Jab meri shaadi hui thi, tab ghar ke bade aksar ek baat kaha karte the, "Beta, zindagi bahut chhoti hai... bas 4 din ki hai. Rishton ko nibhana seekho."

Maine unki baat dil se maan li. Har baar jab meri koi khwahish adhuri reh jaati, main soch leti — chalo, 4 din ki hi to zindagi hai. Jab job chhodni padi, tab bhi yahi suna. Jab har faisle mein meri pasand se pehle ghar walon ki pasand rakhi gayi, tab bhi yahi suna.

Saal beet gaye. Main sabki khushi ka khayal rakhti rahi. Bachchon ki parvarish, ghar ki zimmedariyan, rishtedaron ki seva... sab kuch karti rahi. Har baar apne dil ko samjha leti thi ki bade log zyada samajhdar hote hain.

Ek din meri beti ne mujhse poocha, "Mumma, aapko kya pasand hai?"

Main kuch der chup rahi. Mujhe sach mein jawab yaad nahi tha.

Us din ehsaas hua ki dusron ki zindagi aasaan banate-banate maine apni pehchaan hi kahin kho di thi. Jo log hamesha kehte the "4 din ki zindagi hai", unke liye shayad sach mein 4 din the. Lekin un 4 dino ko nibhaate-nibhaate meri poori zindagi nikal gayi.

Aaj bhi main ghar ke badon ki izzat karti hoon. Unke anubhav ki kadar karti hoon. Lekin maine ek baat seekh li hai — rishton ko nibhana zaroori hai, par khud ko khona nahi।

Kyuki zindagi sirf dusron ke liye jeene ka naam nahi hai. Thoda sa jeena khud ke liye bhi zaroori hota hai.