09-03-2026, 12:29 PM
Ananya ke jate hi canteen mein ek pal ke liye aisi khamoshi chha gayi jaise kisi ne chalti film ko 'pause' kar diya ho. Aas-paas ke tables par baithe log bhi ek lamhe ke liye ruk gaye, par wo khamoshi zyada der tikne wali nahi thi. Agle hi pal, Vicky aur Sonu ne kisi pagalpan mein aakar purani lakdi ki benches ko zor-zor se thonkhna shuru kar diya. Thap-thap ki wo awaz poore hall mein goonj uthi.
"Oye hoye! Dekha... dekha kaise bhagi 'Topper' sahiba? Mihir, bete, tune toh aaj uski bolti hi band kar di yaar!" Vicky apni jagah se utha aur usne kisi medal ki tarah Mihir ko apne gale se laga liya. Vicky ke kapdo se sasti cigarette aur masale ki wo teekhi, gandi boo aa rahi thi jo aksar Mihir ko pareshan karti thi, par us waqt? Us waqt Mihir ko wo kisi "jeet" ki khushbu lag rahi thi. Use laga shayad isi ko 'manliness' kehte hain.
Rahul aur Sameer, jo thoda peeche khade the, paas aa gaye. Unki aankhon mein ek saaf jhijhak thi, jaise unhe pata ho ki jo hua wo galat tha, par apne "bade bhaiyya" yani Vicky ka raub dekh kar unhone bhi dabi hui hansi hasna shuru kar diya. Woh bas bhed-chaal ka hissa ban rahe the.
Vicky ne Mihir ke kandhe par zor se hath mara aur chillakar bola, "Mihir, aaj tune sabit kar diya ki tu hamari team ka asli khiladi hai. Woh maafi-vaafi mangne wale kaam dhoop mein gaye (bhaad mein gaye). Yaad rakh, mard aise hi hote hain—jo dil mein hai, seedha muh pe bolte hain! Darna kis se?"
Mihir ke chehre par ek feeki muskurahat thi, par uski nazrein canteen ke us bhari darwaze par tiki thi jahan se Ananya abhi-abhi roti hui bahar nikli thi. Wo manzar uski aankhon ke samne se hat nahi raha tha. Uske kaano mein abhi bhi apne hi kahe hue woh ghatiya shabd goonj rahe the—"Kya mast item hai." Upar se toh wo muskura raha tha, par uske gale mein ek ajeeb si chubhan ho rahi thi, jaise usne koi kadwi goli nigal li ho jo na andar ja rahi thi, na bahar. Use samajh nahi aa raha tha ki wo jeeta hai ya wo apni hi nazron mein haar chuka hai.
Sonu ne mez par rakhi ek thandi cold drink ki botal Mihir ke bilkul saamne thak-se rakhi. Usne ek shaatir muskurahat ke saath kaha, "Yeh le 'Professor', aaj tera gala kaafi sookh gaya hoga itni mehnat karke. Ab bata, kaisa laga? Sabki phat gayi hai yaar. Poora college ab jaan gaya hai ki Mihir se panga lena matlab seedha maut ko dawat dena."
Mihir ne botal uthayi aur ek lamba, gehra ghoot bhara. Woh thanda liquid uske gale se neeche utra, par uski andaruni jalan ko thanda nahi kar paya. Usne mehsoos kiya ki poori canteen ki nazrein ab usi par tiki thi. Kuch ladke door kone wale table par baithe aapas mein kaana-phusi kar rahe bhed-bhaav bhari nazron se dekh rahe the—shayad woh wahi sab discuss kar rahe the jo abhi-abhi Ananya ke saath hua tha.
Pehle, Mihir ko aisi nazron se darr lagta tha, par aaj kuch alag tha. Use pehli baar apni zindagi mein aisa laga ki woh ab "adhoora" nahi raha. Hamesha kone mein baithne wala, chup rehne wala Mihir aaj gayab ho gaya tha. Use ek pal ke liye aisa laga ki woh koi "bheed ka mamooli hissa" nahi, balki is poore mahaul ka 'Hero' hai.
Lekin us "Hero" wali feeling ke neeche ek ajeeb si bechaini bhi pal rahi thi. Jab bhi koi uski taraf dekhta, use lagta jaise woh log uske chehre ke peeche chhupe us darpok ladke ko dekh rahe hain jo abhi bhi andar hi andar ro raha tha. Par bahar? Bahar toh usey bas "Vicky ka yaar" aur ek "sakht mard" dikhna tha.
Vicky ne Mihir ke kaan ke paas jhukkar, ek sadi hui muskurahat ke saath kaha, "Sunn, ab darrne ki ratti bhar zaroorat nahi hai. Agar woh 'Topper' zyada udne ki koshish kare aur Principal ke paas gayi bhi, toh fikar mat kar. Mere paas tera woh 'maafi wala message' abhi bhi saved hai. Hum baazi palat denge... bol denge ki tu ne toh sirf ek halka-phulka mazaak kiya tha, woh hi zyada 'touchy' aur serious ho gayi. Ladkiyon ko thoda dabake, unki jagah dikhakar rakhna hi sahi raasta hai, samjha?"
Mihir ne bina soche-samjhe, ek robotic dhang se haan mein sar hila diya. Use laga jaise Vicky uske liye koi dhaal (shield) ban kar khada hai, par asal mein woh dhaal nahi, ek daldal thi. Uske andar ka woh "masoom baccha"—jo kabhi kisi ka dil dukhane par ghanton rota tha—ab dheere-dheere ek aisi gehri chadar odh raha tha jise log college ki bhasha mein "Attitude" aur "Swag" kehte hain.
Uski aankhon mein ab woh purani chamak nahi thi, balki ek ajeeb si pathraayi hui thandak aa gayi thi. Use lag raha tha ki woh bada ho gaya hai, duniya samajh gaya hai. Par masoom Mihir ko yeh bilkul andaza nahi tha ki yeh koi tarakki nahi, balki uski shakhsiyat ki barbadi ki pehli seedhi thi. Woh us raste par chal pada tha jahan se wapsi ka rasta sirf pachtave se hokar guzarta hai. Canteen ki dhoop mein khada Mihir ab wo ladka nahi raha tha jo subah college aaya tha.
College khatam hua, par hawa mein abhi bhi canteen wali wo bhari-bhari si bechaini maujood thi. Mihir apne purane bachpan ke doston, Rahul aur Sameer, ke saath hamesha ki tarah bus stop ki taraf ja raha tha. Par aaj rasta pehle jaisa nahi tha. Na wo purani hansi-mazaak thi, na hi cricket ki baatein.
Rahul, jo kaafi der se kuch kehna chah raha tha, usne himmat karke dhire se pucha:
"Yaar Mihir... tujhe sach mein bura nahi laga? Ananya... woh kaafi buri tarah ro rahi thi. Maine use pehle kabhi aise toot-te nahi dekha."
Mihir ka dil ek pal ke liye dharka, par usne turant apne chehre par ek sakht mukhauta (mask) chadhaya aur thoda akad kar, gardan unchi karke bola:
"Arre yaar, tum log abhi bhi wahi purani, boring baaton mein phanse ho? Tumne dekha nahi Vicky bhaiyya aaj kitne khush the? Hum ab unke elite group ka hissa hain, koi ainvayi-painvayi log nahi rahe. College mein rehna hai toh thoda 'Swag' toh hona chahiye na? Warna log pairon tale kuchal kar nikal jayenge."
Sameer poore raste khamosh raha. Usne ek baar bhi Mihir ki taraf nahi dekha. Mihir ko saaf mehsoos ho raha tha ki uske ye purane dost—jo uski har choti baat samajhte the—ab usse thoda katrane lage hain. Unki aankhon mein dosti ki jagah ek anjana darr aur ajnabipan tha, jaise unke saamne khada ladka unka wo purana Mihir ho hi nahi.
Ghar laut-te waqt, bus ki khidki se bahar dekhte hue Mihir ne apna phone nikaala. Ungliyan thodi kaanp rahi thin jab usne PingMe app khola. Usne socha tha shayad Ananya ne koi gusse wala message kiya hoga, ya shayad woh usey sunayegi. Par jab usne chat kholi, toh wahan sannaata tha. Ananya ka 'Profile Picture' gayab ho chuka tha aur 'Status' bhi nahi dikh raha tha. Usne Mihir ko block kar diya tha.
Mihir ke seene mein ek zor ka dhakka laga, jaise kisi ne usse uska koi purana haq chheen liya ho. Ek pal ke liye usne socha ki kya woh waqayi itna gir gaya hai? Par tabhi uske kaano mein Vicky ki wahi bhari, zeherili awaz goonji—
"Mard piche mudkar nahi dekhte, Mihir. Jo piche chhoot gaya, woh tere layak hi nahi tha."
Mihir ne ek gehri saans li, phone pocket mein rakha aur khidki ke bahar dekhne laga, par uski parchhai kaanch par ek ajnabi jaisi lag rahi thi.
Mihir jab apne do-bedroom apartment mein pahuncha, toh ghar mein hamesha ki tarah wahi purani, sukoon bhari shanti thi. Uske papa apne restaurant ke kaamon mein vyast the aur mummy kitchen se aane wali khushbuon ke beech apna din bita rahi thin. Yeh wahi ghar tha jahan Mihir ko hamesha sabse zyada surakshit (safe) mehsoos hota tha, par aaj use wahan darr lag raha tha—apne aap se.
Tabhi uski badi behen, Mihika, apne kamre se baahar nikli. Usne ek purani, dheeli-dhaali t-shirt aur pyjama pehna tha, baal bikhre hue the jaise woh abhi-abhi padhai se uthi ho. Mihika hamesha se hi ghar ki raunak thi, jitni woh khoobsurat thi, utni hi woh Mihir ki fikr karne wali ek 'guardian angel' jaisi thi.
Mihika ne muskurate hue kaha, "Aa gaya mera bhai? Aaj badi der kar di? Chal, jaldi se haath-muh dho le, maine tere liye tere favourite cheese sandwich banaye hain. Garam-garam kha le."
Mihir ne Mihika ki taraf dekha, par aaj use apni behen mein woh purana rishta nazar nahi aaya. Uske dimaag ke pichle hisse mein abhi bhi canteen ki woh gandi seetiyaan aur Vicky-Sonu ke woh ghatiya shabd—"item," "figure," "maal"—goonj rahe the. Jab usne apni sagi behen ko dekha, toh ek pal ke liye uski rooh kaanp gayi. Use pehli baar ek aisi ghutan mehsoos hui jise woh bayan nahi kar sakta tha.
Use yaad aaya ki kaise Vicky aur Sonu har raasta chalti ladki ko ek 'shikar' ki tarah dekhte hain. Uske dimaag mein ek khaufnak sawal koundha: "Kya meri behen ko bhi koi baahar isi nazariya se dekhta hoga? Kya koi doosra 'Vicky' usey bhi waise hi shabd bolta hoga jaise maine aaj Ananya ko bole?"
Yeh khayal aate hi Mihir ka apna wajood usey bojh lagne laga. Woh Mihika ki masoom aur fikar-mand nazron se nazrein nahi mila paya. Usne jaldi se apna chehra fer liya aur apne kamre ki taraf bhaga.
"Bhook nahi hai Di, thoda thak gaya hoon, thodi der sona hai," usne peeche mude bina, ek rukhi awaz mein kaha aur apne kamre ka darwaza andar se 'lock' kar liya.
Band darwaze ke peeche, andhere mein khade hokar Mihir ko mehsoos hua ki woh sirf ek kamre mein band nahi hua hai, balki woh us gande raste par ek kadam aur aage badh gaya hai jahan se ghar ki roshni dhundhli hoti ja rahi thi. Uska apna kamra aaj use ek jail ki tarah lag raha tha.
"Oye hoye! Dekha... dekha kaise bhagi 'Topper' sahiba? Mihir, bete, tune toh aaj uski bolti hi band kar di yaar!" Vicky apni jagah se utha aur usne kisi medal ki tarah Mihir ko apne gale se laga liya. Vicky ke kapdo se sasti cigarette aur masale ki wo teekhi, gandi boo aa rahi thi jo aksar Mihir ko pareshan karti thi, par us waqt? Us waqt Mihir ko wo kisi "jeet" ki khushbu lag rahi thi. Use laga shayad isi ko 'manliness' kehte hain.
Rahul aur Sameer, jo thoda peeche khade the, paas aa gaye. Unki aankhon mein ek saaf jhijhak thi, jaise unhe pata ho ki jo hua wo galat tha, par apne "bade bhaiyya" yani Vicky ka raub dekh kar unhone bhi dabi hui hansi hasna shuru kar diya. Woh bas bhed-chaal ka hissa ban rahe the.
Vicky ne Mihir ke kandhe par zor se hath mara aur chillakar bola, "Mihir, aaj tune sabit kar diya ki tu hamari team ka asli khiladi hai. Woh maafi-vaafi mangne wale kaam dhoop mein gaye (bhaad mein gaye). Yaad rakh, mard aise hi hote hain—jo dil mein hai, seedha muh pe bolte hain! Darna kis se?"
Mihir ke chehre par ek feeki muskurahat thi, par uski nazrein canteen ke us bhari darwaze par tiki thi jahan se Ananya abhi-abhi roti hui bahar nikli thi. Wo manzar uski aankhon ke samne se hat nahi raha tha. Uske kaano mein abhi bhi apne hi kahe hue woh ghatiya shabd goonj rahe the—"Kya mast item hai." Upar se toh wo muskura raha tha, par uske gale mein ek ajeeb si chubhan ho rahi thi, jaise usne koi kadwi goli nigal li ho jo na andar ja rahi thi, na bahar. Use samajh nahi aa raha tha ki wo jeeta hai ya wo apni hi nazron mein haar chuka hai.
Sonu ne mez par rakhi ek thandi cold drink ki botal Mihir ke bilkul saamne thak-se rakhi. Usne ek shaatir muskurahat ke saath kaha, "Yeh le 'Professor', aaj tera gala kaafi sookh gaya hoga itni mehnat karke. Ab bata, kaisa laga? Sabki phat gayi hai yaar. Poora college ab jaan gaya hai ki Mihir se panga lena matlab seedha maut ko dawat dena."
Mihir ne botal uthayi aur ek lamba, gehra ghoot bhara. Woh thanda liquid uske gale se neeche utra, par uski andaruni jalan ko thanda nahi kar paya. Usne mehsoos kiya ki poori canteen ki nazrein ab usi par tiki thi. Kuch ladke door kone wale table par baithe aapas mein kaana-phusi kar rahe bhed-bhaav bhari nazron se dekh rahe the—shayad woh wahi sab discuss kar rahe the jo abhi-abhi Ananya ke saath hua tha.
Pehle, Mihir ko aisi nazron se darr lagta tha, par aaj kuch alag tha. Use pehli baar apni zindagi mein aisa laga ki woh ab "adhoora" nahi raha. Hamesha kone mein baithne wala, chup rehne wala Mihir aaj gayab ho gaya tha. Use ek pal ke liye aisa laga ki woh koi "bheed ka mamooli hissa" nahi, balki is poore mahaul ka 'Hero' hai.
Lekin us "Hero" wali feeling ke neeche ek ajeeb si bechaini bhi pal rahi thi. Jab bhi koi uski taraf dekhta, use lagta jaise woh log uske chehre ke peeche chhupe us darpok ladke ko dekh rahe hain jo abhi bhi andar hi andar ro raha tha. Par bahar? Bahar toh usey bas "Vicky ka yaar" aur ek "sakht mard" dikhna tha.
Vicky ne Mihir ke kaan ke paas jhukkar, ek sadi hui muskurahat ke saath kaha, "Sunn, ab darrne ki ratti bhar zaroorat nahi hai. Agar woh 'Topper' zyada udne ki koshish kare aur Principal ke paas gayi bhi, toh fikar mat kar. Mere paas tera woh 'maafi wala message' abhi bhi saved hai. Hum baazi palat denge... bol denge ki tu ne toh sirf ek halka-phulka mazaak kiya tha, woh hi zyada 'touchy' aur serious ho gayi. Ladkiyon ko thoda dabake, unki jagah dikhakar rakhna hi sahi raasta hai, samjha?"
Mihir ne bina soche-samjhe, ek robotic dhang se haan mein sar hila diya. Use laga jaise Vicky uske liye koi dhaal (shield) ban kar khada hai, par asal mein woh dhaal nahi, ek daldal thi. Uske andar ka woh "masoom baccha"—jo kabhi kisi ka dil dukhane par ghanton rota tha—ab dheere-dheere ek aisi gehri chadar odh raha tha jise log college ki bhasha mein "Attitude" aur "Swag" kehte hain.
Uski aankhon mein ab woh purani chamak nahi thi, balki ek ajeeb si pathraayi hui thandak aa gayi thi. Use lag raha tha ki woh bada ho gaya hai, duniya samajh gaya hai. Par masoom Mihir ko yeh bilkul andaza nahi tha ki yeh koi tarakki nahi, balki uski shakhsiyat ki barbadi ki pehli seedhi thi. Woh us raste par chal pada tha jahan se wapsi ka rasta sirf pachtave se hokar guzarta hai. Canteen ki dhoop mein khada Mihir ab wo ladka nahi raha tha jo subah college aaya tha.
College khatam hua, par hawa mein abhi bhi canteen wali wo bhari-bhari si bechaini maujood thi. Mihir apne purane bachpan ke doston, Rahul aur Sameer, ke saath hamesha ki tarah bus stop ki taraf ja raha tha. Par aaj rasta pehle jaisa nahi tha. Na wo purani hansi-mazaak thi, na hi cricket ki baatein.
Rahul, jo kaafi der se kuch kehna chah raha tha, usne himmat karke dhire se pucha:
"Yaar Mihir... tujhe sach mein bura nahi laga? Ananya... woh kaafi buri tarah ro rahi thi. Maine use pehle kabhi aise toot-te nahi dekha."
Mihir ka dil ek pal ke liye dharka, par usne turant apne chehre par ek sakht mukhauta (mask) chadhaya aur thoda akad kar, gardan unchi karke bola:
"Arre yaar, tum log abhi bhi wahi purani, boring baaton mein phanse ho? Tumne dekha nahi Vicky bhaiyya aaj kitne khush the? Hum ab unke elite group ka hissa hain, koi ainvayi-painvayi log nahi rahe. College mein rehna hai toh thoda 'Swag' toh hona chahiye na? Warna log pairon tale kuchal kar nikal jayenge."
Sameer poore raste khamosh raha. Usne ek baar bhi Mihir ki taraf nahi dekha. Mihir ko saaf mehsoos ho raha tha ki uske ye purane dost—jo uski har choti baat samajhte the—ab usse thoda katrane lage hain. Unki aankhon mein dosti ki jagah ek anjana darr aur ajnabipan tha, jaise unke saamne khada ladka unka wo purana Mihir ho hi nahi.
Ghar laut-te waqt, bus ki khidki se bahar dekhte hue Mihir ne apna phone nikaala. Ungliyan thodi kaanp rahi thin jab usne PingMe app khola. Usne socha tha shayad Ananya ne koi gusse wala message kiya hoga, ya shayad woh usey sunayegi. Par jab usne chat kholi, toh wahan sannaata tha. Ananya ka 'Profile Picture' gayab ho chuka tha aur 'Status' bhi nahi dikh raha tha. Usne Mihir ko block kar diya tha.
Mihir ke seene mein ek zor ka dhakka laga, jaise kisi ne usse uska koi purana haq chheen liya ho. Ek pal ke liye usne socha ki kya woh waqayi itna gir gaya hai? Par tabhi uske kaano mein Vicky ki wahi bhari, zeherili awaz goonji—
"Mard piche mudkar nahi dekhte, Mihir. Jo piche chhoot gaya, woh tere layak hi nahi tha."
Mihir ne ek gehri saans li, phone pocket mein rakha aur khidki ke bahar dekhne laga, par uski parchhai kaanch par ek ajnabi jaisi lag rahi thi.
Mihir jab apne do-bedroom apartment mein pahuncha, toh ghar mein hamesha ki tarah wahi purani, sukoon bhari shanti thi. Uske papa apne restaurant ke kaamon mein vyast the aur mummy kitchen se aane wali khushbuon ke beech apna din bita rahi thin. Yeh wahi ghar tha jahan Mihir ko hamesha sabse zyada surakshit (safe) mehsoos hota tha, par aaj use wahan darr lag raha tha—apne aap se.
Tabhi uski badi behen, Mihika, apne kamre se baahar nikli. Usne ek purani, dheeli-dhaali t-shirt aur pyjama pehna tha, baal bikhre hue the jaise woh abhi-abhi padhai se uthi ho. Mihika hamesha se hi ghar ki raunak thi, jitni woh khoobsurat thi, utni hi woh Mihir ki fikr karne wali ek 'guardian angel' jaisi thi.
Mihika ne muskurate hue kaha, "Aa gaya mera bhai? Aaj badi der kar di? Chal, jaldi se haath-muh dho le, maine tere liye tere favourite cheese sandwich banaye hain. Garam-garam kha le."
Mihir ne Mihika ki taraf dekha, par aaj use apni behen mein woh purana rishta nazar nahi aaya. Uske dimaag ke pichle hisse mein abhi bhi canteen ki woh gandi seetiyaan aur Vicky-Sonu ke woh ghatiya shabd—"item," "figure," "maal"—goonj rahe the. Jab usne apni sagi behen ko dekha, toh ek pal ke liye uski rooh kaanp gayi. Use pehli baar ek aisi ghutan mehsoos hui jise woh bayan nahi kar sakta tha.
Use yaad aaya ki kaise Vicky aur Sonu har raasta chalti ladki ko ek 'shikar' ki tarah dekhte hain. Uske dimaag mein ek khaufnak sawal koundha: "Kya meri behen ko bhi koi baahar isi nazariya se dekhta hoga? Kya koi doosra 'Vicky' usey bhi waise hi shabd bolta hoga jaise maine aaj Ananya ko bole?"
Yeh khayal aate hi Mihir ka apna wajood usey bojh lagne laga. Woh Mihika ki masoom aur fikar-mand nazron se nazrein nahi mila paya. Usne jaldi se apna chehra fer liya aur apne kamre ki taraf bhaga.
"Bhook nahi hai Di, thoda thak gaya hoon, thodi der sona hai," usne peeche mude bina, ek rukhi awaz mein kaha aur apne kamre ka darwaza andar se 'lock' kar liya.
Band darwaze ke peeche, andhere mein khade hokar Mihir ko mehsoos hua ki woh sirf ek kamre mein band nahi hua hai, balki woh us gande raste par ek kadam aur aage badh gaya hai jahan se ghar ki roshni dhundhli hoti ja rahi thi. Uska apna kamra aaj use ek jail ki tarah lag raha tha.
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