Sooraj ki narm kirnein darakhton ki halki halki shaakhon se chhan kar zameen par bikhar rahi thin. Hawa mein bahaar ki khushboo thi, har taraf rang birangay phool khilay thay, aur parinday apni mutranim aawazon se fiza ko mazeed haseen bana rahay thay. Yeh woh mausam tha jab har shay mein aik naya rang, aik nai taazgi mehsoos hoti thi.
Ali, jo aik nojawan musawwir tha, park ke aik konay mein baitha apne canvas par qudrat ke in haseen rango ko qaid karne mein masroof tha. Woh har saal bahaar ke is mausam mein bahar aa kar nai tasaveer banata, lekin aaj ka din kuch khaas tha. Woh brush haath mein liye apne khayalat mein gum tha ke achanak aik narm aur meethi awaaz ne uski tawajju apni taraf kheench li.
"Phir shehzada bahaaduri se aagay barha aur khauf ke bawajood andheray jungle mein daakhil hua…" Yeh aik kahani thi jo aik larki bachon ko suna rahi thi. Ali ne chonak kar dekha.
Qareeb hi aik bench par chand bachay daira bana kar baithay thay, aur unke beech mein aik larki baithi thi, jo muskuratay huay narmi se kahani suna rahi thi. Uski aankhon mein aik khaas chamak thi, jaise woh khud bhi us kahani ka hissa ho. Uske chehray par aik masoom si muskurahat thi, aur uska andaaz aisa tha jaise woh bachon ki duniya mein kho gayi ho.
Ali ne bay ikhtiyaar is manzar ko apni aankhon mein qaid kar liya. Woh larki aik aam larki nahi lag rahi thi. Uske wujood mein aik khaas kashish thi, aik aisi saadgi jo dil mein ghar kar jati thi.
Woh aik lamhay ke liye apne canvas ko bhool chuka tha. Hawa ki khunki mein uski awaaz ka sehr mazeed gehra hota ja raha tha. Bachay khush thay, unki hansi mein aik masoomiat thi, aur woh larki—Zainab—un sab ki tawajju ka markaz bani hui thi.
Ali ko apni zindagi mein pehli baar aisa laga ke usne aik aisi cheez dekhi hai jo kisi tasveer mein mukammal tor par qaid nahi ki ja sakti. Woh is lamhay ko hamesha ke liye mehfooz kar lena chahta tha, lekin kaise? Uske haath bay sakhta painting ke samaan ki taraf barhay. Woh chahta tha ke is lamhay ko, Zainab ki muskurahat ko, bachon ki masoom khushi ko, aur is bahaar ki taazgi ko hamesha ke liye apne fun mein sama le.
Kahani khatam ho chuki thi. Bachay taaliyan baja rahay thay aur Zainab khushi se muskara rahi thi. Ali ne aik lamhay ko gehri saans li aur halki muskurahat ke saath Zainab ko dekhta raha. Woh jaanta nahi tha, lekin is din ki yeh mulaqat uski zindagi mein aik naya baab kholne wali thi.
Garmiyon ki aik barish mein, Ali aur Zainab ki dosti gehri honay lagti hai. Ali, Zainab ke saath zyada waqt guzaarnay ke bahaane dhoondhnay lagta hai. Aik din barish mein bheegtay huay, dono apni zindagi ke khwab aur khwahishat aik dosray se baant’tay hain.
Continue to Baab 2
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