Ravi us din wahan se chala gaya…
lekin uske dimaag mein ek hi sawal ghoom raha tha—
"Yeh chai wale uncle… mujhe itna apna kyun lagte hain?"
Agle kuch dino tak Ravi roz wahan aane laga…
kabhi chai peene ke bahaane,
kabhi bas chup-chaap baithne ke liye।
Ek din usne himmat karke pooch hi liya—
"Uncle… aap mujhe pehle se jaante ho kya?"
Uncle kuch pal ke liye chup ho gaye…
phir dheere se bole—
"Sach sunna chahte ho?"
Ravi ne haan mein sir hila diya।
Uncle ne diary nikali…
aur ek purana panna khola…
Us par likha tha—
"Ravi ke pitaji – 5 rupaye udhaar… wapas kabhi nahi liye."
Ravi ka dil ekdum ruk sa gaya…
"Yeh… mere papa?"
Uncle ki aankhon mein halka sa dard tha…
"Tumhare papa roz yahan aate the…
ek din tumhare liye chai aur biscuit le gaye the…
lekin us din ke baad kabhi wapas nahi aaye…"
Ravi ki aankhon se aansu behne lage…
"Woh… accident mein chale gaye the…"
uski awaaz toot gayi।
Uncle ne uske kandhe par haath rakha—
"Isliye maine tumse kabhi paise nahi maange…
kyunki woh karz paise ka nahi tha…
ek baap ke pyaar ka tha…"
Ravi bilkul chup ho gaya…
Ab usse samajh aa gaya tha—
kyun us din bina paise ke bhi usse chai mil gayi thi…
Jaate waqt Ravi ne diary band ki…
aur usme ek nayi line likhi—
"Ravi – 5 rupaye ka karz…
ab main nahi… meri kahani chukayegi."