लालटेन की याद

पुरानीpuraani अलमारीalmaari केke कोनेkone मेंmein धूलdhool भरीbhari हुईhui एकek छोटी-सीchhoti-si लालटेनlaalTen मिलीmili।ⓘIn the corner of the old cupboard, a tiny dusty lantern was found. उसेuse देखतेdekhte हीhi बचपनbachpan केke दिवालीdivaali केke वेve सुनहरेsunahre दिनdin यादyaad आaa गएgaye जबjab दादीdaadi लालटेनlaalTen जलातीjalaati थींtheen।ⓘThe moment she saw it, memories of those golden childhood Diwali days came flooding back, when Grandmother would light the lantern.

उसकीuski मिट्टीmitti कीki लालटेनlaalTen मेंmein तेलtel डालकरdaalkar बत्तीbatti सुलगानेsulgaane काkaa कामkaam दादीdaadi मुझेmujhe सौंपतीsaunpti थींtheen।ⓘGrandmother would entrust me with the task of pouring oil into her clay lantern and lighting the wick. फिरphir हमham सबsab छतchhat परpar बैठकरbaithkar लालटेनोंlaalTenon कीki कतारkataar देखतेdekhte औरaur सोचतेsochte किki अंधेरेandhere कोko हरानेharaane केke लिएliye जितनीjitni रोशनियाँroshaniyaan जितनीjitni प्रार्थनाएँpraarthanaen उतनीutni हीhi शक्तिshakti हैhai।ⓘThen we would all sit on the terrace watching the row of lanterns and think that the power to defeat darkness lies in as many lights and as many prayers.

आजaaj भीbhi उसus पुरानीpuraani लालटेनlaalTen कोko हाथhaath मेंmein लेकरlekar लगाlagaa किki कुछkuchh परंपराएँparamparaen कभीkabhi पुरानीpuraani नहींnahin होतींhotin । वेve तोto बसbas प्रकाशprakash काkaa रूपroop बदलतीbadalti रहतीrahti हैंhain ।ⓘEven today, holding that old lantern in her hands, she felt that some traditions never grow old; they merely keep changing the form of light.