Kohima ki subah mein ek alag hi type ka thandak hota hai. Aisa thandak jo seedha bones mein ghus jaaye aur phir bhi koi complain na kare, kyunki sabko pata hai ki yahi toh yahan ka normal hai. Abeni apni school uniform ke upar sweater ka last button band karte hue kitchen table ke paas khadi thi, aur apni notebook mein timetable dubara check kar rahi thi—Maths homework, Science project, lunch box, aur phir ghar aake Dadi ke liye garam paani. Uski age ke dusre bacche maybe bas school aur friends ke baare mein sochte honge, but Abeni ka dimag hamesha full on checklist mode mein rehta tha.
“Tu phir se itna serious kyun lag rahi hai?” Thaso ne piche se aate hi poocha.
Abeni ne bina mudhe kaha, “Kyuki koi ek kaam time pe kare na, toh ghar ka half tension khatam ho jaata hai.”
Thaso, jo apne school bag ko ek shoulder pe latka ke khada tha, muskuraya. “Matlab tu bol rahi hai ki ghar ka half tension main hoon?”
Abeni finally palti. “Matlab tu khud samajh ja.”
Thaso ne innocent face banaya, jo uske hisaab se kaafi convincing tha, but Abeni ko toh lagta tha is face ke piche sirf naya drama chhupa hota hai. Woh 11 saal ka tha, aur uska confidence dekh ke kabhi-kabhi lagta tha jaise woh already life ka sabse bada explorer ban chuka hai. Problem bas ye thi ki uske “experiments” aksar Abeni ke liye headache ban jaate the.
Tabhi living room se Dadi ki halki si khansi sunayi di. Abeni aur Thaso dono ek second ke liye chup ho gaye. Dadi zyada bolti nahi thi ab, but jab bhi unki awaaz ya khansi sunayi deti, ghar ka atmosphere automatically soft ho jaata tha. Unki chadar, unki purani shawl, aur bedside table par rakhi ek faded family photo—sab milke ek aisa silence banate the jisme memories khud ba khud aa jaati thi.
Aaj bhi Dadi bed par baithi thi, window ke bahar dekhte hue. Kohima ki hills fog mein aadhi chhupi hui thi. Mother, jo kitchen aur phone dono sambhaal rahi thi, unke paas aayi aur boli, “School ke baad jaldi ghar aa jana. Aur Abeni, Thaso ko akela mat chhodna.”
Abeni ne almost reflex mein kaha, “Main kyun? Woh akela chhodne layak hai hi nahi.”
Thaso ne turant protest kiya, “Main sun raha hoon.”
Mother ne dono ko ek look diya jo clearly bol raha tha: abhi drama mat shuru karo.
Phir Dadi ne dheere se bola, “Abeni, Thaso… thoda kaam hai.”
Dono seedhe ho gaye. Dadi ne bedside drawer se ek folded paper nikala. Paper purana lag raha tha, corners pe halka sa crease, jaise kaafi time se sambhal ke rakha gaya ho. Uske saath ek chhota sa cloth pouch bhi tha. Dadi ne pouch Abeni ke haath mein diya.
“Ye village mein le jaana hai,” Dadi ne soft voice mein kaha. “Wahan old banyan tree ke paas jo yellow house hai, usme Boro uncle rehte hain. Unko ye dena hai. Aur unko bolna… ki main yaad karti hoon.”
Abeni ne pouch ko carefully pakad liya. “Bas itna? Hum school ke baad chalte hain. Koi problem nahi.”
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Mother ne immediately bola, “Problem hai. Route easy nahi hai. Aur network wahan dead hai. Phone bhi kaam nahi karega.”
Thaso ki aankhen chamak gayin. “Dead network? Matlab adventure.”
Abeni ne usko side-eye diya. “Matlab danger.”
Dadi ne halki si smile di. “Dono sahi ho.”
Mother ne thoda sigh karke explain kiya, “Village tak seedha road nahi hai. Pehle bus, phir ek chhota uphill path. Guide bhi chahiye hoga.”
Tabhi Dadi ne ek aur line boli, jo zyada loud nahi thi but room mein reh gayi—“Dono saath jao. Akele nahi.”
Abeni ne kuch bolne ke liye muh khola hi tha ki Mother ne pehle bol diya, “Yahi final hai. Abeni, tum responsible ho. Thaso, tum follow karoge.”
Thaso ne almost offended hoke bola, “Main follow hi karunga? Main bhi useful ho sakta hoon.”
Abeni ne under-breath kaha, “Haan, kabhi-kabhi.”
Thaso ne suna aur uska face utar gaya, but phir bhi woh bola, “Main prove kar dunga.”
Abeni ko laga—great, ab ye mission ke saath ego bhi carry karna padega.
School ke baad dono apne backpacks ke saath local bus stop par khade the. Mountain road ke curves, dhund aur bus ke engine ki awaaz—sab kuch thoda slow aur thoda unpredictable lag raha tha. Bus mein log kam the, zyada tar aunties aur ek-do workers, jo apne bags ko tight pakde hue the. Abeni ne pouch ko apne bag ke andar double-wrapped karke rakha, jaise woh koi national treasure ho.
“Main nahi churaunga,” Thaso said, offended. “Main bas help kar raha hoon.”
“Help?” Abeni ne finally uski taraf dekha. “Abhi tak help ka meaning tujhe pata hai?”
Thaso ne serious tone mein bola, “Haan. Help ka matlab hota hai… jo kaam boring ho, usmein bhi thoda maza daalna.”
Abeni ne apni forehead rub ki. “Bas. Ye hi problem hai.”
Bus ne unhe village ke turn-off point par drop kiya. Aage ka path narrow tha—ek side pe pine trees, doosri side pe wet mud aur neeche valley ka view, jo beautiful tha but us moment pe Abeni ko zyada beautiful nahi lag raha tha. Upar se halka drizzle start ho gaya tha. Thaso ne turant apni hoodie head pe kheench li.
“Main bola tha na adventure,” usne smug ho ke kaha.
Abeni ne dry voice mein jawab diya, “Adventure tab hota hai jab plan ho. Ye bas inconvenience hai.”
Woh dono path par chalne lage. Thaso har dusre minute koi na koi cheez point out kar raha tha—“Ye dekh, bird!” “Ye stone bilkul turtle jaisa hai!” “Arey, yahan se view movie jaisa hai!” Abeni ko lag raha tha uska patience slowly drain ho raha hai.
Phir ek point par path do taraf split ho gaya. Ek narrow trail left mein jaata tha aur doosra thoda uphill right mein.
Abeni ne map nikal ke dekha. “Right side.”
Thaso ne left trail ki taraf ishara kiya. “Nahi, left better lag raha hai.”
“Tumhe hamesha ‘better lag raha hai’ se problem hoti hai,” Abeni muttered.
“Aur tumhe hamesha ‘main hi sahi hoon’ se.”
Abeni ne usko ek look diya. “Main sahi hoti hoon.”
“Dekha?” Thaso said.
Abeni ne map aur surroundings ko compare kiya. Thoda light kam tha, aur drizzle ab rain mein badal rahi thi. “Right hi hai. Chal.”
Thaso ne kuch aur bolne ki jagah chupchaap follow kiya. Lekin kuch minute baad path aur rough ho gaya. Mud slippery tha, aur ek jagah Abeni ka foot fisalte-fisalte bacha. Thaso ne reflex mein uska bag pakad liya.
Abeni ne bag adjust karte hue kaha, “Ek baar help kar diya toh king ban gaya?”
“King nahi, just observant.”
Woh aage badhe hi the ki Abeni ko feel hua uske bag ka side pocket open hai. Uska heart ek second ke liye skip hua. Wahi pouch! Usne turant bag khola, but rain ki wajah se bag ke andar cheezein thodi mixed ho chuki thi. Pouch mil gaya, but cloth thoda wet tha.
Abeni ka mood aur kharab ho gaya. “Great. Ab ye bhi geela ho gaya.”
Thaso ne dekha aur ek second mein serious ho gaya. “Mere paas jacket hai.”
“Tu pehle se de deta toh?”
“Tumne poocha nahi.”
Abeni ne gusse mein pouch ko aur tightly pakad liya. “Tum bas faltu mein interfere mat karo. Har cheez mein hero banne ki zarurat nahi hai.”
Thaso ka face suddenly hard ho gaya. “Main hero banne ki koshish nahi kar raha. Main bas kuch karna chahta hoon. Tum mujhe kabhi trust hi nahi karti.”
Abeni ruk gayi. Rain unke beech ki chuppi par tap-tap gir rahi thi. Thaso ki voice mein woh childish fun nahi tha ab. Usme genuine hurt tha.
Abeni ne thoda defensive hoke bola, “Kyuki tu serious nahi hota.”
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Thaso ne almost quickly jawab diya, “Aur tum kabhi relax nahi hoti!”
Woh dono ek dusre ko dekh rahe the, saans tez, rain cold, aur mountain ka silent background unke argument ko aur bhi sharp bana raha tha. Abeni ko laga woh sab sambhaal rahi thi, par us moment mein usko bhi samajh nahi aa raha tha ki itna pressure kyun feel ho raha hai. Shayad kyunki Dadi ki wish ka matlab bas ek delivery nahi tha. Shayad kyunki woh khud bhi chahti thi ki koi usse bole—haan, tum sahi kar rahi ho, tum akeli nahi ho.
Thaso ne side mein mud ke bola, “Mujhe lagta hai tum mujhe baby samajhti ho.”
Abeni ki aankhon mein irritation ke saath kuch aur bhi tha. “Aur mujhe lagta hai tum har waqt prove karne mein lage rehte ho.”
“Kyuki mujhe chance hi nahi milta.”
Ye line simple thi, but usne Abeni ko thoda silent kar diya.
Usi time path ke side mein ek chhota sa tea stall dikha. Ek local uncle umbrella ke neeche chai bana rahe the. Unhone dono ko dekh ke bas ek line boli, “Rain mein argument ka taste aur badh jaata hai. Aao, chai pee lo. Phir decide karna kaun sahi hai.”
Abeni aur Thaso dono chup ho gaye. Uncle ka dry humor, bilkul mountain weather ki tarah, seedha hit kar gaya. Woh dono stool par baith gaye. Chai ka glass warm tha, aur steam ke saath thoda sa peace bhi aa gaya.
Uncle ne pouch ki taraf dekhte hue poocha, “Dadi ka kaam hai?”
Abeni ne nod kiya.
Uncle ne dheere se kaha, “Toh phir samajh lo, kaam se zyada important raasta hota hai. Aur raaste mein har koi same speed se nahi chalta.”
Thaso ne glass niche rakhte hue poocha, “Aapko kaise pata?”
Uncle ne haath se hills ki taraf ishara kiya. “Yahan log jaldi mein bhi dheere samajh jaate hain.”
Abeni ne kuch nahi bola, but us line ne uske andar kuch loosen kar diya. Thaso ne bhi chupchaap apna chai glass pakad liya. Rain ab thodi kam ho rahi thi.
Jab woh phir se chale, Thaso ne bina maange apna jacket Abeni ke bag ke upar daal diya. “Pouch ko dry rakhna hai,” usne casually bola. “Aur haan, main left path ko galat maanta hoon.”
Abeni ne uski taraf dekha. “Abhi bhi?”
“Abhi bhi.”
“Stubborn.”
“Family trait.”
Abeni ko pehli baar us baat pe hasi aa gayi. Chhoti si, but real.
Village ke paas pahunchte-pahunchte evening ka light grey sky orange mein badal raha tha. Old banyan tree ke neeche yellow house sach mein waisa hi tha jaise Dadi ne bataya tha—thoda faded, thoda quiet, aur bahut zyada memory-loaded. Boro uncle gate par hi mil gaye. Unhone pouch aur note dekha, phir bas ek lambi saans li.
“Dadi ne bheja hai?” unhone poocha.
Abeni ne nodded.
Uncle ne note khola. Thaso side mein khada tha, unusually silent. Uncle ne padhte hi aankhen thodi moist ho gayin, but unhone quickly apna face normal kar liya. “She remembered,” he said softly. “After all these years.”
Phir unhone dono ko dekha aur bole, “Dadi ne jo likha hai, woh bas message nahi hai. Woh keh rahi hain ki purane gile-shikwe yahin chhod do. Family ko break karke mat rakho.”
Abeni ne Thaso ki taraf dekha. Thaso ne bhi uski taraf dekha. Dono ne ek dusre se koi dramatic sorry nahi bola. Na hi koi movie-style hug hua. Bas itna hua ki Abeni ne pouch ko pehle se kam tight pakda, aur Thaso ne seedha poocha, “Ab ghar ka raasta mujhe yaad hai. Main lead karun?”
Abeni ne pehle toh na kehna tha. Habit hi aisi thi. But phir usne Dadi ki face yaad ki, aur tea stall wale uncle ki line bhi.
“Thik hai,” usne bola. “Par galat hua toh main bolungi.”
Thaso grinned. “Deal.”
Wapas route par, darkness dheere-dheere hills ko cover kar rahi thi. Network ab bhi dead tha. No calls, no messages, no updates. But strange thing ye thi ki Abeni ko pehli baar is dead network se itni problem nahi ho rahi thi. Thaso aage-aage chal raha tha, aur har turn pe wahi karta jo Abeni usually karti thi—surroundings observe karna, wet stones avoid karna, aur kabhi-kabhi ruk ke piche dekhna.
Ek point par Abeni ne quietly poocha, “Tujhe ye route itna kaise yaad hai?”
Thaso ne shoulder shrug kiya. “Main sunta hoon na. Bas tum notice nahi karti.”
Abeni ne uski taraf dekha, and for the first time, uska irritation respect mein badal raha tha. “Okay,” she said. “That was actually helpful.”
Thaso ne smile chhupa li. “Bas actually bolna zaroori tha?”
“Thoda sa.”
“Fair.”
Jab woh ghar pahunche, Mother gate par khadi thi, visibly worried. Unhone dono ko dekhte hi relief ki saans li. “Finally. Theek ho?”
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Mother ne unke wet shoes, muddy pants aur exhausted faces ko dekha. Phir woh bas itna boli, “Good. Dadi ko pata chal jaayega.”
Raat ko jab Abeni apne room mein chadar ke andar ghusi, toh uske bag ke andar wahi pouch aur note ka ek corner dikh raha tha. Thaso doorway par khada tha. “Abeni,” usne dheere se bola.
“Hm?”
“Next time jab main kuch bolun na… pehle poora sun lena.”
Abeni ne pillow ko adjust kiya. “Aur tu next time pehle serious act kar lena.”
Thaso ne phir wahi nawaala smile diya. “Try karunga.”
Usne door band kiya, but is baar Abeni ko uska room se jaana annoying nahi laga.
Dadi ki wish ne koi miracle nahi kiya tha. Koi magical transformation nahi hua tha. Par kuch subtle, important change zaroor hua tha. Abeni ne samjha ki leadership ka matlab sab kuch control karna nahi hota. Kabhi-kabhi trust dena bhi leadership hoti hai. Aur Thaso ne samjha ki useful hona sirf loud hone se nahi, sahi waqt pe sahi kaam karne se hota hai.
Aur shayad, family ka asli raasta bhi wahi tha—muddy, steep, thoda confusing, lekin dono ke pairon se banne wala.
Storydilse ke pyaare readers, itna saath dene ke liye dil se thank you. Aapki padhne ki aadat aur pyaar hi in kahaniyon ko zinda rakhta hai. Aise hi storydilse ke saath jude rahiye, aur apna pyaar aur support hamesha banaye rakhiye.
