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किरायेदार
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दिनेश कुकरेती
अब
तक के जीवन में मैं ज्यादातर समय किरायेदार की भूमिका में ही रहा। पहले
परिवार के साथ और बाद में अकेले। कितनी ही जगह। सचमुच किरायेदार होना बडा़
कष्टदायी होता है और मेरे जैसे अंतर्मुखी इन्सान के लिए सुखदायी भी। फिलहाल
मैं देहरादून में किरायेदार हूं, भरपूर गुडविल वाला किरायेदार। मालिक मकान
मेरे बारे में बहुत सी बातें जानता है और बहुत सी नहीं। शायद जान भी न
पाएगा। लेकिन फिलवक्त मुझे दिल्ली की किरायेदारी रह-रहकर याद आ रही है।
बात
1995 की है। कालेज कंपलीट हो चुका था और कलयुग की तरह सिर पर सवार हो चुका
पत्रकार बनने का भूत। हालांकि पत्रकारिता की शुरुआत तो 1991 में ही हो गई
थी, लेकिन अब मैं इसमें स्थायी ठौर तलाश रहा था। मन करता था दिल्ली चला
जाऊं। दिसबंर के तीसरे हफ्ते की बात होगी। मेरा एक मित्र जो दिल्ली में
रहता था, तब कोटद्वार आया हुआ था। मुलाकात हुई तो बातों-बातों में उसने
मुझसे भी दिल्ली आने की गुजारिश की। वह रोहिणी सेक्टर-16 में किराये के
फ्लैट पर रहता था। कहने लगा रहने की कोई दिक्कत नहीं और मेरा भी साथ हो
जाएगा। फिर खर्चे का बोझ भी हल्का रहेगा। मुझे सुझाव पसंद आ गया और उससे 20
जनवरी को दिल्ली पहुंचने का वादा कर दिया।
मेरे
पास उसकी इंतजारी के सिवा कोई विकल्प नहीं था, सो मैं नाई भाई के आग्रह पर
दुकान में ही बैठ गया।
कुछ ही देर में तीन युवक वहां पहुंचे। उनसे नाई भाई ने मित्रवर के बारे में
कुछ पूछा तो उनमें से एक बोला, वो तो देर में आते हैं। तब तक भाई साहब
हमारे रूम में ठहर जाएंगे और मेरा सूटकेस उठाकर जाने लगे। मैं भी बिना कुछ
विचार किए उनके साथ हो लिया, यह जाने बगैर कि वो कौन हैं, कहां के हैं और
क्या करते हैं। वैसृवसे सच कहूं तो उस समय इससे बेहतर निर्णय लेने की
क्षमता मुझमें नहीं थी।
बहरहाल!
अब मैं उनके रूम में था। उन्होंने स्टोव में दाल चढा़ई हुई थी अब उनमें से
एक तुरत-फुरत में राई की सब्जी काटने लगा तो एक आटा गूंथने में जुट गया।
साथ ही बातचीत का सिलसिला भी चल पडा़। पता चला कि वे गाजियाबाद यूपी के
रहने वाले हैं। तब उत्तराखंड नहीं बना था, सो कोटद्वार भी यूपी का हिस्सा
हुआ। इस नाते हम सब एक ही प्रांत के हो गए। अब कोटद्वार व गाजियाबाद के बीच
की दूरी सिमट गई और हम पडो़सी शहरों के हो गए। रिश्तों में भी अचानक
आत्मीयता आ गई।
मित्र का कहीं अता-पता नहीं था, लौटेगा भी या नहीं, कुछ भी कहना मुश्किल
था। रात के नौ बज चुके थे। तीनों भाई भोजन करने की तैयारी कर रहे थे। सो
मुझसे भी बोले, भाई साहब! वो न जाने कब आते हैं, इसलिए आप तो भोजन कर ही
लो। हमें भी अच्छा लगेगा।
उनकी बातों में कोई बनावट नहीं थी और रोटी भी उन्होंने चार आदमियों के हिसाब से ही बनाई थी। मैंने भी सुबह से कुछ नहीं खाया था और उस पर थकान से चूर हुआ जा रहा था। हालांकि, एक संस्कारी पहाडी़ की तरह मैंने उनकी बात का विनम्रता पूर्वक इनकार ही में जवाब दिया। लेकिन, वो भी अतिथि सत्कार में पारंगत ठेठ देहाती ठैरे। बोले, भाई साहब! हम पराये हैं क्या, जो ना कर रहे हो। भोजन तो हम साथ ही करेंगे। और...उनको देर भी हो जाए तो चिंता वाली बात नी। चारों भाई यहीं बिस्तर डाल देंगे। अब मैं खुद के वश में नहीं था, सो कोई जवाब दिए बिना चुपचाप थाली ली और भोजन करने लगा। यकीन जानिए, मुझे लग रहा था, जैसे न जाने कितने दिनों बाद खाना मिला है। राई की सब्जी तो...मेरे पास शब्द नहीं हैं उस स्वाद को बयां करने के लिए। अब मेरी चिंता काफी हद तक दूर हो गई थी। लग रहा था अपनों के बीच हूं।
उनकी बातों में कोई बनावट नहीं थी और रोटी भी उन्होंने चार आदमियों के हिसाब से ही बनाई थी। मैंने भी सुबह से कुछ नहीं खाया था और उस पर थकान से चूर हुआ जा रहा था। हालांकि, एक संस्कारी पहाडी़ की तरह मैंने उनकी बात का विनम्रता पूर्वक इनकार ही में जवाब दिया। लेकिन, वो भी अतिथि सत्कार में पारंगत ठेठ देहाती ठैरे। बोले, भाई साहब! हम पराये हैं क्या, जो ना कर रहे हो। भोजन तो हम साथ ही करेंगे। और...उनको देर भी हो जाए तो चिंता वाली बात नी। चारों भाई यहीं बिस्तर डाल देंगे। अब मैं खुद के वश में नहीं था, सो कोई जवाब दिए बिना चुपचाप थाली ली और भोजन करने लगा। यकीन जानिए, मुझे लग रहा था, जैसे न जाने कितने दिनों बाद खाना मिला है। राई की सब्जी तो...मेरे पास शब्द नहीं हैं उस स्वाद को बयां करने के लिए। अब मेरी चिंता काफी हद तक दूर हो गई थी। लग रहा था अपनों के बीच हूं।
खैर!
साढे़ बजे के आसपास मित्र का पदार्पण हुआ। आते हुए नाई भाई से शायद उसे
मेरे पहुंचने की सूचना मिल गई थी, सो वह सीधा भाई लोगों के ठिकाने पर आ
पहुंचा। हालांकि, वह यह बात भूल चुका था कि मेरा उससे 20 जनवरी को दिल्ली
पहुंचने का कमिटमेंट हुआ था। मुझे देखकर ही उसे यह बात याद आई। उस जमाने
में मोबाइल-वोबाइल तो होते थे नहीं, जो आने से पहले मैं उसे इत्तिला करता।
बहरहाल! रात चढी़ जा रही थी और भाई लोगों को भी सोने की जल्दी थी। सो मुझसे
मुखातिब हो विनम्रता से बोले, भाई साहब! अब आप भी सो जाइए, सुबह मिलते
हैं।
अब
मैं मित्रवर के रूम में था। उसने भोजन किया या नहीं, मुझे नहीं मालूम।
क्योंकि मेरे पूछने पर उसने भोजन कर आने की बात कही थी। मुझे नींद आ रही
थी, इसलिए इस मुद्दे का पटाक्षेप करने में ही बेहतरी समझी और जमीन पर
बिस्तर डालकर नींद के आगोश में चला गया।
सुबह नींद देर से खुली। रविवार का दिन था, इसलिए मित्रवर को भी शायद
बेफ्रिकी थी। लेकिन, मैं बेफ्रिक नहीं था। मुझे काम की तलाश करनी थी। इसलिए
नाश्ता करने के बाद मैंने मित्रवर को कुरेदना शुरू कर दिया। उसने आश्वस्त
किया कि दो-चार दिन में काम बन जाएगा, बस! हमें अंग्रेजी अखबार में मंगलवार
और शनिवार को छपने वाले क्लासीफाइड पर नजर रखनी है।
अब
मैं थोड़ा कम्फर्टेबल फील कर रहा था, सो विषय बदलते हुए लगे हाथ किराया और
मालिक मकान के बारे भी पूछ लिया। मित्रवर ने जानकारी दी कि फ्लैट किसी
हिमाचली का है, जो प्रकारांतर से उसकी भी रिश्तेदारी में है। लेकिन, उसके
दिल्ली से बाहर रहने के कारण किराया बुआ लोग वसूलते हैं। किराया फिलहाल आठ
सौ रुपये महीना है, इसलिए हम पर कोई खास बोझ नहीं पड़ने वाला।
बीस साल पहले आठ सौ रुपये की रकम कोई छोटी-मोटी रकम नहीं थी, लेकिन मित्रवर
के बोझ न पड़ने वाले इशारे से मैं समझ गया कि वह इसे बडी़ रकम क्यों मान
रहा है। स्पष्ट था कि किरायेदारी में अब मेरी भी 400 रुपये की हिस्सेदारी
हो चुकी थी। यानी अब मैं दिल्ली में किरायेदार होने का तमगा हासिल कर चुका
था, जिसे बरकरार रखने के लिए जल्द से जल्द काम तलाशना था।
अगली
सुबह पहला काम मैंने यही किया कि अंग्रेजी अखबार खरीद लाया। मंगलवार का
दिन होने के कारण अखबार क्लासीफाइड विज्ञापनों से लबालब था। दोनों ने ऊपर
से नीचे तक नजर दौडा़नी शुरू कर दी। दो-तीन विज्ञापन मन मुताबिक मिले, सो
दस्तावेजों की फाइल थामी और चल पड़े संबंधित पतों पर भाग्य की परीक्षा
लेने।
मित्रवर के साथ होने से संबंधित कंपनियों के पते तलाशने को भटकना नहीं
पडा़। पर, अफसोस! बात भी नहीं बनी। मित्रवर ने फिर हौसलाफजाई की, टेंशन
नहीं यार! इतनी बडी़ दिल्ली है, कल फिर देखते हैं। मैंने भी सहमति में सिर
हिलाया और कमरे की राह पकड़ ली। रास्तेभर वो मुझे दिल्ली का भूगोल समझाता
रहा और मैं हूं-हां में जवाब देता रहा।
रूम में पहुंचते-पहुंचते अंधेरा घिर आया था। खैर! हमने पास ही लगने वाले
मंगल बाजार से सब्जी वगैरह खरीदी और पेट पूजा के अनुष्ठान में जुट गए।
भोजन
करने के बाद मित्रवर तो सीधे बिस्तर के हवाले हो गए, मगर मेरी आंखों में
नींद नहीं थी। रह-रहकर मन में एक सवाल कौंध रहा था कि आखिर वह कौन सी नौकरी
करता है, जिसमें दफ्तर जाने की बाध्यता न हो। और...अगर ऐसा नहीं है तो
मित्रवर के दफ्तर न जाने की क्या वजह हो सकती है। कहीं ऐसा तो नहीं कि
महाशय के पास कोई काम ही न हो। आशंका सच निकली तो मेरे भी पैर दिल्ली में
जमने से पहले ही उखड़ सकते हैं। पर, उस वक्त सोए हुए व्यक्ति से तो कुछ
पूछा नहीं जा सकता था। इसके लिए तो सुबह होने तक इंतजार करना मजबूरी था।
सुबह
नींद जल्दी ही टूट गई। बाहर देखा तो दिल्ली ने कोहरे की चादर ओढी़ हुई थी।
हालांकि, मुझे कहीं जाना नहीं था, फिर भी मैं मन ही मन कोहरे के छंटने की
कामना कर था। मित्रवर अभी भी निश्चंतता के खर्राटे ले रहे थे, लेकिन मैंने
जगाने की चेष्टा नहीं की। खैर! जब महाशय की नींद टूटी, तब तक मौसम खुल चुका
था। सो मैंने बिना मुहूर्त के ही सवाल दागा, ड्यूटी जाना है क्या?
मित्रवर बोले, पहले वाली कंपनी मनमाफिक नहीं थी, उसे छोड़ दिया। इन दिनों
दोपहृर बाद पार्ट टाइम काम कर रहा हूं। साथ ही फुलटाइम की भी खोज जारी है।
मैंने
बात आगे नहीं बढा़ई। कुछ देर की चुप्पी के बाद फिर मित्रवर बोले, यार!
थोडी़ देर में किराया दे आते हैं।
पर, अभी तो महीना खत्म होने में हफ्ता बाकी है, मैंने कहा।
इस पर मित्रवर बोले, इस महीने नहीं दे पाया और पिछले महीने का भी बकाया है।
कुछ पैसे तो होंगे ना?
इस सवाल का जवाब ना में दे पाना मेरे लिए संभव नहीं था। कारण, मुझे दिल्ली
आए हुए अभी तीन दिन ही हुए थे। जाहिर था, खाली तो आया नहीं हूंगा। सो बोला,
कितने?
पूरे ही दे देते हैं यार! बाकी देख लेंगे, मित्रवर का जवाब था।
फिलहाल मेरे सामने कोई विकल्प नहीं था, लिहाजा सोलह सौ रुपये उसके हाथ में
थमा दिए।
भोजन
कर हम पैदल ही किराया देने निकल पडे़। मधुवन चौक के पास ही एक सरकारी
कालोनी में उसकी बुआ का परिवार रहता था। अजीब सा माहौल था वहां का। किसी ने
पानी तक के लिए नहीं पूछा। मुझे तो छोडि़ए, उसे भी नहीं। ऐसे माहौल में
पलभर भी वहां ठहरना मेरे लिए असह्य होता जा रहा था। लिहाजा, मैंने उससे
चलने का इशारा कर दिया। हालांकि, उसकी नातेदारी का मामला था, लेकिन
आत्मसम्मान तो सबका होता है। सो, उसने भी किराया बुआ के हाथ में थमाया और
हमने वहां से विदा ली। बस स्टाप के पास एक स्टाल से हमने अखबार खरीदा और
पैदल ही घर की राह पकड़ ली।
रूम
में पहुंचते ही सबसे पहला काम हमने अखबार के पन्ने पलटने का किया और संयोग
से रोजी का एक ठौर भी मिल गया। किसी कंपनी के एक साप्ताहिक अखबार का
इस्तहार छपा था। मुझे तो अखबार के सिवा कहीं काम करना ही नहीं था, इसलिए
लगा जैसे मन की मुराद पूरी हो गई। अगली सुबह मैं मित्रवर के साथ बरफखाने के
पास स्थित कंपनी के दफ्तर में इंटरव्यू के लिए मौजूद था। संपादक-कम-मालिक
से मुलाकात हुई और 1500 रुपये में बात भी बन गई। उस दौर में भी यह बहुत
अच्छी रकम तो नहीं थी, मगर दिल्ली में पैर जमाने का सहारा तो मिल ही गया
था। इसलिए मन में संतुष्टि के भाव थे।
अगली
सुबह से नौकरी शुरू हो गई और दो-एक दिन में मित्रवर का भी एक कंपनी में
जुगाड़ हो गया।
अब हम सुबह चार बजे उठ जाते और ठीक आठ बजे रैट-पैट होकर बस स्टाप पर होते।
मुझे दफ्तर तक तीन बस बदलनी पड़ती। पहली सेक्टर सोलह से मधुवन चौक, दूसरी
मधुवन चौक से माल रोड-कैंप और तीसरी कैंप से बरफखाना। किराया सात रुपये
बैठता। अब दिल्ली में रहते हुए धीरे-धीरे मुझमें भी चतुराई आने लगी थी।
चूंकि, मेरा रूट माल रोड वाला था, जो दिल्ली यूनिवर्सिटी का भी रूट है,
इसलिए खुद को स्टूडेंट शो कर मैं तीन के बजाय एक रुपये का ही टिकट लेने
लगा। टिफिन मैं ले जाता था नहीं, इसलिए बेफिक्री रहती थी। शाम को लौटते हुए
मुझे सीधे उत्तमनगर वाली बस मिल जाती, सो एक रुपये में मधुवन चौक पहुंच
जाता। एक रुपया वहां से कमरे तक पहुंचने में खर्च होता था। लेकिन, डीटीसी
की बस में सफर करने के दौरान थोडा़ सतर्क रहना पड़ता, क्योंकि कहीं पर भी
टिकट चैकर आ धमकता था।
एक
दिन मेरा भी पाला टिकट चैकर से पड़ गया और मुझे पूरे बीस रुपये का अर्थदंड
भुगतना पडा़। दरअसल, हमेशा की तरह उस दिन भी मैंने मधुवन चौक से एक रुपये
का ही टिकट लिया था। लेकिन यह बस डीटीसी की थी, जिसे जहांगीरपुरी में टिकट
चैकर ने रोक दिया। मैंने चालाक बनने की कोशिश यह कि टिकट चैकर के सामने ही
बस से उतर गया, ताकि उसे लगे कि यहीं तक की सवारी है। लेकिन, दुर्भाग्य से
वह मेरी स्थिति भांप गया। उसने मुझसे टिकट मांगा तो मैंने एक रुपये का टिकट
उसके हाथ में थमा दिया। बस! फिर क्या था, बिना कुछ कहे उसने मेरा बीस
रुपये का चालान काट दिया। उस दिन मेरी जेब में मात्र बीस रुपये ही थे,
सोचिए उन्हें गंवाकर क्या हालत हुई होगी मेरी। मूड पूरी तरह उखड़ चुका था।
मैंने
आफिस जाने का प्लान कैंसिल कर दिया। रूम में लौटने से कोई फायदा नहीं था,
क्योंकि चाभी मित्रवर के पास थी। सो, चालान को जेब में रखकर मैं मुद्रिका
में सवार हो गया। इस चालान से उस दिन डीटीसी की बस में मैं कहीं घूमा जा
सकता था। मैंने भी यही किया। पूरे दिन प्लस-माइनस मुद्रिका में दिल्ली
घूमता रहा। कुछ खाने-पीने का तो सवाल ही नहीं उठता था, क्योंकि जेब खाली
थी। इसका फायदा यह जरूर हुआ कि दिल्ली के बारे में बहुत-कुछ जान-समझ गया।
और...हां! इस चालान को अगले माह इसी तारीख पर मैंने फिर इस्तेमाल किया।
क्योंकि महीना उसमें ठीक-ठीक पढ़ने में नहीं आ रहा था।
धीरे-धीरे
जिंदगी की गाडी़ खिसकने लगी। पत्र-पत्रिकाओं में स्वतंत्र लेखन से भी कुछ
पैसे मिल जाते थे। संपर्क बढ़ने पर बडे़ समाचार पत्रों में दफ्तरों में भी
आना-जाना हो गया। खासकर राष्ट्रीय सहारा, जनसत्ता, नवभारत टाइम्स व दिल्ली
प्रेस के दफ्तर में। एक दिन मित्रवर ने बताया कि वह ऐसे सज्जन को जानता है,
जो साहित्यकार टाइप के हैं और उनके संपर्क भी अच्छे हैं। इन सज्जन का नाम
उसने जयपाल सिंह रावत बताया। साथ ही इतवार को उनसे मुलाकात कराने की बात
भी कही। मुझे भी लगा कि मुलाकात करने में कोई बुराई नहीं है। मन में
गोस्वामी तुलसीदास की एक चौपाई कौंधने लगी कि ना जाने किस वेश में नारायण
मिल जाएं। फिर क्या था, इतवार को हम उत्तरी पीतमपुरा स्थित उनके ठीये पर जा
धमके।
पहली
ही मुलाकात इस कदर आत्मीय रही कि जयपाल दा और उनके परिवार से मेरा मन का
रिश्ता जुड़ गया। जयपाल दा ने गढ़वाली में लिखी अपनी कई कविताएं भी इस
दौरान सुनाईं। संयोग देखिए कि उनकी कविताएं सुनने वाले पहले गंभीर श्रोता
होने का श्रेय भी मुझे ही जाता है। उन दिनों मैंने भी गढ़वाली में लिखना
शुरू कर दिया था, इसलिए हमारी दोस्ती प्रगाढ़ होने के संकेत मिलने लगे।
जयपाल दा ने गढ़कवि कन्हैया लाल डंडरियाल से मुलाकात कराने का भी भरोसा
दिलाया। वे डंडरियाल जी को पिता तुल्य सम्मान देते थे। उस रात हम उनके यहां
से भोजन करके ही रूम पर लौटे।
धीरे-धीरे
मुझे दिल्ली रास आने लगी थी, लेकिन साथ में दिक्कतें भी बढ़नी शुरू हो
गईं। तब हमारे जैसे प्रवासियों का चूल्हा केरोसिन से ही जला करता था, लेकिन
हमारे पास अब दो-एक दिन के लिए ही केरोसिन बचा था। व्यवस्था ब्लैक में ही
हो सकती थी, जो फिलहाल संभव नहीं थी। संयोग देखिए कि रात को न जाने किधर से
जयपाल दा रूम में आ गए। मैंने उनके सामने यह चिंता रखी तो बोले, व्यवस्था
हो जाएगी, टेंशन लेने की जरूरत नहीं। अगले दिन वे दस लीटर केरोसिन लेकर
हाजिर थे। मैंने पैसे का जिक्र छेडा़ तो उन्होंने मुझे चुप करा दिया। उस
रात मैं उन्हीं के घर रहा। वहां डंडरियाल जी भी आए हुए थे, सो मुझे भी उनके
दर्शनों का सौभाग्य मिल गया। आधी रात तक साहित्यिक चर्चा होती रही।
अब
डंडरियाल जी भी मेरी आत्मीयजनों की सूची में शामिल हो चुके थे। वो जयपाल
दा के यहां बराबर आया करते थे। कभी किसी कारणवश नहीं आ पाते तो हम उनके घर
चले जाते। तब उनका परिवार गुलाबी बाग में किराये के मकान पर रहता था और उस
दौरान वे अपने सुप्रसिद्ध खंडकाव्य नागरजा (भाग तीन) पर काम कर रहे थे।
मित्रवर की साहित्य में कोई रुचि नहीं थी, इसलिए वह अपनी ही दुनिया में
रहता। नौकरी भी उसकी अटक-अटक कर चल रही थी, इसलिए खर्चा मेरी ही जेब से
होने लगा। मुफलिसी के इस दौर का एक फायदा यह जरूर हुआ कि मैंने दिल्ली के
बड़े हिस्से को पैदल नाप डाला। बीसियों दफा तो आफिस आना-जाना भी पैदल ही
हुआ। एक बार जब जेब पूरी तरह तरह खाली हो गई तो एक दोस्त से पैसे उधार भी
मांगने पडे़।
ऐसी
स्थिति में किसी को भी उकताहट होने लगना स्वाभाविक है, पर यहां धैर्य मेरा
साथ दे रहा था। मुझे लग रहा था कि मैं परिस्थितियों को अपने अनुकूल ढाल
सकता हूं। इसके लिए मैं लगातार प्रयास भी कर रहा था। इसी का नतीजा रहा कि
कुछ समय बाद नवभारत टाइम्स में नौकरी मिल गई। पगार थी 2700 रुपये। उस दौर
के हिसाब से यह बहुत अच्छी रकम थी। हालांकि, इसमें से 800 रुपये तो सीधे
किराये के चले जाते थे।
इधर, मित्र भी सहयोगी की बजाय बोझ की भूमिका में आ गया था। शायद उसने
कोटद्वार अपने घर पर बता दिया था कि दिल्ली बहुत दिनों तक रुकने की इजाजत
नहीं देने वाली।
एक
दिन उसने बताया कि पिताजी दिल्ली आने वाले हैं। पर, यह नहीं बताया कि
क्यों आने वाले हैं।
कुछ दिन वो सचमुच आ भी गए, लेकिन रूम पर नहीं, बल्कि अपनी बहन यानी उसकी
बुआ के घर। वहीं उसे भी बुलाया गया। शाम को लौटने पर उसने बताया कि पिताजी
ने कोटद्वार में रोड हेड पर दुकान ले ली है, अब वहीं कुछ होगा। साथ ही मुझे
सलाह दी कि चाहूं तो फ्लैट अपने पास रख सकता हूं। हालांकि मकान मालिक इसे
बचने का मन भी बना रहा है। प्रकारांतर से शायद वह नहीं चाहता कि मैं वहीं
रहूं और सच तो यह है कि मैं खुद भी वहां रहने का इच्छुक नहीं था। इसलिए
मैंने उससे कह दिया कि मैं अपनी व्यवस्था देख लूंगा।
साथ ही उससे यह भी कह दिया कि वह अपना कोई भी सामान रूम में न छोड़े, मुझे
किसी भी वस्तु की जरूरत नहीं है। यहां तक मैंने अपनी एक पैंट, एक जोडी़
जूते और एक स्वेटर भी उसी के हवाले कर दी, क्योंकि पिछले कुछ समय से इन्हें
वही इस्तेमाल कर रहा था।
वह
यहीं नहीं रुका, सामान वगैरह पैक करने के बाद उसने मुझे रूम से बाहर
बुलाया और बोला, यार कुछ पैसे होंगे।
मैं चाहकर भी ना न बोल सका और बोला, कितने?
पांच सौ हों तो..., उसने कहा।
यह राशि बहुत बडी़ और फिर इसे लौटना भी नहीं था। सो, मैंने कहा, पांच सौ तो
नहीं, हां! दो सौ दे सकता हूं।
उसने दो सौ रुपये भी गिद्ध की तरह लपक लिए। किराया मैं चुकता कर ली चुका
था। इसलिए बोरिया-बिस्तर समेटकर उसके दिल्ली छोड़ने से पहले जयपाल दा के घर
आ गया।
*****************************************************************************
In order of the story ...
Tenant
******
Dinesh Kukreti
In my life till now I remained in the role of a tenant for most of the time. First with family and later alone. Any place. To be a real tenant is very painful and also comforting for an introverted person like me. Currently I am a tenant in Dehradun, a tenant with a lot of goodwill. The owner knows many things about the house and not many. May not even know. But I am missing the tenancy of Delhi at the moment.
It is 1995. The college was completed and the ghost of becoming a journalist had passed over his head like Kalyug. Although journalism had started in 1991 itself, but now I was looking for a permanent place in it. Wanted to go to Delhi It will be the third week of December. A friend of mine who lived in Delhi, then came to Kotdwar. When I met, he requested me to come to Delhi too. He lived in a rented flat in Rohini Sector-16. There is no problem to keep saying and I will also be with you. Then the burden of expenditure will also be lighter. I liked the suggestion and promised him to reach Delhi on 20 January.
Now I started strengthening my mind to leave the house and then left for Delhi by bus at Sohrabaget depot on the 20th morning. In the name of luggage I had a big suitcase and a bag. Clothes, rags, beds and beds were all in them. Around five o'clock in the evening I reached Delhi and then boarded a bus going to Uttamnagar (probably number 883). I had reached Rohini Sector-16 around half past six. The darkness was clouded and cold winds were blowing. There was a barber shop nearby, where, during interrogation, it was found that the friend had left somewhere in the evening. Probably will be back in a while.
I had no choice but to arrange for him, so I sat in the shop at the request of the barber brother. In a short time three young men arrived there. When Nai Bhai asked him something about the friend, one of them said, he comes late. Till then brother will stop in our room and pick up my suitcase and start leaving. I too joined them without any thought, without knowing who they are, where they belong and what they do. To tell the truth, I did not have the ability to make better decisions at that time.
However! Now I was in his room. He had put lentils in the stove, now one of them started cutting rye vegetables in a hurry, and then got busy kneading a dough. At the same time, a series of talks also started. It was learned that he hailed from Ghaziabad UP. Uttarakhand was not formed then, so Kotdwar also became part of UP. That is why we all came from the same province. Now the distance between Kotdwar and Ghaziabad has been reduced and we have become neighbors. There was a sudden intimacy in relationships. Friend did not know anywhere, whether he will return or not, it was difficult to say anything. It was nine in the night. The three brothers were preparing to have food. So speak to me too, brother! Don't know when they come, so you must have food. We would love it too.
There was no texture in his words and he also made roti according to four men. I too had not eaten anything since morning and was being crushed with fatigue. However, like a cultured hill, I responded to him in a polite refusal. However, he was also a typical rustic villager who was hospitable. Said, brother! What are we strangers who are not doing? We will have food together. And ... even if they are late, worrying. The four brothers will put the bed here. Now I was not in control of myself, so without answering, took the plate quietly and started eating. Believe me, I was feeling as though food has been received after how many days. Rye vegetable… I have no words to describe the taste. Now my anxiety was overcome to a great extent. It seemed that I am among my loved ones.
Well! Friend's debut took place around half past two. While coming, he had received information about my arrival from the barber, so he came directly to the whereabouts of the people. However, he had forgotten that I had committed to reach Delhi on 20 January. He remembered this after seeing me. In those days there were no mobile-mobiles, which I used to inform before coming. However! The night was going on and the brothers too were in a hurry to sleep. So please be polite to me politely, brother! Now you too sleep, see you in the morning.
Now I was in the friend's room. I don't know if he had food or not. Because when I asked, he said to come for a meal. I was feeling sleepy, so it was better to intervene in this issue and went to sleep on the bed laying on the ground. Sleep opened late in the morning. It was a Sunday, so the friend might also have a friend. But, I was not carefree. I had to look for work. So after having breakfast, I started scolding the friend. He assured that work will be done in two-four days, that's all! We have to keep an eye on the classifieds published on Tuesday and Saturday in the English newspaper.
Now I was feeling a little comfortable, so changing the subject, I asked about the rent and the owner's house. Mitrawar informed that the flat belongs to a Himachali, who is also in a relationship with him. But, due to his stay outside Delhi, rent buyers are charged. The rent is currently eight hundred rupees a month, so we do not have to bear any special burden. Twenty years ago, the amount of eight hundred rupees was not a small amount, but with the helpless gesture of friend, I understood why he is considering it a big amount. It was clear that now I had a share of Rs 400 in the tenancy. That is, now I had achieved the title of being a tenant in Delhi, which had to find work as soon as possible to keep it intact.
The next morning the first thing I did was buy an English newspaper. Being Tuesday, the newspaper was full of classified advertisements. Both started looking from top to bottom. Two or three advertisements were received according to the mind, so the file of documents was completed and the related addresses started going to test the fate. There was no wanderlust in finding addresses of companies related to being with Mitravar. But, alas! Did not even talk. Mitrawar again cheered, not tension man! Delhi is so big, see you again tomorrow. I nodded in agreement and took my way to the room. On the way, he continued to explain the geography of Delhi to me and I replied yes. Arriving in the room, darkness had fallen. Well! We bought vegetables from the nearby Mangal Bazaar and got involved in the ritual of belly worship.
After having food, the friend turned straight to bed, but my eyes were not sleepy. A question was cropping up in my mind that what kind of job he does, in which there is no compulsion to go to office. And ... if it is not so, what could be the reason for not visiting Mitwar's office. Is it not the case that there is no work for the master. If the apprehension turns out to be true, my feet can be uprooted even before they freeze in Delhi. But, the person sleeping at that time could not be asked anything. For this, it was helpless to wait till morning.
Sleep soon broke down in the morning. When seen outside, Delhi was covered with fog. Although I had nowhere to go, I still wished to fade the mind. Mitravar was still snoring with assurance, but I did not try to awaken. Well! By the time Monsieur broke down, the weather had opened. So I shot the question without any time, have you gone to duty? Mitrawar said, the earlier company was not arbitrary, leaving it. These days I am working part time after two hours. Also, fulltime search is on.
I did not proceed. After a while of silence, the friend said again, man! They pay rent in a short while. But, we have yet to finish the month, I said. Friend said on this, could not give this month and the last month is also due. Will there be some money? It was not possible for me to answer no to this question. Because, it was only three days before I came to Delhi. Obviously, I would not come empty. He said, how many? Dude gives it completely! The rest will see, Friend's answer was. At the moment I had no choice, so handed me sixteen hundred rupees in his hand.
After taking food, we went out to pay rent. His aunt's family lived in a government colony near Madhuvan Chowk. There was a strange atmosphere there. No one asked for water. Leave me, not even him. It was becoming unbearable for me to stay there even for a moment in such an environment. So, I made a gesture to walk with him. Although, it was a matter of his kinship, but everyone has self-respect. So, he also put the rent in Bua's hand and we left from there. We bought a newspaper from a stall near the bus stop and caught the path of the house on foot.
On reaching the room, the first thing we did was to turn the pages of the newspaper and, incidentally, one of Rosie's house was also found. A weekly newspaper publication of a company was printed. I did not have to work anywhere except in the newspaper, so it felt as if the wish of the mind was fulfilled. The next morning I was present for an interview with the friend at the company's office near Barfakhana. Met the editor-cum-owner and became a talk for 1500 rupees. Even at that time it was not a very good amount, but the support of setting foot in Delhi was found. Therefore, there were feelings of satisfaction in the mind.
The job started from the next morning and within two days, Mitrawar also got involved in a company. Now we would get up at four in the morning and would be at the bus stop at eight o'clock at night. I had to change three buses to the office. First sector sixteen to Madhuvan Chowk, second Madhuvan Chowk to Mal Road-Camp and third camp to Barfkhana. The fare was seven rupees. Now, while living in Delhi, gradually I started getting clever. Since my route was Mall Road, which is also the route to Delhi University, so by showing myself a student, I started taking tickets for one rupee instead of three. Tiffin I did not carry, so Befikri lived. Returning in the evening, I would get a bus directly to Uttamnagar, and would reach Madhuvan Chowk for a rupee. One rupee was used to reach the room from there. But, one has to be a little cautious while traveling in the DTC bus, because the ticket checker used to threaten anywhere.
One day, I was also hit by a ticket checker and I had to pay a fine of twenty rupees. Actually, as usual, on that day I took a ticket of one rupee from Madhuvan Chowk. But this bus belonged to DTC, which was stopped by the ticket checker in Jahangirpuri. I tried to be clever that I got off the bus in front of the ticket checker, so that he felt that there was a ride. But, unfortunately he realized my position. When he asked for my ticket, I handed him a ticket of one rupee in his hand. Bus! What was it then, without saying anything, he cut my twenty rupee invoice. That day there was only twenty rupees in my pocket, imagine what would have happened to me after losing them. The mood was completely uprooted.
I canceled my plan to go to office. There was no use in returning to the room, as the key was with Mitravar. So, keeping the challan in my pocket, I rode in the ring. With this challan, I could roam the DTC bus that day. I did the same thing. The whole day roamed Delhi in plus-minus mudrika. There was no question of eating and drinking something, because the pocket was empty. The advantage of this is that a lot of knowledge is known about Delhi. And yes! I used this challan again on the same date next month. Because the month was not coming properly in it.
Gradually the vehicle of life began to slide. Independent writing in newspapers and magazines also fetched some money. Due to the increase in contact, offices in big newspapers also became known. Especially in the offices of Rashtriya Sahara, Jansatta, Navbharat Times and Delhi Press. One day a friend told that he knows such a gentleman, who is of the type of litterateur and his contacts are also good. He named these gentleman as Jaipal Singh Rawat. Also said to make Sunday a meeting with him. I also felt that there is nothing wrong in meeting. Goswami Tulsidas began to flick in the mind that Narayan should not be found in what disguise. What was it then, on Sunday, we went to their home in North Pitampura.
The very first meeting was so intimate that my heart's connection with Jaipal da and his family got connected. Jaipal da also recited many of his poems written in Garhwali during this period. Incidentally, the credit for being the first serious listener to hear his poems also goes to me. In those days I too started writing in Garhwali, so there were signs of deepening our friendship. Jaipal da also assured to meet Gadhakavi Kanhaiya Lal Dandariyal. He used to give respect to Dandriyal ji as a father. That night we returned to the room after eating from them.
Gradually, I started coming to Delhi Raas, but problems started increasing along with it. Then the stove of emigrants like us used to burn with kerosene, but now we had only kerosene left for two days. The system could have been done in black, which was not possible at the moment. Look at the coincidence that Jaipal came into the room from where the night is not known.
*****************
In my life till now I remained in the role of a tenant for most of the time. First with family and later alone. Any place. To be a real tenant is very painful and also comforting for an introverted person like me. Currently I am a tenant in Dehradun, a tenant with a lot of goodwill. The owner knows many things about the house and not many. May not even know. But I am missing the tenancy of Delhi at the moment.
It is 1995. The college was completed and the ghost of becoming a journalist had passed over his head like Kalyug. Although journalism had started in 1991 itself, but now I was looking for a permanent place in it. Wanted to go to Delhi It will be the third week of December. A friend of mine who lived in Delhi, then came to Kotdwar. When I met, he requested me to come to Delhi too. He lived in a rented flat in Rohini Sector-16. There is no problem to keep saying and I will also be with you. Then the burden of expenditure will also be lighter. I liked the suggestion and promised him to reach Delhi on 20 January.
Now I started strengthening my mind to leave the house and then left for Delhi by bus at Sohrabaget depot on the 20th morning. In the name of luggage I had a big suitcase and a bag. Clothes, rags, beds and beds were all in them. Around five o'clock in the evening I reached Delhi and then boarded a bus going to Uttamnagar (probably number 883). I had reached Rohini Sector-16 around half past six. The darkness was clouded and cold winds were blowing. There was a barber shop nearby, where, during interrogation, it was found that the friend had left somewhere in the evening. Probably will be back in a while.
I had no choice but to arrange for him, so I sat in the shop at the request of the barber brother. In a short time three young men arrived there. When Nai Bhai asked him something about the friend, one of them said, he comes late. Till then brother will stop in our room and pick up my suitcase and start leaving. I too joined them without any thought, without knowing who they are, where they belong and what they do. To tell the truth, I did not have the ability to make better decisions at that time.
However! Now I was in his room. He had put lentils in the stove, now one of them started cutting rye vegetables in a hurry, and then got busy kneading a dough. At the same time, a series of talks also started. It was learned that he hailed from Ghaziabad UP. Uttarakhand was not formed then, so Kotdwar also became part of UP. That is why we all came from the same province. Now the distance between Kotdwar and Ghaziabad has been reduced and we have become neighbors. There was a sudden intimacy in relationships. Friend did not know anywhere, whether he will return or not, it was difficult to say anything. It was nine in the night. The three brothers were preparing to have food. So speak to me too, brother! Don't know when they come, so you must have food. We would love it too.
There was no texture in his words and he also made roti according to four men. I too had not eaten anything since morning and was being crushed with fatigue. However, like a cultured hill, I responded to him in a polite refusal. However, he was also a typical rustic villager who was hospitable. Said, brother! What are we strangers who are not doing? We will have food together. And ... even if they are late, worrying. The four brothers will put the bed here. Now I was not in control of myself, so without answering, took the plate quietly and started eating. Believe me, I was feeling as though food has been received after how many days. Rye vegetable… I have no words to describe the taste. Now my anxiety was overcome to a great extent. It seemed that I am among my loved ones.
Now I was in the friend's room. I don't know if he had food or not. Because when I asked, he said to come for a meal. I was feeling sleepy, so it was better to intervene in this issue and went to sleep on the bed laying on the ground. Sleep opened late in the morning. It was a Sunday, so the friend might also have a friend. But, I was not carefree. I had to look for work. So after having breakfast, I started scolding the friend. He assured that work will be done in two-four days, that's all! We have to keep an eye on the classifieds published on Tuesday and Saturday in the English newspaper.
Now I was feeling a little comfortable, so changing the subject, I asked about the rent and the owner's house. Mitrawar informed that the flat belongs to a Himachali, who is also in a relationship with him. But, due to his stay outside Delhi, rent buyers are charged. The rent is currently eight hundred rupees a month, so we do not have to bear any special burden. Twenty years ago, the amount of eight hundred rupees was not a small amount, but with the helpless gesture of friend, I understood why he is considering it a big amount. It was clear that now I had a share of Rs 400 in the tenancy. That is, now I had achieved the title of being a tenant in Delhi, which had to find work as soon as possible to keep it intact.
The next morning the first thing I did was buy an English newspaper. Being Tuesday, the newspaper was full of classified advertisements. Both started looking from top to bottom. Two or three advertisements were received according to the mind, so the file of documents was completed and the related addresses started going to test the fate. There was no wanderlust in finding addresses of companies related to being with Mitravar. But, alas! Did not even talk. Mitrawar again cheered, not tension man! Delhi is so big, see you again tomorrow. I nodded in agreement and took my way to the room. On the way, he continued to explain the geography of Delhi to me and I replied yes. Arriving in the room, darkness had fallen. Well! We bought vegetables from the nearby Mangal Bazaar and got involved in the ritual of belly worship.
After having food, the friend turned straight to bed, but my eyes were not sleepy. A question was cropping up in my mind that what kind of job he does, in which there is no compulsion to go to office. And ... if it is not so, what could be the reason for not visiting Mitwar's office. Is it not the case that there is no work for the master. If the apprehension turns out to be true, my feet can be uprooted even before they freeze in Delhi. But, the person sleeping at that time could not be asked anything. For this, it was helpless to wait till morning.
Sleep soon broke down in the morning. When seen outside, Delhi was covered with fog. Although I had nowhere to go, I still wished to fade the mind. Mitravar was still snoring with assurance, but I did not try to awaken. Well! By the time Monsieur broke down, the weather had opened. So I shot the question without any time, have you gone to duty? Mitrawar said, the earlier company was not arbitrary, leaving it. These days I am working part time after two hours. Also, fulltime search is on.
I did not proceed. After a while of silence, the friend said again, man! They pay rent in a short while. But, we have yet to finish the month, I said. Friend said on this, could not give this month and the last month is also due. Will there be some money? It was not possible for me to answer no to this question. Because, it was only three days before I came to Delhi. Obviously, I would not come empty. He said, how many? Dude gives it completely! The rest will see, Friend's answer was. At the moment I had no choice, so handed me sixteen hundred rupees in his hand.
After taking food, we went out to pay rent. His aunt's family lived in a government colony near Madhuvan Chowk. There was a strange atmosphere there. No one asked for water. Leave me, not even him. It was becoming unbearable for me to stay there even for a moment in such an environment. So, I made a gesture to walk with him. Although, it was a matter of his kinship, but everyone has self-respect. So, he also put the rent in Bua's hand and we left from there. We bought a newspaper from a stall near the bus stop and caught the path of the house on foot.
On reaching the room, the first thing we did was to turn the pages of the newspaper and, incidentally, one of Rosie's house was also found. A weekly newspaper publication of a company was printed. I did not have to work anywhere except in the newspaper, so it felt as if the wish of the mind was fulfilled. The next morning I was present for an interview with the friend at the company's office near Barfakhana. Met the editor-cum-owner and became a talk for 1500 rupees. Even at that time it was not a very good amount, but the support of setting foot in Delhi was found. Therefore, there were feelings of satisfaction in the mind.
The job started from the next morning and within two days, Mitrawar also got involved in a company. Now we would get up at four in the morning and would be at the bus stop at eight o'clock at night. I had to change three buses to the office. First sector sixteen to Madhuvan Chowk, second Madhuvan Chowk to Mal Road-Camp and third camp to Barfkhana. The fare was seven rupees. Now, while living in Delhi, gradually I started getting clever. Since my route was Mall Road, which is also the route to Delhi University, so by showing myself a student, I started taking tickets for one rupee instead of three. Tiffin I did not carry, so Befikri lived. Returning in the evening, I would get a bus directly to Uttamnagar, and would reach Madhuvan Chowk for a rupee. One rupee was used to reach the room from there. But, one has to be a little cautious while traveling in the DTC bus, because the ticket checker used to threaten anywhere.
One day, I was also hit by a ticket checker and I had to pay a fine of twenty rupees. Actually, as usual, on that day I took a ticket of one rupee from Madhuvan Chowk. But this bus belonged to DTC, which was stopped by the ticket checker in Jahangirpuri. I tried to be clever that I got off the bus in front of the ticket checker, so that he felt that there was a ride. But, unfortunately he realized my position. When he asked for my ticket, I handed him a ticket of one rupee in his hand. Bus! What was it then, without saying anything, he cut my twenty rupee invoice. That day there was only twenty rupees in my pocket, imagine what would have happened to me after losing them. The mood was completely uprooted.
I canceled my plan to go to office. There was no use in returning to the room, as the key was with Mitravar. So, keeping the challan in my pocket, I rode in the ring. With this challan, I could roam the DTC bus that day. I did the same thing. The whole day roamed Delhi in plus-minus mudrika. There was no question of eating and drinking something, because the pocket was empty. The advantage of this is that a lot of knowledge is known about Delhi. And yes! I used this challan again on the same date next month. Because the month was not coming properly in it.
Gradually the vehicle of life began to slide. Independent writing in newspapers and magazines also fetched some money. Due to the increase in contact, offices in big newspapers also became known. Especially in the offices of Rashtriya Sahara, Jansatta, Navbharat Times and Delhi Press. One day a friend told that he knows such a gentleman, who is of the type of litterateur and his contacts are also good. He named these gentleman as Jaipal Singh Rawat. Also said to make Sunday a meeting with him. I also felt that there is nothing wrong in meeting. Goswami Tulsidas began to flick in the mind that Narayan should not be found in what disguise. What was it then, on Sunday, we went to their home in North Pitampura.The very first meeting was so intimate that my heart's connection with Jaipal da and his family got connected. Jaipal da also recited many of his poems written in Garhwali during this period. Incidentally, the credit for being the first serious listener to hear his poems also goes to me. In those days I too started writing in Garhwali, so there were signs of deepening our friendship. Jaipal da also assured to meet Gadhakavi Kanhaiya Lal Dandariyal. He used to give respect to Dandriyal ji as a father. That night we returned to the room after eating from them.
Gradually, I started coming to Delhi Raas, but problems started increasing along with it. Then the stove of emigrants like us used to burn with kerosene, but now we had only kerosene left for two days. The system could have been done in black, which was not possible at the moment. Look at the coincidence that Jaipal came into the room from where the night is not known.
*****************
