Morning After Mayhem

[aries]

Ek beeping awaz ne mujhe jagaya.

"Shubh prabhat." Main ek kamzor awaz sunti hoon, dekhti hoon ki wo meri dost Alika hai.
"Khush hoon ki tum zinda ho." Main apne haath ko kruz karte hue khadi ho jati hoon. Kamre mein nurse mujhe ek nazar daalti hai.
"Tum bhi." Wo mujhe aankh maarte hue kehti hai.
"Ab bhi waise hi." Main aankhein ghumati hoon.
"Agar sab kuch thik raha, to tum aaj chhutki le sakti ho." Nurse kamre mein computer par jaankari bhar rahi hai.
"Dhanyavaad bhagwan." Alika apne takiye se khel rahi hai.
"Agar tumhe kuch chahiye ho to mujhe bata dena." Nurse kamre se bahar nikal jaati hai.
"Hey." Main ek purush ki awaz sunti hoon jo kamre mein aata hai, main ghoom kar Raju ko dekhti hoon.
"Hi, tum yahaan kya kar rahe ho?" Main apne haath ko khol deti hoon.
"Toh main socha, tum mujhe updates nahi de rahi thi, isliye maine socha ki main khud aakar dekh loon. Tum kaise ho?" Wo Alika ki taraf dekhte hue puchhta hai. Main uski taraf dekhte hoon, uska chehra puri tarah se samajh nahi pa raha hai.
"Maaf kijiye, aap kaun hai?"
"Usne tumhe kal raat yahaan uthakar laya. Wo tumhara rajkumar hai." Main use jawab dene se pehle hi beech mein bol deti hoon. Wo thoda sharmaata hai lekin muskurata hai.
"Main yeh keh raha tha ki tum—"
"Dhanyavaad." Alika bhi use beech mein rok deti hai.
"Koi baat nahi."

---

"Aur tum iski dekhbhal kar sakte ho?" Doctor mujhse puchhta hai.
"Haan."
"Thik hai, wo ab chhutki le sakti hai." Doctor corridor mein chali jaati hai. Thodi der baad wo wapas aati hai. "Chhutki lene ke liye tayyar hai." Wo mujhe muskurahat ke saath dekhti hai.
"Dhanyavaad." Main muskurati hoon. Alika apne boyfriend Raju ke saath jhuki hui hai aur kamra chhodti hai. Raju mere saath chalta hai lekin ruk kar mujhe intezaar karta hai. Main kamre se bahar nikalti hoon aur wo mere saath chalta hai. "Unhe itni jaldi dekhkar accha lagta hai." Main unhe lift mein jaate dekh rahi hoon.
"Main nahi dekh sakta ki wo kyun itne jaldi hain. Dono hi to hangover mein hain." Raju neeche dekhte hue kehta hai. Main phat kar hans padti hoon.
"Wo itne chanchal hone wale hain."
"Yeh tum keh rahi ho." Wo lift ka button dabaata hai aur hum intezaar karte hain.
"Humein mere ghar kuch karna padega." Main lift ki ghanti sunte hi chali jaati hoon.
"Ham?" Wo apne bhangraun ko jhukaata hai.
"Oh," Main apne baalon mein haath daalti hoon. "Mujhe laga tum bhi aaoge, par tumhe nahi aana chahiye."
"Main aaunga." Wo mujhe hanskar keh raha hai.
"Kitna badtameez." Main halki si uske haath ko thapad lagati hoon.

Hum alag alag gaadiyon mein mere ghar jaate hain. Main akeli aakhri pahunchti hoon. Main apni gaadi ko driveway mein park karte hue baarish ki halki halki aawaaz sunte hue ek minute tak rukti hoon, phir gaadi band kar leti hoon. Main samne ke darwaze ki taraf jaati hoon, abhi bhi party ke liye pehene wale kapdon mein. Main darwaza kholti hoon aur andar jaati hoon.
"Hello?" Main andar jaate hue kehti hoon. Mujhe pata hai ki meri maa yahaan nahi hai aur mera baap bhi shayad nahi hai, lekin main hamesha check karti hoon. Main Alika ka boyfriend Arif ko sunti hoon jo peeche darwaza band kar raha hai.
"Ki tumhari maa bahar hai?" Alika mujhe dekhti hai.
"Haan." Main apne maathay ko masaj karte hue kehati hoon. "Main ab ek shower lene ja rahi hoon. Mujhe tum dono par bharosa hai ki mere ghar ko kharab nahi karoge."
"Ki tum sach mein kar rahi ho?" Arif hans raha hai. Main use gusse se dekhti hoon phir seedhe seedhe seedhiyon par chadh jaati hoon. Main ek pair ki sweatpants aur tank top uthati hoon phir shower ki taraf jaati hoon.

Main apne shower se jaldi bahar aati hoon kyunki mujhe un par bilkul bhi bharosa nahi hai. Khaas taur par Raju par, kyunki main use achhe se nahi jaanti. Main apne baalon ko towel se sookhati hoon aur usme se kuchh nahi karti. Baki sabko hawa se sookh jaane deti hoon aur ek hoodie pehenti hoon, baarish mujhe thandi lag rahi hai. Main neeche jaakar dekhte hoon ki sab sofa par baitha hai.
"Bhai, waah!" Raju hans raha hai. "Uska kehna tha, 'tum to mazak kar rahe ho!'" Doonon hasne lagte hain.
"Majama hai kya?" Main kehkar kitchen mein chali jaati hoon.
"Wo kitna hasya hai." Alika kitchen mein aati hai. "Wo mujhe bhoolne laga hai ki main kitni hungover hoon."
"Ye toh hamesha aise hi hota hai, piye hue log zyada chanchal lagte hain." Main aankhein ghumati hoon aur fridge se paani uthati hoon. "Tumhe thodi der ke liye bahut paani peena padega." Main usse ek bottle deti hoon. Raju aur Arif kitchen mein aate hain, ab bhi hasne lage hain.
"Sab kya khana chahte hain?"
"Mujhe pata hai mujhe kya khana hai." Main Arif ki awaaz sunti hoon. Phir kuch seconds baad ek thapad ki awaaz aati hai.
"Main to wo nahi bana sakti." Main dekhte hi dekhti hoon ki Alika ka chehra laal hai aur Arif hansi chhupane ki koshish kar raha hai. Main Raju ki taraf dekhti hoon.
"Mujhe koi parwaah nahi." Wo keh raha hai.
"Teen log hain aur mujhe koi idea nahi hai."
"Mujhe grilled cheese chahiye." Alika chirp karti hai.
"Wo sabko chahiye kya?" Main puchhti hoon jab ladke sir hilaate hain. "Thik hai, par tumhe jaana padega, Alika."
"Par mama!" Wo shikayat karti hai phir hasi.
"Agar main tumhari maa hoon, toh main tumhe saza dene mein nahi hichkichaoongi."
"Thik hai, gusse se." Wo kitchen se bahar jaakar living room mein chali jaati hai, Arif peeche jaata hai.
"Kya madad chahiye?" Raju apne hoodie ke haath uthata hai.
"Bilkul, kya tum ek pan utha sakte ho?" Main ek drawer ki taraf ishara karti hoon. Wo haan karte hain aur ek nikaalte hain jab main grease nikaal rahi hoon. Main stove on karti hoon aur pot rakh deti hoon. Thodi der baad, main grease daalti hoon.
"Kya tumhari maa ko pata hai ki hum yahaan hain?"
"Usse parwaah nahi." Main pehla grilled cheese banana shuru karti hoon.

---

Hum sab ek movie dekhte hue khana kha rahe hain, jo Alika ne chunhi hai. Wo apne boyfriend ke saath sofa par baithi hai jabki main aur Raju dusre sofa par baithkar TV dekh rahe hain. Wo ek taraf hai jabki main doosri taraf.
"Tumhari maa kab wapas aati hai?" Alika mujhe dekhti hai.
"Thik se nahi pata. Aasha hai is hafte ya agle hafte wapas aayegi."
"Business trip?" Raju puchhta

hai.
"Haan, wo ek lawyer hai. Hamesha trip par hoti hai."
"Woh acha nahi." Uska grilled cheese khatam ho jaata hai. Main sirf kuch bites khud se rahti hoon lekin mujhe bhook nahi lag rahi.
"Kya sab khana khatam kar chuke hain?" Main uthkar puchhti hoon. Alika ghoonti hai aur Arif apna plate meri taraf le jaata hai. Main sab plates uthakar kitchen sink mein rakh deti hoon. Mujhe apne phone ki aawaz sunayi deti hai jab main dining room mein hoti hoon aur uspe jaakar uthane lagti hoon.
"Hello?" Main keh rahi hoon.
"Hi." Main apni maa ki aawaz sun rahi hoon, wo khush hai.
"Hi." Main muskurati hoon.
"Main yahaan kuch samay tak fasi hoon, mujhe Friday ke aas paas ghar nahi aana hai."
"Kyoon?" Main apne aawaz mein udasi ko chhupane ki koshish karti hoon. Ghar khaali hone par akele lagta hai.
"Yeh ek lambi case hai. Unhe ise extend karna pada." Wo sigh karti hai.
"Oh."
"Mujhe suna hai wahaan ek bada storm aa raha hai, dhyan rakhna, thik hai?"
"Main rakhungi, maa." Wo chup ho jaati hai jaise kai waqt tak.
" kya tumne apne papa se suna hai?" Wo lagbhag fusahti hai.
"Nahi." Main ghar mein dekhte hoon jaise usse yahaan dekhti hoon.
"Main jitna jaldi ho sake ghar aane ki koshish kar rahi hoon." Wo jaldi se baat badalti hai.
"Thik hai." Main khidki se bahar dekhne lagti hoon aur dekhti hoon ki bijli chamakti hai. Kuch seconds baad ek ghera thunder ki aawaz sunayi deti hai.
"Main tumse pyaar karti hoon." Main apni maa ke muskurate chehre ko sun sakti hoon.
"Main bhi tumse pyaar karti hoon." Main muskurate hue phone rakh deti hoon aur apne phone ko table par rakh deti hoon phir living room mein laut jaati hoon.
"Wo kaun tha? Tumhara boyfriend?" Raju hansi mein keh raha hai.
"Maa, lekin bilkul hai."

---

"Arre!" Main Alika ki cheekh sun rahi hoon. Kamra achanak se andhera ho jaata hai.
"Yeh tumne kya kiya?!" Main cheekhti hoon.
"Yeh mera nahi tha! Yeh to storm ka hai." Wo dusre kone se cheekhti hai.
"Bahut badhiya." Main deewaron ke saath chalte hue kitchen ki taraf jaati hoon. Main drawers mein haath daalti hoon aur ek kholti hoon. "Yahan ek flashlight honi chahiye." Main haath daalti hoon. "Ouch! Crap." Main cheekhti hoon.
"Kya tum thik ho?" Raju ka awaz auron se zyada nazdeek hai lekin ab bhi thoda door.
"Haan, main soch rahi hoon ki mujhe knife pakad liya." Main apne aap par aankhein ghumati hoon.
"Yeh thik hai?"
"Main nahi jaanti, kya tumhe chakkar dekhein?" Main has rahi hoon.
"Thik hai." Wo hansi se kehta hai. Main dusre drawers ko mehsoos karti hoon aur dhyan se unmein haath daalti hoon. "Perfect." Main ek flashlight nikaalti hoon aur use on karti hoon. Main kamre ko dekhti hoon aur ek lighter dhundti hoon. Main neeche jaakar jitni candles ho sake uthati hoon. Jaldi se unhe jalati hoon aur unhe alag alag jagah rakhti hoon, khas taur par living room mein.
"Tere cut ka kya?" Raju mere bagal mein khada hai aur flashlight meri haath se le leta hai.
"Main to dekhi nahi."
"Main dekh leta hoon." Wo mera haath dheere se uthata hai aur dekhta hai. "Yeh ab bhi bleeding hai." Main uski awaaz mein narazgi sun sakti hoon.
"Main theek ho jaungi." Main apna haath kheench leti hoon.
"Umeed hai."
Hum sab phir se sofa par lete hain. Ek ghante se zyada ho gaya hai aur humein ab bhi power nahi milti.
"Mera maatha dard kar raha hai." Alika gila karte hue kehti hai.
"Yeh shayad kuch der tak dard karega." Main sofa ke arm par apna sir rakh deti hoon.
"Main toh yeh nahi sochti thi ki main itna peene lagi thi."
"Main yeh nahi sochti thi ki mujhe tumhe dekhna padega." Main use tease karti hoon.
"Bahut funny." Wo yawn karti hai.
"Main jaanti hoon."
"Yeh kitna thanda hai." Wo shikayat karti hai.
"Main jaanti hoon." Main dohraati hoon.
"Ki tumhare paas heater nahi hai?"
"Main nahi jaanti ki generator kahan hai." Main dhyan se dekh rahi hoon ki kaise thandi ho rahi hoon.
"Tum bilkul bekar ho." Uska chehra bilkul bachche ki tarah lagta hai.
Thodi der baad, Alika so jaati hai. Main sun sakti hoon ki uski saans gehri ho gayi hai. Arif bhi aadha ghanta so raha hai. Main sun rahi hoon ki baarish ghar ke chhat par gir rahi hai.
"Raju?" Main puchhti hoon. Main kuch pal rukti hoon. Kuch nahi. "Aur main akeli jag rahi hoon." Main khud se kehti hoon. "Shandar." Main halka sa bolti hoon jab main sofa par lete lete upar dekhti hoon. Main dekhti nahi hoon, zaroor. Main aankhein band karke thunder ki aawaz sun rahi hoon. Main aankhon ke peechhe chamakti bijli dekh sakti hoon. Main apne aap ko gale lagati hoon aur palat jaati hoon. Ab meri aankhein khuli hain aur andhere mein aage dekhti hoon. Power flicker hoti hai aur meri aankhein jalti hain. "Aah." Main apni aankhein masaj karti hoon aur khadi hoti hoon. Mere aankhein ek minute se zyada samay le leti hain aur main uth jaati hoon. Main saari candles bujha deti hoon aur unhe wapas unke jagah rakhti hoon. Main heater chalu karti hoon aur kuch pillows aur blankets uthati hoon. Main wapas living room mein jaati hoon, Arif ko blanket dikhati hoon aur ek pillow uske bagal mein rakhti hoon. Main dheere se Alika ka sir uthati hoon aur ek pillow uske neeche rakh deti hoon. Main usse blanket mein lapet leti hoon phir Raju ki taraf jaati hoon. Usko bhi wahi karti hoon jo Arif ke liye kiya lekin main is baar dhyan rakhti hoon ki wo blanket mein achhe se lapet jaaye. Main lights off karti hoon aur TV ko thoda sa on karti hoon takki humare paas kuch roshni ho. Main volume off kar deti hoon aur sofa par lete lete so jaati hoon.

---

Ek phone ringing ki awaz mujhe jagata hai aur main achanak uthti hoon. Main kamre ko dekh rahi hoon aur sab log abhi bhi so rahe hain. Main apne chehre par haath mar kar khadi hoti hoon. Main ringing ki taraf jaati hoon aur phone utha leti hoon.
"Haan?"
"Hello, Ms. Ladeski. Main sirf yeh kehne ke liye call kar rahi hoon ki tumne abhi tak apni electric bill nahi bhari hai, agar nahi bhari to mujhe ise jald hi band karna padega." Ek purush ki awaaz hai.
"Crap, thik hai. Kya main tumhe call back kar sakti hoon?"
"Haan, ma'am." Wo jawab deta hai aur main phone rakh deti hoon. Main apne maa ko dial karti hoon aur kuch pal intezaar karti hoon.
"Hello?" Uski awaaz dheere hai.
"Maa?"
"Main ek meeting mein hoon, kya yeh kuch der baad ho sakta hai?" Wo puchhti hai.
"Main, umm, nahi jaanti." Main apne ha

ath se wooden table par ungli se khelti hoon.
"Kya hai?"
"Electric company ne kaha ki unhe payment nahi mila. Woh jaldi power band karenge." Main uske jawab ke liye intezaar karti hoon.
"Kya tum kisi aur ke paas kuch din reh sakti ho? Main rehab bills par peeche hoon aur..."
"Thik hai, maa. Fikr mat karo. Main nahi chahiye tha ki tumhe call karoon." Main lagbhag haklati hoon.
"Bachche, mujhe maaf karna." Wo sigh karti hai. Main sun sakti hoon ki koi background mein use bulata hai.
"Thik hai, maa. Main kuchh nikaal loon gi. Main tumse pyaar karti hoon."
"Main bhi tumse pyaar karti hoon." Wo udas hai lekin fir bhi khush lagti hai. Main phone rakh deti hoon aur sigh karti hoon. Main electric company ko dobara dial karti hoon aur kitchen mein chali jaati hoon.
"Hello?"
"Hi, yeh Ms. Ladeski hai."
"Hello." Wo purush jawab deta hai.
"Mere paas paisa nahi hai." Main itni dheere kehti hoon ki main khud nahi sun paati.
"Kya?"
"Mere paas paisa nahi hai." Main thoda uchi awaz mein kehti hoon.
"Humein ise band karna padega."
"Main jaanti hoon." Main sigh karte hue apne pairon par dekhti hoon.
"Agar kuch badalta hai to humein bata dena, hum ise wapas chalu kar denge. Tumhare paas abhi ek ya do din hain."
"Thik hai, dhanyavaad." Main jaldi se phone rakh deti hoon aur apne hothon ko kaatne lagti hoon.
"Knock knock." Raju.
"Hey." Main ghoom kar muskurati hoon.
"Sab kuch thik hai?" Wo meri phone ki taraf dekhte hue puchhta hai, phir mujhe dekhte hain.
"Thik hai."
Ghar ke 11 baje Alika finally uthti hai.
"Mujhe bhook lagi hai." Wo ghamgheen hoti hai.
"Tum to abhi tak paanch minute bhi nahi rahi ho."
"Khila do mujhe." Wo mujhe dekhte hue kah rahi hai.
"Chalo, sab milkar breakfast ke liye chalte hain." Arif sujhaav deta hai.
"Alika ko yahaan rehna padega." Main use aur Arif ko dekhte hue kehati hoon.
"Wo aur main bas bahar jaate hain aur kuch le aate hain."
"Thik hai, koi bekaar kaam mat karna." Main apne haathon ko kruz karte hue keh rahi hoon jab wo khadi ho jaati hai aur darwaze ki taraf jaati hai.
"Khanna." Wo jaldi se bahar nikal jaati hai. Arif apne keys aur wallet uthata hai aur uske peeche chalta hai. Main uthti hoon aur kitchen mein paani ka bottle uthane jaati hoon.
"Main raat ko kab soyi?" Raju darwaze se puchhta hai.
"Bohot der nahi." Main paani pee kar keh rahi hoon. "Kya tum hamesha pehle date par so jaate ho?" Main use dekhti hoon.
"Mujhe nahi pata ki yeh date hai." Wo jawab deta hai. Main turant isse kehne par pachtati hoon lekin uski muskurahat mujhe tasalli deti hai. "Main sirf tumhe tease kar raha tha."
"Really?"
"Hum sirf ek acchi date par jaana padega."