Sabko Lagta Tha Woh Mandir Mein Seva Karne Jaati Hai... Lekin Asal Mein?

Sarita roz subah paanch baje uth jaati thi. Mandir ki ghanti bajne se pehle hi woh naha-dhoke tayyar ho jaati, ek chhoti si thali mein phool rakhti aur ghar se nikal jaati. Poore mohalla ko lagta tha ki Sarita bahut dharmik aurat hai.

Log aksar kehte, "Aaj kal kaun itni shraddha se mandir jaata hai?" Koi uski misaal deta, koi uski tareef karta, aur Sarita bas muskura deti. Sach to ye tha ki jis wajah se woh har roz ghar se nikalti thi, uska mandir se utna lena-dena nahi tha jitna sab sochte the.

Ghar mein uska pati Mahesh, saas aur ek beta rehte the. Mahesh bura aadmi nahi tha. Bas un logon mein se tha jo samajhte hain ki ghar apne aap chal jaata hai. Subah chai table par aa jaati hai, kapde almari mein aa jaate hain, khana samay par ban jaata hai, aur maa ya patni ko kabhi thakawat nahi hoti.

Sarita ne saalon tak koi shikayat nahi ki. Lekin dheere-dheere use lagne laga tha ki woh ghar mein sirf ek zimmedari bankar reh gayi hai. Ek din usne mazaak mein kaha, "Kabhi-kabhi lagta hai main gayab ho jaun to shayad kisi ko pata bhi na chale." Sab hans diye. Sarita bhi hans di. Lekin us raat woh bahut royi.

Uske baad hi usne subah-subah mandir jaana shuru kiya.

Aise hi do saal beet gaye.

Phir ek din mohalla mein kisi ne Mahesh se kaha, "Bhai sahab, aapki patni to bahut seva karti hain mandir mein. Waise woh mandir ke baad roz kahaan jaati hain?"

Mahesh chonk gaya. Usne kabhi dhyan hi nahi diya tha ki Sarita ghar lautne mein do ghante kyun lagati hai.

Agli subah usne chup-chaap Sarita ka peecha kiya.

Sarita pehle mandir gayi, diya jalaya aur pranam kiya. Lekin pandrah minute baad hi bahar nikal gayi. Mahesh door se uska peecha karta raha. Sarita na ghar ki taraf gayi, na bazaar. Woh ek purani si building ke saamne ruk gayi.

Darwaze par board laga tha:

Zila Pustakalaya

Mahesh hairaan reh gaya.

Sarita library ke andar gayi aur ek kone mein baithkar kitaben khol li. Uske saamne notebook rakhi thi aur woh lagataar kuch likh rahi thi. Agle din bhi woh wahi gayi. Usse agle din bhi.

Aakhir ek din Mahesh uske saamne jaakar khada ho gaya.

"Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?"

Sarita ka chehra safed pad gaya. Kuch pal chup rehne ke baad usne dheere se kaha:

"Padh rahi hoon."

"Kya?"

"Wahi jo main 22 saal pehle chhod chuki thi."

Mahesh chup ho gaya.

Sarita ne bataya ki shaadi se pehle uska sapna teacher banne ka tha. Woh B.Ed karna chahti thi. Lekin shaadi, bachche aur ghar ki zimmedariyon ke beech usne apne sapne ko kahin dafan kar diya.

"Main kisi ko pareshan nahi karna chahti thi," Sarita boli. "Bas do ghante roz apne liye chahiye the."

"To tumne bataya kyun nahi?"

Sarita halka sa muskuraayi.

"Kya tum sunte?"

Ye sawaal seedha Mahesh ke dil mein utar gaya.

Usne pehli baar mehsoos kiya ki jis aurat ke saath woh itne saal se reh raha hai, uske sapnon ke baare mein woh kuch jaanta hi nahi.

Agle kuch hafton tak Sarita library jaati rahi. Padhai karti rahi. Phir usne ek teacher eligibility exam diya.

Ghar mein kisi ko zyada ummeed nahi thi.

Sarita ko bhi nahi.

Lekin jab result aaya, to uska naam list mein tha.

Sabse zyada khushi Mahesh ko hui. Usne poore mohalla mein mithai baanti. Log bole, "Lagta hai mandir ki seva rang laayi."

Mahesh muskura diya.

Sirf woh jaanta tha ki asal mein kya rang laaya tha.

Bhagwan se maangi hui mannat nahi.

Khud ko diya hua ek mauka.

Aaj bhi Sarita roz subah ghar se nikalti hai. Mandir jaati hai, diya jalati hai aur pranam karti hai. Lekin uske baad seedha school jaati hai — ek teacher bankar.

Aur jab kabhi koi usse poochta hai, "Mandir mein kya maanga tha?"

Woh muskura kar kehti hai:

"Kuch nahi. Bas khud ko dobara dhoondhne ki himmat."