Tiffin Waali Aunty

Aman Lucknow se Pune aaya tha IT job ke liye — package achha tha, flat share karne waale bhi mil gaye, lekin khaana? Khaana ek problem thi. Zomato pe har roz order karo toh pet kharab, wallet bhi. Mess ka khaana aise lagta tha jaise kisine punishment ke taur pe banaya ho. Aman ki maa ka khaana yaad aata tha — dal mein tadka poore ghar mein mahakta tha, paratha ghee se chupda hua, achar jo maa ke haath se zyada kisi cheez se achha nahi lagta. Lekin maa Lucknow mein thi aur Aman Pune mein. Phone pe maa se baat karta tha toh maa kehti 'khaana kha liya?' Aman kehta haan — jhooth, kyunki sach bolega toh maa ro degi aur Papa daant denge ki job chhodh ke wapas aa. Ek din flatmate ne ek tiffin service ka number diya — 'Sushila Aunty ka hai, ghar ka khaana milta hai, 3000 mahina.' Aman ne socha 3000 mein kya milega. Lekin pehla tiffin jab aaya toh Aman ruk gaya. Dabba khola toh andar dal thi — tadke waali, bilkul maa jaisi. Aur dabba ke dhakkan pe ek chitthi chipki hui thi: 'Beta, khaana garam garam khaana. Thanda khaane se pet kharab hota hai. — Sushila Aunty.'

Har din tiffin aata aur har din chitthi hoti. Kabhi recipe likhi hoti — 'Aaj palak paneer hai, isme maine kaju daali hai extra taste ke liye.' Kabhi advice — 'Baarish mein chai peena lekin adrak daal lena, sardi nahi hogi.' Kabhi motivational — 'Mehnat karo beta, waqt sab theek kar deta hai.' Aman ne socha ki yeh aunty kaun hai jo itna care karti hai kisi ajnabi ke liye? Ek din tiffin lene gaya Sushila aunty ke ghar — Koregaon Park ke peeche ek choti si gali mein. Ghar chhota tha lekin saaf. Kitchen bada tha — teen gas stove, bahut saare dabbe, aur deewar pe ek photo thi ek ladke ki. Aman ne poocha kaun hai photo mein. Sushila aunty chup ho gayi. Phir boli, 'Mera beta tha. Rohit. Woh bhi IT mein tha. Bangalore mein. Do saal pehle accident mein...' Aman kuch bol nahi paya. Sushila aunty ne muskura ke kaha, 'Isliye tiffin service shuru ki. Har launda jo ghar se door rehta hai, mujhe Rohit lagta hai. Khaana bana ke lagta hai ki abhi bhi uske liye bana rahi hoon.'

Us din ke baad Aman Sushila aunty ke ghar jaane laga — tiffin lene nahi, milne. Sunday ko jaata aur aunty ke saath baith ke chai peeta. Aunty batati apne bete ki baatein — Rohit ko kaise cricket pasand tha, kaise woh hamesha extra cheese maangta tha, kaise usne pehli salary se maa ke liye saree li thi. Aman sunata tha aur aunty roti thi, lekin woh rone ke baad halki ho jaati thi. Aman ko bhi achha lagta tha — usse bhi toh koi sunne waala chahiye tha. Office mein sab busy the apni deadlines mein, flatmates apne phones mein, aur maa se phone pe sab kuch keh nahi pata tha. Sushila aunty ke paas baithna waisa tha jaise ghar mein baithna — safe, warm, bina kisi judgement ke. Ek baar Aman beemar hua toh aunty khud aake khichdi layi — aur saath mein Vicks bhi. Aman ki aankhein bhar aayi. Usne socha maa yahaan nahi hai lekin maa jaisi koi hai — aur shayad yahi kaafi hai.

Chhe mahine baad Aman ka transfer ho gaya — Bangalore. Woh Sushila aunty ko batane gaya. Aunty khush hui — 'Bahut achha beta, Bangalore mein growth hogi.' Lekin Aman ne dekha ki aunty ki aankhein bheegi thi. Aman ne kaha, 'Aunty, main phone karunga.' 'Nahi karega. Pehle sab kehte hain, phir bhool jaate hain. Rohit bhi kehta tha.' Aman ruk gaya. 'Main Rohit nahi hoon aunty. Lekin main bhoolunga bhi nahi.' Aakhri din aunty ne special tiffin banaya — poori, chole, kheer, achar, aur ek chitthi. Chitthi mein likha tha: 'Beta Aman, tune mujhe woh de diya jo Rohit ke jaane ke baad kho gaya tha — ek reason subah uthne ka. Jahan bhi raho, khaana time pe khaana. Aur kisi ko chahte ho toh bol dena — waqt bahut kam hota hai, baad mein pachtaaoge.' Aman ne woh chitthi fold kar ke wallet mein rakh li. Aaj bhi hai wahaan — thodi purani, thodi fati, lekin Aman jab bhi akela feel karta hai toh nikaalke padhta hai. Aur phir theek ho jaata hai.

Bangalore mein Aman ne pehle mahine mein ek kaam kiya — apne PG ke paas ek aunty dhoondhi jo tiffin banaati thi. Uskka khaana Sushila aunty jaisa nahi tha — kisi ka bhi nahi hoga — lekin Aman ne woh kiya jo Sushila aunty ne sikhaaya tha. Usne naye tiffin aunty se baat ki, unke baare mein jaana, unke ghar gaaya. Pata chala unke bhi do bachche hain jo door rehte hain. Aman ne socha ki duniya mein bahut saari Sushila auntiyan hain — jinke haathon mein khaana hai aur dil mein koi khaali jagah. Bas unhe chahiye koi jo baithke do ghante baat kare, unka khaana khaaye aur kahe ki bahut achha bana hai aunty. Aman ne apni maa ko call kiya — is baar jhooth nahi bola. Bola ki khaana theek hai lekin maa ki dal yaad aati hai. Maa hasi aur rote hue boli, 'Tera hi toh intezaar hai beta.' Aman ne socha — pyaar bahut simple hai. Ek dabbe mein dal, ek chitthi, aur koi jo tumhara khayal rakhna chahta hai.