25 साल बाद भी — चाय का पहला कप
Papa subah 5 baje uthte hain. Roz. Bina alarm ke. 25 saal se. Pehla kaam — chai banana. Do cup. Ek — strong, kam cheeni. Doosra — halki, zyada cheeni. Halki cheeni wala cup — Maa ke bedside table par rakh dete hain. Bina jagaaye. Bina awaaz kiye. Maa 6 baje uthti hain. Chai thandi hoti hai tab tak. Woh microwave karti hain — phir peeti hain. "Papa, Maa toh 6 baje uthti hain. Tum 5 baje kyun banate ho?" maine ek din pucha. Papa ne chai ka ghoonth bhara. "Jab nayi nayi shaadi hui thi — Maa 5 baje uthti thi. Dono saath chai peete the. Phir bachche aaye, neend kam hui, woh thak-ke late uthne lagi. Par meri aadat nahi badli." "Toh alarm laga do 6 baje ka." Papa muskuraaye. "Beta, chai 5 baje banti hai — kyunki pyaar 5 baje shuru hota hai. Woh chai — usmein 'good morning' hai, 'aaj bhi hoon' hai, aur 'tumhari neend mujhse zyada zaroori hai' — sab hai. Microwave kare ya na kare — pyaar garam rehta hai." Main chup. Us din se — maine notice karna shuru kiya: Papa Maa ka dupatta seedha karte hain — bina bole. Maa Papa ki dawai plate mein rakh deti hain — bina yaad dilaaye. Papa Maa ki favourite serial ke time TV remote nahi chhedte — cricket chal rahi ho tab bhi. Maa Papa ke joote polish karti hain — Sunday ko. "Achhe dikhne chahiye office mein," kehti hain. Koi "I love you" nahi. Koi flowers nahi. Koi anniversary dinner nahi. Par 25 saal — roz — subah 5 baje — ek cup chai. Yahi pyaar hai. Quiet. Consistent. Bina bole. Maine apni girlfriend ko yeh story sunaayi. Usne kaha — "Mujhe bhi chai chahiye roz subah." "Main 5 baje nahi uthta." "Toh 7 baje banana. Par banana." "Done." 25 saal baad dekhenge — aadat bani ya nahi. Par Papa ke hisaab se — banti hai. Zaroor banti hai.