Street, Adda & Station
Ek Rupee Ka Aam Papad
Ek rupaye ka chhota sa piece, newspaper ke tukde par, upar se kala namak. Bas wahi decision poore din ka taste bana deta tha.
Rehri pe sab kuch glass jars mein hota tha.
Khatti churan wali goliyan. Laal wali. Kaali wali. Meetha papad. Khatta papad.
Aur side mein ek dher laga hota tha.
Aam papad ka.
Chipchipa sa. Thoda uneven. Thoda sa dhool pakadta hua.
Upar se dhoop jal rahi hoti thi.
Woh wali dhoop. Agarbatti nahi.
Dhyaan se dekho toh dhuan seedha usi taraf jaata.
Shayad makhiyon ke liye.
Pakka nahi.
"Ek rupaye ka dena."
"Newspaper ke tukde pe rakha ek chhota sa piece bhi poore din ka taste badal deta tha."
Woh chhuri uthata.
Seedha cut nahi hota.
Kabhi lamba. Kabhi tedha.
Phir newspaper ke chhote tukde pe rakh deta.
Upar se halka sa kala namak chirk deta.
Bas.
Haath mein chipak jaata.
Paper se thoda nikalta.
Ungli se thoda saaf karte.
Phir khate.
First bite mein kuch clear nahi hota.
Khatta bhi. Meetha bhi. Thoda teekha bhi. Aur woh kala namak... thoda alag hi lagta.
Aur thoda sa... reh jaata.
Daant ke beech. Ungli pe. Thoda taste.
Jaldi khatam nahi karte the.
Ek rupaye ka tha.
Time lena padta tha.
Side mein jars mein aur cheezein dikhti rehti.
Goliyan. Powder wali. Rang birangi.
Mann karta tha sab le lein.
Par coin ek hi hota tha.
Kabhi thoda dhool bhi lag jaata.
Kabhi paper ka ink.
Koi issue nahi.
Halka sa phoonk maar ke kha lete.
Aaj kal aam papad packet mein milta hai.
Same size. Same shape. Clean.
But usmein woh dher nahi hota.
Na woh dhoop ka dhuan.
Na woh kala namak upar se.
Na woh ek rupaye ka decision.
Aur shayad taste wahi tha.
