon ke sambandh me usne bayan diya ki Shifton ke
aadmi uspar aur uski beti ko torture kar ke 50 lac rupees ka demand kar
rahe the......tabhi us imarat me ek dhamaka hua.....Shifton ke aadmi bad-
hawaas huye aur iss prakar unhen nikal bhaagne ka mauka mil gaya. Aur
chunki uska secretary Imran pahle hi se Komal ki talash me udhar ke
chakkar kaat raha tha....isliye usne turant uski madad ki.

Pata nahin DSP uske bayaan se santust hua ya nahin.....anyway....phir wo

aur adhik der wahaan nahin ruka. Komal abhi tak bhaybheet thi. Usne Imran
se puchha...."Imran sahab ab kya hoga?"

"Ab gaana naachna sabhi kuchh hoga....tum bilkul chinta mat karo..."

"Kya aap ne sach much bomb pheka tha?"

"Arre....tauba tauba...." Imran apna muhh peet kar bola..."Aisi baaten muhh
se nahin nikaaliye warna....meri mummy mujhe ghar se nikal dengi."

Komal phir kuchh kahne waali thi ki colonel ne apne kamre se Imran ko
awaaz di. Imran Komal ko wahin chhod kar colonel ke kamre me chala gaya.
Colonel akela tha. Usne imran ke bhitar aate hi kamre ka darwaaza band kar
diya.

"Idhar dekho...." Colonel ne mez ki taraf ishara kia......jis par ek bada sa

khanjar pada hua tha.

"Shayad Li yo Ka ki taraf se dhamki?" Imran muskurakar bola.

"By Godd.....tum genius ho..." colonel ne uske kandhe par hath rakh kar
kaampti huyi aawaz me kaha. "Haan....Li yo Ka ki taraf se ek khula
khat....aur woh khanjar iss kamre me.....mujhe hairat hai ki inhen kon
laaya."

Imran ne aage badh kar khat table se utha liya.....khat ke matter ke niche
"Li yo Ka" likha hua tha. Imran unchi awaaz me khat padhne laga....

"Colonel Pratap....tumhen kewal ek awasar aur diya jaata hai.....ab bhi soch
lo.....warna tumhara ek bhatija kal sham tak qatle kar diya
jaayega.....chaahe tum usay kahin chhupa do.....ispar bhi tumhen hosh na
aaya to phir apni ladki ki lash dekhoge.....agar tum papers waapas karne par
taiyar ho to aaj 5 baje sham tak ek gas bhara hua laal gubbaara apni kothi
ki compound se udaa dena."

Khat khatam kar ke Imran colonel ki taraf dekhne laga.

Clonel Dixon mujh se asli baat jaanna chaahta hai." Colonel Pratap ne
kaha...."Usay Shifton waali kahani par vishwas nahin aaya. Samajh me
nahin aata ki ye Shifton kon hai.....aur kahan se aa tapka."
"Shifton....." Imran muskura kar bola...."Kuchh bhi nahin hai....isay Li yo Ka
ki kewal ek simple si chaal kah lijiye. Usne ye harkat kewal isliye ki hai ki
aap police ki madad na haasil kar saken. Zara is tarah sochiye.....shahar ke
saare bade bade log police se kisi Shifton ki shikayat karte hain.....achanak
aap bhi police ki madad maangte hain aur aap Li yo Ka ki kahani sunaate
hain....parinam spasht hai ki police Shifton aur Li yo Ka donon ko bakwas
samjhegi. is se aap madad ki bajaaye yahi jawaab paayenge ki shahar ke
kisi shararati vyakti ne logon ko pareshan karne ke liye ye saara dhong
rachaaya hai......kyon....kya main galat kah raha hun?"

"tum thik kah rahe ho." Colonel kuchh sochta hua bola."Magar ab meri akal
jawaab de rahi hai. Samajh me anhin aata ki Dixon se kya kahun. Ham
donon kitne saal tah ham-niwaala aur hum-pyala rahe hain. Hamaare bich
kabhi koi raaz raaz nahin raha."

"Mera vichar hai ki ab aap sab kuchh usay bata dijiye.....aur ham sab ek
jagah baith kar aapas me mashwara karen......ghar bhar ko ikattha kar
lijiye."

"Iss se kya hoga?"

"Ho sakta hai ki ham me se koi ek sahi suggestion de sake,"

"Kabhi sochta hun ki kyon na kaagzaat police ke hawaale kar dun." Colonel
apni peshaani ragadta hua bola.

"Is sthiti me aap Li yo Ka ke intaqaam se nahin bach sakenge."

"Yahi soch kar to rah jaata hun." Colonel ne kaha...."Lekin Imran

bete....mujhe vishwaas hai ki papers waapas kar dene ke baad bhi main na
bach sakunga."

"Na kewal aap balki wo sab bhi khatre me pad jaayenge jo iss samay aapka
sath de rahe hain." Imran kuchh sochta hua bola.

"Phir main kya karun?"

"Jo kuchh main kahun wo kijiyega....?"

"Karunga..."
"To bas aap khamoshi dhaaran kijiye.....main naukaron ke alaawa ghar ke
saare logon ko ikattha kar ke un se mashwera karunga......waise is bich aap
chaahen to wo filmi song gaa sakte hain......kya bol the uske.....haan....dil
leke chale to na jaaoge......ho raaja jee.....ho raaja jee...."

Kya behoodagi hai?" Colonel ne jhalla kar kaha......phir achanak hasne laga.

(........Jaari)

(Ab aage.....)

Usi din 5 baje sham ko laal rang ka ek gas bhara gubbaara colonel ki kothi ke compound se
aasmaan ki taraf uthta jaa raha tha. Compound me sabhi log maujood the.....aur Imran taaliyaan
baja baja kar bachchon ki tarah hans raha tha.

Colonel ke atithiyon ne uski iss harkat ko achhi nazron se nahin dekha. Kyonki un sab ke chehre
utre huye the. Colonel ne aaj dopahar ko un sab ke saamne Li yo Ka ki kahani suna di thi. Iss par
sab ne yahi suggestion diya tha ki us khatarnak aadmi ke papers waapas kar hi diye jaayen.
Colonel Dixon pahle bhi Li yo Ka ka naam sun chuka tha. Europe waalon ke liye yeh naam naya
nahin tha. Kyon ki Li yo Ka ka business us continent me sadharan baat thi.....aur ye business shat
pratishat gair-kanooni thi.....lekin phir bhi aaj tak koi Li yo Ka par hath nahin daal saka tha.
Colonel Dixon aur Bartosch Li yo Ka ka sunte hi safed pad gaye.

Dinner ke samay se pahle hi Li yo Ka ki taraf se jawaab aa gaya tha. Bilkul usi rahassyamayi
dhang se jaise sunah waala sandesh praapt hua tha. Rajat ne ek darwaaze ki chaukhat me ek
khanjar gadaa hua dekha.....jiski nok kaagaz ke ek tukde ko chhedti huyi chaukhat me ghus gayi
thi.

Kaagaz ka ye tukda vaastav me Li yo Ka ka khat tha. Jisme colonel ko sachet kiya gaya tha ki
wo dusre din thik 9 baje un papers ko Deogadhi waali prasiddh kaali chattaan ke kisi daraad me
khud rakh de ya kisi se rakhwa de. Li yo Ka ki taraf se ye bhi likha gaya tha ki agar colonel ko
kisi prakar ka bhay mahsoos ho to wo apne sath jitne bhi aadmi laana chaahe laa sakta hai.
Parantu dhoka dene ki sthiti me usay kisi tarah bhi maaf bahin kiya jaa sakega.

Dinner table par iss khat ke sambandh me garma garam bahas chhid gayi thi.

"Kya Li yo Ka bhoot hai?" Colonel Dixon ki ladki Martha ne kaha. "Aakhir ye letters yahaan
kaise aate hain?.....Iska arth to yahi hai ki Li yo Ka koi manushya nahin balki aatma hai."

"Aaann....haan..." Imran sar hila kar bola. "Ho sakta hai.....Nishchit roop se wo kisi afeemchi ki
aatma hai.......jis ne yamlok me bhi nasheeli vastuon ki taskari shuru kar di hai."

"Ek suggestion mere dimaag me bhi hai." Bartosch ne colonel Pratap se kaha. "Lekin bachchon
ke saamne main uspar charcha thik nahin samajhta."
"Mr Bartosch...." Imran bola...."Aap mujhe to bachcha nahin samajhte?"

"Tum shaitaan ke bhi dada ho..." Bartosch muskura pada.

"Thanks....mere pote mujhe har haal me yaad rakhte hain." Imran ne gambhirta se kaha.

Colonel Dixon usay ghoorne laga. Wo ab bhi Imran ko colonel ka Private secretary samajhta
tha......isliye usay ek chhote aadmi ka Bartosch jaise sammanit mehmaan se frank hona bahut
bura laga....lekin wo kuchh bola nahin.

Dinner ke baad Komal, Martha, Pawan aur Rajat uth gaye.

Colonel Pratap badi bechaini se Bartosch ki raai ki pratiksha kar rahe the.

"Main ek artist hun." Bartosch ne thahre huye lahje me kaha...."Waise to mujh se aisi koi
apeksha nahin ki jaa sakti ki main kisi aise uljhe huye maamle me koi raai de sakun..."

"Mr Bartosch..." Colonel Pratap vyagrata se hath utha kar kaha...."Bhumika kisi aur awasar ke
liye utha rakhiye..."

"Bartosch kuchh pal sochta raha....phir usne kaha..."Li yo Ka ka naam maine bahut suna
hai......aur mujhe ye bhi pata hai ki wo iss prakar ke kaamon me khud bhi hissa leta hai. Uske
baare me abtak maine jo kahaniyan suni hain.....agar wo sachi hain to phir Li yo Ka ko iss samay
Sonagadhi me hi upasthit hona chahiye."

"Achha.....!!!" Imran ne apni aankhen nachaayi.

"Agar wo yahin hai to hamen is avasar ka laabh uthana chaahiye." Bartpsch ne kaha.

"Main aap ka matlab nahin samjha." colonel bola.

"Agar ham Li yo Ka ko pakad saken to ye insaaniyat ki sab se badi sewa hogi."

Colonel vyang se hans pada. Lekin iss hansi me jhallaahat adhik thi. Usne kaha "Aap Li yo Ka
ko pakdenge.....uss Li yo Ka ko jiski chitthiyaan mere ghar me har jagah paayi jaa sakti
hai......arthaat wo jis samay chaahe ham sab ko maut ke ghaat utaar sakta hai."

"Huhh..." Bartosch ne bura sa muhh bana kar kaha...."Aap ye samajhte hain ki Li yo Ka ya uska
koi aadmi adrishya shaktiyon ka maalik hai!! Nahin dear colonel....mera daawa hai ki iss ghar ka
koi vyakti Li yo Ka se mila hua hai." Phir usne apni baat me wazan paida karne keliye table par
ghoonsa maarte huye kaha...."Mera daawa hai ki iss se pare koi baat nahin."

Kamre me sannaata chha gaya. Colonel Pratap saans roke huyeBartosch ki taraf dekh raha tha.

"Main Mr Bartosch se sahmat hun." Imran ki aawaz sunaayi di. Uske baad phir shaanti chha
gayi.
Kuchh der baad colonel Pratap gala saaf kar ke bola....."Wo kon ho sakta hai?"

"Koi bhi..." Bartosch ne laaparwaahi se kandhe hilaaye "Jab paala pada hai Li yo Ka se....tab kisi
par bhi bharosa nahin karna chaahiye."

"Aap se galati huyi thi colonel sahab..." Imran ne colonel Pratap se kaha...."Aapko Mr Bartosch
se pahle hi vichar-vimarsh karna chahiye tha. Li yo Ka ke baare me inki jaankaari bahut vistrit
lagti hai."

"Bilkul.....main Li yo Ka ke sambandh me bahut kuchh jaanta hun. Ek samay me mera jeewan

bahut hi ghatiya logon me beeta hai.....jahan chor badmash aur awaidh dhanda karne waale bhare
pade the. Zindagi ke usi daud me mujhe Li yo Ka ke baare me kuchh sunne ka mauka mila.
Colonel kya tum ye samajhte ho ki Li yo Ka in papers ko apne aadmiyon ke dwaara haasil
karega? Bilkul nahin. Wo khud unhen uss jagah se uthaayega.....jahaan rakh diye jaayenge. Li yo
Ka ka koi aadmi nahin jaanta ki woh kon hai. Lekin unn papers me hai kya?"

"Jahaan tak main samajhta hun.....un me koi aisi chiz nahin hai jis se Li yo Ka ke vyaktitva par
prakash pad sake." Colonel Pratap n kaha.

"Waahh..." Imran gardan jhatak kar bola...."Jab aap chinese aur Japanese bhasha nahin jaante to
ye baat itne vishwas se aap kaise kah sakte?"

"Chinese aur Japanese bhasha....!!!" Bartosch kisi soch me pad gaya phir bola..."Kya aap mujhe
wo papers dikha sakte hain?"

"Kabhi nahin." Colonel ne me sar hilaaya. "Ye nahin ho sakta.....main unhen ek packet
me rakh kar seal karne ke baad Li yo Ka ki bataayi huyi jagah par pahucha doonga."

"Aap insaaniyat par zulm karenge." Bartosch loshile swar me kaha. "Sahi tareeka ye hota ki aap
khud ko police ki suraksha me dekar papers ko unke hawaale kar dete."

"Mr Bartosch....main bachcha nahin hun." Colonel ne teekhe swar me kaha..."Papers lambe
samay se mere paas surakshit hai. Agar mujhe police ki sahayata leni hoti to kab ka aisa kar
chuka hota."

"Phir unhen itne dinon tak roke rahne ka kya maksad tha?"

"Maksad saaf hai..." Colonel Dixon pahli baar bola...."Pratap kewal isi kaaran ab tak zinda
hai.....ki wo papers abhi tak uske kabza me hai. Agar Li yo Ka ka hath uspar pad gaya hota to
Pratab hamaare bich na baitha hota."

(........Jaari.)
Next
"Thik hai..." Bartosch ne kuchh sochte huye sar hilaaya.

"Lekin tumhari scheme kya thi?" Colonel Pratap ne vyakulta se puchha.

"Thahro.....main bataata hun." Bartosch ne kaha....kuchh pal chup raha phir

bola..."Li yo Ka us bataayi huyi jagah par akela aayega......mujhe vishwas
hai.....agar wahaan kuchh log pahle se hi chhupa diye jaayen to....."

"Suggestion badhiya hai..." Imran bola..."Lekin abhi aap kah chuke hain
ki....khair.....hataaiye usay.....lekin billi ki gardan me ghanti baandhega
kon? Colonel sahab police ko iss maamla me daalna nahin chaahte.....aur
phir ye bhi zaroori nahin ki billi chup-chap gale me ghanti bandhwaa hi le."

"Tum mujhe woh jagah dikhaao......phir main bataaunga ki billi ke gale me

ghanti kon baandhega." Bartosch ne akad kar kaha.

Kuchh der khamoshi rahi. Phir wo phusphusaahat jaisi aawaz me vichar-

vimarsh karne lage. Ant-tah ye tai paaya ki wo log usi samay chal kar
Deogadhi ki kaali chattanon ka nirikshan karenge. Colonel Pratap hichkicha
raha tha.....lekin imran ki sargarmi dekh kar usay bhi haan me haan milani
padi. Wo ab Imran ki murkhtaaon par bhi vishwaas karne laga tha.

Raat andheri thi. Colonel Pratap, Colonel Dixon, Bartosch aur Imran durgam
raaston par chkraate huye Deogadhi ki taraf badh rahe the. Unke hathon me
chhoti chhoti torchen thin.....jinhen wo aksar jalaa lete the. Dixon, Pratap
aur Bartosch hathiyaarband the lekin Imran ke sambandh me nishchit nahin
kaha jaa sakta tha....kyonki uske hathon me koi gun nahin dikhayi de rahi
thi.......aur air-gun koi aisi chiz nahin jiski maujoodgi me kisi vyakti ko
hathiyar-band kaha jaa sake.

Kaale chattaan ke paas pahuch kar wo ruk gaye. Ye ek bahut badi chattaan
thi. Andhere me wo bahut adhik bhayawah dikhayi de rahi thi. Lekin uski
banawat kuchh aisi thi ki wo door se kisi bahut bade ajgar saanp ka phaila
hua muhh ho.

Lagbhag aadhe ghante tak Bartosch uska jaayezaa leta raha. Phir usne dhire
se kaha....."Bahut aasan hai....zara in gufaaon ki or dekho....inme hazaaron
aadmi ek sath chhup sakte hain......hame zaroor is avasar ka laabh uthaana
chaahiye."

Li yo Ka ke liye kewal ek aadmi kaafi hoga..." Imran ne kaha.

"Main aaj tak samajh nahin saka ki tum kis prakar ke vyakti ho?" Bartosch
jhunjla gaya.

"Kya maine 'kisi prakar' se hat kar koi baat kahi hai?" Imran ne gambhirta
se kaha.

"Bekaar baaten mat karo." Colonel Dixon bola.

"Achha to aap hazaaron aadmi kahaan se upalabdh karayenge? Jabki police

ko bhi bich me nahin laana hai."

"Police ko bich me laana padega." Bartosch bola.

"Kadaapi nahin." Colonel Pratap ne kathorta se kaha. "Police mujhe ya mere

ghar ke aadmiyon ko Li yo Ka ke intaqaam se nahin bacha sakegi."

"Tab to phir kuchh bhi nahin ho sakta." Bartosch nirasha bhare swar me
bola.

"Main yahi chaahta hun ki kuchh na ho." Colonel Pratap ne kaha.

Thodi der khamoshi rahi phir achanak Imran ne thahaaka laga kar
kaha...."Tum sab paagal ho gaye ho......main tum sab ko gadaha samajhta
hun...."

Phir usne ek taraf andhere me chhalaang laga di. Uske kahkahe ki aawaaz
sannaate me goonjti huyi dhire dhire door hoti jaa rahi thi.

"Kya ye sachmuch paagal hai?" Colonel Dixon bola "Ya phir khud hi Li yo Ka
tha?"

Kisi ne uttar nahin diya. Unki torchon ki roshniyaan door door tak andhere
ke seene ko cheerti rahi thi lekin unhen Imran ki parchhayi bhi nahin dikhayi
di.

***********************************************

(........Jaari.)
(Ab aage......)

Dusri subah colonel ke mehmaan aur gharwaale sabhi badi bechaini se

colonel Pratap ki pratiksha kar rahe the jo Li yo Ka ke papers ka packet lekar
akela Deogadhi ki taraf gaya tha. Sab ne usay samjhaane ka prayas kiya tha
ki uska akela jaana thik nahin.....lekin colonel kisi ko bhi apne sath le jaane
par taiyar nahin hua tha. Imran to raat hi se gayab tha. Unhone usay badi
der tak chattaanon me talash kiya tha aur phir thak haar kar waapas aa
gaye the.

Komal ko bhi Imran ki iss harkat par hairat thi. Lekin usne kisi se kuchh
kaha nahin.
Lagbhag 10 baje colonel Pratap waapas aaya. Uske chehre par thakawat
spasht dikhayi de rahi thi. Aate hi ek kursi par gir kar apna sharir dhila
chhod diya.

"Kya raha?" Colonel Dixon ne puchha.

"Kuchh nahin....wahaan ekdam sannaata tha......main packet ek surakshit

sthaan par rakh kar waapas aa gaya." Pratap ne kaha. Kuchh der chup rah
kar phir bola..."Wahaan se sahi salamat waapas aa jaane ka matlab hai ki ab
Li yo Ka mujhe ya mere pariwar waalon ko koi nuksaan nahin
pahuchaayega."

Wo abhi kuchh aur bhi kahta lekin achanak un sab ne Imran ka thahaaka
suna. Wo kandhe se air gun latkaaye hath jhulaata hue kamre me prawesh
kiya. Uske chehre par is samay hamesha se adhik murkhta tapak rahi thi.

"Waahh colonel sahab....." Usne phir kahakaha lagaya. "khoob murkh

banaya Li yo Ka ko.....chhi...chhi......nahin waahh...wahhh kahna
chaahiye.....sachmuch aap bahut buddhimaan vyakti hain."

"Kya baat hai...?" Colonel Pratap jhunjlaa gaya.

"Yahi packet rakha tha naa aap ne?" Imran ne jeb se ek brown colour ka
packet nikaal kar dikhaata hua bola.

"Kya.......ye kya kiya tum ne?" Colonel uchhal kar khada ho gaya.

Imran ne packet phaad kar uske papers farsh par giraate huye kaha..."Li yo
Ka se mazaak karte huye aapko sharm aani chaahiye thi....uske baad bhi
usne aapko zinda rahne diya."

Farsh par bahut saare kaagzaat bikhde pade the. Colonel bokhlaaye huye
andaaz me barbadaata hua kaagazon par jhuk pada.

"Magar." Wo kuchh pal baar bad-hawaasi me bola "Maine to papers rakhe

the......magar tumne usay wahaan se uthaya hi kyon?"

"Isliye ki main ho Li yo Ka hun." Imran ne garaj kar kaha.

"Tt.....tummm??" Colonel haklaa kar rah gaya...baaki log bhi muhh khole
huye Imran ko ghoor rahe the. Aur ab Imran ke chehre par murkhta ki jagah
kroorta baras rahi thi.

"Nahin.....nahin...." Komal bhaybheet awaaz me cheekhi.

Imran ne kandhe se air gun utaari aur usay Bartosch ki taraf taanta hua
bola....

"Mr Bartosch...pichhli raat tum mujhe pakadne ki scheme bana rahe

the......ab bataao......tumhen to main sab se pahle khatam karunga...."

"Ye kya bad-tamizi hai...?" Bartosch Pratap ki taraf dekh kar gurraaya. "Main
isay sahan nahin kar sakta." Phir wo colonel Dixon se bola..."Main kisi hotel
me thaharna adhik pasand karunga....ye stupid secretary shuru se hamaara
mazaak udaata raha hai."

"Pratap..." Dixon ne kaha...."Aise behooda secretary se kaho ki wo Bartosch

se maafi maange."

"Mr Bartosch....."Imran chubhte huye swar me kaha....."Main maafi

maangne ko taiyar hun.......lekin tum asli papers ka packet hazam nahin kar
sakoge....achha hoga ki usay mere hawaale kar do."

"Kya matlab...?'' Colonel Pratap ek baar phir uchhal pada.

Bartosch ka haath badi tezi se apni jeb ki taraf gaya.....lekin dusre hi pal
Imran ki air-gun chal padi. Bartosch cheekh maar kar pichhe hat gaya. Uski
kalaayi se khoon ka fawwara nikal raha tha.

"Phir achanak usne Imran par chhalaang lagaayi....Imran badi phurti se ek

taraf hat gaya. Imran apne hi zor me saamne waali diwaar se jaa takraaya.
Imran uske kulhe par air-gun ka kunda chalaate huye kaha..."Confucis ne
kaha tha......"

"Bartosch phir palta.....lekin is baar uska rukh baahri darwaaze ki taraf tha.

Ye kya behoodgi hai...?" Colonel Pratap halak ke bal cheekha. Thik usi
samay Inpector Chirag kamre me prawesh kiya......aur usne bhaagte huye
Bartosch ki kamar pakad li. Halaaki Bartosch ke kalaayi ki haddi toot chuki
thi.....lekin phir bhi uska jhatka itna zordaar tha ki Chirag uchhal kar door
jaa gira.

Is baar Imran ne Air gun ka kunda uske sar par phek kar maara aur
kaha...."Confucis is ke alaawa aur kya kahta."

Bartosch chakra kar gir pada. Imran usay girebaan se pakad kar
uthaaya....aur kaha..."Zara Li yo Ka ki shakal dekhna.....woh Li yo Ka jisne
200 saal se duniya ko chakkar me daal rakha tha."

"Kya tum pagal ho gaye ho?" Colonel Dixon chillaa kar bola.

Imran ne uski taraf dhyaan diye bina Chirag se kaha....."Iske paas se asla
papers ke packet baraamad karo."

Iss bich me wardi-dhari aur hathiyaar-band constables ke jhund ke jhund

building ke bhitar aur baahar jamaa hote jaa rahe the.

Imran ne Li yo Ka ya Bartosch ko ek easy chair me daal diya. Uske kapdon

ki talaashi lene par vaastav me uske paas se brown rang ka ek seal kiya hua
packet baraamad hua. Chirag ne usay apne kabza me kar liya.

(End in Next)
Last
Bartosch par behoshi chhati jaa rahi thi. Phir uski aankhen band ho gayin.

Tumhaare paas kya saboot hai ki ye Li yo Ka hai." colonel Dixon ne kaha.

"Ahhaa....colonel..." Imran muskura kar kaha....."Kal raat isne kya kaha

tha....Li yo Ka papers khud haasil kar lega. Usne thik hi kaha tha....haasil
kar liye usne. Iske atirikt duniya ka koi vyakti Li yo Ka nahin ho sakta.
Pichhli raat usne iss prakar ki baaten colonel ka vishwaas jeetne keliye kahi
thi. Kyon colonel........aapne usi ke saamne kaagzon ka packet banaya tha?"

"Haann....ye bhi mojood the..." colonel Pratap sukhe honton par zubaan
pherta hua bola.

"Mujhe iss par usi din shak ho gaya tha jab ye mujhe jadi bootiyon ki talash
ke bahaane chattaanon me le gaya tha.....aur waapasi me maine Komal ko
gayab paaya tha......anyway....raat ko usne papers apne kabze me kar liye
the....aur unki jagay saade kaagzon ka packet rakh diya tha. Kyon colonel
Dixon.....ye tumhara dost kab bana?"

"Aaj se 3 saal pahle jab main London me tha."

"Shifton ko le jaao inspector....." Imran ne Chirag se kaha....."Shifton ya Li

yo Ka.....tumne aaj ek bahut bade apraadhi ko giraftaar kiya hai. Woh
apraadhi jo 200 saal se saari duniya ko ungliyon par nacha raha tha.

"200 saal waali baat meri samajh me nahin aayi." Chirag ne kaha.

"Tum abhi isko le jaao...2 ghante baad mujh se milna.....report taiyar

milegi.'' Imran bola...."Anyway Li yo Ka ko tumne arrest kiya hai......Ali
Imran M Sc......Ph D ka naam kahin nahin aana chaahiye..."

************************************************

Woh sham kam se kam Colonel Pratap keliye suhaani thi. Halaaki colonel
Dixon ko bhi ab Bartosch ke parde me Li yo Ka ke hone par vishwas aa gaya
tha.......magar phir bhi uske chehre par shok chhayi huyi thi. Pata nahin
usay is achanak ghatne waali ghatnaaon ka gam tha ya is baat ki
sharmindagi thi ki wo Pratap ke dushman ko uska mehman bana kar laaya
tha.

Chai ki mez par Komal ki hansi aur thahaake bade jaandar lag rahe the. Iss
dauraan shayad pahli baar wo is tarah dil khol kar kahkahe laga rahi thi. Aur
Imran....................uske chehre par phir se wahi purani murkhta chha gayi
thi.

"Ye 200 saal waali baat main bhi nahin samajh paaya" Colonel Pratap ne
Imran ki taraf dekh kar kaha.

"200 saal to bahut kam hain.....jo tareeka Li yo Ka ne apnaa rakha tha uske
anusar uska naam hazaaron saal tak zinda rahta." Imran sar hila kar bola.

"Li yo Ka kewal ek naam hai jise nasl-dar-nasl vibhinna vyakti dhaaran karte
aaye hain. Tareeka bada ajeeb hai. Kisi Li yo Ka ne bhi apni aulad ko apna
uttaradhikari nahin banaya. Ye vaastav ne Li yo Ka ka vyaktigat chunaav
hota tha. Wo apne giroh ke hi kisi munasib vyakti ko apna uttaradhikaar
saunp kar duniya se chala jaata tha. Yeh chunaav wo usi samay karta tha
jab usay vishwas ho jaata tha ki wo bahut jald mar jaayega. Aur phir dusra
Li yo Ka bikul usi ke pad-chinhon par chalna shuru kar deta tha. Mera khayal
hai ki Bartosch ko maine agla Li yo Ka ka chunaav karne ka samay hi nahin
diya. Isliye hamen ab yahi sochna chaahiye ki diniya Li yo Ka ke ghinaune
astitwa se paak ho gayi hai."

"Lekin shayad ham uske giroh ke intakaam se bach na saken." Colonel Dixon
bharraayi huyi aawaz me bola.

"Hargiz nahin...." Imran ne muskura kar kaha...."Ab Li yo Ka ke giroh ka har

aadmi kam se kam crorepati avashya hi ho jaayenge......bas ye samjho ki
giroh toot gaya.....Li yo Ka ki upasthiti me unpar bhay samaaya hua rahta
tha......aur wo uske gulaamon se bhi gaye guzre hote the. Dar ka kaaran ye
hota tha ki Li yo Ka ka astitva andhere me hota tha......aur main achhi tarah
jaanta hun ki pichhle 25 saal se uska giroh bagaawat pe utaaru tha. Uski
taraf se aap log nischint rahen. Koi Li yo Ka ke nam par aap ki taraf ungali
bhi na utha sakega."

"Lekin tumhen vishwas kaise ho gaya tha ki Bartosch hi Li yo Ka hai?"

Colonel Pratap ne puchha.

"Mujhe uspar usi din sandeh ho gaya tha jab mujhe wo jadi-bootiyon ki
talash me le gaya tha.. Uske baad se main lagatar uski toh me laga
raha.......aur pichhli raat ko maine khud usay chaukhat me khanjar ghopte
dekha tha."

"Ohhhh...." Colonel ki aankhen phail gayin.

"Magar Imran sahab.....ye aap ne apni kaamyabi ki maala Inspector Chirag

ke gale me kyon daal diya..." Komal ne puchha.

"Ye ek lambi daastan hai....." Imran thandi saans lekar bola...."Main nahin
chaahta ke mera naam iss sambandh me prasiddh ho."

"Par kyonnn??"

"Haha.....meri mummy theth poorab ki mahila hain.....aur daddy 100%

angrez....wo to kabhi kabhi walk-out kar jaate hain.....lekin mummy......God
may increase her tribes......yaani ishwar unke baal bachchon ko aabad
rakhe.......kabhi kabhi jootiyan sambhal leti hain......aur phir meri samajh
me nahin aata ki vishuwat rekha se kitni doori par hun. Vishwas kijiye ki
kabhi kabhi aisi sthiti me mujhe 20 ka pahaada bhi yaad nahin aata."

"Ladke tum Li yo Ka se bhi adhik khatarnak ho." Colonel Pratap muskura kar
bola....."Lekin ye tumhari air-gun kon si balaa hai? Jisne Bartosch ki ek
kalaayi tod diya?"

"Ab kya niwedan karun....." Imran bade hi dukhi swar me kaha....."Main is

kambakht se khud bhi tang aa gaya hun......isme se kabhi kabhi point two
two bore ki goliyaan nikal padti hain........hai naa murkhtaa?"

************************************************

3 din baar news papers me Inpector Chirag ki taraf se ek report chhapi jisme
colonel Pratap tak kuchh rahassyamayi papers pahuchne ki kahani se lekar
vartamaan giraftaari tak ki ghatnaaon ki charcha thi. Ant me un papers ki
mahatta par charcha karte huye kaha gaya tha ki agar colonel Pratap
Chinese aur Japanese bhashaaon se anjaan na hota ya agar wo papers kisi
le jaaye gaye hote jo ye donon bhashaaon ka jaankar hota to Li yo Ka ka
vyaktitva bahut had tak prakash me aa gayi hoti..

Un Papers me Spanish spy ki report bhi shamil thi jo Chinese Investigation

department ke head quarter ke liye likhi gayi thi. Uss report me kaha gaya
tha ki vartmaan Li yo Ka.....Japanese nahin balki Czeck Republic ka niwasi
hai. Inpector Chirag ke statement ke anusar uss Chinese ka vyaktitva
suspected thi......jis ke dwara ye papers Colonel Pratap ko mile the. Uske
baare me vishwas se nahin kaha jaa sakta tha ki wo khud hi jasoos tha ya
wo Li yo Ka ka koi aadmi tha.....jisne ye papers kisi jasoos se praapt karke
Li yo Ka tak pahuchana chaahta tha.
Inspector Chirag ki report me kisi jagah bhi Imran ka koi zikar nahin tha.
Lekin report khud Imran hi ne taiyar ki thi.

Li yo Ka Bartosch ne hosh me aane ke baad na kewal iqbaale-jurm kiya balki

ye baat bhi saaf kar di ki ab uske baad iss kram ka koi dusra Li yo Ka nahin
hoga.

Uske sar ki chot jaan-lewa saabit huyi aur wo apne baare me kuchh aur
bataane se pahle hi mar gaya.

The End.