Awaazon Ka Ghera

Zayan ki Ammi ki awaaz ne jaise pur-sukoon lamhe ko cheel kar rakh diya. Zayan ko laga jaise uske andar ki khamoshi toot kar bikhar gayi ho. Anaya ki aankhon mein jo halka sa sukoon utra tha, wo foran khauf mein badal gaya. Usne nazrein jhukae rakhiin, jaise zameen phate aur wo usmein sama jae. "Zayan, main tumse pooch rahi hoon," Ammi ki awaaz ab aur tez ho gayi thi. Unki aankhon mein be-aitmadi aur pareshani thi. "Ye larki kaun hai? Aur tum log yahan kya kar rahe ho?" Zayan ko laga jaise uske galay mein ganth par gayi ho. Lafz bahar nikal hi nahi rahe thay. Usne Anaya ki taraf dekha, uska rang pehle se zyada zard ho gaya tha aur uske hath railing ko mazbooti se pakre hue thay. Zayan ko maloom tha Anaya ke liye ye situation kitni mushkil thi. Uski social anxiety us waqt apni inteha par hogi. "Ammi, ye Anaya hai," Zayan ne himmat kar ke kaha, uski awaaz mein thartharahat thi. "Ye... meri दोस्त hai." Dost ka lafz usne jaan boojh kar halka rakha, baqi sab kuch uska dil cheekh cheekh kar kehna chahta tha. "Dost?" Ammi ne ankhain sikod kar Anaya ko sar se paaon tak dekha. "Aur dost ke saath tum aise andhere mein balcony mein kya kar rahe ho? Functions mein shamil nahi hona chahiye? Logon mein nahi baithna chahiye?" Unhone zor dekar Anaya ki taraf ishara kiya. "Aur tum... beta, tumne apna chehra kyun chhupa rakha hai? Logon ki aankhon mein dekh kar baat kiya karo." Anaya ka dil tezi se dhadak raha tha. Usse lag raha tha jaise uske andar ka har darwaza band ho gaya ho. Kaash main yahan se gayab ho jaun. Usne apne angoothe masalte hue sochti, uski saans phool rahi thi. Uspar us waqt Zayan ki Ammi ka har lafz ek tez khanjar ki tarah lag raha tha. Zayan ko Anaya ki halat samajhne mein der nahi lagi. Usne Ammi ke aage aane ki koshish ki, jaise Anaya ko bacha raha ho. "Ammi, please. Wo uncomfortable ho rahi hai. Hum bas thori der ke liye hawa khane aaye thay." "Uncomfortable?" Ammi ne taana diya. "Aise functions mein aao hi mat agar comfortable nahi ho sakte. Logon ko dekh dekh kar baat karne ka salikha seekho. Ye kya tareeqa hai? Zayan, tumhen to maloom hai main kaise logon ko pasand karti hoon." Unki nazrein phir Anaya par jam gayin. "Aur tumhara beta aise logon ke saath ghoom raha hai jo chehra chhupate phirte hain." Zayan ka khoon khol utha. Usse apni Ammi ki baaton se takleef ho rahi thi, magar usse zyada is baat ki takleef thi ke Anaya ko unki wajah se sharmindagi uthani par rahi thi. Usne Anaya ki taraf dekha, uski aankhon mein nami thi. "Ammi, aisa nahi hai," Zayan ne sakhti se kaha. "Anaya ko social anxiety hai. Wo bohot brave hai ke wo yahan aayi." Ammi ne hairaan ho kar Zayan ko dekha. "Social anxiety? Ye kya naya natak hai? Pehle tum khud pareshan rehte ho, ab tum ne aise logon se dosti karna shuru kar di hai? Meri baat suno Zayan, tumhe aise logon se door rehna chahiye jo tumhari kamzoriyon ko aur badha dein." Anaya ne sar uthaya, uski aankhon mein ab dard ke sath be-yaqini bhi thi. Zayan ki Ammi ke alfaz uske dil mein teer ki tarah chubhe thay. Kya main Zayan ke liye ek kamzori hoon? "Ammi!" Zayan ne pehli baar thore ghusse se Ammi ko roka. "Aap Anaya ko nahi jaanti. Aap please uske baare mein aise baat na karein." Ammi ka chehra sakht ho gaya. "Main nahi jaanti? Main tumhari Ammi hoon Zayan, main sab jaanti hoon. Tumhare liye kya sahi hai, kya ghalat hai. Tumhe aise logon ki zaroorat hai jo tumhe logon mein ghulne milne mein madad karein, na ke unki jo khud kone mein chup kar baithte hain." Unhone ek akhri taana Anaya par phenka. "Apni taraf dekhlo Zayan. Tum mein aur is mein kya farq reh gaya hai?" Ye sun kar Anaya ki aankhon se do ansoo beh nikle aur usne apna chehra doosri taraf ghuma liya. Zayan ne usey dekha, uska dil uske seene mein phatne laga. Usse laga uski Ammi ne usey nahi, Anaya ko chot pahunchayi thi aur ye uske liye