Waqt ki Dukaan: Ek Nayi Shuruat
Waqt dukanon par bikta nahi hai, use bas jiya ja sakta hai. Ek aisi jagah jahan ghadiyan ruk jati hain aur zindagi shuru hoti hai.
Sheher ki shor-sharabe wali sadkon se door, ek aisi purani gali thi jahan suraj ki roshni bhi darr-darr kar pahunchti thi. Wahan ek chhoti si dukaan thi, jiski deewaron par saikdon ghadiyan tangi thi—kuch chalti hui, kuch sadiyon se ruki hui. Darwaze par lage pital ke jhumke ne ek halki si dastak di jab Aaryan ne andar kadam rakha.
Andar mitti, purane kaagaz aur thodi si dhoop ki mehak basi thi. Counter ke peeche ek buzurg baithe the, jinki aankhon mein hazaron saalon ka tajurba chamak raha tha.
“Kya chahiye bete?” unhone bina sar uthaye pucha.
Aaryan, jo apni naukri, target aur deadlines ki thakani se choor tha, dhere se bola, “Baba, mujhe thoda waqt chahiye. Meri zindagi bahut tez bhaag rahi hai, aur main peeche chhoot raha hoon.”
Budhe ne muskura kar ek lakdi ka purana sandook khola. Usmein sona ya chandi nahi, balki ek chamakti hui mitti ki goli thi. Unhone wo Aaryan ki hatheli par rakhi aur kaha:
“Waqt dukanon par bikta nahi hai, bete. Yeh mitti ki goli tumhein wahan le jayegi jahan waqt ruk jata hai. Isse sambhaal kar us pahad ki choti par le jao jahan baadal zameen ko choomte hain. Wahan tumhein pata chalega ki waqt khoya nahi jata, bas jiya jata hai.”