Sach hote Khwaab

Letters

It was a raw, misty morning. Dressed in a orange shirt, upon a white pullover and brown trousers, I walked down the stairs. Neero Bhaiya was alone in the kitchen.
'Good Moring Neero Bhaiya!', I greeted him.
'Good Morning Randheer baba!', he greeted with a smile.
'Uh Mummyji? Bauji?'
'Babuji daftar ke liye nikal gaye , aur Bibiji chatt par hai !', he said happily, going about his work.
'Par abhi toh aath hi baje hai ?' I said looking above at the wall-clock behind him. 'Bauji itni subah subah nikal gaye?'
'Ji vo Niketji ka phone aaya tha daftar se. Isiliye vo jaldi nikal gaye. Aapka naashta lagaa du?'
'Nahi nahi teheriye ! Pehle aap meri zaraa si madad kar dijiye!', I said with a twinkle in my eyes.

                                                        *

Mummyji was standing near the handrail, a light shawl draped around in her shoulders. I tiptoed to her side and greeted her, 'Good Morning Beautiful!'
'Good Morning Handsome!', she replied with a bright smile.
'Kya aap mere saath ek breakfast date chalna pasand karengi ?', I said forwarding my hand.
'Itne charming young man ko koi mana kaise kar sakta hai?!', she said with an endearing smile and took my hand. 'Par mausam itna suhaavna hai ! Kuch der yahin rukte hai, fir neeche chalenge.'
'Aap ek baar palat ke dekhiye to sahi!', I said softly
She looked at me with furrowed eyebrows and then turned. The table set on the terrace had already laid out for breakfast! A white tablecloth had been spread out on the dark-brown wooden patio table and it was neatly set with porcelain crockery and a small white vase with pretty yellow flowers.
Mummyji smiled radiantly.
I led her to the table, pulled the chair out for her and seated her down.
'Ye sab tune tune khud kiya?', she questioned.
'Umm... akele toh nahi. In cheezon ko upar laane mein Neero Bhaiya ne madad ki meri. Haan par baaki sab maine kiya', I said with a triumphant smile. 'For my ladylove!'
'I'm impressed!', she said with a pleased smile. I returned the smile.
'Aapko ehsaas nahi hua jab hum yahan table laga rahe the?'
'Ehsaas to hua hi lekin maine socha tujhe apne mann ki karlene dete hai !', she said with a smirk. 'Allow me', I said warmly and poured out tea in a cup for her. She was about to say something when I interrupted, 'Mujhe yaad hai Mummyji , aap shakkar nahi leti hain !' She smiled tenderly.
Handing her the cup, I sat down on the chair opposite to hers and poured myself another cup.
'Uh baked beans?', I asked
She nodded a yes.
'Bharat-Pakistan ke beech jo vyaapaar karaar hua tha pichle mahine, uspar kuch baat aage badhi ?', she asked as I prepared a slice of baked bean toast for her.

'Ji mummyji, dono sarkaron ne Bharat se koyle ke export ki keemat bhi tay kar di hai Calcutta mein. Pehla consignment 10,000 ton ka hai -agle hafte East Pakistan bhijwaya jayega. Kal hi khabar aayi thi. Aaj chhapa hai akhbaar mein', I replied, handing her the plate.
'Chalo achi baat hai ! Umeed hai baaki cheezon ke samjhaute jald hi ho jaaye. Dono desh tarrakki karein, aur aapas mein bhaichaare se rahe – isse achi baat kya hogi!', she said taking a bite. 'Hmm... This is nice! Bas thodi aur practice ki zaroorat hai tujhe, fir bilkul pehle wala swaad laut aayega!', she said with a smile.
'Thank you!', I said, hand over heart and rested my chin on my hand.
'Kya?', she asked furrowing her eyebrows.
'Kuch nahi ! Sirf apni gorgeous mummyji ko nihaar raha hoon!', I replied with sparkle in my eye. She brushed me off with a smile.
'Aap farz kijiye, main ... aur aap... Kashmir ki waadiyon mein!', I said dreamily.
'Aur Amrit ?!', she asked with raised eyebrows. I straightened at her name. 'Unhe bhi saath le chalenge!', I said looking down, with an embarrassed grin.
'Ek din toh mann nahi lagega Amrit ke bina aur mere saath ghoomne jaana hai tujhe!' I turned pink in embarrassment. 'Aur tere Bauji ?!'
'Umm... unhe nahi leke jayenge! Sirf hum teeno!', I said haughtily.
'Aur tere Bauji hum-mein se kisiko ghar se bahar nahi nikalne denge ! Fir ghoomte rehna - Kashmir!', I chuckled.
'Waise, kitni ajeeb baat hai na Mummyji. Desh-Videsh sab ghoom aaye hum aur Kashmir jaana hi reh gaya!'
'Hmm yeh to hai! Par ab jaana mumkin bhi nahi kuch waqt toh. Haalat theek nahi hai wahaan'
'Hmm', I replied thoughtfully 'Aap yeh bataiye, meri gair-maujoodgi mein Bauji aapko date par lekar gaye ya nahi ?!'
'Umm... Vo toh mujhe kai baar lekar gaye mera mann behlaane ke liye par mere bete jaisa charm kisi aur mein kahan!', she said with a proud smile. I grinned.