Uljhe Dor

18. Haldi: Kunal ki ya Bela ki?

A/N:

Maine kuchh curse words (only english) use kiya hai strong and intense emotions dikhane ke liya taaki ye zyaada realistic lage aur inka gussa ya frustration express ho sake. Main maanti hoon ki bina curse kiye bhi log jee sakte hain (main khud curse nahi karti hoon), par kabhi kabhi, hamse ho hi jaata hai. 

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  Haldi ki rasm shuru hoti hai. Ek- ek karke sab Kunal ko haldi lagate hain. Bagal mein Aarohi ko bhi haldi lag rahi hoti hai. Dadi, phir Kunal ke parents Sonia aur Raj, aur phir Maya pehle Kunal ko haldi lagate hain uske baad haath dho kar Aarohi ko haldi lagate hain. Baaki rishtedaar bhi dono bhai- behen ko haldi lagate hain.

  Anshuman aur Veer bhi Kunal aur Aarohi ko haldi lagate hain. Nahi, lagate nahi hain, unke pure chehre pe rang ki tarah mal dete hain. Jaldi hi chaaron ka aapas mein haldi se holi khelna shuru ho jaata hai. Isse pehle ki Kunal apne bhaiyon ke pichhe daud ke unhe haldi lagaye Dadi Kunal ko daat ke use aur Aarohi ko apne apne jagah baitha deti hain.

  "Haldi abhi puri nahi hui hai. Bela, Kavya, tum dono bhi haldi laga do." Bela Aarohi ko haldi lagati hai aur pichhe hat jaati hai. "Puttar, Kunal ko nahi lagaogi?" Kunal peedhe pe baithe upar Bela ko dekhta hai lekin Bela usse nazar nahi milati hai.

  "Nahi, Dadi, ham Kunal ko haldi nahi lagayenge."

  "Kyun?"

  "Hamare yahan sirf dulha- dulhan se bade hi haldi lagate hain. Haldi lagana ek tarah se aashirvaad dena hota hai. Ham Kunal se chhote hain to ham unhe haldi nahi lagayenge."

  "Achha, koi baat nahi hai. Agar tumhare yahan aisa hota hai to ham tumhare saath zabardasti nahi karenge," Dadi kehti hai. Jab haldi ki rasm puri ho jati hai tab sab haldi se holi khelne lagte hain. Bela andar chali jaati hai apne haath dhone. Wo dhyaan nahi deti hai ki Kunal uske pichhe hi aa raha hota hai.

  Jaise hi Bela guest bedroom ke bathroom mein haath dhokar bahar aati hai to dekhti hai ki Kunal wahan khada hai, kamre ka darwaza band kiye hue. Lambe kadmon mein uske paas pahunchta hai aur uske dono taraf se apne haathon ko diwar pe rakhta hai aur uske kareeb aata hai, uske bhagne ka har raasta band kiye. "Kya keh rahi thi tum? Apne se badon ko haldi nahi laga sakti." Kunal dheemi aawaz mein bolta hai.

  "Haan, to hamne galat kya kaha? Ham nahi laga sakte." Bela bhi dheemi aawaz mein kehti hai.

  "Galat hi kaha hai. Ham dono ek hi age ke hain."

  "Aapko kaise pata hamari umar kya hai?"

  "Jaise tumhe pata chala ki main tumse bada hoon."

  "Paheliyan mat bujhaiye, hamein bataiye aapko kaise pata."

  "Tumhari file padhi maine. Mere liye jo kaam karta hai main sabki file padhta hoon."

  "Ham umar ki baat nahi kar rahe the. Aap hamein apne aap se chhota, apne se neeche hi maante hain na."

  Kunnal Bela ko dekhta hai, usne jo kaha use unsuna karke. "Tum mujhe haldi nahi laga sakti ho, lekin main to tumhe haldi laga sakta hoon na."

  Bela ki saas gale mein atak jaati hai. "K-kya?" Lekin Kunal jab bhi uske kareeb jaata hai to uski saas kam ho jaati hai aur dil ki dhadkan badh jaati hai, usmein naya sirf yahi hai ki is baar Kunal Bela ke bohot hi kareeb hai. Bela ko lagta hai ki aisa is liye hota hai kyunki use Kunal darawna lagta hai. Lekin usi darawne Kunal se behes karti hai aur jhagadti hai. Bela ke dimaag ki to jaise dahi ho gayi hai. Use kuchh samajh nahi aa raha ki kya ho raha hai.

  "Tumhari bhi shaadi hone wali hai agle mahine. Tum ise apni advance haldi samajh lo."

  "Par aap haldi kahan se layenge?"