Aniket did 'something for his country' !

5^th April 2011

Aniket was watching Rang de Basanti on TV, he was amazed by India’s world cup victory few days back and was missing all the delight; movie ended on high note where a generation “awakened” and committed to revolt and carry forward the “mashaal” ignited by their heroes in the radio centre at midnight. Even Aniket felt ignited, excited and decided to do ‘something for his country’, he felt an intense fire within him which wanted to revolt against the politicians and the ‘system’. He changed the channel.

“ANNA HAZARE BEGAN HIS FAST AT JANTAR MANTAR TODAY; NEARLY 600 PEOPLE JOINED HIM THERE ON DAY ONE OF HIS ‘ANSHAN ’, AROUND 150 HAVE JOINED HIM IN THE FAST UNTO DEATH” anchor of a news channel shouted with an ‘orgasmic’ excitement; showing the LIVE visuals form the site. Mass hysteria of people was chanting slogans; an old man wearing a Gandhi cap was sitting on the stage, his face towards the crowd that had gathered.

Anchor continued shouting, “LET US TALK TO ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS TEAM ON WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. SIR WHAT ARE YOUR DEMANDS? 

Person:  “we demand the formation of a joint drafting committee of representatives of government and our civil society on the jan lokpal bill; which will work to remove the corruption from its roots”

Anchor: HOW LONG WILL ANNA’S FAST LAST?

Person: “fast will continue until all our demands are met. And we urge people all over the country to join us in this movement.”

Aniket got up; THIS was the moment for him. This was the time, he thought, when he could do ‘something for his country.’

Rang de Basanti fever worked well on him.  He called and informed his boss that he would be on leave for a week.

…

At station he bought a “general” ticket for Delhi. Buses were all booked and so were the reserved compartments of the train. It was supposed to be a night journey; those who travel by Indian trains frequently; know very well how horrible these journeys can be in the “General Dabba”; especially at nights. He entered in the SLEEPER coach and looked for an empty berth; luckily, he found one; and occupied it. Train started moving towards its destination.

Few minutes later the TC (ticket collector) came to him and asked for his ticket, Aniket held TC’s hand and pulled him to one side, “sirji, please come with me.” He said.

TC was a newly appointed sincere boy, and had no experience of bribery yet.

Aniket told him, “sir, I don’t have a confirmed ticket please take some amount and “confirm” this berth for me”

TC said, “You are not entitled to ‘board’ the train without a confirmed ticket; please leave the train on next station, you can take full refund for your unconfirmed ticket from the counter.”

Aniket: “ sirji, you don’t understand, this seat is empty anyway, please take this and let me have this berth.”  He quickly placed a hundred-rupees-note in TC’s hand and blinked one eye as a signal.

The young TC looked at the currency note for a while, In Indian trains, TC is no-less-than-God for people without proper tickets. And with our kind of population, it’s not difficult to find  such people. In that hundred-rupees-note he could see how much ‘scope’ his ‘career’ as a Ticket Collector had. He kept it in his pocket and left with a smile.

Aniket got his berth and had a nice, comfortable journey. He was all set to do ‘something for his country’ once he reached Jantar Mantar.

…

6^th April 2011

Jantar Mantar was full of people from all over the country, and there were slogans, full of youthful energy and excitement of a lifetime; hundreds of ‘Anikets’ including ours; were shouting these slogans. One of them said:

“Anna tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare sath hain!”

…

True Love: एक सच्चाई

DISCLAIMER:

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION, ANY RESEMBLANCE TO A PERSON OR PERSONS,  IF FOUND, IS PURELY CO-INCIDENTAL. 

अस्वीकरण :

इस कहानी के सभी पात्र और घटनाएं काल्पनिक हैं | यदि किसी व्यक्ति अथवा व्यक्तिओं  से इसकी समानता पाई जाती है तो इसे मात्र एक संयोग कहा जाएगा |

...

Parag was highly depressed and felt defeated; Ahna’s parents had said “NO” for their marriage. They wanted to marry her within their own community. Parag was confident of convincing his parents hence didn’t tell them about her yet; he didn’t want to force Ahna or blackmail her emotionally to force her parents to give into this marriage. Both of them waited, for a potential miracle; or to accept their destinies as they were.

When you’re in love, nothing else matters. Even all ‘HIGH’-success and power looks useless without your loved one. The love of the family and friends too, seems to be insufficient, since now you have a potentially extended family, if God permits. Parag sat silently in his room; his eyes went through all the saved messages in his old handset. As he read his past-conversations with Ahna, every SMS reminded him of some past time, event or situation; he shared with her. The time that they spent together, and the time they thought they "will” spend together once they get married. But now the situation is so messed up, ‘will it ever happen?’ he thought. Lord was the only hope in front of him. HE was the only energy that could be trusted in such a time. When a person goes through isolation of his loved one, brain stops working, actions lose logic and hope diminishes.

Suddenly his phone rang. It was Ahna, “Parag, come fast, come to my home; in fact, come straight into the garden in front of my home, फटाफट आओ, we’re getting married, NOW or NEVER !!”

Parag got up from his seat, all confused, ‘maybe her family is willing to talk over it once again; maybe I’ll get another chance to convince them once again.’ He rushed towards her home.

There was a decorated tent in front of her house in the garden; it looked like a “शादी का मंडप”; he entered in as told by Ahna.

Her mother came running towards Parag, “बहुत देर लगा दी बेटा, मम्मी-पापा को नहीं लाए? आहना ने तुमसे बोला नहीं क्या?  चलो शुभ मुहूर्त निकला जा रहा है, उनको मैं बुलवा देती हूँ, तुम फटाफट stage पर जाओ, आहना तुम्हारा wait  कर रही है.”

Parag rushed on to the stage to see what the matter was! Ahna was already waiting for him there in full bridal make up, “come on Parag, hurry up, we’re getting late.” she shouted on seeing him coming towards her.

“What’s happening?” Parag asked.

“We’re getting married, along with my didi and होने वाले जीजू”.

Before Parag could ask any further, he was given a garland and a similar one was given to Ahna.

“वर - वधु एक दुसरे को वरमाला पहनाइए !” pandit said in his shrill voice with ups and downs at proper place.

Parag could not believe his luck; he dreamt of this day all the time; he worked so desperately to make this happen but all in vain. And today all of a sudden from no-where, he stood in front of the girl he loved, on the wedding pavilion. Ahna offered her garland to Parag and placed it around his neck. Without a second thought, Parag too offered his garland to her, his dream had come true. Within minutes, Parag’s parents and their few relatives also joined them: Ahna’s father had informed them about everything. Initially they were shocked but when they saw that Parag was looking happy after a long time; they understood everything; and blessed the couple.

The duo took “फेरे” at midnight and now they were a married couple. Ahna’s elder sister also got married in parallel with her husband-to-be.

Some final chants were being pronounced by the pandit; Ahna got bored of all his dialogues. As soon as Pandit finished up speaking; she got up and made Parag to stand with him.

“So, is it all over now? और कोई ceremony  तो नहीं बची है ना?  ” she asked and without warning gifted Parag with a passionate wedding kiss!

...

suddenly his mobile started buzzing; It was his morning alarm! 
And there was one new message on his cell from last night: "i hate u parag, dnt ever try 2 contact me again!!!!!!"

-----x-----

रमेश के "नालायक" बेटे

रमेश अपने आँगन में बैठा सोच रहा था, हे भगवान क्या होगा मेरे बच्चों का ? पूरे गाँव में नाक कट चुकी है कि रमेश के छोरे बिगड़ गए हैं| यही नहीं अब तो कोई इन्हें अपने बच्चों के साथ दोस्ती भी नहीं करने देना चाहता| कहते हैं; एक गन्दी मछली पूरे तालाब को गन्दा कर देती है, मेरे तो तीनों बेटे नालायक हैं | पहला बेटा राकेश, बारहवीं करके इतना खुश हुआ कि कालेज की शक्ल देखना भी नागवार है; कहता है कि इतना पढ़ गए बस काफी है| कोई कह रहा था कि किसी लड़की के चक्कर में पड़ कर पैसे कमाने की होड़ में लग गया होगा|

दूसरा लड़का अंतू दिमाग से तो तेज है, पढ़ भी रहा है, पर उसे भी अपने भाई को देख कर पैसे का भूत सवार होता जा रहा है; पढता भी है तो मजबूरी में| गाँव वाले बातें बनाते हैं कहते हैं तुम्हारे दोनों बड़े लड़के हमारे बच्चों को बिगाड़ रहे हैं; जिस गाँव में कभी बच्चे सिर्फ पढ़ाई-लिखाई और पहाड़ों की बातें किया करते थे, वहाँ अब सी ग्रेड फिल्मों और सेट्टिंग जैसी बातें होने लगी हैं | कुछ लोग तो अपने बच्चों को लेकर शहर चले गए हैं; इस उम्मीद में कि कम से कम वहाँ पढ़ाई का माहौल तो होगा|

तीसरा बेटा लल्लू तो शुरू से ही निरा मूर्ख और भोला है; दूसरी कक्षा में ही फेल हो गया था; जैसे-तैसे पांचवी में पहुंचा है|

यही सारी बातें रमेश के दिमाग में चल रही थीं; इसी मोहल्ले के कुछ लोग पढ़ लिख कर इंजिनियर, वकील बन गए; आज बड़े शहरों में मोटी कमाई करते हैं ; उनके बच्चे पिछली बार आए थे तो अंग्रेजी में बात कर रहे थे; यहाँ तो पूरे गाँव में कोई ऐसी फर्राटेदार अंग्रेजी नहीं बोलता| जो जानते हैं वो भी गाँव में आपस में तो भला क्या अंग्रेजी बोलेंगे!

इतने में ही उसकी पत्नी ने जोर से आवाज़ लगाई, "अजी जरा, भैन्संनें खड्ड ते ले आओ, शाम है गई है |"

***
(तीन साल बाद)

अंतू को शहर में नौकरी मिल गई है; तीनों में से सबसे ज़िम्मेदार यही निकला है; हर रोज शहर और गाँव में अप-डाउन करता है ताकि परिवार के साथ रहकर उनका ध्यान रख सके| सन्डे का दिन है, पूरा परिवार आँगन में नीम के पेड़ के नीचे बैठा सुस्ता रहा है|

"पापा, मुझे २०, ००० रूपए की जरुरत है, सालभर में लौटा दूंगा ", राकेश ने कहा |

"का करैगो इत्तेक रुपैय्यन कौ ? "रमेश ने पूछा |

"मैं डी जे का काम करना चाहता हूँ, शादी-ब्याह में आजकल बड़े रुपैय्या मिलें डी जे वालंनें|"

"पढ़ लिख लेतौ तो रुपैय्या तो वैसे ई मिल जाते तोए, चल लै लइयो, हमारौ का है; सब तुम्हारे काज ही धर रखो है; कछु तो कर| घर में बैठो प्राण पीतो है हमाए | गाम में सबरे लोग बात बनावतैं, कछु करतौ ना है तुम्हारौ बडौ छोरा|"

***

डी जे का सारा सामान आ गया; सालभर तक राकेश ने लल्लू की मदद से खूब मेहनत की| दूर-दूर के गाँव में जाते थे दोनों; शादियों में गाने चलाते थे, और रात को गाने बंद करने पर बारातियों की गालियाँ भी खाते थे| एक शादी में तो कुछ नशेडी बारातियों ने दोनों को पीट भी दिया |

सावों के दिनों में अच्छी कमाई हुई; पर देव सो गए तो धंधा बंद! 'यह तो हर साल ऐसे ही चलेगा' दोनों ने सोचा, अभी तक की कमाई से दोनों ने मिलकर अपने गाँव में ही घर के आँगन में एक परचूनी की दुकान डाल दी| शहरी भाषा में बोलें तो ऑफ-सीज़न में, नए बिजनस पर अभी तक की बची हुई कमाई को 'इन्वेस्ट' कर दिया| पिताजी के २०,००० रूपए भी लौटा दिए| अंतू तो शहर में सेट हो ही गया था, अब ये दोनों भाई भी व्यस्त रहने लगे| ऑफ-सीज़न में केवल दुकान चलाते थे और ऑन-सीज़न में दिन में दुकान में बैठने के बाद रात को डी जे बजाते थे| घरवालों को थोड़ी राहत मिली कि चलो एक बेटा तो समझदार था ही, बाकी दोनों का भी काम में मन लग रहा है| रमेश की चिंता काफी हद तक कम हो गई|

***

(दो साल बाद)

राकेश और लल्लू ने कुछ साथियों के साथ मिल कर शहर में एक म्यूजिक कंपनी डाल ली है, आखिर कंपनी खोलने के लिए पैसा और लोग ही तो लगते हैं, हमारे देश में दोनों की कोई कमी नहीं है, बस साहसी लोगों की कमी है| चूंकि दोनों ज्यादा पढ़े लिखे नहीं थे; और बाकी लोगों पर इतना भरोसा नहीं किया जा सकता था; दोनों ने मिलकर अंतू को ऑफिस का सारा काम सँभालने के लिए मना लिया है|

राकेश और अंतू की शादी हो चुकी है और बच्चे भी हैं| रमेश खुश है; जो लोग पहले उससे कन्नी काटते थे, या ताने कसते थे, वो आज उसी के पास उसके "नालायक" बच्चों की कंपनी में नौकरी के लिए अपने बच्चों की सिफारिश करवाने आते हैं|

वो क्या है कि तीनों भाई ज्यादा लोगों को नौकरी नहीं देते, पर जिनको देते हैं उनका "पैकेज" अच्छा ही होता है| क्योंकि वो पैसे और स्थाई कर्मचारी की कंपनी के लिए जो अहमियत होती है, उसे अच्छी तरह समझते हैं|

जय हिंद, जय भारत |

(यह कहानी सत्य घटना पर आधारित है )