Vo ek normal sa din tha, par mujhe koi idea nahi tha ke us din se mere liye museebaton ka ek aisa silsila shuru hone wala tha jiska andaza main shayad khwaab mein bhi nahi laga sakta tha.
Agar mujhe zara bhi pata hota ke aane wale dino mein mere saath kya hone wala hai toh shayad main us din subah sokar uthta hi nahi ya uthte hi kahin bhaag jata. Chhutti par chala jata, kahin ghoomne nikal jata, bhale hi tirath yatra par chala jata par shehar se nikal jata. Par maine aisa kuchh nahi kiya. Vo ek aam sa din tha aur maine vahi kiya jo main ek aam se din mein karta tha.
Apna boss khud hone ka sabse bada fayda ye hota hai ke you are not answerable to anyone. Jo karna hai aapne karna hai. Koi puchhne wala nahi, koi batane wala nahi. Jab marzi mein aaye utho, jab dil kare so jao. Jab chaho kaam par jao aur jab mood na bane tab mat jao.
Kehne ka matlab ye ke mere 9 baje sokar uthne ki vajah sirf yahi thi ke main apna boss khud tha.
Aur us din toh had ho gayi thi. Maine aankh kholkar ek nigah ghadi par daali toh subah ke 10 baj rahe the.
“Uth ja mohan pyaare” Apne aap se kehta hua main bistar par uth betha.
Saamne deewar par lage poster par bada bada likha tha,
“You wont get rich sitting here all day”
Vo poster maine ye soch kar lagaya tha ke shayad vo mujhe motivate karega. Jab main aalas mein betha time paas karunga toh mujhe yaad dilayega ke mujhe kaam karna chahiye kyunki mujhe zindagi mein ameer hona hai. Ek bada sa ghar kharidna hai, ek lambi si gaadi leni hai. Bank balance itna badha dena hai ke Bank bhi balance na kar paaye.
Par nahi, aisa kuchh bhi nahi ho raha tha. Na toh main ameer ho raha tha aur na hi vo poster mujhe motivate kar pa raha tha
“Yeah i know. I am not getting rich anyways so doesnt matter” Khud se kehta hua main bed se utha aur bathroom ki taraf badha.
Cell phone mein 10 missed calls thi par maine uth kar dekhne ki zaroorat nahi samjhi. Janta tha ke missed calls kiski thi.
Routine ke mutaabik stove par chaai rakhi aur music system on kar diya. Kamra Rafi sahab ki meethi aawaz se goonj utha.
Khoya khoya chand, khula aasman ……
Unki sur mein apni besuri aawaz milata main sofe par beth gaya aur ek cigrette jalayi.
Mera maanna tha ke Hindustan mein 3 hi singers aise hue jinki na koi barabari kar paya aur na hi koi unse aage nikal paya. Ek Rafi Sahab, Ek lata Mangeshkar aur teesre Kishore Da. Mere poore music collection mein 70% songs sirf in 3 singers ke hi the.
Sofe par betha chaai banne ka intezaar karte hue main cigarette ke kash laga hi raha tha ke darwaze ki ghanti baji.
Kaash mujhe pata hota ke darwaza kholne par mere saath kya hone wala hai toh main darwaza kholta hi nahi. Saara din balki aane wale 7 din aur kamre mein hi band betha rehta par darwaza bilkul nahi kholta. Par nahi, maine darwaza khola. Poora khola.
“Aditya? Aditya Sharma?”
Vo koi 25 se 30 saal ke beech ki, aam si dikhne wali ladki thi. Halka sawla rang, medium kad kaathi, lambe baal.
“Ji haan” Maine jawab diya. “Kahiye?”
“Ji mera naam Saloni hai, kya main aapse thodi der baat kar sakti hoon?”
Mujhe mana kar dena chahiye tha, apne kaano par haath rakh lene chahiye the, munh pher kar darwaza band kar dena chahiye tha par nahi, maine aisa kuchh nahi kiya.
“Ji zaroor. Kahiye” Maine jawab diya.
“Kya main andar aa sakti hoon?”
“Sure, Please” Darwaze se hatkar side hote hue maine jagah banayi aur vo andar aa gayi.
“Bethiye” Maine couch ki taraf ishara karte hue kaha “Chaai lengi aap?”
“Ji nahi thanks” Usne muskurate hue kaha.
“Its no problem” Main kitchen ki taraf badhte hue bola “Maine stove par rakhi hui hai, ban hi gayi hogi”
2 cups mein chaai dalkar main vaapis living room mein aaya. Ek cup use diya aur doosra cup lekar khud uske saamne beth gaya.
“Kahiye”
“Ji aapke baare mein Internet par padha. Aapke office gayi thi, kaafi intezaar kiya par vo band tha. Internet se hi aapke ghar ka bhi address mil gaya tha toh yahan chali aayi”
“Office band tha?” Maine dil hi dil mein socha. Nisha toh subah 9 baje tak office pahunch jaati hai.
“I hope its not a problem” Uski aawaz se mera dhyaan toota “Ke main yahan aapke ghar aise chali aayi”
“Nahi koi baat nahi” Nisha aur office ki taraf se dhyaan hatate hue main bola “Kahiye main aapke liye kya kar sakta hoon?”
“Ji vo maine internet par hi padha tha ke aap missing logon ko dhoondhne mein madad karte hain?”
“Ji haan meri ek chhoti si agency hai aur ham missing person mein deal karte hain” Maine kaha.
“Good, then maybe you can help me too. Meri behen lapata hai aur main use dhoondhne ki koshish kar rahi hoon. Ky aaap meri madad kar sakte hain?”
Maine ek nazar use sar se paon tak dekha. Ek behad aam si dikhne wali ladki.
Usko dekh kar hi ye lagta tha ke vo ek middle class family se hai. Ek behad sada sa salwar kameez, gale mein dupatta, lambe baal, medium kad kaathi, halka bhara hua shareer, sawla sa rang.
“So?” Apni taraf dekhte yun pakar usne mujhe toka.
“So what?” Maine jawab diya.
“”Kya aap karenge meri madad?”
Uski baat sun kar main muskura utha.
“Dekhiye Saloni ji its not that easy. Ye depend karta hai”
“Kis baat par?”
“Bahut saari baaton par” Maine chaai ka cup ek taraf rakhte hue cigarette sulgayi aur packet uski taraf badhaya “Do you smoke?”
“No thanks” Usne inkaar mein sar hilaya. Vaise toh usko dekh kar hi main samajh gaya tha ke cigarette nahin peeti hogi par phir bhi formality sake puchh liya.
“Main aise hi khade paon koi case haath mein nahi le sakta. Bahut saari baatein hoti hain. Mujhe details sunni hogi aur uske baad hi faisla kar sakta hoon ke main case loonga ya nahi”
“Fair enough. Vaise aapne abhi thodi der pehle kaha tha ke HAM missing persons mein deal karte hain. Kya aapke alawa koi aur bhi hai?”
“Nahi nahi” Maine haste hue kaha “Main akela hi hoon. Ek secretary hai jo office sambhalti hai isliye kabhi kabhi munh se ham nikal jata hai”
“Ok” Vo bhi jawab mein muskurayi.
“So. Lets start from the very begining. Why dont you tell me somethng about yourself and your sister?”
“Ok” Usne apne gale mein pada dupatta thoda theek gaya aur aadat se majboor meri tharki nazar ek pal ke liye uske dupatte ke neeche uski chhatiyon par pad gayi.
“36 kam se kam” Aur mere tharki dimag ne uske size ka andaza bhi laga liya.
“Ham log asal mein U.P se hain. Saharanpur, chhota sa shehar hai, shayad aapne suna ho”
“Ji haan suna hai” Maine apna dhyaan uski chhatiyon se hataya aur uski baat gaur se sunne laga.
“Ji ham log vahin se hain. Ghar mein sirf 4 log hain, mere mummy papa aur ham do sisters. Koi saal bhar pehle meri chhoti behen ham sab ki marzi ke khilaff Mumbai aa gayi thi”
“Let me guess” Main beech mein bola “Movies mein kaam karne ke liye?”
“Nahi” Meri baat sunkar vo halke se has padi “Mujhe dekh kar aap andaza toh laga hi sakte hain ke meri behen bhi koi aisi khoobsurat nahi hogi”
“But i am sure size toh uska bhi kam se kam 36 hi hoga” Mere tharki dimag ka ghoda phir dauda. Maine fauran lagam lagayi aur kaabu mein kiya.
“Toh phir?”
“Ji vo yahan job ki talash mein aayi thi. Bahut ambitious thi aur Saharanpur jaise chhote shehar mein options ke naam par kuchh bhi nahi hai”
“Ok. And did she find a job here?”
“Yes she did or at least she told us that she did” Uski is baat par mera dimag thanka.
“You didnt know for sure? Kab mili thi aap aakhri baar usse?” Maine sawal kiya.
“Jis din vo Mumbai aane ke liye Delhi se train mein bethi thi” Usne sar jhukate hue kaha.
“Aapne ek saal se apni behen ko nahi dekha tha?”
“Nahi. Vo yahan aayi aur job ki talash mein lag gayi. Aanke ke koi ek mahine baad usne bataya ke usko job mil gayi hai. Kisi office mein assistant ki job. Kaafi khush thi vo us din”
“Ok” Maine cigarette khatam ki aur ash tray mein bhujhate hue kaha “Carry on”
“Uske baad agle 6 mahine tak vo rozana shaam ko phone karti thi aur ham logon se baat karti thi. Apne poore din ke baare mein bataya karti thi. Apni job ke baare mein bataya karti thi. Phir dheere dheere uska phone aana kam ho gaya. Pehle 2 din mein ek baar, phir 4 din mein ek baar aur phir hafte do hafte mein ek baar. Hamne puchha toh kehti thi ke job change ki hai, kaam mein bahut busy hai isliye”
“Aakhri baar kab baat ki thi aapne usse?”
“Ji koi 1 mahina pehle. Usne ek din raat ko phone kiya. Mummy Daddy so chuke the toh sirf mujhse baat hui. Kaafi pareshan lag rahi thi. Koi 10-15 minute baat ki aur phir baad mein phone karne ka keh kar phone rakh diya. Bas, uske baad phone nahi kiya”
“Ek mahine se aapko apni behen ka phone nahi aaya aur aap log pareshan nahi hue?” Maine sawal kiya
“Hue toh the par uska phone tab aise hi aata tha. Hafte do hafte mein kabhi kabhi aur vo bhi sirf 100-15 minute ke liye. Is baar jab 5 hafte guzar gaye aur phone nahi aaya toh main pareshan hui. Kaafi din se uska mobile bhi switched off ja raha tha. Mujhe laga ke shayad number badal diya hoga”
“Hmmmmm” Maine sochte hue kaha “Naam kya hai aapki behen ka?”
“Saawli” Usne jawab diya
“Ek behen Saawli aur doosri saloni. Saawli Saloni” Maine naam milate hue kaha
“Ji haan” Usne bhi muskura kar jawab diya.
“Aur dono ka size 36” Mera tharki dimag phir zor se chillaya.
“Aap police ke paas yun nahi gayi? Ya gayi thi?” Maine sawalon ka silsila jaari rakha.
“Gayi thi. Kal FIR darj karayi maine”Usne jawab diya.
“Phir bhi aap yahan mere saamne bethi hain. Is baat ka matlab main ye nikalun ke aapko police par bharosa nahi ya aap apni behen se behad mohabbat karti hain aur uski talash mein you dont wanna leave any stone unturned?”
“Dono” Usna mere lambe se sawal ka chhota sa jawab diya.
“Hmmm” Maine sochte hue phir cigarette jalayi “Ye toh hue basics. I will need some more details”
“Jaise ke?” Usne phir dupatta theek kiya, meri nazar phir lalchayi par is baar kismet ne saath nahi diya.
“Jaise ke vo kahan kaam karti thi, kahan rehti thi, uske dost kaun kaun the vagerah vagerah”
“Uske doston ke baare mein toh main nahi jaanti, kabhi usne bataya hi nahi. Kahan kaam karti thi main ye bhi nahi jaanti kyunki usne sirf itna bataya tha ke kisi private office mein assistant ki job karti hai. Par haan, main ye jaanti hoon ke vo kahan rehti hai aur shayad usse hi aapko aapke pehle do sawalon ke jawab bhi mil jaayen” Vo boli.
“Matlab?” Main uski baat ka matlab samajh toh gaya tha par phir bhi uske munh se sunne ke liye sawal puchh dala.
“I mean vo ek ladies hostel mein rehti thi, you know what i mean?. Working women hostel. Paying guest type, outstation auraton ke liye”
“Haan main samajh gaya” Maine jawab diya “Vahan saath rehne wali ladkiyon ko shayad pata ho ke vo kahan kaam karti thi”
“Yep aur uske doston ke baare mein bhi vo ladkiyan bata sakti hain. Balki vo ladkiyan sab uski dost hi hongi”
“Yep. True. We can ask them” Maine kaha.
“Toh kya main ise aapki haan samjhun?” Usne vo sawal puchha jiska jawab mujhe na mein dena tha par aisa hua nahi.
Case dekhne mein bahut simple lag raha tha. Ek outstation ladki jo Mumbai mein rehti thi, kaam karti thi pichhle ek mahine se gayab hai. Ye koi nayi baat nahi thi. Aisa toh Mumbai aur Mumbai hi kya Hindustan ke har shehar mein roz-marra ki si baat hai. Log aksar kho jaate hain. Kabhi kabhi vo milte hain aur kabhi kabhi unki laash aur kabhi kabhi dono mein se kuchh bhi nahi.
Aise cases mein pehle bhi handle kar chuka tha. Log khote hain toh 2 hi suraten nikalti hain. Ya toh vo apni marzi se gayab hain ya apni marzi ke khilaff. Agar marzi se gayab hote hain toh aksar mil jaate hain aur phir mera kaam khatam ho jata hai. Vo kyun gayab hue, kya vajah thi ye unki aur unke gharwalo ki sardardi hoti hai, isse mera kuchh lena dena nahi.
Haan agar apni marzi ke khilaff gayab hon toh ismein bhi 2 suraten nikalti hain. Ya toh vo agva yaani ke kidnap hue ya phir unke saath kuchh anhoni hui. Agar kidnap huen toh aksar ransom call aa jaati hai aur mamla sulat jata hai. Ya toh insaan ghar aa jata hai ya uski laash ka pata mil jata hai. Agar anhoni hui ho toh bhi der sawer pata lag hi jata hai.
Case ek ladki ka tha aur mujhe shuru mein hi andaza ho gaya tha ke kya hua hoga. Agar paise ke liye kidnap hui hoti toh ab tak ransom call aa jaani chahiye thi par aisa hua nahi. Aur uski behen ko dekh kar ye andaza ho hi raha tha ke vo koi bahut ameer gharane ki ladki nahi thi toh ye option toh maine shuru mein hi rule out kar diya tha.
Yaani option number 2 jo ki hamare desh mein ladkiyon ke gayab hone ki sabse badi vajah hoti hai. Aise ayyash kism ke log jo apni tharak mitane ke liye rape ki hadh tak chale jaayen, aise logon ki hamare desh mein koi kami nahi. Ladki ko uthana, uske saath zabardasti karna aur phir kahin use ya uski body ko dump kar dena inke liye koi badi baat nahi hoti aur yahi possibility mujhe is case mein bhi lag rahi thi.
Kisi ne use kidnap kiya, uska rape kiya, aur kyunki ek mahine se uska koi pata nahi toh ye mana ja sakta tha ke rape ke baad uski jaan li aur ab uski laash kahin kisi naale mein padi sad rahi hogi. Aakhri andaza maine is baat se lagaya ke uske ghar par ab tak uski maut ki khabar nahi gayi thi toh isliye agar uski jaan li gayi hai aur kisi ko uska pata nahi toh matlab ke laash bhi ab tak mili nahi.
Kul milakar case aasan lag raha tha. Mujhe laga ke main pehle bhi aise cases mein deal kar chuka hoon toh koi badi baat nahi hai.
“Theek hai i will take the case. Aap aaj shaam ko mere office aa jaiyega, kuchh papers vagerah sign karne ke liye aur meri fees vagerah discuss karne ke liye.Baaki ki details bhi main aapse tab hi le loonga”
“Great” Vo ekdam se khush ho uthi aur tab pehli baar mera dhyaan uski badi badi chhatiyon se hatkar uski aankhon ki taraf gaya. Kuchh ajeeb si baat thi uski aankhon mein, ek ajeeb si kashish”
“Aur haan, shaam ko aate hue apni behen ki ek tasveer please le aaiyega”
“Vo toh abhi hai hamare paas” Usne apne bag mein haath dala aur ek photo nikal kar meri taraf badhayi. Maine tasveer apne haath mein li aur ek nazar daali.
“Ye toh aapki photo hai” Maine uski taraf dekhte hue kaha. Photo mein jo ladki thi aur mere saamne jo ladki bethi thi vo hubahu ek hi thi, sivaay kapdon ke.
“Nahi vo meri behen hi hai. Ham judva hain. Shakal soorat ekdam 100% milti hai” Usne meri baat ka jawab diya.
Saloni ke jaane ke baad maine kayi baar Nisha ko phone karne ki koshi ki, ye jaanne ke liye ke office band kyun tha par uska phone mujhe sara din not reachable hi mila. Shaam ko main khud office pahuncha toh Saloni bahar khadi mili. Aur ummeed ke khilaff, mujhe mera office ab bhi band mila.
“I am sorry main zara traffic mein phans gaya tha isliye thoda late ho gaya” Main use dekhte hue muskuraya aur jeb se office ki chaabhi nikali.
“Nahi its ok” Vo bhi jawab mein muskurayi “Par i thought aapne kaha tha ki aapki ek assistant bhi hai jo office sambhalti hai?”
Office ka darwaza khol kar ham log andar aaye.
“Ji haan hai toh par pata nahi aaj kahan reh gayi. Usually aisa hota nahi hai ke office band ho. Ya toh vo hoti hai aur agar vo chhutti par ho toh main office mein hota hoon. Par aaj ham dono hi gayab the”
Kehkar main halke se hasa aur office ki sab lights on karke ek chair par Saloni ko bethne ka ishara kiya.
“You know i cant thank you enough for taking up my case. Police par mujhe vaise hi mujhe bilkul bharosa nahi” Vo table ke doosri taraf mere saamne bethkar boli.
“Its no problem, mera toh kaam hi yahi hai” Kehte hue maine A.C on kiya “But before we do that, i think its better than we run through a few things first and then you can make up your mind”
“Yeah sure” Usne apne purse table par ek side kiya aur khisak kar apne dono haath table par rakhti hui thodi aage ko ho gayi. Vo ab bhi unhi kapdo mein jin mein vo subah mere ghar aayi thi.
“Good, first things first. kuchh baatein shuru mein hi clear ho jaayen toh better rehta hai”
“I agree” Vo muskurate hue boli.
“Dekhiye main koi policewala nahi hoon aur na hi James Bond ya Sherlock Holmes. Main sirf ek aisa banda hoon jisne bachpan mein bahut saari jaasoosi kahaniyan padh li aur uske nateeja ye nikla ke maine isi ko apna profession chun liya.”
“I guess you are lucky in a way ke aapke apne shauk ko hi apna kaam bana liya”
“Yeah i guess you can say that but again, main jasoos hoon nahi. Sirf khoye hue logon ko dhoondhne ki koshish karta hoon. Aur koshish shabd par maine isliye zor diya kyunki 100% success ki guarantee main nahi de sakta. Main koshish karunga par aapki behen ko dhoondh hi loonga, is baat ki guarantee main nahi de sakta. I hope we are clear on that aspect”
“Crystal” Usne jawab diya.
“Doosri baat. Agar main aapki behen ko dhoondh bhi loon, toh vo aapke liye ek khush khabri hi hogi, is baat ki guarantee bhi main nahi de sakta” Maine apne drawer mein rakhe cigarette packet ko nikalte hue kaha.
“Main samjhi nahi”
“Dekhiye aapki behen ek mahine se lapata hai. Kahan hai, kaisi hai, uspar kya guzri, what she went through, ye koi nahi janta. Ye bhi ho sakta hai ke …..” Main keh hi raha tha ke usne meri baat kaat di.
“Ke vo mar chuki ho, zinda hi na ho aur aapko uski jagah uski maut ki khabar ya uski laash mile”
“Right” Maine kaha.
“Understood” Usne pehle ki tarah hi jawab diya par ab vo muskura nahi rahi thi.
“Ok. That brings us to the third point. My fee. Main ek standard per week base par charge karta hoon aur meri fees ke alawa is case mein jitna kharcha aur hoga, vo sab aapko pay karna hoga”
“Jaise ke?”
“Jaise ke kai cases mujhe ek shehar se doosre shehar le jaate hain toh un cases mein flight tickets, hotel bills etc etc. Kai baar logon ko pay off karna padta hai, rishwat you know. Ye sab kharche.”
“All right” Main ummeed kar raha tha ke vo shayad is baat par thoda rukegi, sochegi par usne kuchh nahi kaha aur meri haan mein haan mila di.
“Good, then that birngs us to the final point and thats my fee and paper work” Kehte hue maine ek drawer se ek file nikali.
Agle 15 minute ham kaagzi karyavahi mein lage rahe. Maine usse kuchh forms sign karvaye aur uski behen ki ek passpot size tasveer lekar apne purse mein rakh li. Meri fees sun kar vo ek pal ke liye thodi jhijhki thi par phir usne apne purse se ek cheque book nikal kar meri kahi gayi amount usmein bhar di.
Uske jaane ke baad maine ek cigarette nikali aur case ke baare mein betha sochne laga. Amooman taur par main ek waqt par 2 se zyada cases handle nahi karta magar is waqt mere paas vaise hi koi client nahi tha balki pichhle ek mahine se nahi tha toh main apna poora waqt is ek case ko de sakta tha.
Nisha ka number maine ek baar phir milaya par cell not reachable hi mila. Maine office se bahar nikal kar gate lock kiya aur apni purani Maruti 800 mein beth kar paas hi apne pasand ke ek pub ki aur chal pada…….