Shraapit Shortcut: Jab Google Maps Humein Jaipur-Jaisalmer Ke Ek Bhutaha Raaste Par Le Gaya...

Yeh baat bilkul sach hai ki Rajasthan ki sadko par raat ke waqt gaadi nahi chalana chahiye. Rajasthan ki mitti apne andar kitne raaz aur kitne khaufnaak rahasya lapete huye hai, yeh hum aam insan samajh hi nahi sakte. Unhi gahre rahasyo me se ek hai yahan ki bhatakti aatmaon aur bhuto ka saya. Woh ek khaufnaak raat, jo Jaipur se Jaisalmer ke safar par shuru hui, hamari zindagi ka sabse bhayanak manzar ban jayegi, yeh humne sapne me bhi nahi socha tha. Kisi tarah maut ke muh se jaan bachi hai, isiliye aaj yeh dastaar mai aapke saath share kar raha hu…

Baat un dino ki hai jab January ki thand me mere do dost, Rajesh aur Prashant, Mumbai se mere shahar Jaipur ghumne aaye the. Main unke aane se behad khush tha. Maine khub aav-bhagat kiya, unhe pura Jaipur ghumaya. Jaipur ki shaan-o-shaukat aur Rajasthani culture ko itne kareeb se dekh kar aisa lag raha tha maano hum kisi purane zamane me chale gaye ho jahan raja-maharaja hua karte the.

January ke us gulabi jaade me Jaisalmer ka craze bhi kaafi bana hua tha. Bohot se log Jaisalmer ke registaan me camping aur adventure ke liye jaa rahe casualties the. Humne socha kyun na hum teeno bhi Jaipur se Jaisalmer ki ek road trip plan karein. Phir kya tha, hum taiyaar ho gaye. Par hume kya pata tha ki yeh suhana safar hamare liye adventure kam, zindagi ka sabse khaufnaak wakaya banne wala hai.

Humne decide kiya ki Friday night ko hum Jaipur se Ajmer-Jodhpur hote huye Jaisalmer ke liye nikalenge, taaki subah ki pehli chai Jaisalmer me pee sakein. Isi excitement ke saath, raat ke kareeb 8 baje humne meri car se road trip shuru ki. Hamari car ab Jaipur-Ajmer Highway par sarpat daude jaa rahi thi.

 

Abhi hum Ajmer se pehle Kishangarh pahonchne hi wale the ki achanak hamare samne ek bike wale ka bhayanak accident ek tez raftar truck ke saath ho gaya. Truck ke pahiye ke neeche aane ki wajah se us bike wale ki mauke par hi dardnaak aur rooh-kanpau maut ho gayi. Charo taraf khoon hi khoon tha. Yeh sab apni aankho se dekh kar hamare beech ek ajeeb si khamoshi chha gayi. Hum teeno sahme huye aage badhe.

Raat ke kareeb 10:30 baje hum Ajmer pahonche aur ek sunsaan highway dhabe par dinner ke liye ruke. Tabhi wahan wahi truck aakar ruka, jis se us bike wale ka accident hua tha. Hum teeno gaur se us khali truck ko dekhne lage. Tabhi achanak mujhe aisa ehsaas hua ki aas-paas ka sab kuch ekdum shaant ho gaya hai—ek ajeeb, behad gehra sannata. Meri aankhein us truck par tik gayi aur mai ek-tak usey ghhure jaa raha tha. Aisa lag raha tha jaise woh truck mujhe kisi chumbak ki tarah apni aur kheench raha ho. Mai ek dum sammohan (hypnosis) me jaane laga, dimaag sunn ho raha tha.

"Kahan kho gaya bhai? Chal, ab nikalna hai!"

Achanak Rajesh ne mere kandhe par haath rakha. Mai jhatke se hosh me aaya aur kaanp utha. Woh kya tha? Mai kuch samajh nahi paya, par hum teeno ab Ajmer se Jodhpur Highway ki aur nikal pade.

 

Ab raat gehrane lagi thi aur highway ka traffic kaafi had tak kam ho chuka tha. Sunsaan sadak par kuch hi gaadiyan dikh rahi thi, par unme sabse zyaada sirf truck hi truck dikhayi de rahe the. Abhi hum Byawar pahonche hi the aur wahan se Jodhpur ki taraf jaane wale highway par mude hi the ki car ki tez headlights ki roshni me humne sadak ke kinare kuch dekha.

Highway ke ek taraf kareeb 4 se 5 log safed kapdo me lete huye the. Aisa lag raha bha jaise safed chadar pahan kar so rahe ho. Tabhi Rajesh darr kar bola, "Woh kaun log hain jo is thand me highway par so rahe hain?" Prashant bhi unhe hi ghhurne laga. Aisa lag raha tha ki ya toh kuch log so rahe hain ya phir koi bhayanak accident hua hai aur unki lashon ko safed kapde se dhank kar highway ke kinare rakh diya gaya hai.

Rajesh ne kapkapati aawaz me kaha, "Yeh kya ho raha hai?" Tabhi Prashant ne mujhe tokte huye kaha, "Bhai dekh, kuch bhi ho gaadi sambhal ke chalana, tu kisi ko mat thok dena." Maine darr chupane ke liye haste huye kaha, "Pagal hai kya!"

Mai dono ki baaton ka jawab toh de raha tha, par gaadi chalate-chalate meri nazar rear-view mirror (piche dekhne wale kaanch) par gayi. Jo maine dekha, usse mera khoon jam gaya. Woh jo safed kapde pehne lete huye the, woh achanak ek saath jhatke se khade ho gaye! Unhone wahi safed chadar odhi hui thi aur woh highway ke beechom-beech aakar khade ho gaye. Unke chehre dhanke the par unke haath meri car ki taraf ajeeb tarike se hil rahe the, jaise hume rukne ka ishara kar rahe ho ya bula rahe ho! Maine yeh sab mirror me dekha par mere dono dost is baat se bilkul anjaan the. Maine bina koi react kiye gaadi ki raftaar badha di aur Jodhpur ki aur nikal gaya. Par mere dimaag me wahi chal raha tha—woh kya tha? Kaun the woh? Pehle us dhabe par aur ab yahan... yeh sab kya ho raha hai?

Kisi tarah hum Jodhpur city ke outer ring road highway par pahonch chuke the aur raat ke kareeb 2 bajne wale the. Humne decide kiya ki kisi jagah ruk kar chai pee jaaye taaki neend ud sake. Humne highway ke kinare ek chhoti si chai ki dukaan dekhi aur gaadi wahi khadi kar ke chai peene lage.

Tabhi Rajesh bola, "Tujhe kya lagta hai, woh safed chadar pehne huye kaun leta tha us highway par?" Prashant ne kaha, "Abey koi truck wale honge, raat ko woh log aise hi so jaate hain highway par." Maine turant reply kiya, "Par agar woh truck wale the, toh unki truck kahan thi? Wahan aas-paas ek bhi truck nahi tha!" Rajesh ne bhi haan me haan milayi, "Haa, wahan koi truck nahi thi. Agar accident bhi hua hota toh ambulance unki body le jaati, aise hi thodi chhod deti. Aur wahan unke alawa koi tha bhi nahi."

Abhi hum yeh sab baatein kar hi rahe the ki tabhi us dukan ke budhe chai-wale ne Rajasthani bhasa me bola:

"Kaie baat kar rahe ho bhaya? Byawar-Jodhpur highway par woh chadar odh kar sone wale ki baat kar rahe ho ke?"

Main chaunk gaya aur bola, "Haan... par aapko kaise pata?"

Woh chai wala ajeeb tarike se muskuraya aur bola, "Bhaya tum pehle nahi ho... bohot logo ne dekha hai unhe. Accha hua tum logo ne gaadi wahan nahi roki, nahi toh tum saare mere chai ki dukaan par khade hokar chai na pee rahe hote... balki tum bhi wahi par chadar odhe lete hote unke beech!"

Rajesh darr ke maare kaanp utha, "Kya matlab tumhara? Aisa kyun bol rahe ho?"

Chai wale ne serious hokar kaha, "Bura mat mano, mai toh wahi bata raha hu jo sach hai. Woh saare koi aur nahi, mari huyi bhatakti aatmaon ka dera hai. Jo bhi raat 12 baje ke baad us jagah se hokar guzarata hai, sabko dikhti hain. Bas koi rukata nahi, par jo ruka... woh wapas kabhi nahi jata, unka hi saath wahi chut jata hai. Wahan ek gaanv ke kisaan ka truck se accident ho gaya tha 2 saal pehle, tabse usne 4 logo ko aur khatam kar diya hai. Badhiya hai tum log wahan nahi ruke."

Prashant yeh baat sunkar poori tarah hil gaya aur bola, "Arey baap re! Yeh kya hai bhai... aisa tha kya?"

Chai wale ne pucha, "Kahan jaa rahe ho?" Humne bola, "Jaisalmer." Usne phir pucha, "Itni raat ko kyun? Din me travel kar lete." Humne kaha, "Bas kuch nahi, socha raat ka travel adventure bhi ho jayega."

Chai wale ne hame ghhura aur ek ahem salaah di, "Thik hai, par meri ek baat mano. Aap logo Pokhran Highway wale raaste se hi jana, koi shortcut mat lena! Aur haan, gaadi kahi bhi kisi sunsaan road par mat rokana, seedhe kisi petrol pump, hotel ya dhabe par hi rokana. Aur haan... jab lage tumhe ki tum kisi badi musibat me ho, toh bas Teza Ji Maharaj ka naam jor-jor se chillana!"

Hum teeno ne car me baithte hi ek dusre se kaha ki yeh chai wala kuch zyaada hi bol raha hai, shayad darane ke liye. Ho sakta hai safed chadar wali baat sach ho, par yeh kuch zyaada hi filmy ho gaya. Khair, hum teeno wahan se Jaisalmer ke liye nikal gaye.

 

Abhi hum kuch dur hi chale the ki Jodhpur se Jaisalmer jaane wala highway achanak single road ban gaya, jahan koi divider nahi tha. Gaadi thodi slow ho gayi, par hum Rajasthan ki is kaali, andheri aur sunsaan sadak par car ki tez headlights daudaye chale jaa rahe تھے. Beech-beech me bas kabhi-kabhaar koi truck nazar aa jata tha. Hum teeno ne achanak, pata nahi kyun, par ek ajeeb si khamoshi ikhtiyar kar li thi. Koi so nahi raha tha, par sab khamosh the. Humne mobile me Google Maps laga rakha tha aur usi ko follow karte huye Jaisalmer ki aur badh rahe the. Arrival time subah ke 7 baje ka dikha raha tha.

Ghadi me lagbhag raat ke 3 baj chuke the, aur raat ka woh sannata ab andar se darane laga tha. Tabhi humne woh sabse badi galti ki jo hume nahi karni chahiye thi. Us chai wale ne hume pehle hi chetavni di thi, par hum uski baaton ko bhul chuke the. Google Maps ne hume Jaisalmer jaane ke liye ek purane highway ka shortcut raasta dikhaya, jo ki Pokhran ke main highway se nahi jata tha. Woh purana rasta gaanv ki patli sadko se hota hua behad sunsaan aur beabaan raaho se Jaisalmer ki taraf jata tha. Humne anjaane me Google Maps follow karte huye usi maut ke raaste ki taraf apni car mod di. Bas, ab yahi se saari kahani khaufnaak ho jaati hai...

Main aapko batata chalu ki woh raasta kaisa tha. Woh ek gaanv ka purana, ukhda hua highway tha jo bilkul patla tha. Wahan ek waqt par sirf ek hi gaadi chal sakti thi, agar dusri gaadi ko cross karna ho toh sadak se aadha neeche kachhe me gaadi utarni padti thi. Hum us sunsaan raaste par kareeb 20 kilometer tak andar jaa chuke the, charo taraf sirf kanteedar jhadiyan aur andhera tha. Kahi koi roshni nahi thi.

Achanak, humne dekha ki samne se ek jeep behad tez raftaar se hamari taraf badhi chali aa rahi hai. Hum kaafi ghabra gaye, hume laga shayad koi lootne wali gang hogi. Par jaise hi woh jeep nazdik aayi, humne relief ki saans li—woh ek Military Jeep thi. Usme baithe ek officer ne hamari gaadi ko haath dikhaya aur rokne ko kaha. Humne gaadi roki. Officer hamari car ke paas aaya aur bola, "Itni raat ko is raaste se kahan jaa rahe ho?"

Humne kaha, "Sir, Jaisalmer."

Officer ne poocha, "Google Maps follow kar rahe ho kya?"

Humne kaha, "Haan sir."

Woh bola, "Tum logo ko is raaste par nahi aana chahiye tha. Pokhran ke main raaste se jana tha, yeh raasta sahi nahi hai." Officer ne hamari checking ki, hamari IDs dekhin aur kaha, "Theek hai, ab aa gaye ho toh gaadi slow chalana, aage raasta kharab hai. Aur yaad rakhna... agar aage koi haath dikhaye toh gaadi mat rokana, sirf Military ke alawa kisi ke liye nahi!" Aisa lag raha tha jaise woh officer hume kisi anjaane khatre ka ishara kar raha ho, par hum poori tarah samajh nahi paaye.

Jate-jate officer ne palat kar kaha, "Aur haan... Teza Ji Maharaj ka naam japte huye jana, safar aasani se kat jaayega." Hum teeno wahan se aage badh gaye aur military van gaanv ki taraf jaane wali ek dusri sadak par mud gayi.

 

Ab raat ke kareeb 3:30 ho chuke the. Hum us sunsaan raaste par chale jaa rahe the ki tabhi headlights ki roshni me hume sadak ke kinare ek aurat dikhayi di. Woh Rajasthani kapdo me thi aur usne sar par ek bhari gathri li hui thi. Woh hamari car ko dekh kar haath se lift maangne ka ishara karne lagi.

Rajesh darr se chillaya, "Gaadi mat rokana! Bilkul mat rokna!" Prashant ne kaha, "Bhai side se nikal le jaldi!" Mai bilkul shaant tha, par andar se kaanp raha hun. Man hi man sochne laga ki yaar, din me aana chahiye tha, kahan is bhootaha raat me phans gaya. Maine car ko us aurat se thoda door side se speed me nikal liya.

Rajesh aur Prashant dono ne jhatke se piche mud kar glass se us aurat ko dekhna chaha, aur mai rear-view mirror me dekhne laga. Tabhi achanak... ek jordaar, rooh ko cheer dene wali cheekh us raat ke andhere me goonj gayi! Aisa laga maano koi behad bhayanak tarike se chilla raha ho. Humne car ke saare kaanch band kar rakhe the, phir bhi woh khaufnaak aawaz hum teeno ke kaano ke parde phad rahi thi.

Ab hum teeno ki halat kharab ho chuki thi, darr ke maare mere haath kaanp rahe the aur mai car se control khone laga tha. Rajesh ne mera haath pakda aur bola, "Kuch nahi, tu dhyan se car chala, sab thik hai... bas gaadi mat rokiyo!"

Abhi is baat ko mushkil se 15 minute hi huye the ki achanak car ki roshni me ek aur aakriti dikhi. Is baar ek Rajasthani kapdo me budha aadmi, sar par pagdi pehne aur haath me ek purani laathi liye hamari gaadi ko rokne ka ishara karne laga. Rajesh phir chillaya, "Bhai kuch bhi ho jaye, gaadi mat rokana!"

Is baar bhi maine us budhe aadmi ke side se car ko tezi se bhagane ki koshish ki, par jaise hi car uske paas se guzri, us budhe aadmi ne apni laathi se hamari car par jor se de maara! Uski laathi hamari car ke left side se takrayi aur ek behad tez dhmaka (thud) hua. Khushkismati se car safe thi.

Tabhi Prashant piche mud kar dekha aur buri tarah chillaya, "Gaadi bhaga! Woh aadmi aur aurat hamare piche hi daud rahe hain!" Maine mirror me dekha—woh dono insan nahi lag rahe the, unki daudti hui aakritiyan kisi janwar ki tarah tezi se car ke piche aa rahi thi! Main gaadi ko aur tezi se bhagane laga. Car us purane ukhde highway par sirf headlights ke bharose daude jaa rahi thi.

 

Mai us dare huye haalat me gaadi tezi se bhagaye jaa raha tha ki itne me achanak—DHADAAM! Ek bakri jaisa janwar car ke front left side se tezi se takraya. Woh bakri ya waisa hi koi ajeeb janwar achanak se sadak par jaane kahan se kood gaya tha aur gaadi ke left side ke bumper se bhayanak tarike se takra gaya. Takkar itni tez thi ki gaadi ka left headlight aur bumper toot gaya. Ek headlight poori tarah foot gayi, ab sirf ek hi headlight kaam kar rahi thi aur andhera aur ghana ho gaya tha.

Par darr ke maare maine gaadi nahi roki aur bhagaye chala gaya. Tabhi humne mirror me note kiya... woh aurat aur aadmi, jo koi shaitaan ya bhoot ke roop me the, woh us mari hui bakri ke paas jakar khade ho gaye aur aasmaan ki taraf dekh kar jor-jor se ajeeb aawaze nikal kar chillane lage! Unki woh darandgi bhari aawaz is darawane mahaol ko aur bhi zyada bhayanak bana rahi thi. Rajesh aur Prashant dono piche ki taraf unhe dekh rahe the aur mai ek headlight ke sahare gaadi bhagaye jaa raha tha.

Tabhi Prashant zor se chillaya, "Gaadi bhaga full speed par! Woh dono hamari taraf hi aa rahe hain!" Maine jaise hi yeh suna, accelerator poora daba diya. Front ka bumper toot ke neeche latak chuka tha aur sadak se ragad khakar Ghharrr-Ghharrr ki bhayanak aawaz nikal raha tha, par rukne ka matlab maut tha.

 

Abhi hum thodi hi dur aage badhe the ki samne kisi gaanv ka chauraha (crossroad) aa gaya. Aur theek usi waqt, car ki jo ek light chal rahi thi, woh bhi flicker (lap-jhap) karne lagi aur dekhte hi dekhte poori tarah band pad gayi! Pura sannaata aur kaala andhera. Ab mere pass gaadi rokne ke alawa dusra koi chara nahi tha, kyunki mujhe samne ka kuch bhi dikhayi nahi de raha tha. Maine darr se kaanpte huye gaadi wahi khadi kar di.

Prashant hadbadakar bola, "Door lock kar! Gaadi poori lock kar!" Rajesh ne kaha, "Neeche nahi utarna hai... woh dono wahi khade hain... hans rahe hain hume dekh kar!"

Maine darr ke maare rote huye bola, "Woh chai wale ne aur military officer ne bataya tha na ki agar koi musibat me phans jaao toh kya kehna tha?" Rajesh bola, "Haan haan, kuch toh bola tha, yaad kar, jaldi yaad kar!" Prashant ne kaha, "Kuch maharaj jaisa naam tha..."

Maine jhat se kaha, "Haan! Yaad aaya—Teza Ji Maharaj! Chalo sab saath me bolte raho—Teza Ji Maharaj ki Jai! Teza Ji Maharaj ki Jai!" Hum teeno car ke andar baith kar jor-jor se yahi bolne lage.

TAP... TAP... TAP...

Tabhi achanak car ke left window par kisi ne knocking ki. Humne dar kar dekha... woh koi aur nahi, balki wahi khaufnaak aurat thi! Hum teeno ki rooh kaanp gayi aur hum aur jor-jor se Teza Ji Maharaj ka naam lene lage. Tabhi car ke dusri taraf se woh budha aadmi bhi aa gaya. Us waqt humne note kiya... un dono ki aankhein nahi thi! Unki aankhon ki jagah sirf kale, gehre gaddhe the aur unse khoon beh raha tha!

Dono ne milkar hamari car ko dono taraf se pakda aur jor-jor se jhatke dekar hilane lage, jaise gaadi ko palat denge! Hum teeno jor-jor se Teza Ji Maharaj ka jaykara lagaye jaa rahe the, hamari aankhein band thi aur hume lag raha tha ki aaj hamara aakhri din hai, hum nahi bachenge.

 

Achanak... sab kuch ekdum shaant ho gaya. Gaadi hilna band ho gayi. Rajesh ne dhime se aankhein kholin aur bahar dekha, "Yeh koi gaanv ka chauraha lag raha hai... chal kar kisi ghar me ghus jaate hain, koi toh darwaza kholega." Prashant ne bhi baahar dekha, "Haan, woh samne ek ghar hai shayad, wahan chalte hain." Maine darrte huye kaha, "Nahi, bahar mat niklo!" Par car kharab thi aur andar baithna maut ko bulana tha. Humne decide kiya ki teeno ek dusre ka haath kas ke pakad ke rakhenge aur lagatar Teza Ji Maharaj ka naam lete rahenge.

Hum teeno ek saath car se bahar nikle aur ek dusre ka haath jor se thham liya. Tabhi hamari nazar sadak par padi—wahi bakri, jo hamari car se takrayi thi, woh road ke beechom-beech lahu-luhan padi hui thi aur tarap rahi thi. Rajesh bola, "Kuch mat dekho, bas maharaj ka naam lete raho!"

Hum teeno naam lekar aage badhe hi the ki achanak Prashant ka pair kisi patthar se takraya aur woh neeche gir pada. Jaise hi woh neeche gira, uske haath se hamara haath chhut gaya. Aur theek usi pal, woh aurat jaane kahan se hawa ki tarah samne aayi aur usne Prashant ko gale se pakad kar hawa me utha liya!

Hum dono yeh khaufnaak manzar dekh rahe the aur jor-jor se Teza Ji Maharaj ka naam liye jaa rahe the. Manzar itna bhayanak tha ki mai shabdo me bayaan nahi kar sakta. Woh bhootaha aurat jor se Rajasthani me chillayi:

"Ke bigada tha mhaari Rajjo ne thaara? Kyun maara?!" (Kya bigada tha meri Rajjo ne tumhara? Kyun maara?)

Yeh kehte huye woh Prashant ka gala dabaye jaa rahi thi aur Prashant hawa me pair chalata hua chatpata raha tha, uska chehra neela pad raha tha.

Abhi yeh sab chal hi raha tha ki achanak gaanv ki taraf se aane wali sadak se hume ek headlight ki aati hui roshni dikhayi di. Woh ek purane Tractor ki roshni thi aur us tractor me lage speaker par behad tez aawaz me ek gaane ki dhun chal rahi thi. Jaise-jaise woh tractor nazdik aate gaya, uski roshni tez hoti gayi aur gaane ki dhun bhi saaf sunayi dene lagi. Woh koi aam gaana nahi tha, balki Teza Ji Maharaj ka lok-geet (bhajan) tha, jo speaker par poori takat se baj raha tha!

Woh tractor hamari hi taraf badha chala aa raha tha aur jaise hi woh hamare paas aakar ruka, ek chamatkar hua. Woh bakri aur woh aurat dono achanak dhooan bankar wahan se gayab ho gaye! Prashant chatpatate huye sadak par neeche gir gaya, usey jor-jor se khansi aa rahi thi.

Us tractor se ek roobdaar Rajasthani budha aadmi neeche utra. Usne Prashant ko uthate huye hum dono se kaha, "Jaldi se tractor par chadh jaao!" Hum dono ne bhi turant us budhe aadmi ki help ki, Prashant ko tractor par chadhaya aur khud bhi kood kar chadh gaye. Woh budha aadmi wahi lok-geet tez aawaz me bajate huye wapas gaanv ki taraf mud gaya aur hume apne ghar le aaya.

 

Abhi bhi raat ke kareeb 5 baje the, par thand ke us mausam me aadhi raat jaisa hi ghana andhera aur kohra tha. Hum sab jaise hi uske ghar pahonche, wahan par pehle se hi do auratein lalten liye gate par khadi hamara wait kar rahi thi. Budhe aadmi ne tractor ghar ke aangan me khada kiya, music band kiya aur hum teeno ko neeche utara. Usne mujhse poocha, "Theek ho?" Maine hichkichate huye kaha, "H-Haan..."

Ghar ki auraton ne hamare liye pehle se hi ghar ke baramde (porch) me ek khatt (chaarpai) bicha rakhi thi aur garam kambal rakhe the. Us aadmi ne kaha, "Khaat par baith jaao, ab ghabrane ki koi zaroorat naa hai. Ab hum gaanv ke daayre me hain, yahan koi naa aawega."

Hume nahi pata tha ki hamare saath kya hua aur kya ho raha tha, par maine himmat karke bol diya, "Yeh sab kya hua hamare saath? Aur woh log kaun the? Aap kaun hain?" Budhe aadmi ne sanyam se kaha, "Dheeraj rakho, sab bataunga. Pehle yeh garam-garam rabdi peeyo aur aaram karo. Yahan par sab thik hai, subah baat karenge." Maine aur Rajesh ne Prashant se poocha, "Tu thik hai?" Usne haan me sar hilaya. Ab kahi jaakar hum teeno ki jaan me jaan aayi thi. Hum teeno us khaat par adjust karte huye, rabdi peekar thand me kab so gaye, pata hi nahi chala.

 

Subah kareeb 8 baje jab hamari neend khuli, toh humne dekha ki subah ki dhoop nikal aayi thi aur woh budha aadmi ghar ke chaupal me kuch kaam kar raha tha. Usne hume dekha toh bola, "Uth gaye? Aap sab fresh ho jaao, phir baat karte hain." Aur usne aage kaha, "Ghabrane ki baat naa hai, tumhari gaadi bhi safe hai, mere aadmi le aaye hain."

Hum teeno fresh hokar aur nashta karke us budhe aadmi ke paas baithe. Tab us budhe ne us maut ke raaste ka sach bataya:

"Kuch saal pehle, shaam ka waqt tha. Ek car isi purane wale raaste se Jaipur jaa rahi thi. Usme kuch shahar ke ladke the. Achanak unke dimaag me kya aaya, unhone road par ek bakri dekhi aur gaadi se kuchal kar usey maar diya. Yeh hote dekh wahi us bakri ki malkin, ek aurat , jo shaam ke waqt apni bakriyan lekar ghar ki taraf jaa rahi thi, woh roti hui samne se daudti hui aayi. Car me baithe un ladko ne gaadi rokne ke bajaye, us aurat ko bhi jordaar takkar maar di aur woh hawa me uchal gayi. Woh sadak kinare pade ek bhari patthar par jaa giri, jahan uska sar phat gaya aur mauke par hi woh khatam ho gayi.

Woh car wale wahan se us waqt toh bhaag nikle par kabhi pakad me nahi aaye. Kuch logo ne bohot aage car ko bhaagte huye dekha toh tha, par shaam ka andhera hone ke karan koi gaadi ka number nahi dekh paya. Aur woh ladke aaj tak azad hain. Us aurat ke baare me jab uske aadmi (pati) ko pata chala, toh woh bhi sadme me aakar ek mahine baad chal basa.

Tabse koi bhi ab is highway se Jaisalmer ki taraf nahi jata hai. Jo local taxi driver hain unhe yeh baat pata hai, par kuch aap jaise log bhule-bhatke Google Maps ke chakkar me is road ka istemaal kar lete ho. Din me halanki koi khatra nahi hai, jaanwar takrane ki wajah se kayi gaadiyon ka nuksaan zaroor hua hai, par... raat ke andhere me woh dono (pati-patni) har car se jaane wale logo ko apna shikar banate hain. Ab tak kayi log unka shikar ban chuke hain. Apne dekha hoga aate waqt raaste me kayi car adh-jali aur tooti-photi padi hongi, woh unhi haadso ki wajah se hain.

Par tum logo ka naseeb accha tha jo yahan is gaanv ke chauvale tak pahonch gaye. Waise gaanv ke chauraha par bohot se makan hain par woh saari dukane hain, raat ko wahan koi nahi rehta. Raat ke kareeb 4 baje jab mai shauch (toilet) ke liye utha, tab mujhe tumhari cheekhein sunayi di. Main suna ki tum log jor-jor se Teza Ji Maharaj ka naam chilla rahe ho. Mai turant samajh gaya... aur apna tractor lekar tum logo ko bachane nikal pada. Yahan par gaanv wale raat ko nikalte waqt hamesha yahi lok-geet tez aawaz me bajate hain taaki unka saya door rahe, par jinhe nahi pata, woh unke shikar ban jaate hain."

Humne jaise hi yeh dardnaak aur khaufnaak kahani suni, hum teeno ne Teza Ji Maharaj ko pranam kiya aur man hi man dhanyawad kiya, jis se hum teeno maut ke muh se baahar bach ke nikal kar aaye. Humne us budhe aadmi ko bhi bohot dhanyawad kiya aur aadar ke saath kuch paise dene chahe, par us khuddar budhe ne muskura kar mana kar diya. Hum teeno us chauraha par pahonche, ek mechanic ko bula kar temporary gaadi thik karayi aur phir Jaisalmer ki aur nikal chale.

 

Woh raat ka bhayanak safar jab bhi mai sochta hu, toh aaj bhi meri rooh kaanp jaati hai. Sochta hu ki zaroor maine ya mere maa-baap ne kisi na kisi ka kuch accha kiya hoga, jiski wajah se mai wapas apne parivar ke paas salamat laut aaya, nahi toh shayad aaj yeh kahani sunane ke liye hum zinda na hote. Khair, humne 2 din Jaisalmer me enjoy kiya. Halanki is haadse ke baad hamara pura nazariya hi badal gaya tha; humne enjoy toh kiya par zindagi ka asli matlab bhi samjha.

Wapas jaate waqt humne galti nahi ki. Humne din ka safar tay kiya aur usi Pokhran wale main highway se hote huye wapas Jodhpur ke outer ring road par pahonche. Wahan pahonch kar hum usi chai wale ki dukaan par ruke jahan hum aate waqt ruke the.

Par humne dekha ki is baar dukaan par koi dusra young aadmi baitha tha. Humne socha ki shayad us budhe chai wale aadmi ka beta ya koi saga-sambandhi hoga. Humne us chai wale se kaha, "Bhai, woh aapke pitaji dukaan par nahi dikhayi de rahe hain aaj? Kahan hain?"

Hamare itna kehte hi, woh naya chai wala hame ajeeb tarike se ghhurne laga aur poocha, "Kaun? Kiski baat kar rahe ho aap log?"

Humne kaha, "Arey bhai, abhi 2 din pehle hi hum raat ko Jaisalmer jaa rahe the, toh kareeb 1:30 baje aapki is chai ki dukaan par ruke the. Aur aapke un pitaji ne hame chai pilayi thi aur Byawar highway ka raaz bhi bataya tha."

Woh aadmi behad hairani aur darr se hamari taraf dekhte huye bola, "Kaun mere pitaji? Raat ke 1:30 baje aapko chai pilayi? Kya bakwaas kar rahe ho aap log?!"

Humne thoda serious hokar kaha, "Haan bhai, woh tumhare pitaji the ya koi aur, hume nahi pata, par poore budhe se the, yahi khade hokar chai bana rahe the aur hame pilayi bhi thi." Tabhi Rajesh ne nishani batayi, "Haan, unke baaye (left) gaal par ek kala sa bada massa tha." Prashant ne apna mobile nikal kar dikhaya, "Yeh dekho, us raat ko humne isi dukaan ke QR code par online payment bhi kiya tha chai ka, yeh dekho transaction history!"

Us aadmi ne jaise hi transaction dekha aur masse wali baat suni, uske chehre ka rang ud gaya. Woh hum teeno ko dukaan ke thoda side me le gaya aur kapkapati aawaz me bola:

"Haan... aap sahi keh rahe ho. Woh mere pitaji hi the... par ek baat batau, darna mat. Mere pitaji ko gujre huye (death) 2 saal se zyaada ka waqt ho chuka hai..."

Hum teeno ke hosh ud gaye. Woh aage bola, "Yeh dukaan unhone hi shuru ki thi. Mujhe nahi malum aap log kaise raat ko is dukaan par ruke, jabki yeh dukaan mai chalata hu aur roz raat 10 baje isey poori tarah band kar ke gaanv laut jata hu. Raat ko yahan koi nahi hota!"

Itna keh kar woh chala gaya, aur hum teeno ek dusre ko hairani aur behad deehshat se dekhe jaa rahe the. Yani ki... Jaisalmer jaate waqt hume jisne bhootaha raaste se bachne ki chetavni di thi, woh khud ek aatma thi! Ek aisi aatma jo aaj bhi apne dukan par aane wale bhatke musafiro ko maut ke raaste par jaane se rokti hai.

Yani yeh trip hamari zindagi ka sabse bhayanak, khaufnaak aur rahasya se bhara hua safar raha.

Aapko kya lagta hai? Kya sach me us raat highway par hume us bhaley chai wale ki aatma ne chai pilayi thi? Aur us sunsaan sadak wale haadse se hum sirf ek chamatkar se bache... kya woh aadmi aur aurat aaj bhi us purane raaste par har aane jaane walon ka shikar karte honge?

Aapko yeh kahani kaisi lagi, comment kar ke zaroor batana!