Airport Arrivals — Har Baar Rona Aata Hai
Airport ka Arrivals gate — sabse romantic jagah hai duniya mein. Red carpet nahi, marble floor hai. Chandelier nahi, tube light hai. Music nahi, announcement hai — "Flight 6E-201 from Delhi has arrived." Par jab woh gate se bahar aata hai — sab kuch cinematic ho jaata hai. --- Pehli baar — 6 mahine baad mila tha. Germany se aaya. Main khadi thi — board leke — "Welcome Back, Pagal." Usne dekha, hansa, bhaga. Trolley chhodke bhaga. Gale mili. Royi. Bahut. Gate par. Security guard muskuraya — "Madam, side mein mil lijiye." --- Doosri baar — 4 mahine baad. Is baar main Germany gayi thi — visit visa. Frankfurt airport. Woh arrivals mein khada tha. German winter — coat, muffler, thandi naak. Maine dekha — door se. Woh haath hilaya. Main daudi — suitcase chhodke. Side waali aunty ne suitcase sambhala — "Jao beti, suitcase main dekh lungi." Strangers bhi romantic hote hain airports par. --- Teesri baar — sabse mushkil. 11 mahine ka gap. Uski project extend ho gayi thi. Visa issues. "Agle mahine aaunga" — 5 baar bola. Main airport nahi gayi is baar. Ghar par thi. Frustrated. Thaki hui — emotionally. Doorbell baji. Maine khola — delivery samajhke. Woh khada tha. Suitcase. Bouquet — airport ki overpriced flowers. Aur woh muskaan — 11 mahine purani, par bilkul fresh. "Surprise." "Tu... kab... kaise... flight..." "Sab baad mein. Pehle gale lag." Gale lagi. Is baar nahi royi. Kyunki khushi itni zyada thi ki aansu bhi overwhelm ho gaye. --- Chawthi baar — last baar. Airport — Delhi. Arrivals. Gate 4. Flight — Frankfurt to Delhi. Permanent return. Job chhod di thi usne. "Kyun?" maine pucha tha phone par. "Kyunki 4 arrivals bohot hain. Ab departure nahi chahiye." Arrivals gate se bahar aaya. Is baar — koi board nahi mere haath mein. Koi flowers nahi. Koi dramatic run nahi. Bas — khade the. Saamne. 10 feet ki doori. Woh aaya. Maine haath pakda. Usne mera. Chale. Airport se bahar. Cab mein. Ghar tak. "Aur kabhi nahi jaana," maine kaha. "Kabhi nahi." --- Log kehte hain ki pyaar destination par milta hai. Galat. Pyaar arrivals gate par milta hai. Har baar. Rote hue. Hanste hue. 6 mahine baad. 11 mahine baad. Aur agar kismet achhi ho — toh ek din permanently.