Xossip Ultimate Story Contest 2014

[Expert]

Heroes

mrindia.only

Goliyon ki awaaz ab dheemi hoti ja rahi thi …hum charo ab hotel ke sabse bade hall ke bahut najdeek they aur jaisa ki humko maloom tha ki yahi woh jagah hai jo iss operation ka decided point hai

Maine apne baaki 3 sathiyon ko ishara kiya aur fir hum charo alag alag disha ki taraf badh gaye … main khud hall ke main gate ki taraf badh raha tha …jaisa ki decide hua tha , humein theek 2 minute ke baad final attack karna tha … gallery mein rakhe hue decorative items ki aad leta hua main ab hall ke bilkul najdeek pahunch chukka tha …mera saara dhyan ab apni wrist watch ki taraf hi tha … man hi man maine count down shuru kiya aur 0 hote hi ek side mein rakhi huyi ek badi si table ko hall ke band darwaaze ki taraf dhakel diya .. dhadaak ki awaaz ke saath darwaaza khulta chala gaya … andar se kuchh logo ke chillane ki awaz mere kaano mein padi … maine turant hi apni belt mein se ek hand-granade nikala aur uski pin ko kheench kar darwaze ki taraf uchhal diya , aur khud ko deewar se bilkul chipka diya .. ek tez dhamaake ke saath mano puri gallery hil si gayi … dhuen ke gubaar mein se hota hua main hall ke darwaaze tak pahuncha aur fir andar chalang laga di … andaze se hi , andar girte hi main khud ko left side mein ludka diya aur wahan pade huyhe ek bade se table ke peechh pahunch gaya

Kuchh hi second beete honge ki hall ke doosre taraf se bhi firing ki awaaz aani shuru ho gayi thi …sanket saaf tha , mere saathi andar aa chuke they ..dhuan hatne laga tha aur ab meri nigaah poora hall mein jaa rahi thi …hall ke ek kone mein saare hostages ko , jinmein kuchh politicians , kuchh jaane mane business tycoons aur kuchh doosre celebrities bhi they - ikttha kiya hua tha …kul milakar lagbhag 15 log (jo apne aap ko jihadi kehte they ) wahan maujood they …4-5 log khidkiyon se baahar ki taraf firing kar rahe the aur baaki ab wahan bikhre huye furniture ki aad lekar mere saathiyon par goliya barsa rahe they .. humaare andar daakhil hote hi maano saara khel badal gaya ..1-1 karke woh log humaari goliyon ka shikar hone lage .. aur kuchh hi minutes mein sab ke sab jameen par gire pade they

Operation complete ho chukka tha ..kuch hi der mein humaare aur saathi bhi wahan pahunch gaye ..saare hostages ko wahan se nikaala jaane laga …aur aakhir mein hum sab wahan pade huye militants ko check karne lage
Tad-tad-tad- …achanak woh hua jiski kisi ko bhi ummeed nahi thi …ek militant jiski kuchh saanse shayad abhi baaki thi , usne apni machine-gun ke muh humaari taraf karke trigger daba diya tha ..aur fir uski aankhe dobara band hone se pehle dasiyon goliya mere ek saathi aur meri taango mein samaati chali gayi
Aisa laga jaise garam pighla hua loha kisi ne mere ooapr udel diya ho ..aur fir apni taang pakadne ki naakam koshish karta hua main jameen par gir gaya aur kuchh second tadapne ke baad hosh kho baitha

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Arjun…Arjun….Arjun
Poora stadium mere naam ke naare laga raha tha ….sabki nigaah meri taraf hi jami huyi thi , aur meri nigaahein saamne se aate huye baller ke ooper ….match ki aakhiri ball aur jeetne ke liye 3 runs ki jaroorat thi ..ball pitch par padne ke baad seedhi aayi aur maine usko extra cover ki taraf drive kar diya ..
Ball ka contact balle se hote hi main apne saathi ki taraf cheekha “ chal …aaja …teen hain !!! “ aur fir run ke liye bhaagna shuru kar diya ……ek run …..doosra run …. aur fir jaise hi teesra run lene ke liye main muda ….. maano mere pair jaam ho gaye … poori koshish karne ke baad bhi main unhe hila bhi nahi pa raha tha … aur fir main pitch ke ooper hi gir pada
fielder ne ball ko boundry ke paas rok-kar throw kar diya tha ….mera saathi non-stricker end ki taraf se bhaagta hua meri taraf aa raha tha aur ball baller ke haath mein pahunch chuki thi …baller ne meri taraf dekha aur ball ko haath mein liye huye wicket ki taraf bhaga …maine apna poora jor lagakar ek aakhiri bar uthne ki nakaam koshish ki …mera poora shareer paseene-paseene ho chukka tha …aur tabhi baller ne non-stricker end ki bails bikher di
“Nahiiiiiii……………” ek jor-daar cheek ke saath hi main neend se jaag gaya ..mera poora shareer paseene mein bheega hua tha , bilkul abhi dekhe huye sapne ki tarah …..kuch seconds main lete-lete hi apni saanso ko durust karne ki koshish karta raha , fir bistar par baitha aur side table se utha kar ek gilaas pani piya aur fir waapas bistar par let gaya
Bistar par lete huye aur chhat ki taraf andhere mein dekhte huye mera dimaag muje 5 saal pehle ki taraf le gaya

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Ankita …yahi naam tha uska …mujhe yaad hai uss din humaara graduation ka result aaya tha ..hamesha ki tarah hum dono ne ek saath apne result ko celebrate kiya tha ..aur tab ek lag-bhag khali restaurant ki table par baithe huye maine usko propose kiya tha
“ I love u Ankita ……..”

woh kuchh second meri taraf dekhti rahi ..mano mere chehre par koyi puzzle bana hua ho ..fir dheere se muskurate huye boli “ yeh bhi kehne ki jaroorat hai Arjun …? Hum dono ko maloom hai ki hum ek doosre ko pasand karte hain , fir yeh formality kyon ?
“ bas..apne dil ki tasalli ke liye …main ensure karna chahta tha ki maine aakhir tumko officially propose kiya hai ….” Main uski sweekrti paakar maano foola nahi sama raha tha

Uss hi shaam hum dono fir se ek saath they ….shahar ke baahar bani huyi ek jheel ke kinare , hari ghaas per woh baithi huyi thi ..aur main uski gode (lap) par apna sar rakhe huye leta hua tha …uske haath mere sar aur maathe ko sehla rahe they ..yeh pehli baar nahi tha ki hum dono ek saath , itne najdeek they ..hum dono ki dosti tab se thi jab hum college mein ek saath padhte they …aur tab se yeh din-par-din gehri hi hoti gayi thi ……aur humare samet , humaare sabhi dost bhi yeh baat jaante they ki hum ek doosre ko pyar karte hain

lekin aaj uske chhune matra se hi ek ajab sa ehsaas ho raha tha … ab woh officially meri premika thi … uski najdeeki se mujhe apne aap par kaboo pana mushkil ho raha tha …maine lete lete hi garden ko ghuma kar uski taraf dekha .. woh jheel ke paani ko ek-tak dekh rahi thi …mano usmein kuchh dhoondne ki koshish kar rahi ho

main uth kar baith gaya , theek uske saamne aur fir ek haath aage badha kar uske chehre par gir aayi uske baalo ki ek lat ko dheere se hataya aur wahi haath uske maathe par se hote huye , uske gaalo ko chhuta hua aur fir uske hontho ko touch karte huye waapas kheench liya

“ tumne apne future ke baare mein kya decide kiya hai….??” Uske muhe se nikle yeh shabd , jinko main itne romantic palo mein expect nahi kar raha tha , mano mujhe neend se jaga gaye
“matlab …” maine uski aankho mein jhankte huye poochha
“matlab saaf hai yaar ..!! tumne decide to kiya hoga ki tumhe aba age kya karna hai …” usne hanste huye kaha

“ hmmm… tumse shadi ..” maine jawab bhi uski hi tarah hanste huye diya aur fir apne chehre ko uske chehre ke najdeek le gaya ….itne najdeek ki uski saanso ki awaaz mujhe sunayi dene lagi thi … aur fir apne hontho ko uski taraf aage badhate hi mujhe unki garmi bhi apne chehre par

mehsoos hone lagi …bilkul dheere –dheere aage badhte huye mere honth uske hontho ke paas aaye aur fir maine dheere se unko choom liya … ek bilkul chhota sa chumban , hum dono ki life ka pehla aur shayad unexpected
Maine fir se peechhe ko ko hokar baith gaya … hum dono ki saanse hi taz chal rahi thi … humari nigahein ek baar aapas mein mili aur fir usne sharmate huye apni nigaahein jhuka li

“tumne meri baat ka jawaab nahi diya …..tumne apne liye kya decide kiya hai … ? please , seriously ” kuchh hi seconds baad usne apna sawaal fir se dohra diya
“ hmm…abhi kuchh socha nahi hai …soch raha hoon ki Indian Army join kar lun ...”maine mano kuchh sochte huyee se kaha tha , asmanjas se bhara hua jawaab
“are u crazy !!! tumhe lagta hai ki tum Indian army mein apna carrier bana sakte ho …?” usne hamesha ki tarah hi muskurate huye , lekin meri aankho mein dekhte hue poochha

“why not Ankita ..!! main hamesha se hi Army uniform ke liye bahut attraction feel karta hoon ……….yeh baat tum bhi achhi tarah jaanti ho ”
“ I know Arjun… lekin Army ki naukri se tum kya achieve kar paoge … tumhe kuchh aur bhi sochna chahiye …. Tum college cricket team ke captain ho ….aur tumhari singing bhi bahut achchi hai ….. dono hi field mein tum bahut achche ho …honestly ..mujhe lagta hai ki inn dono hi field mein tum ultimate goal achieve kar paoge …” usne kaha to ek baar to mujhe kuchh ajeeb si feeling huyi .. fir maine uski taraf dekhte huye na-razgi bhare swar mein kaha

“tum mujhe discourage kar rahi ho Ankita , yeh jante huye bhi ki Indian army join karna mera passion hai … cricket aur music to main Army mein rehkar bhi continue kar sakta hoon ”
“ I Love u Arjun … I really do…iss-hi liye tumhe woh bata rahi hoon jo sach hai … main auro ki tarah tumhe galat-fehmi mein nahi rakhna chahti … mujhe nahi lagta ki Indian army join karne ke baad tum life mein kuchh aur kar paoge ” usne kaha to mujhe fir jhunjhlahat si hone lagi
“aur tumhe lagta hai ki Army join karne ke baad main inn sab ke liye time nahi nikaal paunga ………main itna bhi kamjor nahi hoon Ankita ”
Usne thoda sa aage ko sarak kar apna haath mere haatho par rakha aur boli “ mujhe malum hai ki tum sabse compete kar sakte ho , tum bahut strong ho Arjun … lekin fir bhi ….Army mein jaane ke baad tumhe shohrat ki woh bulandiyan nahi milengi , jahan main tumhe dekhna chahti hoon ….. mera dream man ek hero hona chahiya … asli hero ”

“ Lekin……” maine kuchh kehne ki koshish hi ki thi ki woh aage ko aayi aur mere gale se lipat gayi …..maine bhi uss baat ko filhal wahin khatam karne ki sochi aur apni baahon ko kas ke uske jism par lapet diya
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Uss din jo baat Ankita ne shuru ki thi , woh wahin khatam nahi huyi …fir woh mano mere peechhe hi pad gayi ki main defence service join na karoon … lekin fir dheere dheere maine ussko apni baat maan-ne ke liye majboor kar diya .. iss shart ke saath ki main Army mein jaane ke baad bhi cricket aur singing ko bhulunga nhi

aur fir maine Indian army ke special recruitment ke liye apply kiya …. Education ke alawa main sports mein bhi achahha tha isliye mera selection bhi ho gaya … mujhe 2 saal ki training ke liye Pune jaana pada aur fir training ke baad meri pehli posting Nagaland mein ho gayi
Mujhe yaad hai ki jab mere mummy aur papa station par mujhe see-off karne aaye they tab Ankita bhi wahin thi … maine usko bahut kam rote huye dekha tha , aur uss din to mano uske aansu thamne ka naam hi nahi le rahe they
Tab maine ussko jo kaha tha mujhe abhi tak yaad hai –
A hero is any person really intent to make the world a better place for all people .
Jiske jawab mein woh muskurate huye mujhe apni Hero ki definition samjhane lagi thi ..
Nagaland se main lag-bhag daily hi usko phone karta tha , aur phone par hi hum dono ne apne future ki saari planning kar daali …hum shadi kab karenge , kaha rahenge , humare kitne bachche hone , unke naam kya kya honge etc etc …. Mere jaane ke baad usne wahi Mumbai mein ek event management company bhi join kar li thi

Fir lagbhag ek saal ki posting ke baad , mujhe National Security Guard (NSG) mein jaane ke offer mila … jisko maine turant accept kar liya
Lagbhag 1½ saal tak Kuchh chhote –bade operations ko anjaam dene ke baad mujhe promotion bhi mil gaya aur fir ek din mujhe Mumbai mein hi ek operation ke liye jaana pada ..kuchh militants ne ek hotel mein aujood desh ke jaane-maane logo ko hostage bana liya tha aur government se unke badle mein apne saathiyon ko chhodne ki demand kar rahe they … operation safal raha , saare hostages bina kisi nuksan ke chhuda liye gaye aur saare militants ya to maare gaye ya fir pakde gaye …lekin iss operation mein mujhe apni ek taang hamesha ke liye ganvaani padi

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Lagbhag 2 mahine hospital mein bitane ke baad mujhe discharge kiya gaya….mujhe medical leave par waapas mere ghar bhej diya gaya …. Mere saath hi ghaayal hua mera saathi mujhse jyada khush-kismat nikla aur jald hi theek ho gaya

Shayad ek saal hone ko aaya tha aur main tab se ghar par hi tha …meri kati huyi taang ki jagah ek artificial pair laga diya gaya tha aur pichhle kuchh mahino ki practice ke baad maine use ke saath apne aap ko adjust kar liya tha

Jald hi mujhe Mumbai mein hi posting milne waali thi , lekin sirf office work ke liye … lekin main khud Mumbai se kahin door chala jaana chata tha ……… yahan sab logo ki aankho mein apne liye sahanubhuti mujh se bardasht nahi hoti thi ….. main sabki tarah ek aam insaan ki zindagi jeena chahta tha , aur sab ki nigaahein mujhe apne khud ke liye ‘be-chargi’ ka ehsaah karwati rehti thi
iss beech Delhi mein huye ek function mein mujhe President ke haatho se ek bravery award bhi mila tha

Mere Mumbai aate hi Ankita bhi mujhse milne aayi thi … meri haalat dekh kar woh buri tarah se ro rahi thi .. aur mujhe bhi kos rahi thi ki kyon maine uski baat nahi maani aur kyon Army join kar li … maine sirf muskurate huye usko dilasa dene ki koshish karta raha ki sab kuchh jaldi hi theek ho jaayega
Lekin kuchh bhi theek nahi hua …. woh log jo mujhe milne aur mera haal jaan-ne ke liye aate they , dheere dheere aana band ho gaye …. Ankita bhi pehle to daily mujhse milne aa jaati thi , fir uske bhi chakkar kam hone lage … hafte mein 2-3 baar aur fir hafte mein ek baar … ab to shaayad usko bhi aaye huye 2 mahine ho gaye they … beech beech mein phone par jaroor hamari baat ho jaati thi ..
Main khud bhi Ankita ko apne se door hi rakhna chahta tha …meri haalat ka jimmedar main khud tha , aur main nahi chahta tha ki woh jindagi bhar mujh apahij ke saath bandh kar rahe

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Bistar se uth kar maine apni nakli taang lagayi aur fir apne daily routine kaam nibtane laga … kareeb 2 ghante ke baad main dining table par naashte ke liye baitha tha … mummy aur papa bhi mere saath hi they … papa nashta karte hi uth kar apne office ke liye nikal pade aur tabhi jaise mummy ko kuchh yaad aaya .. woh table se uth kar gayi aur fir ek envelop laakar mere saamne rakh diya

Maine news paper se nigaah hata kar envelop ki taraf dekha aur fir usko utha kar , khol kar padhne laga … yeh ek invitation card tha … kal shaam ko Mumbai ke ek stadium mein ek function organized kiya jaa raha tha … ‘Heroes’….. pehle ek 20-20 cricket match hona tha , India aur Australia ke beech , fir uske baad kuchh cultural programmes Bollywood ke kuchh celebrities ke dwara aur fir kuchh awards distribution chief guest ke haatho se …

Maine mummy ki taraf sawaliya nigaah se dekha …
“ kal shaam ko Ankita aayi thi , wahi de gayi thi .. keh rahi thi tumko bhi wahan aana chahiye .. waise bhi tum kitne mahino se kahin nahi gaye ho , iss hi bahane tumhara dil bhi bahal jaayega … “ unhone meri taraf pyar se dekhte huye kaha

“ Main wahan jaa kar kya karunga …. “ maine asmanjas se kaha to unhone ek chhota sa lecture mujhe pila diya …
“ achchha ..dekhunga “ kehte huye maine baat ko khatam kiya aur fir wahan se uth gaya
Uss poore din aur shaam ko bhi main yahin sochta raha ki mujhe kya karna chahiye … Ankita ka koyi phone nahi aaya tha , jiski wajah se bhi main nahi jaana chah raha tha .. fir aakhir agle din subah tak maine decide kar liya ki main wahan jaroor jaunga … Ankita na sahi , mera doosra pyar ‘cricket’ to main enjoy kar hi sakta hoon …

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Stadium poori tarah se bhara hua tha … 50 ya 60 hazaar se bhi jyada log wahan maujood they .. VIP box ke theek neeche , executive class mein meri seat thi …. Yahan aane se pehle jo duvidha mere man mein thi , yahan aakar woh gayab ho gayi thi … yahan koyi mujhe nahi jaanta tha , yahan main ek aam insaan tha aur logo ki nigaah mein mere liye sahanubhuti nahi thi .. jis-se main bahut khush tha
Cricket match start hua …bade hi romanchak match mein India ne Australia ko 2 runs se hara diya , maine match ke har ek wicket aur har ek shot ko enjoy kiya …. Fir match khatam hote hi stadium ke beecho-beech ek stage tayyar kiya gaya aur Bollywood ke kuchh celebrities ne wahan perform karna shuru kar diya
Fir end mein award distribution shuru hua … desh ke PM jo programme ke chief guest they , unhone ek ek celebrity ko award dena shuru kiya .. announcer ek ek naam bol rahi thi , sath mein unke acievements ki details bhi …. kuchh Bollywood ke log , kuchh sports personalities aur kuchh social activist ko unhone awards diye .. programme ke iss hisse ke dauran Ankita stage par hi maujood thi aur apne Heroes ko dekh kar bahut khush bhi dikhayi pad rahi thi

Aur fir akhir mein announcer ne bolna shuru kiya .. “ now ladies and gentlemen .. please welcome one more personality … last but not the least …. woh jinki wajah se hum sab Mumbai vaasi aur humaare yeh heroes surakshit hain aur yahan hammare beech maujood hai …. Please give him a standing ovation… the Real Hero of our life ….Captain Arjun Singh … pichhle saal huye Mumbai atankwadi humle ke dauran hum sabki jaan bachane ke liye yeh apni jaan par khel gaye aur Mumbai ko bacha liya “
Jo kuchh maine suna tha main uss par vishwas nahi kar paa raha tha … achanak ek focus light mere oopar padi .. aur mujhe apni jagah par khada hone pada … security officer ke kuchh jawaan wahan aa gaye they aur mujhe wahan se neechhe jaane ke liye guide kar rahe they
Poora stadium apne pairo par khada ho gaya tha … dheere dheere chalta hua main stadium ke beecho-beech maujood stage tak pahuncha aur fir chief guest ke haatho award liya

Award lene ke baad kuchh press photographers ne mere photos lene ke liye mujhe wahin rukne ke liye kaha … taaliyan abhi tak baj rahi thi aur mere dil ke andar umad raha bhavnao ka tufan maano baahar aana chahta tha …. Kal tak yeh duniya aur yeh log jin se main door bhag jaana chahta tha , achanak hi mujhe bahut achhi lagne lagi thi
Tabhi mujhe apne haath par kisi ka sparsh mehsoos hua .. maine mudkar dekha , yeh Ankita tha …. Na jaane kab woh mere peechhe aakar khadi ho gayi thi aur mere haath ko apne haath mein thaam liya tha … fir wahan maujood hazaaro logo ki parwah na karte huye woh wahin stage par hi mujh se lipat gayi

Announcer ab bhi kuchh bol rahi thi … shaayad wahi kuchh shabd jo maine kabhi Ankita se kahe they ….
A hero is any person really intent to make the world a better place for all people .

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Sarhad ke paar...( completed) , bewafa....(completed),
Akela.....