“Aakhri Patta – Hikmat Bhari Kahani”

Paharon se ghire ek chhote se shehar mein Aarav naam ka aik ladka rehta tha. Aarav bachpan se hi bohat tez, hoshiyaar aur mehnati tha, lekin ek baat uski shakhsiat ko kamzor bana deti thi—woh har kaam ka nateeja foran chahta tha. Agar koi kaam aaj shuru kare, toh woh chahta tha ke kal hi uska result mil jaye.

School ke teachers usay aksar kehte, “Beta, success waqt leti hai. Jo cheez jaldi mil jaye, woh jaldi khatam bhi ho jati hai.” Magar Aarav har baar hansi mein baat tal deta.

Aarav ke walid aik baghbaan (gardener) thay. Woh apne bete ko rozana bagiche le jaate aur phoolon, phalon aur pedon ki qismat dikhate. Aik din unho ne Aarav se kaha:

“Beta, aaj main tumhain ek chhota sa sabak sikhaana chahta hoon.”

Unho ne ek khaali ghamlay mein beej boya, pani diya aur dhoop mein rakh diya. Aarav ne poocha,
“Papa, yeh beej kab tak ped ban jayega?”

Walid muskuraye,
“Waqt lagega, lekin agar tum rozana isay pani doge, dhoop doge aur khayal rakhoge, toh yeh zaroor ugay ga.”

Aarav ne kuch din tak sabr se ghamlay ka khayal rakha, magar beej jab foran na ugha, toh woh gusse se bola,
“Iska koi faida nahi! Yeh kabhi nahi ugay ga.”

Usne ghamla chor diya.

Din guzarte gaye… Beej dheere dheere ughanay laga. Lekin kyun ke Aarav usay chhor chuka tha, woh murjha kar reh gaya. Isay dekh kar uske walid ne kaha:

“Beta, tum ne beej lagaya, mehnat shuru ki, lekin thoda sa waqt guzarne se pehle hi thak gaye. Zindagi bhi isi ghamlay jaise hoti hai.”

Phir woh Aarav ko bagiche ke kone mein le gaye, jahan aik purana ped tha. Uski shaakhen sookh chuki theen, magar aik shaakh par bas aik aakhri patta baqi tha—hare rang ka, mazboot aur taaza.

Walid ne kaha:
“Is ped ne saal bhar toofan, barish, dhoop aur sardi dekhi hai. Saari shaakhen patte gira baithi, magar yeh aakhri patta abhi tak tikka hua hai. Kya tum jante ho kyun?”

Aarav ne sar hila diya.

Walid ne jawab diya:
“Kyunkay is patte ne haar nahi maani. Uss ne apni poori taqat se hawa ka muqabla kiya. Zindagi mein jo log waqt ke toofanon se dar kar peeche hat jate hain, woh kabhi barh nahi sakte. Magar jo waqt, mushkil aur intezaar ko bardasht kar lete hain… woh apna rang hamesha qayam rakhte hain.”

Aarav ne gehri saans li aur kaha,
“Papa, mujhe samajh a gaya… Mehnat ke beej ko waqt ki zaroorat hoti hai. Main dobara try karunga.”

Usne phir se naya beej boya. Is dafa sabr bhi tha, yaqeen bhi. Kuch hafton baad woh beej ek hara-bhara paudha ban gaya. Aarav ke chehre par fakhr tha.

Us din se Aarav ne aik baat apne dil mein likh li:

“Great results come with patience. Jo waqt deta hai, woh zindagi bhar deta hai.”