दिल्ली की सर्दी

 

Image:  Alex Padurariu, Unsplash

'कहाँ रख दिया मैंने अपनी प्यारी टोपी को?' भास्कर ने सोचा। यहीं बिस्तर पर ही तो रखा था शायद। रज़ाई हटाकर, तकियों को हटाकर, यहां तक कि अलमारी में भी देख लिया जहां उसके होने की कोई सम्भावना नहीं थी, पर वो नहीं मिली। एक तो इतनी ठंड से बड़ी कोफ़्त होती है उसे। और उसपर से इन टोपियों और ज़ुराबों की गाहेबगाहे खो जाने वाली आदत बहुत बुरी होती है। बस यही एक टोपी है उसके पास, डार्क मरून रंग की, हाथ से बुनी हुई, जिसे वो घर पे पहनता है। बाहर पहन कर जाओ तो उसके दोस्त कहते, "अरे यार, तुझे कुछ ज़्यादा ही ठंड लगती है। आज के ज़माने में ये वाली टोपी कौन पहनता है? भाभी जी चिढ़ाती नहीं तुझे?"

भाभी जी याने भास्कर की पत्नी नलिनी। वो उसे बहुत चिढ़ाती है, पर अब ठंड लगती है तो लगती है। लोग ना चिढ़ाएं इसके लिए क्या वो फ़न्ने खां बनता फिरे? उसका बस चले तो वो रज़ाई ओढ़कर घूमे। गीतकारों ने दिल्ली की सर्दी पर गाना यूं ही नहीं लिख दिया। उसके मुजफ्फरपुर में तो फिर भी सर्दी थोड़े अदब से आती है पर दिल्ली की सर्दी तो भाई साहब बवाल है। 

नलिनी लेखिका हैं और आजकल स्टडी में बैठी डेडलाइन का पीछा कर रही हैं। भास्कर एक अच्छे पति होने का फ़र्ज निभाते है और उन्हें बिल्कुल डिस्टर्ब नहीं करते। बस लवली-लवली तीन चार दौर चाय का जरूर चलता है।

ये लो, चाय की बात आयी तो अब उसे चाय की तलब होने लगी। और वो चल पड़ा चाय बनाने, मस्त इलायची वाली मीठी, गाढ़ी चाय। नलिनी को ऐसी ही चाय पसंद है। पर किचन में एक बड़ा सा disappointment मुंह बाए खड़ा था, दूध के खाली पतीले के रूप में। यार! अब दूध लाने बाहर जाना होगा वो भी बिना टोपी के। क्या ऐसे नहीं हो सकता कि दो तीन महीने के लिए उसके चारो ओर एक गर्म, अदृश्य बबल बन जाए? बस इतना हो जाए, वो ज़्यादा नहीं मांगता। 

बाहर निकला तो सर्दी के थपेड़े लप्पड़ के माफ़िक लग रहे थे। "और भाई साहब, क्या हाल है?" पड़ोस वाले शर्मा जी ने बत्तीसी निलाकर पूछा।

इतना खुश होने की कौन सी बात है भाई? "अरे भाई साहब, बहुत ठंड है," कहकर भास्कर निकल लिया। 

घर लौटा तो फ़ौरन किचन में गैस जला कर खड़ा हो गया। पहले तो कुछ सेकेंड्स हाथ सेका फिर एक चूल्हे पर दूध और दूसरे पर चाय चढ़ा दिया। शायद नलिनी को पता हो। 

"ये लीजिए नलिनी जी, गरमा गरम चाय।"

"ओह, थैंक्यू, भास्कर जी। शदीद जरूरत थी इसकी।" नलिनी ने लपक कर चाय का कप उठा लिया।

"थैंक्यू छोड़िए, आप तो हमें ये बता दीजिए कि आपने मेरी टोपी को देखा है? कब से ढूंढ रहे हैं पर मिल नहीं रही। 

नलिनी जी मुस्कुरायी और फिर कहा, "जी हां, देखा है।"

"कहाँ?"

"आपके सिर पे।"

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मेरी अन्य हिन्दी कहानियां

Now, this is too much!!

This post is for the sweetness of Cadbury Five Star

This topic reminds me of a regular column in a famous Hindi magazine Sarita, "Mujhe Shikayat Hai", that used to be my first read if reading that magazine.

We are of course surrounded by many such people who bear some eccentric attributes that sometimes, create seriousness, though they might seem funny.

One night Mrs. Dutta saw the Puja (Worship) room open, plunged in pitch darkness. Her daughter Priya used to study in that little room and often slept there. Mrs Dutta went to the room to check on her daughter. As she entered the room, she stumbled upon a thing and it took her utmost balance to prevent herself from falling down. After recovering from the imbalance, she immediately switched on the light and saw that the 'thing' was Priya, lying on the ground, in front of the idols of deities in the Puja room.

Well, Priya is my childhood friend!

I knew she was very spiritual and religious. But sometimes, she was too much! Whenever I visited her, and saw her performing puja, I used to exhale in exasperation and think "Why I arrived at this time?" No, I'm not an atheist, but my friend used to spend a lot of time praying, and I knew I had to wait for long hours.

Once, while waiting for her, her mother sensed my exasperation and started chatting with me.

"Do you see that stripped paint on that wall?" She said pointing towards a small shelf adorned by little idol of Lord Krishna. There was a wide white spot on it's adjacent wall due to the removal of nice yellow paint.

"Do you know who did that?" She said and looked at my friend, who was still deeply engrossed in prayer.

Actually, Priya used to hit her head on the wall while praying to little Lord Krishna! And that regular bangs removed the paint. I couldn't help laughing.

She was so superstitious that she wore same dress throughout the exams. Okay, this is a bit common. How about this? She didn't eat chapatis before going for exam. Because, chapati was round and she feared that she would get a round (A zero) if she did that!!

She was a wonderful and hardworking student and scored great marks in exams but she used to say "My good marks are result of my prayers."

It's good to believe in God. To pray. To worship. But don't you think Priya's act was too much?
Okay, she might behave like a worship maniac, sometimes, but she is really sweet!



One of my far relative, a 'lean and withered' bhabhi, use to take bath every time she comes out of the toilet, suspecting some splash of dirty/flush water might have tainted her. She spends too much time in washing and cleaning, already washed and clean things, making the kitchen and house messy. She washes her hands unnecessarily, God knows how many times. In these frantic washing and cleaning process, she doesn't get time for her family, friends, guests and even for herself!

I badly wanted to tell her that "Please understand everything is clean now. Leave it. Spend some sweet moments with your family and take out some time for you at least!"



Then there are some omnipresent aunties, who doesn't mind coming out of a warm cozy blanket in chilly winter, just to check on the neighbour's fight to collect some gossips. Who puts her ultimate effort to extract minutest details of everyone's life.

"Why Mrs. Verma's daughter is not getting married even at 29?" "Why Mr. Sharma's married daughter is living with them?" "Why Ms. Shalini lives alone in that flat?" "Who comes to visit her quite often?" and so on...

Come on! How does it matter to you? Live and let live! Please allow people to tackle their problems their own way and give them some space to breathe. And how can you come out of a warm blanket in foggy winter just to watch a fight going on in your neighbourhood?

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Many women, going through a bad marriage hesitate to take any concrete step for their life just because of our social structure. A society where extra-caring, over-bothering uncles and aunties live.

This not funny! This condition is really serious! Don't create such seriousness.

Declutter your mind. Give it some fresh air of happiness and peace.  Relish Cadbury Five Star and cherish sweetness, not seriousness, because seriousness is contagious.



This post is a part of Condition Serious Hai contest by Indiblogger, in association with Cadbury Five Star!

Funny school days

School days were fun! No doubt about it. Many days back, I received a mail that said how funny school days could be. So, I thought to share this. I laughed like a crazy!!

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Shared @ Write Tribe

My name is Tarang.

Some years back one of my friends (Not friend actually, she was senior to me) invited me to  her wedding. I couldn't go so I called to wish her.

"Hello." A male voice greeted when I called.

"Can I talk to Vinita Di?" I asked.

"Who's this?"

"Tarang."

"What!?"

"Tarang," I repeated.

"What kind of name..." He stopped midway, realizing what he was saying was perhaps rude but I knew what he was trying to say. "What kind of name is this!"

It happens all the time. People often ask my name twice. Sometimes, I have to tell the spelling when someone seems confused to hear my name. Some think it's Taran, or Tarun or even Karan! One of my students (He was six years old) used to call me Turang! It's quite amusing that some people even address me as "Mr. Sinha." in e-mails!

In my school or even in the large population of my college, I was the only girl named "Tarang." I didn't like my name when I was a kid because there was no "Tarang" other than me. I thought "Why I couldn't be 'Pooja' 'Neha' 'Sneha' or someone whose name was common. Now I like my name because it's uncommon.

Many people say that my name is nice, different. It feels nice. I've received some comments about my name even on my blog. Some people say it's 'nice', 'musical', 'lyrical' and 'different'. Thanks for the compliment!

Yes, my name is Tarang and I really like it!


Shared @ Write Tribe

Paying for your friends!!

I always like to read Sonal Kalra's column The calmer you in HT City. Today's column Kyonki Koi Koi Friend Kanjoos Hota hai reminded of me some incidents.

We often used to eat chaat, golguppa, bhelpuri and ice-creams at the thelas near our college gate.

"Let's have chaat/ice-cream/...?" I would say.

"No, I don't want to (Who doesn't want to have chatpata chaat, bhelpuri or ice-creams?). It's okay. You eat." The other girl with me would say. Maybe, some people doesn't want to waste money in these things or so...

How can you eat, making the other stand, just looking at you or others!!

For me, it was absolutely okay to pay for my friends (I have very limited friends;)) sometimes, in order to enjoy the brunch.

"Who is your best friend?" One day I asked one of my cousin uncles, who was just two years senior to me.

"There are three-four." He said.

Three-four best friends!! I had a concept of having just one best friend.

"Do you guys eat out?"

"Yes, sometimes."

"Who pays?" I asked just like that.

"What do you mean by who pays?" He was surprised. "We pay individually."

"But what if anyone in your group doesn't want to spend money. You make them stand, just looking at you?"

"No. If any guy in our group doesn't want to spend money, we all cancel the brunch. But nobody pays for anyone."

Obviously, I was looking at him with great surprise. But now I always smile when I think of this.

The Phone Call

Navya returns from her office. Exhausted. It was a hot and hectic day. She flops her bag and herself on the bed. Suddenly, she realizes that her stomach is churning with appetite. She hasn't eaten anything whole day.  Today is Thursday and she is on fast.

She is left with no energy to make something so, cancels the idea of cooking and decides to order something from a restaurant nearby. She calls her friend residing in a  flat downstairs, who frequently orders from that restaurant, to ask for the number. Her friend gives her the number and she hastily dials it.

"Hello" A male voice says.

"Hello, is this Jayaka restaurant?" Navya asks in well modulated English tone.

"Yes."

"Can you tell me about your menu?"

"What do you want to have?" Comes a reply.

"Tell me what you have in your menu for dinner?" Navya says.

"We have everything in our menu. You tell me what would you like to have?" The male voice says in a professional tone.

Navya sighs in irritation. "Do you have Veg Munchurian or Chilly paneer and veg fried rice?"

"Yes. We have all these things. What would you like to order?"

"Okay. Send me a plate of veg munchurian and veg fried rice."

"Okay. Tell me your address."

Navya recites the address. "How much time will it take?" She asks as she can feel her stomach growling.

"Just half an hour."

"Okay, thanks." Navya disconnects the phone and heads towards the bathroom to have a shower. After taking shower, she performs puja and eagerly waits for the delicious meal.

Even after forty minutes her dinner has not arrived. She waited some more though she badly wanted to gobble something but today she can have just one meal. An hour passes by and there's no trace of her dinner. She redials the number of the restaurant.

"Hello." The same male voice says.

"It's been an hour but my dinner hasn't arrived yet. How long it will take?" Navya is unable to hide her irritation.

"What dinner?" The voice says nonchalantly.

"What do you mean by what dinner? I've ordered a veg munchurian and veg fried rice an hour ago. How could  you be so irresponsible? Someone is hungry and you do not care?" Navya is now getting seriously annoyed.

There's a pause. "Hello, this is Jayaka restaurant na?" Navya asks.

"Oh that" The male voice says as if recalling something.  "That was a wrong number. This is not any restaurant or something."

It angers Navya to no extent. "Then why did you...."

"I talked to you just for fun. By the way your voice is cute." Navya can sense amusement in his voice. Her planning to have a tasty meal after tired starving day has backfired embarrassingly & foolishly.

 "It's fun for you? At least you shou..." Before Navya can vent out her anger and embarrassment, the phone starts to beep with the dial tone.

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April fool banaya…

Nowdays everyone owns a (or several) mobile phone. But many years back when there were no mobile phones, and in small towns even landline phone was a matter of excitement and pride, Punita’s house was echoing with excited clamour.

“Wow! We have our own phone now. Now we don’t have to run to Mrs. Singh’s house whenever bhaiya calls.” Punita said beaming with happiness.

Whenever the telephone blared, Punita used to run and pick up the phone. She always wanted to answer the phone.

That night, darkness was spread everywhere due to power cut. Suddenly phone rang and as usual Punita ran towards the Telephone desk. “Hello!” She picked up the receiver and said excitedly but heard the dial tone only. Confused, she put the receiver back when she heard a chuckle.

“April Fool banaaya…” Nisha, her cousin sang and burst into guffaws. Punita chased her sister in mock anger though she could not help smiling.

Actually there was a system “Pick the receiver. Dial three particular numbers and put the receiver back. The phone would ring automatically.” Obviously, Nisha did the same and in excitement Punita forgot that was first April.

Confirmation

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What!?

What did you say?

What are you saying?

Really?

Are you sure?

These are some expressions

People generally exclaim

Hearing problem is not to blame

Like confirmation tests in

Chemistry labs

People often press

The confirmation tab

Sometimes it seems essential

Sometimes okay

Sometimes irritating and

Sometimes funny

A girl in her coaching center

Asked the next schedule of her class

From her very devoted mentor

“Come tomorrow at 3 o’clock”

Said the sir

“3 o’clock? In the afternoon, sir?”

The girl tried to confirm.

(A teacher cannot be so devoted to teach at 3 o’clock at night. Can he?)

Written for: One Single Impression