Tum Saath Ho, Itna Kaafi Hai

Barish halki-halki ho rahi thi. Sheher ki sadkein bheegi thi, jaise kisi ne apni aankhon ka dard chhupa kar rakh diya ho. Us bench par woh baithi thi—khamosh, thaki hui, aankhon mein ek lambi raat ka bojh. Zindagi ne usse bahut kuch sikhaya tha, par sabse zyada yeh sikhaya tha ki strong dikhna padta hai, chahe andar se kitna hi toota kyun na ho.

Tabhi woh aaya. Koi filmy entry nahi, koi dialogue nahi. Bas chupchaap aakar paas baith gaya. Usne poocha bhi nahi, “Kya hua?” Kyunki kuch dard sawaalon se nahi, saath se kam hote hain.

Kuch pal yun hi guzar gaye. Barish, hawa, aur do log—jo zyada bolte nahi the, par bahut kuch mehsoos karte the.

Woh dheere se boli,
“Pata hai… kabhi-kabhi lagta hai sab kuch hote hue bhi kuch nahi hai.”

Usne uski taraf dekha. Muskuraya nahi, samjha.
Aur sirf itna kaha,
“Tum thak gayi ho. Par tum akeli nahi ho.”

Us pal uski aankhon mein aansu aa gaye. Shayad isliye nahi ki dard zyada tha, balki isliye ki koi bina shor ke us dard ko samajh raha tha.

“Kuch lafz chup rehte hain, par bohot kuch keh jaate hain,
Aur kuch saath aise hote hain, jo har kami bhar jaate hain.”

Zindagi dono ke liye aasaan nahi thi. Woh apni zimmedariyon se lad rahi thi, aur woh apni khamoshi se. Dono ke paas apni-apni kahaniyan thi—adhuri, bikhri hui. Par jab dono saath hote, toh kahani thodi poori si lagti.

Kabhi woh uske liye chai bana deta jab din bahut bhaari hota. Kabhi woh bas uska haath pakad leta—jaise keh raha ho, “Main hoon.” Na waade, na kasmein. Sirf ek ehsaas.

Ek raat usne poocha,
“Tumhe darr nahi lagta? Kal ka?”

Woh thoda sa hasa.
“Lagta hai. Par jab tum saath hoti ho, darr thoda kam ho jata hai.”

“Mujhe poori duniya nahi chahiye,
Bas ek haath ho jo mushkil mein chhootne se inkaar kar de.”

Waqt guzarta gaya. Kabhi jhagde hue, kabhi khamoshi chha gayi. Kabhi laga shayad yeh saath bhi toot jaayega. Par har baar, dono ne ek hi cheez chuni—rehna.

Kyuki pyaar hamesha grand nahi hota. Kabhi-kabhi pyaar sirf itna hota hai ki jab duniya tumse muh mod le, tab koi chupchaap tumhare paas baitha rahe.

Ek din woh boli,
“Main perfect nahi hoon.”

Usne bina soche kaha,
“Main bhi nahi. Shayad isi liye hum theek hain.”

“Na main mukammal hoon, na tu,
Phir bhi lagta hai jaise kami kuch bhi nahi.”

Barish phir aayi us sheher mein. Par is baar bench khali nahi thi. Do log saath baithe the—haathon mein thand, dilon mein thodi si garmahat.

Zindagi ne abhi bhi unke liye mushkilein rakhi thi. Par ab ek fark tha—ab woh akela safar nahi tha.

Kyunki kabhi-kabhi zindagi mein sab kuch nahi chahiye hota.
Na poori duniya.
Na bade sapne.

Bas koi ho jo kahe—
“Tum saath ho, itna kaafi hai.”

“Har jang jeetni zaroori nahi hoti,
Bas koi saath chalne wala ho,
Toh haar bhi khubsurat lagti hai.”