Pahadiyaan Jaise Saphed Haathee

Spain ki Ebro nadi ki ghaatee ke paar ki pahaadiyaan lambee aur saphed thee.

Is taraf koi chhaay nahin thi, aur koi ped nahin tha. Bas ek train station tha, do rail lineon ke beech.

Station ki ek taraf, jahan building ki thodi chaayein thi, kuch table chair rakhi thi, aur ek khula darwaza tha, jiske andar tha ek chota sa baar.

Aur is khule darwaze par ek parda laga tha - baans kee malaon se bana - makkhiyon ko baahar rakhane ke lie.

Ek ladka aur ladakee station ke baahar chhaayein mein ek table par baithee thhe.

Bahot garmi thi yahan, aur Barcelona se express train ko aane mein abhi chaalis minute thhe.

Woh train yahan sirf do minat ke liye rukti thi, aur phir chal padti thi Madrid ki taraf.

"hamen kya peena chaahiye?" ladki ne poocha.

Usne jo topi pehni thi, usse ab utaar kar tebal par rakh diya tha.

"Kaafi garmi hai yahan," ladke ne kaha.

"Chalo, beer peete hain," ladki boli.

"Do beer," ladke ne parde ki taraf dekhte huye kaha.

"Bade mug mein?" waitress ne poocha, jo parde ke peeche khadi thi.

"Haan. Do beer, bade mug mein."

Waitress do beer layi, bade mug mein, unhe table par rakha, aur kuch der ke liye, vahan behte ladke aur ladki ko dekhne lagi.

Ladki ghattee ke paar pahaadiyon ko dekh rahi thi. Jo dhoop mein saphed lag rahi thi, aur unke aas paas sab bhoora aur sookha tha.

"Ye pahadiyaan... saphed haathiyon jaise dikhti hain," ladki ne kaha.

"Maine kabhi saphed haathi nahi dekhe," ladke ne apni beer peete huye kaha.

"nahin, tumne nahi dekhe honge," ladki ne jawaab diya.

"Ho sakata hai maine dekhe ho. Tumhare kehne se ki maine nahi dekhe honge, isse kuch saabit nahi hota hai."

Ladki baans ki malon se bane parde ko dekh kar boli - “Inhonne is par kuchh banaya ya lkiha hua hai, tum padh sakte ho?"

Ladke ne parde ki taraf dekha aur kaha - "Anis del toro. Yahan ki ek daaru ka naam hai. Ek kisam ki absinthe hai."

"kya hum ise aazama sakate hain?" Ladki ne poocha.

Ladke ne parde ke peeche awaaz lagai. Waitress bar se bahar aayi, aur poocha - “Bill chahiye?”

"Abhi nahi, pehle humhe do Anis del Toro chahiye."

"Paani ke saath?"

"Tumhe paani ke saath chahiye?" Ladke ne ladki se poocha.

“Pata nahi, paani ke saath achi lagegi?"

"Thik lagegi” ladke ne jawaab diya.

"Aur aap bhi, paani ke saath?" waitress ne ladke se poocha.

"Haan, paani ke saath."

Ladki ne Anis del toro ka ek ghoont piya, aur kaha - “bilkul nadyapaan jaisa svaad hai.”

Aur phir usne glass neeche rakh diya.

“Aisa toh har cheez ke saath hota hai.”

“Haan, har cheez mein nadyapaan ka svaad hota hai. Khaas taur par woh cheezein jinhe bahot lambe intezaar ke baad pehle baar chakho, jaise ye absinthe.” Ladki ne kaha.

“Ab bas bhi karo.” ladke ne kaha.

Ladki ka jawaab aaya - "Tumne shuru kiya. Main toh aise hi keh rahi thi. Is intezaar mein thoda hassi-mazaak daal rahi thi.”

"Thik hai, toh koshish karte hain, is intezaar ko behtar karne ki."

"Main toh koshish kar hi rahi thi. Maine toh kaha tha - ki ye pahadiyaan saphed hathee jaise dikhti hain. Kya us baat mein kuch acha nahi tha?"

"Achi baat thi woh."

"Aur main ye nayi kisam ki daaru azmaana chahti thi. Hum dono yahi toh karte hain - nayi jagah jaate hain, vahan ki daaru azmaate hain. Hai na?”

“Haan. Shayad,” Ladke ne jawab diya.

Ladki phirse pahadiyon ko dekhne lagi. “Bahot khoobsurat hain ye pahadiyaan. Aur ye sach mein toh saphed hathheeyon ke jaise nahi dikhti. Mera matlab tha ki unga rang, yahan se, pedon ke beech se, hatthee ki khaal jaisa lag raha hai. Kya hum ek aur beer piye?”

"Thik hai," ladke ne jawab diya.

Garm hawa ka ek jhoka baans ka parde ko unki table tak le aya.

"Beer badiya hai, thandi bhi," ladke ne kaha.

"Haan, achi hai," ladki ne jawab diya.

"Jig, dekho, ye operation bahot hi aasan aur aam hai. Kehne ko toh operation bhi nahi hai.”

Ladki ne kuch jawab nahi diya, bas zameen ko dekhne lagi.

"Main jaanta hoon - tumhe kuch nahi hoga. Kuch mehsoos hi nahi hoga. Woh bas, thodi si hawa daalenge, aur kuch nahi.”

Ladki ne kuch nahi kaha. Ladka kehta gaya...

"Aur main tumhare saath chalunga na? Poora waqt rahunga tumhare saath. Woh bas thodi si hawa daalenge aur phir baaki sab apne aap ho jaega.”

"Aur phir, kya hoga uske baad? Humara, kya hoga?”

"Baad mein sab thik ho jaega. Jaise hum pehle thhe, vaise ho jaenge, phirse."

"Kaise pata tumhe ki sab thik ho jaega?"

“Kyunki yahi ek cheez hai jisne humein pareshan kiya hai.

Yahi ek lauti cheez hai jisne humari khushiyon ko roke rakha hai.”

Lakdi ne baans ke parde ki taraf dekha, apna ek haath aage badaya, aur baans ki motiyon se bani do maalayen apne ungliyon ke beech laga di.

Aur phir usne kaha - “Aur tumhe lagta hai ki ye karne ke baad humari pareshaniyan door ho jaengi, aur hum phirse khush ho jaenge?”

“Mujhe lagta nahi hai - mujhe pata hai. Tumhe darne ki zaroorat nahi hai - main bahot logon ko jaanta hoon jinhone ye operation karva rakha hai.”

“Main bhi jaanti hoon aise logon ko… aur is waqt se guzar kar, bahot khush lagte thhe woh.”

“Dekho, agar tumnein nahi karana, toh karane ki zarurat nahi hai. Main tumse se nahi karvata agar tum nahi karana chahti. Lekin mujhe pata hai ki ye bahot hi aasan hai.”

"Aur tum, tum chahte ho ye karvana?"

“Mujhe lagta hai ki ye sahi raasta hai. Lekin agar tum ye nahi karna chahti, toh main bhi nahi chahta,” ladke ne kaha.

“Aur agar main ye karu, toh phir tum khush hoge? Aur sab pehle jaise hoga? Aur tum phirse mujhse pyaar karoge?”

“Main tumse ab bhi pyaar karta hoon. Tum jaanti ho main tumse pyaar karta hoon.”

“Main jaanti hoon. Lekin, agar main ye karti hoon, toh sab phirse acha hoga, aur jab main aisi baatein kahungi ki ye pahadiyaan bilkul saphed haathiyon jaise dikhi hain, toh tum meri un baaton ko pasand karoge?”

“Bilkul karunga. Aur abhi bhi pasand karta hoon tumhari in baaton ko, bas, abhi unke baare mein soch nahi sakta. Tum jaanti ho ki jab main aise pareshaan hota hoon toh mera mood kaisa ho jata hai.”

"Aur agar main ye karungi toh tum dobara kabhi pareshaan nahi hoge?"

"Main iske baare mein chinta nahin karoonga kyunki mujhe pata hai ki ye aasan hai."

“Thik hai. Mujhe ye karna hai. Kyunki mujhe meri parvaah nahi hai.”

“Kya matlab hai tumhara?” ladke ne poocha.

"Mera matlab hai ki mujhe meri koi parvaah nahi hai," ladki ne kaha.

“Lekin mujhe hai.”

“Haan, tumhe hai. Mujhe nahi. Toh main ye karungi aur phir sab thik ho jaega.”

“Agar tum aisa mehsoos kar rahi ho toh main nahi chahta ki tum ye karo,” ladke ne kaha.

Ladki apni chair se uthi aur station ki doosri ore jaakar khadi ho gayi. Uske saamne, Ebro nadi ke kinaare, bahot saare ped aur khet thhe. Aur unke aage, nadee ke paar, milon tak pahad hi pahad. Ek badal ki chaaye khet ke upar se nikli, aur vahan, pedon ke beech, usse chamakti Ebro nadi dikhi. 

Aur phir usne kaha - “Ye duniya, ye vaadiyaan - ye sab - humara ho sakta hai. Kitna kuch humara ho sakta hai, aur hum dono, har roz, us zindagi ko aur namumkin karte ja rahein hain.”

“Kya kaha tumne?” ladke ne poocha.

“Maine kaha ki hum kuch bhi paa sakte hain.”

“Haan, hum sab kuch paa sakte hain,” ladke ne kaha.

“Lekin aisa nahi hoga,” ladki boli.

“Poori duniya humari ho sakti hain.”

“Aisa nahi hoga.”

“Hum poori duniya dekh sakte hain.”

“Nahi hoga. Humari duniya nahi hai yeh," ladki boli.

“Sab humara hai,” ladke ne kaha.

“Nahi, ab nahi hai. Aur jab woh isse le jaenge, toh dobara vaapas nahi hoga ye sab.”

“Lekin kisi ne kuch bhi nahi liya hain humse,” ladka bola.

“Tabhi toh intezaar kar rahein hain hum,” ladki ne kaha.

“Tum vaapas yahan chaaye mein aa jao. Ye sab sochna acha nahi hai tumhare liye.”

“Ye sirf meri soch nahi hai. Ye sach hai.”

"Main nahi chahta ki tum apni marzi ke khilaaf kuch bhi karo…”

“Haan, haan, jaanti hoon. Tum kuch nahi chahte. Kya hum ek aur beer pee sakte hain?”

“Haan thik hai, lekin, tumhe samajhna chahiye ki…”

“Main sab samajhti hoon. Kya hum bas, chup chaap beht sakte hain yahan?”

Ladki vaapas apni chair par aakar beht gayi aur phirse pahadiyon ki taraf dekhne lagi.

Phir ladka, ladki ko dekhte huye bola - "Tum samajhne ki koshish karo, main nahi chahta ki tum aisa koi bhi kadam uthao jismein tumhari razamandi nahi hai. Agar tum ye karna chahti ho, agar tum apni zindagi ko aise badalna chahti ho, toh main… saath hoon tumhare. Agar tum ye chahti ho, toh main tumhare saath hoon. Agar tum ye chahti ho...”

“Kya tumhari apni koi chah nahi hai ismein? Ho sakta hai tumhe achi lage aisi zindagi,” ladki boli.

“Meri chah hai. Vahi toh keh raha hoon. Mujhe sirf tum chahiye. Aur kuch nahi. Aur koi nahi. Aur main jaanta hoon, ye operation bahot aasan hai.”

“Haan main jaanti hoon ki tumhe lagta hai ki ye bahot aasan hai,” ladki ne jawab diya.

“Tumhe ye kehne ka haq hai, lekin main jaanta hoon main kya keh raha hoon.”

“Kya tum abhi mere liye kuch karoge?” ladki ne poocha.

“Kuch bhi. Tum maang kar toh dekho.”

“Kya tum… sirf kuch der ke liye… bolna band kar sakte ho?”

Ladka ne koi jawab nahi diya. Usne apne saaman ki taraf dekha, dekha unpar lage har hotel har shehar ki nishaniyaan.

Aur phir usne ladki ki taraf dekh kar kaha - “Main nahi chahta isse. Mujhe iski koi parvaah nahi hai.”

Phir ladki ne jawab diya - “Agar tumne ek aur shabd kaha, toh main chillana shuru kardungi.”

Kuch der baad, waitress bahar aayi, do aur beer ke saath, aur unhe rakhte huye usne ladke se kaha - “Train paanch minute mein aane vaali hai.”

“Kya boli woh?” ladki ne poocha.

“Usne kaha ki train ko aane mein paanch minute hain.”

Ladki ne waitress ki taraf dekha aur muskuraya, usse shukriyada karne ke liye.

“Mujhe humare saaman ko station ke doosri taraf le jaana chahiye,” ladke ne kaha.

“Thik hai, tum vaapas aa jao, phir hum apni beer khatam karte hain.”

Ladke ne saaman uthaya, aur station ke doosri taraf le gaya. Train abhi door door tak nahi dikhayi de rahi thi. Vaapsi mein, woh baar ke raaste se guzarte huye baaki logon ko dekhne laga. Usne baar par ek aur Anis del toro pee, aur baar ke andar behte sab logon ko dekhne laga. Dikhne mein toh woh sab log, aaram se train ka intezaar kar rahe thhe.

Ladka baans ke parde se bahar nikal kar vaapis ladki ke paas aaya.

Woh abhi bhi table par behti thi, aur ladke ko dekh kar muskuraayi.

“Kya ab tum behtar mehsoos kar rahi ho?” ladke ne poocha.

Ladki boli - “Main thik hoon. Sab thik hai. Main thik hoon.”

-

"Pahadiyaan Jaise Saphed Haathee" (2020), adapted by Lakshya Datta from Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" (1927)

You can hear this story, narrated by me, Lakshya, on episode 31 of the Kahani Jaani Anjaani podcast.

A message to my dear launchers

How are you all? I know I've been keeping mum on posting stuff here. I have my reasons, and they are reasons and not excuses. As you may or may not know, I have turned Launchora into a stories AND podcasts platform. Since the story part works on its own without any human involvement, I put all my attention into the podcasts part. Over the past two years, we've gone from one podcast to 12! So a lot of my writing now goes solely to audio shows. And they're a mix - some in English, some in Hindi. If you wish you hear them, check out "Pal Bhar Ke Liye Koi Humhe Pyaar Karle", "Tumne Kisi Se Kabhi Pyaar Kiya Hai?" or any of our other shows broadcasting on all major podcast apps!

Happy launching and listening :)