THE FIRST LOOK

 

Episode 1 — Ghar Wapsi

Sanjay Mehta ki zindagi Mumbai mein ek continuous race ki tarah thi.

42 saal ka, government employee, har subah 8 baje office nikalta, shaam ko 7–8 baje thaka-hara wapas aata. File, meeting, transfer ke chakkar… uski duniya kaafi busy thi. Ghar mein aane ke baad bhi dimaag kaam mein hi uljha rehta. Bacchon ke liye time nikalna mushkil ho gaya tha, aur Kavita ke liye toh bilkul hi kam.

Kavita (38) is busy with routine ke beech apna alag sa sansar sambhalti thi. Mumbai ki hi thi woh — yahan paida hui, yahan badi hui. Sanjay se shaadi ke baad pehle unke hometown mein rahi thi, lekin transfer ke baad wapas Mumbai aa gayi thi. Ghar, kitchen, bacche, ghar ka har chhota-bada kaam… sab uske kandhon pe tha. Bahar se confident aur composed dikhti thi, lekin andar ek gehra akelapan tha. Sanjay ke saath baat karne ka time kam milta, Kunal apni duniya mein rehta, aur Manav… hamesha chupchaap.

Phir bhi Kavita loyal thi. Na kabhi shikayat, na kabhi complain. Sirf sambhalti rahi. Kyunki uske liye family sabse upar thi.

Aur is akelapan ke beech bhi usne apna ek chhota sa sukoon dhoondh liya tha. Har Saturday aur Sunday woh ek old age home jaati thi. Wahan budhe logon ki seva karti — unse baat karti, unka khana baantti, kabhi unke baal sambhalti, kabhi sirf unke paas baith kar sunti. Woh log use “beti” bulate the. Unki muskurahat mein Kavita ko woh warmth milti thi jo ghar mein kabhi-kabhi miss hoti thi.

Aaj usi flat mein subah se hi boxes aur suitcases ka shor tha.

Living room mein har taraf samaan bikhra pada tha. Ek kone mein cardboard boxes, doosre mein bags, aur sofa ke paas kapdon se bhara ek bada suitcase.

Sanjay haath mein checklist liye ek-ek cheez verify kar raha tha.

Uske chehre par thakaan thi, lekin aankhon mein excitement.

18 saal.

Itne saalon baad woh apne hometown laut raha tha.

“Kavita! Tumhara wala bag ready hai?” Sanjay ne awaaz lagayi.

“Haan, almost!”

Kitchen se Kavita bahar aayi. Simple white top, blue jeans, tied hair — uski presence mein ek natural elegance thi.

“Bas Monu ka charging cable nahi mil raha,” usne kaha.

“Usko bolo khud dhoondhe. Har baar main hi uska samaan kyun dhoondhu?”

Kavita hansi.

“Woh bhi na… apni duniya mein hi rehta hai.”

Tabhi bedroom ka darwaza khula.

Kunal, 22, gym bag kandhe par daale bahar nikla.

“Papa, mera protein powder gaadi mein rakh dena.”

Sanjay ne checklist se nazar uthayi.

“Tum khud rakh lo beta.”

“Papa, please. Abhi haath mein dus cheezein hain.”

“Achha baba, rakh dunga.”

Peeche se Manav bhi aa gaya.

18 saal ka Manav ghar mein ab bhi sabke liye Monu tha. Haath mein phone, kandhe par backpack aur chehre par usual shyness.

Kavita ne use dekha.

“Monu, sab samaan pack kar liya?”

“Hmm.”

“Bag.”

“Charger?”

Manav ne ek second socha.

“Shayad…”

Kavita ne aankhein ghumayi.

“Bas. Isi liye main pooch rahi thi.”

Manav halka sa muskura diya.

Sanjay ne watch dekhi.

“Chalo. Ab aur delay nahi. Humein nikalna chahiye.”

Kuch ghante baad

Mumbai peeche chhoot chuka tha.

Highway par gaadi lagataar aage badh rahi thi.

Shuru mein Sanjay aur Kavita front seats par the, jabki Kunal aur Manav piche.

Sanjay ki awaaz dheemi ho gayi.

“Pata hai Kavita… ajeeb lag raha hai.”

“Kya?”

“18 saal baad wapas ja raha hoon.”

Kavita ne uski taraf dekha.

“Tumhe apna purana ghar yaad aata tha?”

“Ghar se zyada… log.”

Sanjay kuch seconds chup raha.

“Rajeev aur main bachpan se saath the. Ek hi gali mein pale-badhe. Uske papa ka chhota sa restaurant tha. Hum dono school ke baad wahin baithte the.”

“Ab bhi contact hai?”

“Beech mein kaafi saal baat nahi hui. Life alag direction mein chali gayi.”

Kavita ne halka sa nod kiya.

“Nisha se bhi. Shaadi ke baad hi usse milna-julna shuru hua tha. Beech mein kabhi-kabhi baat ho jaati thi, phir contact almost tut gaya. Bacche chote na.”

Tabhi Kunal ki awaaz aayi,

“Mummy-Papa, yeh Rajeev aur Nisha… yeh log kaun hain?”

Sanjay ne peeche mudkar kaha,

“Rajeev mera bada pakka dost aur padosi hai. Main aur Rajeev saath padhte the. Shaadi ke do saal baad mera Mumbai transfer ho gaya, phir itna contact nahi raha.”

Sanjay ki baat khatam hote hi Kavita boli,

“Nisha Rajeev uncle ki wife hai. Meri usse shaadi ke baad hi jaan-pehchaan hui thi.”

Peeche se Monu ki awaaz aayi,

“Toh kya yeh do husband-wife hi hain unki family mein?”

“Nahi Monu beta, unka toh bada parivaar hai. Ek beti aur beta bhi hai,” Kavita ne kaha. “Unka beta Rohan aur beti Riya.”

Kavita ne khidki ke bahar dekha.

Mumbai ki buildings ab bahut peeche reh chuki thi.

Aage sirf highway tha.

Aur ek aisa shehar, jahan Sanjay ki family ki kahani kabhi shuru hui thi.

Kai kilometre aage ek chhote se highway hotel par gaadi ruki.

Sab utre. Chai, sandwiches aur thodi der ki rest.

Kunal ne do plate extra le li. Manav chupchaap baitha raha. Kavita ne uske liye chai thodi meethi banayi.

Sanjay ne poocha,

“Kyon beta, pet bhar gaya ya kuch aur bhi khana hai?”

“Nahi Papa, main toh full hoon,” Kunal bola.

Kavita ne Monu se poocha,

“Tumhe kuch aur lena hai beta?”

“Nahi Mummy, bas kuch chips wagairah le lo.”

“Theek hai, abhi laati hoon.”

Wapas gaadi mein baithte waqt Kunal ne kaha,

“Mummy, main aage baithunga. Mujhe piche se road nahi dikh rahi, aur yahan space bhi kam hai. Legs fold karke nahi baitha jaa raha.”

Kavita ne hasi mein kaha,

“Achha, baith ja. Main piche aa jaati hoon.”

Ab front mein Sanjay aur Kunal, peeche Kavita aur Manav.

Thodi der baad Manav ne apna sar Kavita ki godh mein rakh diya.

Kavita ne halka haath uske baalon mein ferte hue socha — Kitna shy hai mera baccha. Kunal toh sabse mil jata hai, lekin yeh… hamesha sirf mere paas hi rehta hai. Kabhi-kabhi lagta hai jaise yeh abhi bhi mera chhota sa Monu hai.

Uske chehre pe ek soft, protective expression aa gaya.

Raat ke 10:30 baje ke kareeb

Gaadi pahadi ilaake ke ek chhote se shehar mein enter hui.

Hawa badal chuki thi.

Thand badh gayi thi.

Sadkein chhoti aur purani thi. Kuch dukaanon ke boards ab bhi waise hi the jaise Sanjay ko yaad the.

“Yahin hai…” Sanjay ne dheere se kaha.

Kavita ne bahar dekha.

“Kitna alag lag raha hai.”

Sanjay halka sa muskuraaya.

“Main bhi toh badal gaya hoon.”

Kuch hi der baad gaadi ek purane do-manzila ghar ke saamne ruk gayi.

Gate ke paas ek buzurg aadmi khada tha.

Pardeep Mehta.

65 saal.

Retired army officer.

Seedhi kamar, safed baal aur chehre par woh sakhti jo saalon ki disciplined zindagi se aati hai.

Lekin jaise hi uski nazar Sanjay par padi…

Uska chehra badal gaya.

“Sanjay…”

Sanjay gaadi se utara.

“Papa.”

Dono kuch seconds ek doosre ko dekhte rahe.

Phir Pardeep ne aage badhkar bete ko gale laga liya.

Kavita ne pehli baar Pardeep ke chehre par itni softness dekhi.

Kunal aur Manav bhi gaadi se utar aaye.

Pardeep ki aankhon mein turant chamak aa gayi.

“Arey… yeh Kunal hai?”

“Ji, Dadaji.”

“Kitna bada ho gaya!”

Pardeep ne use gale laga liya.

Phir Manav ki taraf dekha.

“Monu?”

Manav ne halki si smile di.

“Ji.”

Pardeep ne uske kandhe par haath rakha.

“Tum toh bilkul Sanjay jaise lagte ho.”

Kavita ne haath jod diye.

“Namaste, Papa.”

Pardeep ne sir hila kar jawab diya.

“Khush raho.”

Uske baad unki nazar ek pal ke liye Kavita par ruki.

Mumbai ke modern kapde, confident personality aur shehar ke andaaz se woh is purane ghar ke mahaul mein bilkul alag lag rahi thi.

Pardeep ne kuch nahi kaha.

Bas gate khol diya.

“Chalo. Andar aao.”

Ghar andar se bada tha, lekin ajeeb tarah se khaali.

Saalon se Pardeep akela reh raha tha.

Diwaron par purani family photographs lagi thi.

Ek photograph ke saamne Sanjay achanak ruk gaya.

“Yeh abhi bhi yahan hai?”

Pardeep ne peeche mudkar dekha.

“Tumhari maa ki photo hai.”

Sanjay chup ho gaya.

Kavita ne uska haath halka sa pakda.

Pardeep ne nazar hata li.

“Pehle samaan rakh do. Baaki baad mein baat karenge.”

Thodi der baad jab sab andar aa gaye aur samaan rakhne lage, Pardeep ne poocha,

“Khana khaaya?”

Sanjay ne hasi mein kaha,

“Haan Papa, raste mein hotel pe kha liya tha. Pata tha late ho jayenge isliye. Yaad hai na, aap hamesha kehte the — raat ko late pahunchoge toh pehle pet bhar ke aana, warna ghar mein tension ho jaati hai.”

Pardeep ne halka sa nod kiya.

“Theek kiya. Ab thak gaye hoge.”

Shaam tak ghar mein thodi jaan aa gayi.

Kitchen se bartan ki awaaz aa rahi thi.

Kunal apna room arrange kar raha tha.

Manav balcony mein khada bahar ko dekh raha tha.

Sanjay verandah mein Pardeep ke paas baitha tha.

“Papa… itne time baad wapas apne ghar aakar accha lag raha hai.”

Pardeep bole,

“Ab toh yahan aa gaye ho. Tumhara apna hi ghar hai.”

“Kaash Papa, aap bhi hamare saath Mumbai aa jaate pehle hi.”

Pardeep ne halki si hansi di.

“Beta, main toh retired hoon. Yahan apne chhote se shehar mein sukoon ki zindagi bita raha hoon. Wahan Mumbai jaise shehar mein bore ho jaata.”

Sanjay chup raha.

Pardeep ne uski taraf dekha.

“Lekin ab tum aa gaye ho. Ghar mein basti rahegi. Mere do sher bete bhi mere saath rahenge. Ab toh jo thoda akelapan rehta tha, woh bhi nahi rahega.”

Kavita kitchen se baahar aayi. Haath mein tray thi — usme chai ke do cup. Woh seedhe verandah ki taraf gayi jahan Pardeep kursi pe baithe the.

“Chai le lo Papa,” usne soft aawaz mein kaha.

Pardeep ne uski taraf dekha.

Kavita thodi jhuki hui thi tray rakhte waqt. Uske white top ka neckline aage ki taraf thoda khul gaya tha. Gala aur collarbone clearly dikh raha tha. Ek chhoti si lock of hair uske cheek pe giri hui thi.

Pardeep ki nazar wahan ruk gayi.

Bas ek second ke liye.

Phir unhone aankhein hata li aur chai ka cup uthaya.

“Hmm… theek hai,” unhone bas itna kaha.

Kavita seedhi hui aur muskurate hue andar chali gayi.

Usse nahi pata tha ki uske jaane ke baad bhi Pardeep ki nazar uske chalane ke andaaz pe thi — uske hips ke soft movement pe, uske baalon pe, uske pure wajood pe.

Unhone chai ka ek ghunt liya.

Cup unke haath mein tha… lekin dimaag kahin aur.

Raat ke almost 11:30 ho chuke the.

Ghar bilkul shaant tha.

Sanjay thakan ki wajah se so chuka tha. Kunal apne room mein headphones lagaaye pada tha. Pardeep apne room mein band the.

Kavita apne bed pe baithi thi. Baal khule hue the. Woh halki si cream laga rahi thi. Aaj ka din kaafi lamba tha — packing, safar, naya ghar… sab kuch. Lekin uske chehre pe ab bhi wohi shant expression tha.

Tabhi door pe halki si dastak hui.

Bahar Manav khada tha. Oversized hoodie pehne, aankhein thodi si neend se bhari hui.

“Mummy…nind nahi aa rahi,” usne dheemi awaaz mein kaha.

Kavita ne usse dekha aur soft smile ki.

“Aa ja.”

Manav andar aaya aur seedhe uske bed pe baith gaya. Thodi der baad usne apna sar Kavita ki godh mein rakh diya — bilkul usi tarah jaise pahle rakhta tha.

Kavita ne kuch nahi kaha.

Usne bas apne haath se uske baalon mein ungliyan pherni shuru kar di.

Kitna bada ho gaya hai… lekin abhi bhi bilkul waisa hi lagta hai. Mere paas aane ka yeh andaaz… kabhi nahi badla.

Manav ki aankhein band thi.

Lekin woh so nahi raha tha.

Usse uski mummy ki body ki narmi clearly feel ho rahi thi — soft thighs, uski shaant saans, aur uske haath ka dheema, continuous movement. Kavita ke nighty ka halka sa kapda uske cheek se touch ho raha tha. Usme uski cream aur body ka mild, familiar smell tha.

Kavita uske baalon mein haath pherti rahi aur dheere se boli,

“Ab so ja Monu… naya ghar hai. Thak gaya hoga na.”

Manav ne halka sa “hmm” kiya.

Mummy aapne kya lagaya he bahut hi acchi khushbu aa rhi he 

Kavita ne pas me padi hui cream dikhai aur bola ye lgai he pahle dusri lagati thi ab ye wali laau hu.

Tabhi manav bola mummy aapke itne saare buity product he in sabki jarurat padti he 

Ha ladies ye sab lagati he ladies ki har cheez ke liye alag alag products hote he.

Monu ki aankhein band hote hue bhi, uske dimaag mein wahi cream ki khushbu aur warm aur confused sa feeling chal rahi thi.

Yeh touch… yeh closeness…

ab usse pehle jaisa nahi lag raha tha.

Thodi der baad Manav so gaya.

Kavita uske baalon mein haath pherte hue sochti rahi. Uske liye yeh bilkul normal tha — uske bete ka yeh andaaz. Lekin aaj uske andar bhi ek ajeeb si shanti thi. Jaise bahut din 

baad kuch apna mehsoos ho raha ho.

Bahar raat gehri ho chuki thi.

Ghar shaant tha.

Lekin is shaanti ke peeche kuch cheezein dheere-dheere badalne wali thin…

kisi ko iska ehsaas tak nahi tha.

Episode 1 End

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