Meri nani ka ghar mere bachpan ki sabse safe jagah tha. Chhota sa ghar, angan me ek purani si charpai, aur rasoi se aati hui tadke ki khushboo. Jaise hi hum wahan pahuchte, nani darwaze par khadi milti — "Aa gayi meri chhoti si gudiya?"
Unke haath hamesha garam hote the. Shayad isliye kyunki wo roz subah se kaam karti rehti thi, ya shayad isliye kyunki unke haathon me hi ghar ki saari warmth thi.
Main jab bhi udaas hoti, nani ke paas baith jaati. Wo mere baalon me haath pherte hue kehti, "Zindagi me sab theek ho jaata hai, bas himmat nahi chhodni." Tab mujhe lagta tha wo bas dilasa de rahi hain. Aaj samajh aata hai, wo mujhe strong bana rahi thi.
Garmi ki chuttiyan matlab nani ka ghar. Raat ko chhat par so kar taare gin-na, aur nani ki purani kahaniyan sunna — jinme kabhi rani hoti thi, kabhi jung, kabhi unka apna bachpan.
Mujhe nahi pata tha… ek din wahi kahaniyan meri sabse badi yaad ban jayengi.