Aaj nadi–taalab mein nahane ki baat sunte hi garmiyon ki chhuttiyon ki reel chal padi. Yaad aa gaya woh waqt jab hum mama ke ghar Panna jaate the. Dopahar ki dhoop mein Ken nadi ke shaant se tat Rapta par, cheepo se bani border par dedh paon jamaakar chhoti si kood mein paani tak pahunch jaate.
Saamne do–chaar jawaan machhli pakad rahe hote, pairon ke neeche patharon ki chubhan aur mann mein bina mummy–mausi ke nadi mein koodne ka halka sa darr. Upar se maryada—bahari logon ke saamne nahane ko lekar hichkichahat.
Bade mama van vibhag mein ranger the. Mausi ji ne unki dhos dikhate hue ladkon ko daant diya—“Yahan machhli pakadna mana hai.” Polythene sambhalte hi dono rafuchakkar.
Aur hum? Tab tak nahaate rahe jab tak ungliyon par kishmish si silvaten na aa gayin.
Jai ho.