Darwaza khulne par beta kuch lamhon ke liye saans lena bhool gaya.
Kamre mein maa zameen par baithi thi, haath mein purani si diary aur aankhon mein ajeeb si chamak.
Beta ghabra kar bola,
"Maa… aap theek ho na?"
Maa ne muskurane ki koshish ki, lekin chehra peela tha.
"Beta, maa theek hai," usne kaha,
"bas thoda sa waqt kam reh gaya hai."
Beta samajh nahi paaya.
Usne diary uthayi. Uske pehle safhe par likha tha:
'Mere bete ke naam'
Har safhe par maa ki likhi hui baatein thi—
uske bachpan ki yaadein,
uski kamzoriyan,
aur har mushkil ke liye maa ki naseehat.
Aakhri safhe par sirf ek line likhi thi:
"Jis din maa na ho, us din himmat banna."
Beta ki aankhon se aansu gir pade.
Wahi achanak maa khansi aur behosh ho gayi…
Beta cheekha,
"Maa!"
Aur kahani wahi ruk gayi—
hospital ke corridor mein bajti emergency bell ke saath…