लाइब्रेरी
प्रोफाइल
The Letter She Never Meant to Read
The Letter She Never Meant to Read
Mona bachpan se hi apni badi bhen se jalanti thi. Usse lagta tha ki mom-dad sirf uski badi bhen ko pasand karte hain — uski baatein sunte hain, uski tareef karte hain, aur Mona bas ek ignored bachchi ban kar reh jaati thi.
20 saal tak Mona ne sirf ek cheez paane ki koshish ki — apne parents aur sisteri ka attention. Lekin jaise jaise woh badi hoti gayi, usse samajh aaya ki kuch log chahe kitna bhi try karein, kabhi “first choice” nahi bante.
Apne 21st birthday par Mona ne ek decision liya. Usne apne parents ko property papers diye aur boli, “Yeh meri nayi property hai. Aap aur didi sign kar do.”
Parents ne bina bahut sawaal pooche sign kar diya. Agli subah Mona apna samaan aur paisa lekar ghar se nikal gayi. Usne peeche mudkar bhi nahi dekha.
Kuch din baad voh office gai , office mein ek colleague ne use bataya, “Tumhare liye 3 mahine pehle ek letter aaya tha.”
Mona ne letter khola. Uske haath kaanp gaye.
Woh marriage letter tha.
Uski grandmother ne Mona ke 3rd birthday par uski shaadi tay kar di thi. Aur ab Mona ke paas na ghar tha, na koi sahara. Isliye, sochne ke baad, woh letter mein likhe address par jaane nikal padi.
Wahan use ek bada aur decent ghar mila. Ek lady ne use welcome kiya, “Tum Mona ho na? Main tumhari mother-in-law hu. Aur yeh Vijay hai, mera beta.”
Vijay chup-chaap ek corner mein khada tha.
Mona ne use garden mein bulaya aur seedha poocha, “Tumhare koi bhai-behen hain? Aur agar hain, toh tum favorite ho na?”
Vijay halka sa muskuraya, “Nahi. Main akela hu.”
Mona ne socha — kam se kam yahan mujhe koi replace nahi karega.
“Ok,” usne kaha. “Main shaadi ke liye ready hu.”
Sirf 4 din baad Mona aur Vijay ki shaadi ho gayi.
***
3 Saal Baad
Courtroom mein Mona khadi thi. Usne seedha Vijay ki taraf finger point ki aur boli, “Mujhe divorce chahiye.”
Judge ne poocha, “Kya woh tumhe maarta tha? Tumhe theek se treat nahi karta tha? Reason kya hai?”
Mona ki aankhon mein aansu the.
“Nahi… Vijay mujhe bahut accha treat karta tha. Meri life mein kisi ne itna accha treat nahi kiya. Meri mother-in-law ne mujhe kabhi ghar ka kaam bhi nahi karwaya. Woh office aur ghar dono ka kaam khud karta tha. Mujhe jo chahiye hota, le aata tha. Main grateful hu… but…”
Judge ne kaha, “Toh phir divorce kyun?”
Mona ne deep breath liya.
“Har birthday par woh flowers ka bouquet lekar kahin chala jaata tha. Har Tuesday late aata tha. Teen saal ki shaadi mein usne kabhi mere birthday par ghar nahi aaya . Jab maine poocha, toh woh kuch nahi batata tha.”
“Ek personal room tha uske ghar mein. Kisi ko andar jaane ki permission nahi thi. Ek din maine wahan ek ladki ki photo dekhi… aur ek box. Usme toothbrush, hand cream, perfume aur bright clothes ke pieces the.”
Mona ne aankhein band ki.
“Mujhe laga woh kisi aur ladki se milta hai. Gusse mein maine uski photo aur painting jala di.”
Judge ne Vijay ko dekha. “Kya yeh sach hai? Tumne apni wife ko cheat kiya?”
Vijay ne jaldi se kaha, “Nahi—”
“Chup raho,” Judge ne kaha. “Mona, aage bolo.”
Mona ne bataya ki us raat Vijay ghar aaya. Usne gusse mein poocha, “Woh ladki kaun hai? Uski photo tumhare room mein kyun hai?”
Vijay ghabra gaya aur room mein gaya. Jab use dekha ki Mona ne photo aur painting barbaad kar di hain, toh usne sirf itna kaha, “Leave me alone.”
Mona ne uska haath pakda. “Mujhe jawab do!”
Aur tab Vijay ne gusse mein Mona ko thappad maara.
Mona ne dheere se kaha, “Woh pehli baar tha. Maine use kabhi gusse mein nahi dekha tha.”
Us raat Mona wapas us room mein gayi. Wahan use ek letter mila.
***
Agli din jab Vijay ghar aaya, Mona ne usse letter diya.
“Yeh kya hai? Tum mere har birthday par kahan jaate ho? Yeh personal room kya hai? Aur yeh letter?”
Vijay ne lambi saans li. “Mona, mujhe tumse baat karni hai.”
Dono sofa par baith gaye.
“Us ladki ka naam Kiran tha,” Vijay ne kaha. “Woh Sonataj naam ke chhota island ki rajkumari thi. Hum bachpan se saath the.”
“Ek din uske father — King ne — mujhe bade country bheja, jahan maine technology, ethics aur medical education li. Mujhe Sonataj ko develop karne ka task diya gaya.”
“Wahan Kiran rajkumari wali life je rahi thi — heavy jewellery, luxury dresses, royal training. Lekin uski life bahar se perfect lagti thi, andar se nahi.”
“Agar woh theek se khana nahi khati, toh use punishment milta tha — ek hafta no food. Agar uska weight badhta, toh bhi punishment. Woh mahal se bahar nahi ja sakti thi. Noble log commoners ke saath nahi ghoomte the. Use properly haasna bhi allowed nahi tha.”
Vijay ne aankhein band kar li.
“Main technology aur medical knowledge se country improve karne mein lag gaya. Mahal mein hi rehta tha. Kiran aur main bachpan jaise baatein karte the, khelte the. Mujhe samajh nahi aata woh feeling kya thi… lekin woh acchi thi.”
“Jab bhi Kiran ko no-food punishment milta, main use chupke se rice noodles deta tha.”
“Ek din Kiran ne mujhse poocha, ‘Mahal ke bahar ki duniya kaisi hai?’ Main shock ho gaya. Usne kaha, ‘Main kabhi bahar nahi gayi. Kya tum mujhe le jaoge?’”
“Us raat maine guards ke juice mein sleeping pills daal di aur Kiran ko mahal se bahar le gaya.”
“Subah hote hote hum mountain par pahunche. Sooryoday ho gaya aasmaan laal ho gaya tha, snow golden lag rahi thi. Kiran ne smile kiya aur boli, ‘Yeh mahal se bahut sundar hai.’”
“Hum market gaye. Maine use fresh fruits, sweets aur 2D cartoons dikhaye. Woh boli, ‘Yeh log ga sakte hain, haas sakte hain… kitna amazing hai. Main aaj tak aisa kuch nahi dekha.’”
“Hum farming ki, beach gaye, ball se khela, ek dusre par paani feka. Kiran ne mujhe crab phenk kar dara diya aur main dara hua bhaaga. Woh mujhe dekh kar has rahi thi.”
Vijay muskuraya, phir uski aankhein bhar aayi.
“Us din Kiran ne mujhe kaha, ‘Thank you. Mahal ke bahar ki duniya bahut sundar hai.’”
“Lekin King ko pata chal gaya ki hum bahar gaye the. Hum dono ko bulaya gaya. Kiran ne saara blame khud par liya aur boli, ‘Maine Vijay ko bola tha ki agar woh mujhe bahar nahi le gaya, toh main uski family ko harm karungi.’”
“King ne Kiran ko 20 lashes, no food aur self-reflection punishment di. Mujhe last kaam karne ka order diya aur kaha ki iske baad country mein mera koi lena-dena nahi hoga.”
“Do hafton baad jab kaam complete hua, main Kiran se goodbye bolne gaya. Lekin maine dekha… uske body par chot aur blood tha. Paani bhi nahi tha.”
“Kiran ne mujhe boli, ‘Vijay, mujhe yahan se le chalo.’”
“Maine kuch nahi socha. Main usse bhaaga kar le gaya, hospital mein checkup karwaya, aur phir use apni family ke paas chhod aaya.”
***
- The Truth
Mona ke aansu ruk nahi rahe the.
Vijay ne aage kaha, “Lekin jab main Kiran ko ghar laya, meri ma ne kaha, ‘Iski wajah se hum sab mar jayenge. Ise chhod ke aao.’”
“Meri ma ne Kiran ko emotional blackmail kiya. Lekin maine ma ka support nahi kiya. Gusse mein ma ne Mona ko letter bheja — marriage letter.”
“3 mahine baad King aur Queen city mein aaye. Unhone Vijay aur Kiran ko kidnap kar liya.”
“Jab dono ko hosh aaya, toh saamne King aur Queen the. Kiran ro rahi thi, ‘Aap yeh kyun kar rahe ho?’”
“Queen ne Kiran ko thappad maara aur boli, ‘Tum princess ho. Tumne hamara naam kharab kar diya. Tumhe dhoondhne mein 3 mahine lage.’”
“Kiran ne rote hue kaha, ‘Mujhe jeena hai. Normal life chahiye. Mujhe Vijay ke saath rehna hai.’”
“King ne kaha, ‘Woh ek commoner hai.’”
“Kiran ne bas yeh kaha, ‘Toh kya hua? Please mujhe chhod do. Vijay ki jaan mat lo.’”
“Teen guards Vijay ko le aaye. Uske body par blood tha. Kiran uske paas gayi aur boli, ‘Please, Vijay ki life mat lo.’”
“King ne sword uthaya. Kiran beech mein aa gayi… aur sword use lag gaya.”
“Vijay ro raha tha, ‘Tumne yeh kya kiya?’”
“Kiran smile kar rahi thi. Usne kaha, ‘Main tumhare saath life share karni thi, but yeh possible nahi hai. Maine tumhari mom se promise kiya tha ki main tumhe safe rahungi… but shayad yeh possible nahi hai.’”
“Vijay, meri last wish tum puri karoge?”
“Vijay ro raha tha, ‘Tum faltu baatein mat karo. Main tumhe hospital le jaunga.’”
“Kiran ne uske Chehre ko chhua aur boli, ‘Meri death ke baad tum shaadi kar lena. Yeh tumhari mom ki wish hai. Please use wesa pyar dena jesa tum mujhe dete ho.’”
“Phir Kiran… mar gayi.”
“Queen yeh sab dekh kar pagal ho gayi aur King ko country mein bhej diya.”
“Kiran ki death ke agle din maine Mona se shaadi ki. Kyunki maine Kiran ki last wish puri karni thi.”
Mona ne dheere se poocha, “Matlab… mere birthday par tum......”
Vijay ne sirf itna kaha, “Haan. Tum sahi soch rahi ho.”
Mona ne aansu pochte hue kaha, “Toh main kya hu, Vijay? Main replacement hu? Main sirf Kiran ki jagah bharne ke liye layi hu?”
“Tum mujhe accha treat karte ho… lekin meri feelings ka kya? Tum mujhe waise treat karte ho jaise Kiran ko karte the. Kya main us cheez ki layak nahi hu? Mere special day par, mere birthday par, tum kisi aur ladki ke liye rote ho.”
“Pehle meri family ne mujhe ignore kiya… aur ab jisne mujhe sabse zyada pyar diya, woh bhi kisi aur ke promise ki wajah se.”
“Mujhe divorce chahiye.”
***
The Divorce
Judge ne Mona ka divorce approve kar diya.
Court ke baad Vijay Mona ke paas aaya. Uski aankhein laal thi.
“I’m sorry,” usne kaha. “Shayad main tumhe deserve nahi karta. Main loser hu na?”
Mona ne halki si smile di. “Tum ek acche insaan ho, Vijay. Lekin shayad God ne humein ek dusre ke liye nahi banaya.”
Vijay ne use ek gift box diya.
Mona ne confuse hokar poocha, “Yeh kya hai? Humara divorce ho gaya hai.”
“Nahi,” Vijay ne kaha. “Tum galat samajh rahi ho. Yeh Kiran ne tumhare liye prepare kiya tha.”
“Jab meri ma ne tumhe letter likha tha, Kiran ne galti se woh letter padh liya tha. Usne apni death ke time mujhe yeh box dena bola tha… lekin mujhe kabhi dene ki himmat nahi hui.”
Vijay ki aankhon se aansu gir gaye. Usne Mona ko goodbye bola aur chala gaya.
Mona box lekar apni friend ke ghar chali gayi. Bahut sochne ke baad usne box khola.
Andar ek bracelet aur ek letter tha.
Kiran’s Letter
Dear Mona,
I know tum soch rahi ho ki Kiran kaun hai.
Maybe jab tum yeh padhogi, tab main is city se door hogi. Aunty ne kaha tha ki main jinx hu, isliye main Vijay ko chhod kar chupchaap yahan se chale jaungi.
Aunty ne tumhe choose kiya hai, toh tum pakka beautiful aur smart hogi. Main tum dono ko happy marriage chahti hu.
I know main 3rd wheel hu. Isliye jaane se pehle maine Vijay se promise liya ki woh tumhe happy rakhenge.
Sorry, maine tumhe secretly search kiya. Tumhare parents bure nahi hain. Unhone kabhi tum par pressure nahi dala.
Aur haan… tum kabhi Vijay ya mujhe nafrat mat karna. Main jaanti hu maine Vijay se tumhari shaadi jabardasti karwayi. Lekin woh bahut accha insaan hai.
Main selfish ho gayi thi. Mujhe laga main Vijay ko lekar yahan se chale jaungi. Lekin mere upar khatra tha, aur Vijay ek normal, acchi life deserve karta hai.
Main jaanti hu tum mujhse gussa hogi. Lekin woh tumhara bahut acche se khayal rakhega.
Yeh bracelet mere grandpa ne mujhe di thi. Yeh duniya mein ek hi hai aur best luck ke liye jaana jaata hai. Yeh tum deserve karti ho.
I hope city se jaane se pehle main tumhe mil pau. Lekin flight hai na… isliye nahi mil sakti.
Bye, dear Mona.
Mona ro rahi thi. Aasman ki taraf dekh kar usne kaha,
“Main tumse kaise nafrat karu, Kiran? Tum bahut acchi ho.”
“Mujhe maaf kar dena… maine tumhara samaan destroy kar diya.”
“Tumne jo saha hai, woh koi aur bardaasht nahi kar sakta.”
“Haan Kiran, tum ek baat mein galat thi. Tum kisi or ki relation nahi bana sakti thi… yeh main hi decide karungi.”
Mona flowers lekar Kiran ke grave par gayi aur phir wahan se chali gayi.
Usi din Vijay ki mom usse bahut gussa thi. Vijay bina kuch bola car lekar Kiran ke grave par chala gaya.
Wahan flowers dekh kar woh halka sa muskuraya.
“Kiran… lagta hai kisi ne galti se tumhe flowers de diye.”
“Shock hogi na? Aaj Tuesday bhi nahi hai, phir bhi main yahan hu.”
“Mujhe tumhari bahut yaad aa rahi hai.”
“I’m sorry, Kiran. Maine tumhari wish puri nahi kar payi. Main phir se akela ho gaya hu.”
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry.”
Vijay raat bhar wahi raha.
Subah hote hi usne kaha, “Kiran, main is city mein nahi rehna chahta. Aaj hi permission lunga aur tumhe mere saath RJ village le jaunga.”
Wahan Vijay ne ek hospital khola.
Aur Kiran ko ek apple tree ke neeche dafna diya.
The End.
- Author’s Message
Lekin yaad rakhna — kisi ki kami tumhari value decide nahi karti.
Mona ne pyar maanga, Kiran ne freedom maangi, aur Vijay ne kisi ko bachane ki koshish ki. Teeno ne apne apne dard ke andar se fight ki.
Kabhi kabhi hum jo insaan sabse zyada judge karte hain, uske peeche ki kahani humein pata nahi hoti.
Aur kabhi kabhi hum jo pyar maangte hain, woh humein khud ko dena padta hai.
Kyunki koi bhi “replacement” nahi hota. Har insaan apni jagah ka malik hota hai.
