29-01-2026, 08:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 13-02-2026, 09:58 PM by Celebrorn. Edited 4 times in total. Edited 4 times in total.)
Chapter 4
Do din baad main apne South campus ke college ke lawn mein baithi Riya ko us raat ki poori kahani bata rahi thi.
Riya meri baat bahut dhyan se sun rahi thi, beech beech mein apne honthon ko apne daanton mein dabate hue, apne aap ko rokte hue. Use pata tha ki mujhe story ke beech mein interruption bilkul pasand nahi tha. Maine Riya ko us raat ko un logo ke jaane tak ki poori kahani bata di.
Log aate jaate hume ghoorte hue aur haste hue jaa rahe they jaise aksar kiya karte they. Pichhle 2-3 saalon mein maine kya kya naam nahi sune they college ke ladko ke muh se. Chakka, Hijra, Meetha, Lady Boy, Gaandu, aur jaane kya kya. Ladkiyan bhi kam nahi thi. Ab toh maine un sab par dhyaan bhi dena band kar diya tha.
Riya ne ek-do second baad meri aur dekhte hue poocha, “Phir? Kya bola uncle ne?”
“Dad ka toh tujhe pata hi hai… woh hamesha ki tarah mujh par bhadak rahe they. Agar maine is hafte ke end tak haan nahi kiya toh woh meri pocket money, phone waigera sab band karne ki dhamki de rahe they.”
“Darr mat yaar, woh aisa kuch nahi karenge. Aunty ne kya kaha?”
“Pata nahi... Mom kya chahti hai, samajh hi nahi aata. Kabhi toh meri side leti hai… par phir papa ke aage bilkul chup ho jaati hai jaise unhe farq hi nahi padta is sab se."
Yeh kehte kehte bhi mann mein thoda bura sa lag raha tha. Us din kitna achha laga tha Mom ke saath dress up hote hue, jab woh itne dhyan se mera make-up kar rahi thi, jab unhone mujhe apni beti bulaya tha.
"Par yeh toh soch... us din, tu sabke saamne, apne hi ghar mein, aaram se saree pehen kar ghoom paa rahi thi," Riya ne mera mann halka karne ke liye kaha.
"I guess... shayad." Meri aawaz abhi bhi kafi low sound kar rahi thi.
Achanak se uski aankhon mein ek chamak si aa gayi jaise uske dimaag mein kuch soojha ho, "Us raat ki koi photos hain kya?"
"Ummm... shayad. Mom ne ek-do li thi baad mein."
"Dikha na! mujhe dekhna hai tu saree mein kaisi lagti hai!"
Maine tezi se apna sar na mein hilaya, "Nahi... main nahi dikha rahi woh photos."
Mom ne woh photos guests ke jaane ke kuch der baad li thi. Tab tak main buri tarah thak chuki thi, makeup bhi halka pad gaya tha, aur saree bhi thodi si atpati si gayi thi. Main Riya ko woh photos nahi dikhana chahti thi.
Kaash... us shaam ki aur photos hoti, jab main tayyar hui thi, tab ki. Jab Mom ne mera makeup kiya tha, jab main pehli baar mirror mein dekh kar khud ko sach mein ek ladki ki tarah mehsoos kiya tha.
Riya jaldi se mere phone ki taraf jhapti, "Please Please Please... Mujhe dekhni hai!"
Maine apna phone kas ke pakad liya aur thoda peeche hue. Cheena jhapti mein woh literally mere upar chaddh gayi thi aur uski kohni jaakar mere boobs par lagi. Aajkal woh area kafi sensitive sa ho gaya tha, aur zara sa chhute hue bhi dard sa hota tha.
Maine dard mein thoda zor se "Ahhh" keh diya. Mere muh se nikal gaya tha bina socha.
Maine mehsoos kiya ki aas paas ke logo ki nazar phir se hum par aa gayi thi aur woh seetiyan bajane lage aur kuch kuch bolne lage.
Maine apni chest ko masalte hue kaha, "Riya... thoda peeche hatt na."
Riya gusse mein peeche hui aur apne haathon ko apni chhaati ke neeche fold kar liya, "Fine! Agli baar na mujhe apne kapde khareedne ke liye mat bolna."
Usne gussa hote hue apna muh doosri taraf pher liya.
Maine turant use manate hue kaha, "Yaar... that's not fair. Tu mere liye jo bhi kapde khareedti hai, main un sab ki pics tujhe bhejti hoon. Hai na? Par yeh... samjha kar na. Ye saree mujhe ek 45 saal ke aadmi se shaadi karne ke liye pehnayi gayi thi."
Riya ne meri taraf dekha, woh samajh gayi thi main photo kyun nahi dikhana chahti thi. Par woh shayad manne nahi wali thi, "Main toh bas yeh dekhna chahti hoon ki tu saree mein lagti kaisi hai. Main toh shaadi waigera ke baare mein soch bhi nahi rahi thi. Sach!"
Maine kuch second uski taraf dekha. Woh apne gale par haath rakhe itni masoom si lag rahi thi ki main use mana nahi kar paa rahi thi, "Theek hai... par no judging... ok?"
Maine apna phone unlock karte hue Riya ki taraf badaya aur usne turant mere haath se phone chheen liya. Uske chehre par muskurahat wapas aa gayi thi aur woh meri photo gallery open karte hue us saree wali photo ko dhoondne lagi.
Photo open karte hi uski aankhen ekdam badi si ho gayi aur muh khula ka khula reh gaya, "Wow! Is that really you? Tu toh bilkul item bomb lag rahi hai."
Mujhe uski baat sunkar hasi aa gayi, "Shut up yaar! Aise mat bol."
Riya abhi bhi photo ko achhi tarah zoom karke dekh rahi thi, "Tu saree mein kitni hot lag rahi hai. Ekdam sanskari, total marriage material."
Mere gaal thode garam ho gaye. "Marriage material" sunkar ek ajeeb sa feeling aayi - proud bhi, uncomfortable bhi.
"Wow yaar... main ladki hote hue bhi itni achhi nahi lagti saree mein."
Yeh bolte hi uske nazar aur haath ekdam jam se gaye, jaise woh jaanti ho usne kuch galat bol diya tha. "Mera woh matlab nahi tha. Tu bhi utni hi ladki hai, jitni main. I am really sorry."
Mujhe uski baat achhi toh nahi lagi thi, par maine dheere se kaha, "It's ok."
Riya dubara se photo ko zoom out karke dekhne lagi, "Ab samajh mein aa raha hai ki woh aadmi tujhse shaadi kyun karna chahta hai. I mean look at you..."
Maine apna phone usse wapis lene ki koshish ki, "It's not funny yaar. Phone wapas de na."
Riya mera phone wapis nahi de rahi thi, "Uski koi photo nahi hai?"
"Pagal hai kya. Main usse shaadi nahi karne wali. Pata hai na, main use uncle bulati aayi hoon itne saalon se."
Riya ki aankhon mein phir se kuch shararat si dikhi, jaise woh kuch soch rahi hoon, "Acha sun... shaadi na sahi, par uski madad toh le sakti hai na."
Mere muh se turant nikla, "NO..."
Main samajh gayi thi ki Riya kya kehna chahti thi. Aisa nahi hai pichhle do dino se mere mann mein ye khayal nahi aaya tha. Par aise kisi ki bhi madad lena, aur khaskaar unki, bilkul sahi nahi lag raha tha.
Riya excited hote hue apne ghutno par baith gayi, "Par tune hi toh bataya ki woh keh raha tha ki chahe tu haan kare ya na, woh tere transition mein teri help karna chahta hai. Koi pressure bhi nahi daala."
Maine muh banate hue kaha, "Aise kaun kisi ki help karta hai... bina kisi matlab ke."
"Well... kya pata woh karna chahta ho? Jitna mujhe samajh aaya, uski life mein koi aur hai bhi toh nahi."
"Main aise kisi ka mann toh nahi pad sakti na."
Riya ne zor dekar kaha, "Par usse baat toh kar sakti hai."
Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha main is sab ke baare mein soch bhi kyun rahi thi. Mera decision final tha aakhir... pata nahi Riya kyun se sab bol rahi thi.
Riya ke haath mein abhi bhi mera phone tha aur woh phone mein scroll aur tap kar rahi thi. Kuch pal baad usne ek contact nikaalte hue phone ki screen mere aage ki. Saamne "Raj Uncle" ki contact details thi. Shayad jab maine phone liya hi tha, tab maine unse number exchange kiya hoga. Par hamne aaj tak kabhi ek doosre ko phone ya message nahi kiya tha.
"Ye hain?"
Mera mind itna uljha hua tha ki main sahi se soch bhi nahi paa rahi thi ki Riya ne number saamne kyun nikaala hai. Maine dheere se haan mein sar hila diya.
Mere dekhte dekhte Riya ne us number par call laga di.
Maine shocked hokar Riya ki taraf dekha aur turant phone chheenne ki koshish ki, "Riya! Pagal hai kya?! Band kar abhi! Please!"
Maine phone uske haath se chheenne ki koshish kari, par itne mein doosri side se ek bhaari si aawaz aayi, "Hello..."
Mera dimaag bilkul sunn padh gaya aur haathon ne kaam karna band kar diya.
Phir se wohi aawaz aayi, "Hello... Kanika..."
Riya ne mere paas sarakte hue phone ko mere kaan par lagaya aur silently muh hilate hue mujhe bolne ka ishaara kiya.
Kisi tarah se maine apne gale se aawaz bahar nikaali, "Hello..."
"Hey... kaisi ho tum?" Doosri taraf se Raj ki clear aur calm aawaz aa rahi thi.
Unki awaaz sunkar... kuch ajeeb sa laga. Woh awaaz jo us raat kamre mein thi, jab unhone mujhe "behad khoobsurat" kaha tha. Mera gala buri tarah sookh raha tha aur samajh nahi aa raha tha main kya bolu. Bas ek shabd nikla, "Good..."
"Tumne call kiya? Sab theek hai na?"
"Ummm...." Maine panic karte hue Riya ki taraf dekha.
Riya mere kaan mein phusphane lagi, par panic mein mein mujhe uski baat samajh nahi aa rahi thi. Maine uske haath se apna phone chheena aur use thoda peeche dhakel diya.
Raj phir se bole, "Kuch baat karni thi tumhe? Koi sawaal?"
Maine aankhen band karte hue apne aap ko focus karna chaha, "Listen... ummm... us raat... sab kuch itna jaldi jaldi ho gaya... kuch samajh hi nahi aaya."
"Ofcourse... Main samajh sakta hoon."
Main soch rahi thi ki aage kya bolu, aur kaise bolu. Mere dimaag mein shabd ghoom rahe they par muh se nikal nahi rahe they. Kitna ajeeb lagega agar main seedhe ye poochu - Kya aap shaadi kare bina bas meri transition mein help kar denge? Kitni desperate lagungi main?
Raj shayad meri jhijhak samajh gaye, "I think ye sab baatein phone par karna kafi mushkil hota hai. Hume aamne saamne baith kar baat karni chahiye."
Ekdam se laga jaise mujhe is poori conversation se bachne ka raasta mil gaya ho. Raj Uncle toh Mumbai mein rehte they, aur abhi toh filhaal milna hoga nahi. Kam se kam kuch dino ke liye toh baat tali.
Mere andar ki nervousness thodi kam ho rahi thi, "Haan... I think wohi better rahega. Aap jab agli baar aayoge tab baith kar baat kar lenge."
"Agli baar kyun? Aaj mil sakte hain, main abhi Delhi mein hi hoon."
Mera dil dhak se reh gaya. Aaj? Abhi? Mere dimaag mein ek hi khayal aa raha tha - main kaise mana karu bina rude lage. Meri ladkhadi hui aawaz nikli, "Aaaajjjj...??"
"Haan... main tumhare college se jyada door nahi hoon. Ek cafe ka address bhej raha hoon... wahin milte hain ek ghante mein. Theek hai na?"
Main chahti thi ki main na keh doon. Par kaise? Maine khud hi call ki thi. Maine khud hi unse baat karni ke liye kaha tha. Mere chest mein ek ajeeb sa dard uthne laga.
Maine kisi tarah se dheere se kaha, "Theek hai..."
Raj ki cheerful aawaz aayi, "Great... I will see you there."
Jaise hi Raj ne phone rakha, meri ghabrahat aur badh gayi. Phone mere haath mein chubh sa raha tha aur meri saans ukhad rahi thi. Abhi abhi maine kis cheez ke liye agree kar liya tha? Aaj hi unse face-to-face milne ke baare mein sochte hi mere pet mein marod uthne lagi thi.
Riya ne mujhe kohni maari, uske chehre par ek chaudi muskaan thi - "Relax... you did great!"
Main usse ghusse se dekhte hue boli - "Relax! Yeh sab teri wajah se hua hai! Main aise kaise aaj hi unse jakar mil lu?"
Riya ne bilkul tension-free hote hue apne kandhe unchkaye - "Well... tune haan toh bol diya hai... ab back out karna achha nahi lagega."
Mujhe laga tha ki main isi samay dharti mein hi sama jayu taaki kahin jaana hi na pade. Har possible scenario mere dimag mein ghoom raha tha - awkward questions, unka mujhe ghoorna, aaj ke kapdo ka us din ki saree se comparison.
Oh god, aaj toh main ladki jaisi dressed bhi nahi thi. Mere haath mutthi mein band ho gaye, aur naakhun hatheliyon mein chubhne lage.
Maine ek lambi saans li. Theek hai. Shayad yeh achha hi hai. Jab woh mujhe aaj aise dekhenge - bina makeup, bina saree, bilkul plain - toh unhe samajh aa jayega ki us raat unhone jo dekha tha, woh sirf ek dress-up, ek natak tha.
Par mere pet mein jo marod chal rahi thi, woh kuch aur hi keh rahi thi.
Do din baad main apne South campus ke college ke lawn mein baithi Riya ko us raat ki poori kahani bata rahi thi.
Riya meri baat bahut dhyan se sun rahi thi, beech beech mein apne honthon ko apne daanton mein dabate hue, apne aap ko rokte hue. Use pata tha ki mujhe story ke beech mein interruption bilkul pasand nahi tha. Maine Riya ko us raat ko un logo ke jaane tak ki poori kahani bata di.
Log aate jaate hume ghoorte hue aur haste hue jaa rahe they jaise aksar kiya karte they. Pichhle 2-3 saalon mein maine kya kya naam nahi sune they college ke ladko ke muh se. Chakka, Hijra, Meetha, Lady Boy, Gaandu, aur jaane kya kya. Ladkiyan bhi kam nahi thi. Ab toh maine un sab par dhyaan bhi dena band kar diya tha.
Riya ne ek-do second baad meri aur dekhte hue poocha, “Phir? Kya bola uncle ne?”
“Dad ka toh tujhe pata hi hai… woh hamesha ki tarah mujh par bhadak rahe they. Agar maine is hafte ke end tak haan nahi kiya toh woh meri pocket money, phone waigera sab band karne ki dhamki de rahe they.”
“Darr mat yaar, woh aisa kuch nahi karenge. Aunty ne kya kaha?”
“Pata nahi... Mom kya chahti hai, samajh hi nahi aata. Kabhi toh meri side leti hai… par phir papa ke aage bilkul chup ho jaati hai jaise unhe farq hi nahi padta is sab se."
Yeh kehte kehte bhi mann mein thoda bura sa lag raha tha. Us din kitna achha laga tha Mom ke saath dress up hote hue, jab woh itne dhyan se mera make-up kar rahi thi, jab unhone mujhe apni beti bulaya tha.
"Par yeh toh soch... us din, tu sabke saamne, apne hi ghar mein, aaram se saree pehen kar ghoom paa rahi thi," Riya ne mera mann halka karne ke liye kaha.
"I guess... shayad." Meri aawaz abhi bhi kafi low sound kar rahi thi.
Achanak se uski aankhon mein ek chamak si aa gayi jaise uske dimaag mein kuch soojha ho, "Us raat ki koi photos hain kya?"
"Ummm... shayad. Mom ne ek-do li thi baad mein."
"Dikha na! mujhe dekhna hai tu saree mein kaisi lagti hai!"
Maine tezi se apna sar na mein hilaya, "Nahi... main nahi dikha rahi woh photos."
Mom ne woh photos guests ke jaane ke kuch der baad li thi. Tab tak main buri tarah thak chuki thi, makeup bhi halka pad gaya tha, aur saree bhi thodi si atpati si gayi thi. Main Riya ko woh photos nahi dikhana chahti thi.
Kaash... us shaam ki aur photos hoti, jab main tayyar hui thi, tab ki. Jab Mom ne mera makeup kiya tha, jab main pehli baar mirror mein dekh kar khud ko sach mein ek ladki ki tarah mehsoos kiya tha.
Riya jaldi se mere phone ki taraf jhapti, "Please Please Please... Mujhe dekhni hai!"
Maine apna phone kas ke pakad liya aur thoda peeche hue. Cheena jhapti mein woh literally mere upar chaddh gayi thi aur uski kohni jaakar mere boobs par lagi. Aajkal woh area kafi sensitive sa ho gaya tha, aur zara sa chhute hue bhi dard sa hota tha.
Maine dard mein thoda zor se "Ahhh" keh diya. Mere muh se nikal gaya tha bina socha.
Maine mehsoos kiya ki aas paas ke logo ki nazar phir se hum par aa gayi thi aur woh seetiyan bajane lage aur kuch kuch bolne lage.
Maine apni chest ko masalte hue kaha, "Riya... thoda peeche hatt na."
Riya gusse mein peeche hui aur apne haathon ko apni chhaati ke neeche fold kar liya, "Fine! Agli baar na mujhe apne kapde khareedne ke liye mat bolna."
Usne gussa hote hue apna muh doosri taraf pher liya.
Maine turant use manate hue kaha, "Yaar... that's not fair. Tu mere liye jo bhi kapde khareedti hai, main un sab ki pics tujhe bhejti hoon. Hai na? Par yeh... samjha kar na. Ye saree mujhe ek 45 saal ke aadmi se shaadi karne ke liye pehnayi gayi thi."
Riya ne meri taraf dekha, woh samajh gayi thi main photo kyun nahi dikhana chahti thi. Par woh shayad manne nahi wali thi, "Main toh bas yeh dekhna chahti hoon ki tu saree mein lagti kaisi hai. Main toh shaadi waigera ke baare mein soch bhi nahi rahi thi. Sach!"
Maine kuch second uski taraf dekha. Woh apne gale par haath rakhe itni masoom si lag rahi thi ki main use mana nahi kar paa rahi thi, "Theek hai... par no judging... ok?"
Maine apna phone unlock karte hue Riya ki taraf badaya aur usne turant mere haath se phone chheen liya. Uske chehre par muskurahat wapas aa gayi thi aur woh meri photo gallery open karte hue us saree wali photo ko dhoondne lagi.
Photo open karte hi uski aankhen ekdam badi si ho gayi aur muh khula ka khula reh gaya, "Wow! Is that really you? Tu toh bilkul item bomb lag rahi hai."
Mujhe uski baat sunkar hasi aa gayi, "Shut up yaar! Aise mat bol."
Riya abhi bhi photo ko achhi tarah zoom karke dekh rahi thi, "Tu saree mein kitni hot lag rahi hai. Ekdam sanskari, total marriage material."
Mere gaal thode garam ho gaye. "Marriage material" sunkar ek ajeeb sa feeling aayi - proud bhi, uncomfortable bhi.
"Wow yaar... main ladki hote hue bhi itni achhi nahi lagti saree mein."
Yeh bolte hi uske nazar aur haath ekdam jam se gaye, jaise woh jaanti ho usne kuch galat bol diya tha. "Mera woh matlab nahi tha. Tu bhi utni hi ladki hai, jitni main. I am really sorry."
Mujhe uski baat achhi toh nahi lagi thi, par maine dheere se kaha, "It's ok."
Riya dubara se photo ko zoom out karke dekhne lagi, "Ab samajh mein aa raha hai ki woh aadmi tujhse shaadi kyun karna chahta hai. I mean look at you..."
Maine apna phone usse wapis lene ki koshish ki, "It's not funny yaar. Phone wapas de na."
Riya mera phone wapis nahi de rahi thi, "Uski koi photo nahi hai?"
"Pagal hai kya. Main usse shaadi nahi karne wali. Pata hai na, main use uncle bulati aayi hoon itne saalon se."
Riya ki aankhon mein phir se kuch shararat si dikhi, jaise woh kuch soch rahi hoon, "Acha sun... shaadi na sahi, par uski madad toh le sakti hai na."
Mere muh se turant nikla, "NO..."
Main samajh gayi thi ki Riya kya kehna chahti thi. Aisa nahi hai pichhle do dino se mere mann mein ye khayal nahi aaya tha. Par aise kisi ki bhi madad lena, aur khaskaar unki, bilkul sahi nahi lag raha tha.
Riya excited hote hue apne ghutno par baith gayi, "Par tune hi toh bataya ki woh keh raha tha ki chahe tu haan kare ya na, woh tere transition mein teri help karna chahta hai. Koi pressure bhi nahi daala."
Maine muh banate hue kaha, "Aise kaun kisi ki help karta hai... bina kisi matlab ke."
"Well... kya pata woh karna chahta ho? Jitna mujhe samajh aaya, uski life mein koi aur hai bhi toh nahi."
"Main aise kisi ka mann toh nahi pad sakti na."
Riya ne zor dekar kaha, "Par usse baat toh kar sakti hai."
Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha main is sab ke baare mein soch bhi kyun rahi thi. Mera decision final tha aakhir... pata nahi Riya kyun se sab bol rahi thi.
Riya ke haath mein abhi bhi mera phone tha aur woh phone mein scroll aur tap kar rahi thi. Kuch pal baad usne ek contact nikaalte hue phone ki screen mere aage ki. Saamne "Raj Uncle" ki contact details thi. Shayad jab maine phone liya hi tha, tab maine unse number exchange kiya hoga. Par hamne aaj tak kabhi ek doosre ko phone ya message nahi kiya tha.
"Ye hain?"
Mera mind itna uljha hua tha ki main sahi se soch bhi nahi paa rahi thi ki Riya ne number saamne kyun nikaala hai. Maine dheere se haan mein sar hila diya.
Mere dekhte dekhte Riya ne us number par call laga di.
Maine shocked hokar Riya ki taraf dekha aur turant phone chheenne ki koshish ki, "Riya! Pagal hai kya?! Band kar abhi! Please!"
Maine phone uske haath se chheenne ki koshish kari, par itne mein doosri side se ek bhaari si aawaz aayi, "Hello..."
Mera dimaag bilkul sunn padh gaya aur haathon ne kaam karna band kar diya.
Phir se wohi aawaz aayi, "Hello... Kanika..."
Riya ne mere paas sarakte hue phone ko mere kaan par lagaya aur silently muh hilate hue mujhe bolne ka ishaara kiya.
Kisi tarah se maine apne gale se aawaz bahar nikaali, "Hello..."
"Hey... kaisi ho tum?" Doosri taraf se Raj ki clear aur calm aawaz aa rahi thi.
Unki awaaz sunkar... kuch ajeeb sa laga. Woh awaaz jo us raat kamre mein thi, jab unhone mujhe "behad khoobsurat" kaha tha. Mera gala buri tarah sookh raha tha aur samajh nahi aa raha tha main kya bolu. Bas ek shabd nikla, "Good..."
"Tumne call kiya? Sab theek hai na?"
"Ummm...." Maine panic karte hue Riya ki taraf dekha.
Riya mere kaan mein phusphane lagi, par panic mein mein mujhe uski baat samajh nahi aa rahi thi. Maine uske haath se apna phone chheena aur use thoda peeche dhakel diya.
Raj phir se bole, "Kuch baat karni thi tumhe? Koi sawaal?"
Maine aankhen band karte hue apne aap ko focus karna chaha, "Listen... ummm... us raat... sab kuch itna jaldi jaldi ho gaya... kuch samajh hi nahi aaya."
"Ofcourse... Main samajh sakta hoon."
Main soch rahi thi ki aage kya bolu, aur kaise bolu. Mere dimaag mein shabd ghoom rahe they par muh se nikal nahi rahe they. Kitna ajeeb lagega agar main seedhe ye poochu - Kya aap shaadi kare bina bas meri transition mein help kar denge? Kitni desperate lagungi main?
Raj shayad meri jhijhak samajh gaye, "I think ye sab baatein phone par karna kafi mushkil hota hai. Hume aamne saamne baith kar baat karni chahiye."
Ekdam se laga jaise mujhe is poori conversation se bachne ka raasta mil gaya ho. Raj Uncle toh Mumbai mein rehte they, aur abhi toh filhaal milna hoga nahi. Kam se kam kuch dino ke liye toh baat tali.
Mere andar ki nervousness thodi kam ho rahi thi, "Haan... I think wohi better rahega. Aap jab agli baar aayoge tab baith kar baat kar lenge."
"Agli baar kyun? Aaj mil sakte hain, main abhi Delhi mein hi hoon."
Mera dil dhak se reh gaya. Aaj? Abhi? Mere dimaag mein ek hi khayal aa raha tha - main kaise mana karu bina rude lage. Meri ladkhadi hui aawaz nikli, "Aaaajjjj...??"
"Haan... main tumhare college se jyada door nahi hoon. Ek cafe ka address bhej raha hoon... wahin milte hain ek ghante mein. Theek hai na?"
Main chahti thi ki main na keh doon. Par kaise? Maine khud hi call ki thi. Maine khud hi unse baat karni ke liye kaha tha. Mere chest mein ek ajeeb sa dard uthne laga.
Maine kisi tarah se dheere se kaha, "Theek hai..."
Raj ki cheerful aawaz aayi, "Great... I will see you there."
Jaise hi Raj ne phone rakha, meri ghabrahat aur badh gayi. Phone mere haath mein chubh sa raha tha aur meri saans ukhad rahi thi. Abhi abhi maine kis cheez ke liye agree kar liya tha? Aaj hi unse face-to-face milne ke baare mein sochte hi mere pet mein marod uthne lagi thi.
Riya ne mujhe kohni maari, uske chehre par ek chaudi muskaan thi - "Relax... you did great!"
Main usse ghusse se dekhte hue boli - "Relax! Yeh sab teri wajah se hua hai! Main aise kaise aaj hi unse jakar mil lu?"
Riya ne bilkul tension-free hote hue apne kandhe unchkaye - "Well... tune haan toh bol diya hai... ab back out karna achha nahi lagega."
Mujhe laga tha ki main isi samay dharti mein hi sama jayu taaki kahin jaana hi na pade. Har possible scenario mere dimag mein ghoom raha tha - awkward questions, unka mujhe ghoorna, aaj ke kapdo ka us din ki saree se comparison.
Oh god, aaj toh main ladki jaisi dressed bhi nahi thi. Mere haath mutthi mein band ho gaye, aur naakhun hatheliyon mein chubhne lage.
Maine ek lambi saans li. Theek hai. Shayad yeh achha hi hai. Jab woh mujhe aaj aise dekhenge - bina makeup, bina saree, bilkul plain - toh unhe samajh aa jayega ki us raat unhone jo dekha tha, woh sirf ek dress-up, ek natak tha.
Par mere pet mein jo marod chal rahi thi, woh kuch aur hi keh rahi thi.
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