Sach hote Khwaab

Gharwaale

It was a chilly, windy morning. I was sleeping, tightly snuggled into my blanket, when I felt somebody brush aside my bed curtains from one side. Before I could open my eyes to see what was happening, someone drew the curtains covering the left window wall, filling the otherwise dark room with brilliant light. I instantly buried my face in my pillow to avoid the sudden brightness. Who was this?
Next that person pulled away my blanket. I groped for my blanket in sleep when someone pulled my legs, pulling me slightly down from the bed. 'Randheer Uth! Subah ho gayii!', came Mukund's voice. Startled, I got up with a jerk and looked around. Mukund stood at the foot of the bed, holding my feet, with a big grin on his face.
'Kya hua???', alarmed, I asked.
'Kuch nahi. Subah ho gayi, utha raha tha tujhe!', he said with a shrug.
'Par kyun? Kitne baje hain?', I asked rubbing my eyes and searching for the alarm clock on the bedside table.
'Paanch baje hai. Chal Mamaji ko liwaane station jaana hai.'
'Mujhe neend aa rahi hai!', I said irritably.
'Oye maine station pe board leke nahi chilaana 'Randheer ke mamaji! Randheer ke mamaji!'. Main nahi mila hoon kabhi unse. Chal jaldi taiyaar ho!'
'Ye naainsaafi hai Mukund. Main waise hi kuch do-teen ghanta hi soya hoon!', I complained, sitting up on my bed.
'Pata hai pata hai, sab pata hai! Meri saali sahiba ke saath date pe jo gaya tha!', he said whimsically.
I blinked my eyes and looked at him.
'Aise kya dekh raha hai mujhe!?', he asked with a crooked smile. 'Tujhe waakayi laga ki 'mujhe' pata nahi chala hoga? 'Mujhe'?'
I looked at him blankly. I should have known.
'Mujhe sab pata tha. Aur jo na bhi pata hota to kal itni der se laute tum log, ab toh poore ghar ko pata hai! Vashma ne bata diya tha'
Understandable.
'Main aur Uday chat pe baithe intezaar kar rahe the.'
'Hmm', I said thoughtfully . 'Par aise kaun uthaata hai??', I exclaimed in a complaining tone.
'Main, Aur kaun ?!', he said perking up his collar. 'Aise hi toh school mein roz uthaata tha tujhe! Aaj itne saal baad aakhri baar mauka mila hai, kaise chhod doon?!'
'Bhabhi to pareshaan ho jaati hongi tujhse!', I said, in an annoyed tone.
'Oye vo toh biwi hain meri. Unhe toh itne pyaar se uthaata hoon – aye haye! Kya batau! Unse baraabari mat kar tu!'
'Main bhi Amrit ko bade pyaar se uthaaunga!', I murmured dreamily.
'Kuch kaha tune?', he asked, with raised eyebrows.
'Nahi nahi kuch nahi!', I said, brushing him off.
'Uth kyun nahi raha tu!!' He exclaimed, pulling me out of bed. 'Chal!!'
He handed me some clothes and pushed me in the bathroom. 'Panch minute mein bahar nahi aaya hai toh darwaaza khatkhata khatkhatake teri saari neend udaa deni hai maine!'

Dost ke naam pe toofan mila hain mujhe!

*

We entered the Delhi Junction railway, bustling with porters and passengers. Around us there were station pointsmen standing near the tracks and waving green flags, the station master ringing the bell, porters some dragging wooden carts, some carrying the luggage on their heads. We were walking down the platform with two porters towing behind us. I had only been here twice, so Mukund was leading the way. Soon we heard the announcement of the arrival of Amritsar-Katihar express. The train led by the red-black engine halted in front of us, puffing steam all around. We rushed, searching for the right carriage.

'O Rab Rab Rab Rab!', came a familiar voice from behind us.
Both of us turned around. Mogar bhuaji was standing at the train door with a suitcase near her feet.
I was taken aback. For once I was relieved that she was fine, safe and sound but then I was skeptical, hoping that this was not something to worry about.

'Oye khote! Khade khade mera muh kya dekh raha hai! Aa itthe! Samaan utaar mera!', she exclaimed in an annoyed tone.
I wondered for a while whether she was talking to me, but then Mukund walked past me.
'Satsriakaal bhuaji!', he said touching her feet. 'Oh ji kade do meethe bol bhi bol liya karo mere naal! Jawaai hoon main is ghar ka!', he said dramatically.
'Hatt pare! Meri chhoti parjaai nu uda ke lae gaya! Vadda aaya jawaai!', she said whimsically, getting down from the train.
She walked down to me. 'O Randheer puttar! Bada changa laga tainu inne saal baad vekhke! Saddi Amrit ne bada intezaar kitta tera. Uski saari prathna rang laayi hai jo tu sahi salaamat laut aaya!'
I bent and touched her feet. 'Humesha khush reh!', she said stroking my head. All this was so strange! She had been this nice to me before, but all in pretence. Nevertheless I smiled a bit.
'Aap kahan se aa rahi hai bhuaji?', I asked her.
'Ambarsar se aur kitthon! Aur vo Uday mainu lene waaste station vi nai aaya! Ae koinsi gal hui! Rab Rab Rab!', she complained.
'Oh aa gaya ji main aa gaya bhuaji!', exclaimed Uday, who came running towards us. 'Ohji maaf kardo mainu zara der ho gayi!', he exclaimed courteously.
She pulled Uday's ear and exclaimed, 'Apni sagi bua de naal aisa karega? Je main station vich kho jaati te?!'
'Hum the na bhuaji!', Mukund chimed in. 'Hum thode hi khone de dete tuhaanu!'
'Oye khoteya! Tera bas chale to mainu jaan-bujjh ke itthe hi chhad jaaye!'
'Ummm vo toh main kahu!', Mukund said with a smirk.
'Hai na ? Hai na? Dekh na main kinne ache se tainu jaandi haan!', she said crossly.
'Nai ji bhuaji! Aise koi iraade nahi hai mere ji! Mainu jaan se haath thodi dhone hai!', he said playfully.
All this was just so confusing. I'd have to ask Uday or someone about this. I just wanted to make sure of one thing – she did not mean trouble. I would not bear with anything this time.
'Bhuaji pehle mere kaan toh chhad do!', Uday pleaded. 'Bas do minute hi toh der se aaya main!'
'Chal ja maaf kiya tainu! Pehle ek gal dasso mainu! Je mainu lene Uday aaya to tum dono itthe kyun ho savere savere? Hein?'
'Ji vo mere Mamaji aur unke parivaar ko lene aaye hain. Vo Ludhiana se aa rahe hain.'
'Randheer mujhe lagta hai aage wale dabbe mein honge, Chal chal dekhte hain!', Mukund said, tapping my shoulder.
'Ji hum bhi nikalte hain fir', Uday said.
He picked up Mogar Bhua's suitcase and walked away with her.
Meanwhile we rushed a bit further, looking around.
'RANDHEER BHAIYA!!!!!', I heard twin voices from the train door. I had only half turned when two teenagers came running and hugged me tightly. Behind them came Padma Mamiji and Raghuveer Mamaji. Teary-eyed they too enfolded their arms around us, 'Humara baccha wapas aa gaya!', they said wearily.
'Arey main bhi hoon yahaan!', came Gautam's excited voice. 'Saamaan mere hawaale karke sab bhaage chale aaye bhaiya se milne!'
He too joined the embrace.
They were so so so happy to have me back. Distance makes us realize what we actually feel for dear ones.
After a few moments they withdrew. I hadn't actually seen any of their faces yet.
The first ones, right in front of me were Yash and Keerti. Both of them had grown so tall! - Yash almost as tall as Mamaji! Gautam was still taller. Gautam was dressed in formals – just like Mamaji, just him being Mamaji's replica all the time. Inspite of being almost adults, Keerti and Yash were dressed alike – pullovers and trousers but they both looked so smart and elegant! And Keerti! If I may say, my baby sister had grown up into a young woman now.
'Kaise hain aap Bhaiyaa??', both of them asked together.
'Pehle ye batao tum dono ho kaun, mere bhai-behen to itne chhote chhote the. Tum kaun ho?!', I asked playfully.
'Mazak mat kijiye bhaiya!', Keerti complained, 'Hum hi hain aapke Yash-Keerti!'
'Aap jaante hain, humne shart lagaayi thi ki aap hume lene station aoge ya nahi. Maine toh kaha ki aap toh dulhe ho, aap kyun aaoge.', Yash exclaimed.
'Par maine bola tha ki bhaiya zaroor aayenge!!', Keerti added eagerly.
'Umm... sach kahu toh mujhe yahan laane ke liye tumhe iska shukriya-ada karna hoga.', I said, pulling Mukund slightly by his arm. 'Mujhe toh waakayi nahi pata tha ki aap sab abhi pohonchne waale hain'.
'Wajah jo bhi ho, tu aaya toh sahi!', Mamiji replied lovingly.
'Haan bhaiya, waise bhi vyaah mein shayad aapka dhyaan kahin aur hi rahe!', Gautam whispered in my ear. I glared at him, with an embarrassed smile.