“Kuchh sheher awaaz se jaane jaate hain…
par kuchh sheher apni khamoshi se tumhe hamesha ke liye yaad reh jaate hain.”
Solo travel sirf destinations nahi deta,
wo tumhe woh jagah dikhata hai jahan tum khud se milte ho —
bina kisi background music ke, bina koi selfie ke.
Aur mere liye, Nainital ki woh shaam,
ek aisi khud se mulaqat thi… jo aaj bhi lake ke paani jaise mere andar shant hai.
🚶♂️ Mall Road Se Lake Tak Ka Woh Akele Safar
Subah ki thodi si bheed,
par dopehar ke baad — sab kuch thoda dheere dheere chalne lagta hai.
Main chhup chaap Mall Road se lake ki taraf nikal gaya…
koi plan nahi tha, bas dil bol raha tha — thoda ruk ja.
Lake ke paas jaake ek bench mil gaya…
wo bhi ekdum corner mein —
jahaan na koi tourist aata, na koi photographer chillata.
Bas main tha…
aur Naini Lake ka vo neela paani,
jo bina shor ke, sab kuch keh raha tha.
🌊 Lake Jahan Paani Kam, Khayal Zyada Baha Rahe The
Woh lake mujhe dekh rahi thi…
jaise poochh rahi ho —
“Thak gaya kya?”
Aur maine sirf aankhon se haan keh diya.
Log paddle boat le rahe the,
bachche chilla rahe the,
lekin uss sab ke beech main…
sirf paani ki halki si lehron ki aawaaz sun raha tha.
“Kabhi kabhi sab kuch ho ke bhi,
sirf ek thoda sa thehraav chahiye hota hai —
jaise lake ka kinara.”
📓 Ek Bench, Ek Diary, Aur Chhup Gayi Saari Batein
Mere backpack mein ek diary thi…
jo har trip mein jaati thi, par likhi sirf kuch jagahon pe jaati thi.
Nainital lake ke uss bench pe —
maine sirf ek line likhi:
“Aaj sab kuch bahar tha, par andar ek ajeeb shaanti thi.”
Aur wohi toh safar ki asli prize hoti hai na?
Jab tumhare andar ek silence ho,
aur tum usse daro nahi…
us silence mein khud ko dekh pao.
🌥️ Shaam Ki Halki Thand, Aur Lake Par Gira Hua Sooraj
Jaise jaise shaam dhalti gayi,
lake ne apne upar sky ka painting bana liya.
Orange, blue, aur halka sa purple —
aur har rang ke saath, main thoda thoda halka feel karne laga.
Maine lake ke kinare se ek last baar paani mein dekha —
reflection mein mera chehra tha…
lekin aankhon mein sirf ek word:
“Sukoon.”
💭 Nainital Ne Kya Diya?
- Kabhi kabhi tumhe logo se baat karne ki zarurat nahi hoti…
ek lake bhi tumhe samajh leti hai - Akele chalna weakness nahi…
apne aap ke sath strong rehne ki himmat hoti hai - Aur har safar…
kisi selfie spot se nahi,
ek bench se yaadgaar ban jaata hai.
“Nainital ke kinare ek musafir baitha tha…
logon ke liye tourist,
par lake ke liye… ek dard bhara shayar tha.”