"Abbas bhai, aapne apni tailoring house ka naam Gaytri Fashions kyu rakh hai. Kya aapke saath isme koi aur bhi partner hai." Aparijita ne Abbas se bilkul alag brand name ke baare me puchha.
"Madam !! Maine yeh naam apni Gaytri maa ke naam par rakha hai. Aaiye main aapko unse milata hoon." kahte hue Abbas utha aur niche bane ek kamre ki aur badh chala.
Aparijita bhi uske picche chupchap chal pari.
Abbas abhi bahoot sanzida dikh raha tha.
Unki manzil ek chhota sa kamra tha. Waha self ke upar Urdo aur Hindi me kai kitabe rakhi thi. Waha ka arrangement dekh kar lagta tha ki us kamre ka istemaal Abbas namaz padhne ke liye karta hoga.
Issi kamre ke ek diwal par ek bujurg mahila ki muskurati hui tasweer lagi hui thi. Mahila ke chehre par batsalya ka bhav saaf dekha jaa sakta tha. Us tasweer ki mahila ko dekhne se hi uski mamtamai chhaah me baithne ka dil chahne laga tha.
"Madam, aaap jo tasweer dekh rahi hain wo meri Gaytri maa ka hai. Mere janam ke samay kisi bimari ki wajah se meri maa dudh pilane me ashamtra thi tab main Gaytri maa ke chhote bete ka saath unke doodh par pala tha."
Abbas ne tasweer ko pranaam karte hue kaha.
"Mere do-do ghar the. Gaytri maa ke pyar me mere liye aur apne sage beto Ram aur Shyam ke liye koi bhedbhaab nahi tha. Unke beto ne bhi mujhe wahi pyaar diya. Mere graduation ki padhai karte-karte aage-peeche mere ammi aur abbu dono ka intakaal ho gaya tha. Main aarthik mazboori ke karan padhai band karne waala tha par Ram bhaiya ne saari zimmedaari utha li."
Abbas ne self par rakhi ek adher umar ke vyakti ki tasweer dikhate hue kaha.
"Graduation ke samay hi Sonbhadra me ek ek NGO ne Fashion Technology me subsidiary course karane ke liye ek competition rakha. Ram bhaiya ke jor daalne par maine bhi usme bhaag liya. Mujhe competition me 1st prize mila aur saath me Sonbhadra ke naami Fashion Technology Institute me admission lene ka mauka bhi. NGO se madad milne ke baad bhi kafi kharch tha; fees ke aalaba bhi daily aane-jaane me lagne waale samay ko bachane ke liye Sonbahdra me rahna parta. Inhi baato ke karan maine admission lene se mana kar diya tha."
Abbas ne Aparijita ki aur ek pal ko chup hokar dekha. Wo dekhna chahta tha ki Aparijita uski baate dhyan se sun bhi rahi hai ya phir bor ho rahi hai. Aparijita ke chehre par Abbas ki kahani sunane ke liye utsukta dikh rahi thi, jo Aparijita ke vayvahar-kusulata thi jo saamne waale ko apna dil khol kar rakh dene ke liye mazboor kar deti thi.
Abbas ke bolne ke lahje aur uske chehre ke bhaav bata rahe the ki wo apne Gaytri maa aur Ram bhaiya ko kitna chahta hai. Aparijita jaisa shorta paake Abbas ko accha lag raha tha. Aaj bahoot saalo baad wo kisi se dil khol kar baaten kar raha tha.
"Jab Ram bhaiya ko yeh pata chala to wo mujhe kaan se pakar kar Gaytri maa ke paas le gaye. Main unke upar aur bhojh nahi banna chahta tha, par Gaytri maa ne mujhe pyaar se mana hi liya. Ant me decide hua ki Shyam aur main Sonbhadra me hi rah kar padhenge aur har 2 hafte me ghar aayenge. Ram bhaiya ne saara intzaam kar diya aur hum dono bhai Sonbhadra me rah ke padhne lage. Graduation khatam hote-hote fashion technology ke kshetra me Sonbhadra aur UP ke kuchh area me mera thora naam hone laga tha."
Abbas baat karte-karte kho sa gaya. Lag raha tha jaise uske aankho ke saamne wo waqt phir se ji utha hai.
"Mujhe aaj bhi wo din yaad hai jab mujhe Mumbai ke ek bare Bengali fashion designer Promod Das ke paas se job ka offer aaya. Ram bhaiya ne pure gaun me mithaiyaa baati thi. Main inlogo ko chhor kar jaane ko taiyar nahi tha, par Gaytri maa aur bhayio ne mujhe mana hi liya. Mumbahi me mera hunar aur nikhra. Main kaafi rupaiye kaamane laga. Upar waale ke mehar se mujhe eisa maalik mila jisne naa kewal mere hunar ko nikhara, balki family member ki tarah izzazt di. Promod babu saare employees ka kaafi khayal rakhte the aur kisi tarah ki musibat ya zaroorat par apne employees ke saath khare rahte the. Rupaiye aaye to thora main bahka bhi. Fashion industry ke khulepan me main sarab pine aur larkibaazi bhi karne laga. Phir bhi main bahoot niche girne se Gaytri maa aur Ram bhaiya ke payaar se di gayi sikh ki wajah se bach gaya."
Abbas aur Aparijita ab tak wapas drawing-room me aa chuke the.
"Usi dauran ek baar main ghar par bina bataye achanak ghar aa gaya. Jab bhi main bata kar aata tha tab Ram bhaiya aur Shyam mujhe Sonbhadra se leke jaate the. Sonbhadra se Premnagar waali aakhri bus me main baitha tha. Bus ke andar sirf ek hi bulb jal raha tha; jiski rosni mere taraf ke hisse ke liye naa hone jaisa hi tha. Tabhi maine 2 logo ko baaten karte suna. Ram bhaiya ne meri padhai ke liye bank se karz liya tha par iss baar fasal kharab ho jaane ke kaaran thora paresaan the. Main apni aaiyashio par rupaiye kharch karta raha jabki mere liye inlogo ne itna tyag kiya jabki main unka saga bhi nahi tha. Yeh sab sochte-sochte mujhe rona aa gaya. "
Abbas ke chehre bahoot ghambhir ho gaya tha. Uske chehre par ke bhaav bata rahe the ki iss baat ka gila use abhi tak hai.
"Dusre din maine Shyam ko kasam deke puccha to pata chala ki mere padhai ke aalaba bhi Gaytri maa ke ilaaz aur kuchh kheti ke liye karz liya gaya tha; jo ab kaafi bara ho chuka hai. Mujhe yeh baat pata chal gayi hai; yeh maine Shyam ko aur kisi ko naa batane ke liye mana liya. Mumbai laut kar main aur zor-sor se kaam me jut gaya. Main 16-16 ghante kaam kar raha tha. Usi dauran mere kuchh designs ko award bhi mila. Award milne ke baad mujhe dusre jagah se kaam karne ke liye offer milne laga. Par maine bhi aur jayadatar employees ki tarah offer thukra diya tha. Mai ek bujurg employee ki baato se sahmta tha ki rupaiyee dusre jagah bhale kuchh jyada mil jaaye par apnapan aur izzazt yaha jaisa kanhi nahi milega. Award milte hi Promod babu ne ek party di aur meri salary turant badha di thi jo naye offer se thora hi kam tha. Inn rakamo se maine 1.5 saal ke andar hi karz ka bara hissa chuka diya. Halaki maa aur Ram bhaiya mujhse rupaiye nahi lena chahte the par maine unhe kisi tarah mana hi liya. Phasal acchi hone se ram bhaiya ne baaki karz bhi utaar diya."
Abbas itna kah kar kuchh der tak der ke liye chup ho gaya. Mahaul kafi sanjida ho gaya tha.
"Abbas bhai, phir aapne yaha kaam kaise suru kiya?" Aparijita ne baat-chit ko aage badhane ke liye Abbas ko atit se bahar nikalte hue puchha.
"Main yaha har Eid , Holi aur Diwali me Mumbai se zarror aata tha. Eise hi ek mauke par Gaytri maa ne mujhe Abhaipur me kaam suru karne ka sujhab diya. Unhone mujhe samjhaya ki bhale hi mujhe yaha Mumbai jitni aamdani suru me nahi hogi parantu yaha main apne saath-saath gaun ka bhi bhala kar paayunga. Unhone mujhse iss par sochne ke liye kaha. Main jaanta tha ki sujhab bahoot hi accha hai lekin koi kharid-daar naa hone ki wajah se yeh mumkin nahi lag raha tha. Isliye maine unhe bataya ki agar koi kharid-daar mil gaya to main yaha kaam suru karunga. Ram bhaiya ne bhi kai jagah baat ki par baat nahi bani."
Abbas kucch pal ke liye chup hua. Usne apne gale me latkte hue chaandi ke chain ko baniyan se bahar khicha aur usme latak rahe ek locket ko chum liya.
"Holi ke 3 mahine baad hi ek din aachanak Ram bhaiya ka phone aaya. Unhone bataya ki gaun lautate waqt bus ka accident ho gaya tha aur usme Gaytri maa aur Shyam buri tarah se zakhmi hue hai; isliye main jitna jald laut sakta hoon, lauto. Main ghabaraya hua sa Promod babu ke paas gaya to unhone bahoot kaam hone ke baawjud naa sirf mujhe chhuti di balki plane me ticket bhi book kara diya. Phir plane se main Robertsganj aur phir waha se car se Sonbhadra aaya jaha saare ghayalo ka illaz chal raha tha. "
Baat karte-karte Abbas ke aakho se aanso ke kuchh bunde ludhak pari.
"Mere pahunchne ke aadhe ghante ke andar hi Shyam ne hamara saath chhor diya. Abhi hum aanso baha bhi nahi paaye the ki doctors ne hume bataya ki Gaytri maa ki bachne ki umeed nahi hai isliye hum uske paas rahe. Ram bhaiya aur main apne aanso chhupate hue maa ke paas pahunche. Gaytri maa ka chehra safed parta jaa raha tha. Unhone issare se hume apne paas bulaya aur apni tutati saanso me hume ek dusre ka saath dete rahne ko kaha aur mujhe gaun me kaam suru karne ke liye koi raasta dhudhne ko kah kar apni aankhe hamesa ke liye mund li. Main ek baar phir se aanath jaisa mahsoos kar raha tha."
Abbas ke aankho se ab lagatar aaso bahne laga tha. Aparijita ne bich me tokna thik nahi samjha. Usne saatwanapurwak uske peeth par haath rakha.
Thori der baad Abbas ka rona band hua. Usne uth kar kuchh ghuth paani piya. Usne laut kar apni kahani ko aage badhya.
"Anatim sanskar ke saari kriya ke baad bhi main Mumbai wapas nahi jaana chahta tha. Main saara-saara din chup-chaap baitha rahta tha. Ram bhaiya ne samjha-bhuja kar mujhe Mumbai bhej diya. Main Mumbai aake bhi yeh soch-soch kar udas rahne laga ki main apni Gaytri maa ki ek icchha bhi puri naa kar paya. Halaki mere daily ke kaam me koi kami nahi aai thi phir bhi Promod babu se yeh baat chhupi nahi thi. Ekdin unhone mujhe bula kar wajah pucchi to maine unhe bataya ki mujhe Gaytri maa ki khawhish naa pura kar paane ka dukh khaaye jaa raha hai. "
Abbas ek photo album utha laya aur ek adher umra ke vaykti ki or isshara karte hue batane laga.
"Yehi Promod babu hai. Promod babu ne kuchh der tak mujhse puchh-taach ki; kanhi Mmbai ki tej jindgi se gaun ki slow jindgi me jaakar ub kar main bhaag to nahi aayunga. Apna business suru karne par suruaat me bahut takleef uthani parti hai; use main kaise handle karunga waigra-waigra. Meri saari baaten sunane ke baad unhone meri peeth thapthapai aur mujhe 2 din baad aane wali rest ke din bhi kaam par aane ko kaha. Unhone kaha ki agar upar waale ki dua rahi to mere rest waale din koi raasta nikal aayega. 2 din baad jab main unse mila to unhone mera parichai Sonbhadra ke ek buyer se karwaya jo Promod babu ka client tha aur saath me apne dusre show-rooms ke liye low budget range ke readymade kapre dusre stores se leta tha."
Abbas ki kahani kisi pari katha jaisi lag rahi thi jisme ek saath kai acche logo ki kahani thi.
Abbas chand seconds ke liye chup hua aur gaur se Aparijita ke chehre ki or dekhne laga, jaha is waqt kahani aage sunane ki utkantha dikh rahi thi.
"Aage kya hua, Abbas bhai ?" Aparijita puchh baithi.
"Promod babu ke grantee par mujhe low budget waale readymade kaparo ka order mil gaya. Saath me Promod babu ne bhi kuchh order diye. Pahle to main ek saath itna saara orders dekh kar khush hua, par mujhe un orders ko pura karne ke liye machine aur baaki mahangi chhezo ko kahridane ke liye jarrorat parne waali rakam ka dhyan aate hi pasina chhut gaya. Maine Ram bhaiya ko orders ke liye batya to wo bahoot khush huye aur jaroorat ki rakam ke liye aashwasan diya. Bahoot haath-pair maarne ke baad bhi 2 lakh ki rakam ghat rahi thi. Promod babu ne mujhe 2 lakh bhi de diye aur mujhe unke saath milkar design karte rahne ko kaha. Promod babu aur Ram bhaiya ki madad se maine kaam suru kar diya. Suru me kaafi kaarigaro ko Sonbhadra se jayada vetan deke rakhna para aur yaha ki silai jaanane waali aurato se halka kaam liya. "
Yeh batate-batate Abbas ke chehre par phir se muskaan aa gayi. Yeh sabhawik bhi tha; har kisi ko apne kathin parishram se milne waali jeet par khushi mahsoos hoti hai.
"Promod babu ke orders ka jayadatar kaam main khud karta tha kyuki yaha ke kisi bhi kaarigar me wo nafasat nahi thi. Low budget waale kaam me bhi yaha ki aurato se kai baar kamia rah jaa rahi thi; jis par phir se rework karna parta tha. Iska natija yeh hua ki mujhe 18-18 ghante kaam karna para. Ram bhaiya ne gaun ki aurato ko motivate karne aur bahar ke kaarigaro par se dependency hatane ke liye ek suggestion diya jisko apnaane se kuchh hi mahine me mere upar se work load ghatna suru ho gaya. Iska fayda yeh hua ki mujhe naye designs par kaam karne ka time mila jis se mujhe aur Promod babu dono ka fayda hua aur saath me gaun waalo ka bhi fayda hua."
Abbas ke chehre par ab rahasymai muskaan thi. Aparijita samjah gayi ki Abbas apne shrota se apne Ram bhaiya ke suggestion batane ke liye anurodh chahta hai.
Aparijita ne uski iccha puri kar di.
"Are Abbas bhai, jara mujhe bhi to apne Ram bhaiya ke raaj waala nukhsa baato jis se ek saath 3-3 jagaho par fayda hua !" Aparijita ne muskurate hue puchha.
Ab to lag hi nahi raha tha ki baat-chit kisi police officer aur ek witness ke bich ho rahi hai. Baatchit ka maahaul dostana ho chuka tha aur Aparijita jaanti thi jab wo yaha se lautegi tab tak Abbas ke dil me uske liye khaas jagah hogi. Iske aalaba Aparijita har us bande ki madad karna chahti thi jo samaj ko apne kaam se madad kar sakte the. Abbas kisi galat kaam me nahi tha phir bhi Dhanraj ka saath use uske nek kaam se bhatka sakta tha.
"Madam, idea to simple tha, par wahi kaam kar gaya. Humne pumplet chapwa kar agal-bagal ke gaun me batwaye the. Pumplet me gaun ki un sabhi aurato ko ek competition me aamantrit kiya gaya tha jo thora bhi silayi-katayi ka kaam jaanti thi. Isme hunar dikhane waale ko 3 mahine tak kuchh hazar stipend dete hue kaam sikhana saamil tha, aur phir unki marzi hone par yehi unhe kaam me rakha jaata. Ram bhaiya ne humlogo ke ghar ke paas ke ek khaali pare bare ghar ko kiraye par le liya tha. Ram bhaiya agal-bagal ke gaun me apne sabhi jaankaro ki madad se iss baat ka achha prachar kar rahe the. Ram bhaiya ki bhalmanshat aur khud iski nigraani karne ki baat ne logo me bharosa jagaya aur competition waale din yaha ke aalaba dur ke gaun se bhi kuchh aurate aur larkiya aayi. Is competition ke baad mujhe 25 kaam ke layak auarte aur larkiya mil gaye. Maine 3 mahine ke liye kuchh aur kaarigaro ko bahar se adhik vetan de kar bulwaya aur unhe sirf training dene ka kaam diya. Main khud bhi waha kai baar mauzud raha karta tha taaki training dhang se ho. Maine training ke pahle hi sabke department baant diye the. 3 mahine ke baad har koi aage kaam karne ko taiyar tha. Maine sabka test liya aur unko naukari par rakh liya. Accha kaam karne waalo ko main thora bariki waala bhi kaam dene laga tha aur ek baar jab meri rakhi bahno ne course puri karke mere saath kaam karna suru kiya to mera bojh bahoot jyada ghat gaya. Maine Promod babu aur Ram bhaiya ke salah ke anusaar sabhi kaam karne waalo ka pura dhyan rakha aur jiske badle me unhone bhi mera bahut saath diya ."
"Abbas bhai, mujhe to tumhare employees ne bataya ki aajkal orders ka saara kaam tumhari bahne hi sambhalti hain. Tum to kai-kai dino tak kaam dekhne tak nahi jaate."
"Haan ! Yeh sach hai. Main aajkal jaydatar samay design karne aur naye orders ke liye bhaag-daur me lagata hoon."
"Main tumhaare Ram bhaiya se bhi milna chahti hoon. Kanha hain wo?"
"Madam, jab mera kaam kuchh had tak patri par aa gaya, tab se Ram bhaiya adhaytam se kuchh jayada hi jur gaye aur jayadatar waqt puja-paath me lagane lage the. Bich-bich me wo thirth-yatra par bhi jaane lage. Maine jab paya ki wo adhaytam charcha karke sukhi hai tab maine bhi unhe kheti-baari ke kaam se mukat karke wo kaam munimji ke jariye dusro se karwaane laga. Ram bhaiya din par din aur jayda puja-paath me rahne lage. Din par din unke chehre par ek tej sa aata jaa raha tha jo har kisi ko shardha se abhibhoot kar deta tha. Ek din unhone mujhe bula kar ek kagajo ka pulinda diya jisme unhone apna sabkuchh mere naam kar diya tha. Unhone bataya ki unko unke guru se sanyaas ke liye anumati mil chuki hai aur wo Rishikesh jaa rahe hai. Maine unhe rokne ki bahoot kosis ki par wo nahi maane aur ek hafte baad wo Rishikesh waali train me mamooli rakam ke saath baith gaye. Mere dekhte hi dekhte train chal pari."
Abbas ki aankho ke koro me phir se aanso jhalkane lage the. Wo ek pal ko ruka aur sunya ki or niharna laga.
"Jaise-jaise train khisak rahi thi, mere aankho ke saamne Ram bhaiya ka saara pyar-dulaar maano chalchitra ki tarah chal raha tha. Mujse bardaast nahi hua aur main duar kar tej ho chuki train ke pichhle dabbe me kisi tarah se ghus gaya. Rishikesh pahunchne par Ram bhaiya mujhe waha dekh kar kuchh naraz hue par maine unhe vishwaas dilaya ki main sirf tassali kar raha hoon ki wo sahi jagah jaa rahe hai. Main unke saath aashram pahuncha aur waha unke guruji se mila. Mujhe asharm me rahne ki anumati mil gayi. 2-3 din baad Ram bhaiya sanyaans grahan kar chuke the aur iss bich main bhi 2-3 din me ashram ko acchi tarah se dekh-samajh chuka tha. Main ab nischint tha ki mere Ram bhaiya ek sahi jagah par aaye hain. Baad me mujhe yeh bunglow waali jagah mil gayi to maine Ram bhaiya aur apne ghar ko turwa kar use godown aur fashion house me badal diya aur khud yaha rahne laga. Maine Gaytri maa ke puja ghar aur Ram bhaiya waale room ko waise hi rahne diya tha. "
Abhi tak ke baat-chit se jo pata chala tha uska kai hissa Aparijita ko Abbas ke employees se baat karke pahle hi pata chal chuka tha. Aparijita ko Abbas ka Gaytri aur Ram ke prati pyaar dekh kar accha laga.
