The Devil ek daayan :General Stories

Off Season ki vajah se us chhote si jagah par tourist ke naam par shayad ek ham hi the.

"Season ke time par yahan tourist vagerah kaise rehte hain?" Maine chaai rakhne aaye hotel ke caretaker se puchha.

"Us waqt toh ye poora bhara hota hai Sahib" Vo chaai ki tray table par rakhta hua bola "Aap log abhi off season mein aaye hain isliye koi khaali pada hai"

"Aap rehne dijiye, main bana loongi" Vo chaai cups mein daalne laga toh aage badhkar meri biwi ne use rok diya.

"Kahan se aaye hain aap log?"

"Delhi se" Mere se pehle Mukesh ne jawab diya

"Season ke time par aana chahiye the aapko Sahib. Dil lagta hai yahan par" Caretaker ne jawab diya "Mela sa lag jata hai"

"Garmiyon mein?" Meri biwi Sandhya ne chaai ka ek cup meri taraf badhate hue puchha.

"Nahi Sardiyon mein" Ham baaten kar hi rahe the toh vo buddha vahin ek chair par hamare saath hi beth gaya "Vaise toh garmiyon mein bhi log aate hain yahan par, garmi se bachne ke liye, par zyada bheed December aur January ke mahine mein hoti hai"

"Us waqt toh kaafi sardi hoti hogi yahan?" Maine puchha.

"Haan full sardi hoti hai. Jamke baraf padti hai. 0 se neeche hi rehta hai temperature" Caretaker ne jawab diya.

"Phir bhi log aate hain?" Sandhya boli.

"Skii karne aate honge?" Maine guess kiya.

"Ji haan" Caretaker bola "2 mahine jamke skii hoti hai. Sab hotels bhare rehte hain. Aane se pehle advance mein booking karani padti hai varna rukne ko jagah nahi milti."

"Aur garmiyon mein? Mukesh ne puchha

"Garmi mein bhi khaasi bheed rehti hai par aap log abhi barsaat ke mausam mein aaye hain toh khaali pada hai. Abhi yahan baarish hi itni hoti hai. Roz pani barasta hai toh aise mein kahin ghoom phir bhi nahi sakte"

"Sahi baat hai" Maine haami bhari

"Vaise aap log TV wale hain kya?" Caretaker ne sawal kiya. Main samajh gaya ke usne hamara bada sa camera dekh liya hoga isliye puchh raha tha.

Main aur Mukesh dono hi National Geographic ke liye kaam karte the. Main hindustan mein paaye jaane wale alag alag kism ke insects aur bugs par ek documentary bana raha tha aur Mukesh mera camera man tha.

"Toh aap log yahan keede makode dhoondhne aaye hain?" Buddhe ne puchha toh Sandhya has padi.

"Ji haan" Maine jawab diya "Idhar Barish zyada padne ki vajah se jungle kaafi hara bhara rehta hai jiski vajah se insects ki kai prajatiyan is ilaake mein paayi jaati hain. Aur abhi barsaat ke mausam mein sab keede makode zameen se bahar aa jaate hain toh isliye dhoondhne mein bhi aasani rehti hai" Maine use samjhate hue kaha.

"Chaliye achha hai" Vo khada hote hue bola "Mere layak koi sewa ho toh zaroor bataiyega"

Main ye documentary pichhle 1 saal se bana raha tha aur ab ye final stage mein thi. Mera kaam aisa tha ke zyadatar waqt main camera uthaye yahan vahan Ghoomta rehta tha. Ab aise mein agar Sandhya ko ghar chhod kar jaya
karta toh saal ke 10 mahine vo ghar par akeli guzarti isliye main usko jahan jata apne saath hi le jata. Is tarah se mera kaam ho jata tha aur uska ghoomna phirna.

Is ilaake ke pahadi jungles mein reptiles aur insects ki kai aisi prajatiyan milti thi duniya bhar mein kahin aur nahi milti thi aur ye sab sirf barsaat ke mausam mein zameen se bahar nikalte the. Main pichhle 6 mahine se intezaar kar raha tha ke baarish shuru ho aur main yahan aakar apni documentary poori kar sakun.

Jahan ham ruke hue the vo ek bahut chhota sa gaon tha. Gharon se zyada hotels bane hue the jiski vajah yahan ke skii slopes the. 20-30 gharon ke is gaon mein is waqt hamare siwa tourits ke naam par aur koi nahi tha jo mere kaam karne ke liye bahut munasib tha. Akele mein shanti se aaram kar sakte the varna agar zyada log bhare hon toh janwar chhupe rehte hain, bahar nahi aate.

Us waqt ham hotel ke saamne aag jalaye bethe chaai pi rahe he. Saara din halki halki baarish hoti rahi thi jiski vajah se mausam mein thandak , i. Caretaker ne hamen bataya tha ke season ke time par hotel mein poora staff hota hai par off season mein vo akela hi dekh bhaal karta hai."Ek baat bataiye Baba" Caretaker ja hi raha tha ke Sandhya bol padi "Vo udhar pahadi ke uper chhota sa mandir type jo bana hua hai, vo kya hai?"

Uske sawal karte hi Buddhe ke chehre ke bhaav badal gaye.

"Aap logon se meri vinti hai ke us taraf na jaayen" Usne rukte hue kaha.

"Kyun aisa kya hai" Maine puchha

"Dera hai vo, bhooton ka. Buri aatmayen basti hain vahan"

Main ummeed kar raha tha ke vo kisi Junglee janwar ke khatre ke baare mein kahega par uski baat sunkar meri hasi chhut padi.

"Kya?" Maine haste hue puchha

"Ji haan. Jaan ka khatra hai udhar jaane mein" Uska chehra dekhne se lag raha tha ke jo keh raha tha, us baare mein bahut serious tha.

"Kisse khatra hai? Bhoot se?" Mukesh bhi hasi mein mera saath deta hua bola.

"Hasiye Sahab" Buddha hamen dekh kar muskurata hua bola "Par aapke maanne na jhutlane se sach toh badal nahi jaayega"

"Aur sach ye hai ke vahan bhoot baste hain?" Is baar Sandhya ne puchha

"Aaj se nahi bahut pehle se. Gaon wale jaate tak nahi us taraf aur isi vajah se us pahadi par chadhne ke saare raaste bhi band hain" Vo phir se kursi lekar beth gaya.

"Sounds like an interesting story. Aur kyun nahi jaate log us taraf?" Maine puchha

"Bataya toh, Ek buri aatma ka dera hai vo"

"Abhi toh aapne kaha tha ke bhooton aur aatmaon aur ab aap keh rahe hain sirf Ek aatma basti hai vahan?" Mukesh ne baat pakdi.

"Chhodiye na sahab. Buddhe na kaha "Main kuchh bataoonga, aap log hasenge aur meri hasi udayenge"

"Arre bataiye na. Hasenge nahi wada hai" Sandhya ne kaha.

"Par aap manenge bhi toh nahi" Buddhe ne kaha

"Hamare maan lene ya inkaar karne se kya hota hai Baba. 4 din ke mehmaan hain ham yahan. Ek kahani samajh kar suna dijiye. Bethe bethe waqt hi guzar jaayega"

"Acchi baat hai" Jis tarah se buddha betha hamse baat kar raha tha usse zahir tha ke uske paas bhi karne ko kuchh aur nahi tha aur hamse baat karke uska bhi time pass ho raha tha "Bahut purani baat hai. Kai sau saal pehle"

"Kai sau saal pehle? Itna purana hai vo mandir?" Maine puchha

"Mandir nahi hai vo Sahab" Buddne ne batana shuru kiya "Ab toh khaur kuchh bhi nahi hai par pehle ghar tha"

"Kiska?"

"Koi jadugarni thi kehte hain ya xxxxxl keh lijiye. Vahan us pahadi par us ghar mein rehti thi, gaon se alag"

"Khud se alag rehti thi ya gaon walon ne alag kar diya tha?"

"Ab kaun jaane sahib. Purani baaten hain, haqeeat mein kaisa tha kaun jaane" Buddhe ne jawab diya "Par jo bhi tha, gaon wale idhar in pahadiyon mein rehte the aur vo udhar us parli pahadi par akeli rehti thi"

"Hmmm" Maine kaha "Phir?"

"Gaon ka koi usse baat nahi karta tha, sab darte the usse. Itna darte the ke us pahadi ke aas paas koi bhi koi nahi jata tha"

"Aisa kyun? Itna darr kisliye?" Sandha boli

"Ab ye toh nahi pata ke usne aisa kya kiya tha ke log darne lage par kehte hain ke koi din ki roshni mein bhi us taraf nahi jata tha. Log maante the ke vo koi kala jadu kar degi jisse unke maveshi mar jaayenge, ya unki fasal sookh jaayegi vagerah vagerah"

"Hmmmmm. Phir?" Maine puchha

"Aur phir ek baar aisa hua ke gaon se ladkiyan gayab honi shuri ho gayi. Jawan ladkiyan, zyadatar kam umar ki bachchiyan" Buddha kehta raha."Gayab bole toh?" Mukesh ne sawal kiya

"Gayab matlab subah ghar se nikli toh phir aayi hi nahi. Ya raat ko ghar mein sabke saath soyi par subah gayab mili. Aise ek ek karke kai ladkiyan gaon se gayab hui. Poore gaon mein halla mach gaya. Bahut talash hui par kisi bachchi ka koi naam nishan nahi mila"

"Interesting. Phir?"

"Phir jaisa ke hota hai, jaan par bane toh cheeti bhi palat kar kaatne ko aati hai. Aisa hi gaon walo ke saath hua. Jab bachchiyon ka koi pata nahi chala toh zahir tha ke sabka shak kis taraf jata"

"Us jadugarni ki taraf" sandhya ne kaha.

"Bilkul" Caretaker ne haami bhari "Poore gaon mein baaten phelne lagi ke in sabke pichhe uska hi haath hai. Ab vo toh gaon mein aati nahi thi isliye gaon ke sab log himmat karke ek din uske dere pe gaye, puchhne ke liye"

"Phir?

"Vahan pahunche toh nazar kuchh aur hi dekhne ko mila jisse sab hairan reh gaye.

"Kya dekha?" Maine puchha

"Poore gaon ko pata tha ke vo dikhne mein bahut badsurat thi aur kaafi buddhi bhi thi. Jis kisi ne use dekha tha, use dekh kar darr hi gaya tha. Par us din jab gaon wale vahan pahunche, toh jo saamne aayi vo ek haseen aurat thi"

"Thats interesting. Phir kya hua?"

"Gaon wale hairan reh gaye. Khair, jo puchne vahan gaye the vo puchha par usne kisi bhi ladki ki koi bhi jaankari hone se inkaar kar diya. Ab uske munh par use lalkarne ki kisi ki himmat toh thi nahi isliye uska jawab sunkar vaapis aa gaye par dil mein shak beth gaye the. Gaon se jawab bachchiyan gayab ho rahi thi aur dere wali
jadugarni buddhi badsurat se jawan khoobsurat ho rahi thi. Gaon walo ne 2 aur 2 mila kar 4 banaya aur yahan ke Raja ke yahan shikayat kar di"

"Phir Raja aaya?" Maine puchha

"Nahi vo toh nahi aaya par usne apne kuchh sipahi bheje. Vo log us jadugarni ke dere pe gaye par kuchh bhi nahi mila. Khaali haath vaapis aa gaye"

"Vo bach gayi?"

"Haan us waqt toh kuchh mila nahi isliye bach hi gayi par gaon walon ka shak sahi nikla aur ek din use range haath pakad liya"

"Vo kaise?" Ham teeno bade dhyaaan se bethe uski kahani ko kaan laga kar sun rahe the.

"Ab hua yoon ke us xxxxxl ka sidhe paon ka angutha nahi tha" Buddhe na kaha.

"Matlab?"

"Matlab uske daayen paon mein sirf 4 anguliyan thi, angutha nahi tha" Caretaker ne jawab diya.

"Kyun?" Sandhya ne bevakoofana sa sawal kiya.

"Ab kyun kise pata. Kat kata gayi hogi" Buddhe ne haath hilate hue kaha.

"Phir?"

"Yaad hai purane zamane mein ghar ki deewaron par ya toh geeli mitti phirate the ya gobar lep diya karte the?"

"Haan purane zamane mein kyun ab bhi dehaat mein bahut gaon hain jahan aisa karte hain" Mukesh beech mein bol pada.

"Haan toh hua yoon ke ek ghar se phir ek bachchi ek raat gayab ho gayi. Raat soyi apne bistar par par subah nahi mili. Gaon mein halla mach gaya. Poora gaon jiski bachchi khoyi thi uske yahan ikattha ho gaya. Kismet se usne sone se pehle raat ko apne ghar ki deewaron aur zameen par gobar ya mitti kisi ek cheez ka lep lagaya tha."

"Ok" Maine kaha "Usse kya hua?"

"Hua ye ke lep karne ne baad ghar ke log apne apne bistar mein ghus gaye taaki jab subah tak uthen toh lep sookh jaaye. Chala phir koi nahi. Par subah neeche geeli mittin mein kisi ke pairon ke nishan the" Buddhe ne samjhaya.

"Let me guess" Mukesh beech mein bola "Un pairon ke nishan mein daayen paon ke anguthe ka nishan nahi tha?""Bilkul" Buddhe ne kaha "Gaon wale samajh gaye ke raat mein aakar Dere wali xxxxxl bachchi ko le gayi"

"Interesting. Phir?"

"Phir kya tha. Jahan pehle log dare sehme rehte the, vahin jab apne ghar ki bachchiyon par baat aayi toh sab bhadak gaye. Laathiyan aur talwaren uthakar chadh gaye pahadi par"

"Mili vo?" Sandhya ne puchha

"Kaun bachchi?" Buddhe ne puchha

"Haan. Aur vo jaadugarni"

"Haan dono hi mile. Ek zinda aur ek murda. Vo Dere wali jaadugarni zinda mili aur bachchi murda"

"Jaadugarni ko gaon walo ne maar diya hoga" Maine kaha

"Haan gaon mein lakar jala diya zinda. Baad mein jab ek baar phir uske dere par jakar talashi li gayi toh baaki ki ladkiyan bhi uske ghar ke picche neeche zameen mein dafan mili. Aur jaante hain sabse hairat wali baat kya thi?"

"Kya?" Sandhya ne puchha

"Har bachchi ke shareer se koi na koi ang gayab tha. Kisi ki aankh, kisi ke daant toh kisi ka kuchh" Buddhe ne bataya.

"Hmmm. Toh budhiya bachchiyon ko markar khud jawan hoti ja rahi thi?" Maine puchha

"Haan kehte hain ke vo har ladki ke shareer se koi ang nikal kar apne shareer mein laga leti thi ya us ang ko aag mein jala kar kala jaadu karti thi jisse uske apne shareer ka vahi ang jawan ho jata tha. Jo kuchh bhi tha, gaon walon ne us raat usko zinda jala kar maar diya"

"Toh ab logon ka maanna hai ke uska bhoot basta hai vahan?"

"Ji haan. Kehte hain ke vo marne se pehle keh gayi thi ke vo hamesha hamesha yahin rahegi aur usko koi nahi maar sakta. Aur log maante hain ke aaj bhi vo pahadi par bana ghar uski aatma ka dera hai. Vo ab bhi rehti hai vahin" Buddhe ne bataya.

"Aur aap maante hain ye sab?" Sandhya ne sawal kiya.

"Bibi ji. Main apne saamne saamne kam se kam 10 logon ko marte dekh chuka hoon aur sabki laash us pahadi ke aas paas hi mili hai" Buddha bola

"Aur aapko lagta hai ke ye us aatma ka kaam hai?"

"Haan bilkul" Budhhe ne haami bhari "Jab vo xxxxxl zinda thi toh logon ke shareer ke ang nikalti thi. Jiske shareer ka jo hissa pasand aa jaaye vo apne mein laga leti thi. Kisi ke baal pasand aaye toh baal le liye, kisi ki aankh pasand aayi toh aankh le li vagerah vagerah. Aur vo ab bhi vaisa hi kar rahi hai. Us pahadi par agar koi
jata hai toh vo ab us insaan ki aatma ko nikal kar apne paas qaid rakhti hai"

"And let me guess" Mukesh ne kaha "Aap jo ye 10 maut apne saamne ki baa rahe hain, inke shareer ka bhi koi hissa gayab tha?"

"Ji haan. Ab vo toh mar chuki hai, isliye doosron ke shareer ke hisso se apne liye shareer bana kar usmein rehti hai manhoos"

Uske baad thodi der ke liye khamoshi chha gayi. Buddha kahani khatam karke shayad hamare agle sawal ka intezaar kar raha tha aur ham intezaar kar rahe the ke vo jaaye aur ham uski hasi uda saken.

"Isliye ab hamne vo pahadi band kar rakhi hai" Thodi der baad buddha bola "Vo khadi pahadi hai isliye kahin aur se toh uspar koi chadh hi nahi sakta. Uper tak jaane ke liye purani si tooti phooti sidhiyan bani hain jispar 12 mahine ham pehra laga kar rakhte hain ke koi chadhe nahi. Season ke time par tourist logon ko udhar jaane se rokte hain. Sidhiyon se thoda door ek aadmi hamesha rehta hai jo kisi ko bhi udhar jaane se rokta hai"

"Par aaj hamen toh koi dikhai nahi diya" Maine kaha.

"Filhal tourish koi hai nahi isliye aadmi nahi hoga aur gaon wale toh vaise hi nahi jaate us taraf" Buddhe ne kaha aur uthkar chal diya.

"Ek baat bataiye sahab, aap us pahadi ki taraf toh nahi gaye na aaj?" jaate jaate usne hamse puchha.

"Nahi" Maine saaf jhooth bol diya. Sach toh ye tha ke ham us pahad kya uske uper bane dere tak chadh kar aaye the.

"Aur meharbani karke jaaiyega bhi mat" Buddhe ne hamse vinti ki aur chala gaya. "What do you think of the story?" Raat ko sote hue Sandhya ne mujhse sawal kiya

"Whats there to think of it. Bakwaas baatein hain" Maine jawab diya

"Hmmm" Sandhya ne haami bhari.

"I mean come on yaar. Simple sa logic hai. Hamare shareer mein bhi toh ek aatma hai toh aisa kaise ho sakta hai ke ek bahar ki aatma hamen maar de ya hamare shareer mein ghus jaaye? Hamari aatma us waqt kya tel lene gayi hoti hai? Why cant our own aatma defend its body?" Main bola.

"Maine kahin suna tha ke aatma mein bhi strong weak wala funda hota hai" Sandhya boli " Ke strong wali aatma weak wali aatma ko dabati hai"

"Come on yaar. Aadmi ko kya marte hi darane aur maarne ya khoon pine ki bimari ho jaati hai ke aatma bante hi he goes on a killing rampage?"

"Point" Sandhya boli "Vaise maine ye bhi suna hai ke bure logon ki aatma hi hoti hain jo doosro ko nuksaan pahunchati hain" Vo apne baalon mein kangha karti hui boli.

"Whatever. So jao ab aur mujhe bhi sone do. I need to go out for a early morning shoot"

"Ok. Good night" Sandya ne jawab diya.

Thodi hi der baad ham kamre ki lights off karke so chuke the. Mukesh bagal ke hi kamre mein already ghode bechkar so chuka tha. Main bhi poore din ka thaka hua tha isliye aankhen band karte hi neend aa gayi.

Mujhe waqt ka sahi andaza nahi tha par kisi aawaz par meri aankh khuli par neend poori nahi tooti. Neend ka khumaar tha aur kamre mein ghup andhera tha. Maine pal bhar ke liye aankh kholi aur phir karwat lekar aankhen band kar li.

Neend ke aagosh mein jaane se theek pehle mujhe Sandhya ki taraf se aawaz aati sunai di. Vo hindi mein ginti gin rahi thi.

"55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62"

"Kya hua, neend nahi aa rahi? Maine puchha. Vo shayad so nahi pa rahi thi aur sone ki koshish mein ginti gin rahi thi, Par mere sawal ka usne koi jawab nahi diya aur main bhi jawab ka intezaar kiye bina phir so gaya.

Ek baar phir raat ko kisi aahat par meri aankh khuli. Kamre mein ab bhi ghup andhera tha. Main aankhen malta hua sidha hokar leta aur Sandhya ki taraf haath badhaya.

Vo bistar par apni jagah nahi thi. Bed par sirf main tha.

"Sandhya? Maine aawaz di aur jawab bhi ek baar mujhe phir ginti ginne ki aawaz sunai di.

"6786, 6787, 6788, 6789, 6790, 6791 ....."

"Kya kar rahi ho ab tak? Neend nahi aa rahi hai?" Kehta hue maine apni taraf table par rakha lamp on kiya aur meri aankhen phati ki phati reh gayi.

Night lamp ki roshni kaafi halki thi aur usmein jitna aur jo mujhe nazar aaya vo main bata nahi sakta. Kamre ke ek kone mein kuchh tha, kya tha main nahi janta.

Roshni uske sirf chehre par padi, agar use sirf chehra kaha ja sake toh.

Jis tarah se kisi phate purane kapde ko lekar ek chehre jaisa mask bana diya jaaye vaise hi chehra. Bedhangi naak, kahin se tight toh kahin se latke hue gaal, hadh se zyada lambi thodi (chin), aur in sabke beech ek ajeeb si line. Jaise in sab cheezon ko aapas mein rakh kar joda gaya ho kisi cheez se, ya sil diya gaya ho aur silai ka nishan saaf dikh raha ho.

Aur tabhi mera dhyaan uski aankhon ki taraf gaya. Us halki si roshni mein bhi uski aankhon mein farak bataya ja sakta tha. Ek aankh thodi chhoti thi par doosri badi thi, bahut badi aur hadh se zyada laal. Jaise do alag alag logon ki aankhon ko saath mein rakh diya gaya ho.

Meri nazar us nazar se mili. Maine unhen aur un aankhon ne mujhe dekha. Phir jaane kya hua par main apne hosh kho betha aur kuchh yaad nahi raha.

Jab subah mujhe hosh aaya toh hotel mein hadkamp macha hua tha. Chaaro taraf police hi police thi. Main uthkar betha aur chaaro taraf dekha. Mukesh mere bed ke paas hi sar pakde betha tha.

"Mukesh" Maine uthte hue kaha "Sandhya kahan hain?"

Thodi der tak sab mujhe sambhalne aur himmat rakhne ki baat kehte rahe. Har koi mera kandha thapthapa raha tha. Mere baar baar ek hi sawal dohrane par mujhe bataya gaya ke meri biwi ki kal raat bahut hi dard naak tarike se hatya kar di gayi thi.

"Maine aapko mana kiya tha na sahab, kaha tha ke Dere ki taraf mat jana" Caretaker paas hi khada ro raha tha. "Usne dekh liya aapki biwi ko aur le gayi jo use pasand aaya"

Mujhe ye bhi bataya gaya ke police ko meri biwi ke khoon mein kuchh pairon ke nishan mile hain aur daayen paon ka angutha gayab hai, sirf 4 anguliyon ke nishan hain.

Mere zor daalne par mujhe Sandhya ki laash dikhai gayi toh mera kaleja phat pada. Uske sar ko kaat kar shareer se alag kar diya gaya tha. Hairat wali baat thi ke uske sar par ek bhi baal nahi tha. Poore sar par zakhm ke nishan bane hue the, jaise kisi ne baal noch noch kar nikale hon.

Aur tabhi mujhe raat ki sunai di vo ginti yaad aayi.

"6786, 6787, 6788, 6789, 6790, 6791 ....."

Jaise koi bade dhyaan se dheere dheere ek ek karke ek ek baal noch raha ho aur gin raha ho.
End

Thank you everyone for reading.