09-03-2026, 12:52 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-03-2026, 12:53 PM by Ruchika_Fantasy. Edited 1 time in total. Edited 1 time in total.)
Uss raat khane ki table par mahaul hamesha ki tarah sadharan tha, par Mihir ke liye sab kuch badal chuka tha. Usne ek nivala bhi dhang se nahi khaya. Uske saamne rakhi garam roti aur dal ki khushbu, jo kabhi usey sukoon deti thi, aaj usey bezaar kar rahi thi.
Uske papa restaurant ki thaka dene wali baatein kar rahe the—kaise aaj koi naya supplier aaya ya kaise koi purana customer mil gaya. Mummy aur Mihika aapas mein kitchen aur ghar ke chote-mote kaamo ki charcha mein magan thin. Unki baaton mein wahi purana apna-pan aur saadgi thi, par Mihir ke kaano mein unka ek shabd bhi nahi utar raha tha. Woh bas apni thali mein chammach ko idhar-udhar ghumata raha, jaise us dal mein apni bhatki hui pehchan dhoond raha ho.
Uska dimaag kisi purani film ki tarah baar-baar us canteen wale "show-off" aur Vicky ke gande alfaazon ke beech bhatak raha tha. Ek taraf uske ghar ki yeh pavitra dunya thi—jahan aurton ki izzat aur mehnat ki kadar thi—aur doosri taraf woh sadak-chaap mardangi ka nasha, jise Vicky ne uske zeher mein ghol diya tha.
Jab bhi mummy uski taraf dekh kar kehti, "Mihir, thoda aur le le beta, chehra bahut utra hua hai," toh Mihir ko lagta jaise unki nazrein uske gunahon ko dekh legi. Usey apne hi ghar ke log ajnabi lagne lage the, ya shayad usey lag raha tha ki woh unke beech rehne layak nahi raha. Har baar jab Mihika usey paani ka gilaas pakdati, uske dimaag mein Ananya ka rota hua chehra aa jata.
"Mera pet bhara hai," usne dhire se kaha aur bina kisi ki taraf dekhe uth gaya. Table par baith kar usne jo nivala toda tha, woh waise hi pada raha—bilkul uski bikhri hui masoomiyat ki tarah.
Usne bina kisi ki taraf dekhe, kursi piche dhakeli aur bina ek shabd bole wahan se uth gaya. Peeche se mummy ki fikar-mand awaz aayi, "Beta, khana toh poora kar leta..." par Mihir ne ansuna kar diya. Woh apne kamre mein dakhil hua aur darwaza band karke seedha bistar par lait gaya.
Kamre mein andhera tha, sirf khidki se aati hui street light ki halki si roshni deewar par ek ajeeb sa saya bana rahi thi. Mihir ne chhat ki taraf dekhte hue ek gehri saans li, par sukoon koso door tha. Jaise hi usne apni aankhein band kin, canteen ka woh poora manzar kisi 'slow motion' film ki tarah uske dimaag mein chalne laga.
Use yaad aaya ki kaise woh hamesha se ek seedha-saadha ladka tha, jo kisi ko chinti tak nahi maarta tha. Par aaj? Aaj usne sabke saamne ek ladki ki izzat ke saath khilwad kiya tha, sirf kuch "cool" ladkon ki nazron mein bada banne ke liye. Bistar ki naram chadar bhi aaj usey chubhti hui mehsoos ho rahi thi.
Uske kaano mein Vicky ki woh baat baar-baar goonj rahi thi—"Mard piche nahi mudte." Par Mihir ko mehsoos ho raha tha ki piche mudne ki baat toh door, woh ab aage badhne se bhi darr raha hai. Woh us andhere kamre mein akela laita hua tha, par usey lag raha tha jaise hazaron nazrein usey dekh rahi hain aur us par thook rahi hain. Usey apne aap se hi ghin aane lagi thi. Woh nind ka intezar kar raha tha, par pachtawa usey sone nahi de raha tha.
Subah ki woh halki aur narm dhoop Mihir ke kamre mein bikhri hui thi, jo us andheri raat ke baad ek nayi shuruat ka ishara de rahi thi. Par Mihir ke liye, yeh dhoop sukoon se zyada ek chubhan jaisi thi. Use mehsoos hua ki koi uske sar par bahut hi komalta se haath pher raha hai.
Mihika uske sirhane baithi thi, uski nazron mein wahi purani mamta aur fikar thi jo hamesha se Mihir ki dhaal rahi hai. Usne dhire se hilaate hue kaha, "Mihir... uth ja mere bhai, college ke liye der ho jayegi. Dekh, tera naashta thanda ho raha hai aur aaj toh tera favourite poha bana hai."
Mihir ne jaise hi apni aankhein kholi, use apni behen ka muskurata hua chehra dikha. Uske sar par Mihika ka woh narm haath usey kisi kaante ki tarah chubha. Use turant yaad aaya ki kal usne ek ladki ke saath kya kiya tha—vahi ladki jo kisi ki behen hogi, kisi ki beti hogi.
Mihika ke us be-looth (selfless) pyaar ke saamne Mihir ko apna wajood bahut chota aur ganda lagne laga. Usne turant karwat badli aur chadar se apna chehra dhakne ki koshish ki, taaki Mihika uski aankhon mein chhupe us pachtave aur dar ko na padh le.
"Bas paanch minute Di... main uth raha hoon," usne bhari awaz mein kaha.
Mihika wahan se uth toh gayi, par usne jate-jate ek baar mudkar apne bhai ko dekha. Use mehsoos ho raha tha ki Mihir ke andar kuch toot raha hai, par woh samajh nahi paa rahi thi ki woh kya hai. Mihir wahi leta raha, dhoop ki us kiran ko dekhte hue, aur dimaag mein bas ek hi sawal chal raha tha—"Kya aaj college ja kar main phir se wahi 'Vicky' ka Mihir banunga, ya wahi purana Mihir jo Di ka bhai tha?"
Mihir ne jab apni behen ka woh masoom aur muskurata hua chehra dekha, toh ek pal ke liye use laga ki waqt peeche mud gaya hai. Use laga ki woh abhi bhi wahi purana, bholapan se bhara Mihir hai jise apni behen ki god mein sir rakh kar sukoon milta tha. Par woh ehsas ek jugnu ki tarah chamak kar turant bujh gaya.
Jaise hi Mihika uthi aur darwaze ki taraf badhi, Mihir ki nazrein—jo kabhi uske liye izzat aur bharose se bhari hoti thin—na chahte hue bhi uske badan par ja tikin. Uska dimaag jaise uske bas mein nahi raha. Vicky aur Sonu ki woh gandi baatein, ladkiyon ke kapdon aur unke jism par unke woh behuda comments, Mihir ke kaano mein kisi purane 'virus' ki tarah ghar kar chuke the.
Woh chahta tha ki nazrein hata le, woh chahta tha ki apni aankhein band kar le, par uske dimaag mein chal rahi woh gandi 'commentary' rukne ka naam nahi le rahi thi. Usne pehli baar apni sagi behen ko us nazariye se dekha jo use khud ko andar se kisi tezaab ki tarah jala raha tha. Use apni hi nazron se ghin aane lagi.
Uska dum ghutne laga. Use aisa mehsoos hua jaise usne koi bahut bada paap kar diya ho. Mihika toh uske liye nashta lene kitchen mein chali gayi, par Mihir wahi bister par sunn pada raha. Use samajh aa gaya tha ki Vicky ki dosti ne use sirf ek bura dost nahi, balki ek bura insaan aur ek bura bhai bhi bana diya hai. Uska apna hi ghar, jahan woh sabse zyada 'safe' tha, ab uski gandi soch ki wajah se uske liye nark ban raha tha.
Usne apne dono hathon se apna sar pakad liya aur zor se aankhein meech lin, maano woh un gande khayalon ko dimaag se nichod kar baahar nikalna chahta ho.
"Main yeh kya kar raha hoon?" Usne ek jhatke se apna mooh takiye mein chhupa liya, jaise us andhere mein wo apne chehre ko duniya aur khud se chhipa sake. Uske seene mein ek ajeeb sa bojh tha, ek aisi ghin jo uske dil-o-dimag ko andar se noch rahi thi. Par dardnak sach ye tha ki jitna wo khud ko kos raha tha, wahi "dirty curiosity"—wahi zeherila nazariya—uske dimaag ke kisi kone mein ab bhi zinda tha, baar-baar ubhar raha tha.
Wo bed se aise utha jaise kisi aag par baitha ho. Bina nashte ki parwah kiye, bina Mihika ko koi jawab diye, wo jaldi-jaldi apne kapde pehenne laga. Har kapda pehente waqt use aisa lag raha tha jaise wo apni purani masoomiyat ko peeche chhod raha ho. Usne apna bag uthaya aur darwaze ki taraf bhaga, jaise khud apne aap se aur apne ghar ke us sukoon se bhaag raha ho jo ab usey bojh lag raha tha.
Ghar ki dahleez ko paar karte waqt usne peeche mud kar bhi nahi dekha. Use darr tha ki agar wo ruk gaya, toh shayad wo toot jayega. College ki sadak par chalte hue, wo bheed mein toh tha, par akelepan ka shikaar ho chuka tha. Uske dimaag mein Vicky ki wo gandi baatein ek loop ki tarah chal rahi thin, aur wo usse bachne ke liye tez kadmon se chalne laga—ek aise raaste par jahan manzil sirf barbadi dikh rahi thi.
Kuch din isi tarah guzre, jaise waqt kisi dhalan par tezi se fisal raha ho. Mihir ab college mein ghuste hi apni purani jagah—library ya labs—ki taraf nahi dekhta tha. Uski aankhein sirf campus ke us kone ko dhundhti thin jahan Vicky aur uska group apne "adday" par jamawada lagaye baithe hote the.
Kitabein ab sirf uske bag mein ek bojhal vajan ban kar reh gayi thin. Usko ab un lafango ki us "high" ki lat lag gayi thi—woh 'fake respect', woh jhuta dabdaba, aur canteen mein baith kar logon par comments karne wali woh gandi "power trip". Usey lagta tha ki woh ab ek alag hi level par hai, jahan padhai-likhai sirf kamzor logon ka kaam hai.
Mihir ka poora routine badal gaya tha. Ab woh lecture attend karne ke bajaye canteen ki bench par baith kar cigratte ka dhuaan udana aur ladkiyon ko ghoorna hi apna "lifestyle" samajhne laga tha. Usey realize hi nahi ho raha tha ki yeh 'high' kitni temporary hai aur iske peeche uske career, uske character aur uski asliyat ki qurbani di ja rahi hai.
Jab bhi koi purana professor ya dost usey raaste mein milta, toh Mihir apni akad mein sar uthaye nikal jata, jaise usne koi jung jeet li ho. Lekin uski aankhon ki khamoshi mein ek aisa dar tha jo bata raha tha ki yeh sab ek jhootha naqab hai. Woh us bheed ka hissa ban gaya tha, jahan har koi doosre ko girane mein laga rehta tha, aur Mihir is gande khel ka ek naya 'pyada' ban chuka tha.
Ek din jab Mihir college pahuncha, toh use sab kuch badla-badla sa laga. Hamesha shor-sharabe se bhari rehne wali canteen aaj aise sunsaan thi jaise koi bhoot-bangla ho. Woh pareshan hokar yahan-wahan bhatakne laga—purani building ke peeche wala woh 'adda' jahan cigarette ke dhuen ke beech woh ladkiyon par bhashan diya karte the, aaj wahan sirf dhool aur sukhe patte udd rahe the. Use laga jaise usne apni duniya ka wo sahara kho diya hai jis par usne apni nayi aur zeherili pehchan buni thi.
Tabhi, usne door se Sonu ko aate dekha. Sonu ke chehre par ek aisi ajeeb si chamak thi, uske daant poore baahar nikle hue the, aur uski chaal mein ek aisa garv tha jaise koi bahut bada 'inaam' jeet kar aaya ho. Woh Mihir ki taraf aise bhagta hua aa raha tha jaise koi khushkhabri dene wala dhoot ho.
Mihir ne ek gehri saans li aur uski taraf badha. Uske dil mein ek ummeed thi ki shayad koi badi "kaamyaabi" mili hai—shayad kisi aur ko nicha dikhane ka mauka, ya shayad koi aisi baat jo usey group mein aur bhi 'bada' sabit kare. Par uski aankhon mein wahi ek pal ki jhijhak thi, jo baar-baar usse puch rahi thi ki kya woh waqayi yahi banna chahta tha? Sonu ki woh shaitani hansi dekh kar Mihir ko mehsoos hua ki aaj kuch hone wala hai—kuch aisa, jo shayad uski zindagi ka agla bada kadam—ya uski barbadi ka akhiri saboot—ho sakta tha.
Mihir ki bechaini ab ek ajeeb se gusse aur darr mein badal chuki thi. Usne Sonu ko pakda, uske kandhe ko jhatka diya aur haanpte hue poocha, "Oye Sonu! Kahan mar gaye tum log? Subah se dhund raha hoon. Vicky bhaiyya kahan hain? College mein sannata kyun hai? Kuch toh bol!"
Sonu ne Mihir ke haath ko ek jhatke mein hataya, par uske chehre ki woh shaitani muskurahat aur choudhatt khatam nahi hui. Usne apni collar theek ki aur ek gehri, rahasyamayi hansi hans kar bola, "Arre 'Professor', itna kyun ghabra raha hai? Vicky bhaiyya abhi 'Mission' par gaye hain. Aaj sab kuch hone wala hai jiska hum itne dino se intezar kar rahe the.
Sonu ki baatein sunkar Mihir ke dimaag ki dhadkan badh gayi. Use laga jaise uske pairo ke neeche se zameen khisak rahi ho.
Sonu ki wo gandi hansi canteen ki khamoshi mein kisi tezaab ki tarah goonj rahi thi. Usne Mihir ke kaan ke paas jhuk kar, ek aisi ada mein kaha jaise woh koi badi "vijay-gaatha" suna raha ho, "Arre 'Professor', itna utavla kyun ho raha hai? Vicky bhaiyya aaj kal 'full form' mein hain. Ek nayi ladki phasayi hai unhone, 1st year ki hai... ek number ka maal hai, bhai!"
Mihir ka dil ek pal ke liye baith gaya. Wahi shabd—"maal," "phasayi hai"—jo kabhi uske liye sirf ek shor hua karte the, ab uske apne andar ke rishton ki tasveeron se takra rahe the. Use turant apni behen, Mihika, ka chehra yaad aaya. Uska dimaag kisi chakravyuh mein phans gaya tha. Ek taraf woh Vicky ka group tha jahan ise "coolness" aur "mardangi" ka certificate milta tha, aur doosri taraf uska zameer tha jo cheekh-cheekh kar keh raha tha ki ye sab kitna ghinona hai.
Mihir ne Sonu ki taraf dekha, par uski nazrein thodi thahri hui thin. Use pehli baar mehsoos hua ki Vicky aur Sonu ki duniya sirf Ananya tak seemit nahi thi; yeh ek aisi gandi chain thi jo har nayi ladki ko nishana bana rahi thi. Uska gala sookh gaya, aur usne dhire se pucha, "Kaun hai woh?"
Sonu ne ek aisi muskurahat di jo uski darindgi ko bayan kar rahi thi. "Chal, chal tujhe dikhata hoon. Aaj toh asli khel wahi hone wala hai. Vicky bhaiyya ne aaj sabko bulaya hai—tujhe bhi dekhna hoga ki asli player kaise kaam karte hain."
Mihir wahan khada raha, uske kadam jaise zameen se chipak gaye the. Use samajh aa raha tha ki wo ek aise daldal mein hai jahan jitna wo ladne ki koshish karega, utna hi wo andar dhasta jayega. Lekin Vicky ka darr aur group ka wo "fake status" abhi bhi uske upar haavi tha.
Mihir ka gala sookh gaya. Usne ek pal ke liye socha ki kya woh wahan jaye, ya phir yahan se bhaag kar ghar chala jaye? Lekin woh "fake ego" aur Vicky ka darr uske dil mein itna gehra tha ki uske kadam khud-ba-khud Sonu ke peeche chalne lage. Woh jaanta tha ki woh galat raaste par hai, par us "group" ka hissa bane rehne ki bhook ne uske zameer ko puri tarah se bandi bana liya tha.
Mihir ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi. "Kya matlab? Kahan hain woh dono?"
Sonu ne angutha piche ki taraf dikhaya, "Wahi... college ki purani building ke niche wala jo store room hai na? Wahan maza le raha hai bhai hamara. Hum sab bahar pehra de rahe the, main toh bas gutkha lene aaya tha."
Mihir ke kadam jaise zameen mein dhans gaye the. Uska dil kisi band kamre mein phadphadati hui chidiya ki tarah seene se takra raha tha. Ab tak, Vicky ki baaton ko woh bas ek "bada hone ka tareeka" ya "status symbol" samajh kar nazar-andaz kar raha tha, lekin yeh? Yeh toh aaparadh tha—ek aisa ghinona khel jiski parchhai uske apne ghar tak pahunch sakti thi.
Uske dimaag mein do alag-alag duniya takra rahi thin. Ek taraf wahi "Vicky ka group" tha, jiske liye usne apne purane doston ko chhod diya, apni padhai ko daanv par laga diya aur apni izzat ko daav par laga diya. Us group mein "action" ka matlab power thi, aur Mihir ko ek ajib si, bimaar karne wali "excitement" mehsoos ho rahi thi—woh dekhne ki lalak ki kya Vicky sach mein itna bada khiladi bana hua hai?
Lekin, dusri taraf uska zameer tha. Woh wahi masoom ladka tha jo apni behen ke liye sandwich banata tha aur Ananya ki aankhon mein aansu dekh kar raat bhar so nahi paaya tha. Uska darr sirf Vicky se nahi tha; uska darr khud apni us shakhsiyat se tha jo aahista-aahista uske andar pal rahi thi.
"Mihir, tu kya kar raha hai?" usne khud se dhire se kaha, par uski awaz uske apne kaano mein gunguni pad rahi thi.
Woh wahan khada, us purani building ki deewaron ko dekh raha tha, jahan se kuch halki-halki aawazein aa rahi thin. Ek pal ke liye use laga ki woh wahan se bhag jaye, par dusre hi pal uske kadam us andhere store room ki taraf badh gaye. Woh ruk nahi sakta tha, kyunki ab uske liye wahan se lautna, us jurm ka hissa banne ke barabar tha.
Uske papa restaurant ki thaka dene wali baatein kar rahe the—kaise aaj koi naya supplier aaya ya kaise koi purana customer mil gaya. Mummy aur Mihika aapas mein kitchen aur ghar ke chote-mote kaamo ki charcha mein magan thin. Unki baaton mein wahi purana apna-pan aur saadgi thi, par Mihir ke kaano mein unka ek shabd bhi nahi utar raha tha. Woh bas apni thali mein chammach ko idhar-udhar ghumata raha, jaise us dal mein apni bhatki hui pehchan dhoond raha ho.
Uska dimaag kisi purani film ki tarah baar-baar us canteen wale "show-off" aur Vicky ke gande alfaazon ke beech bhatak raha tha. Ek taraf uske ghar ki yeh pavitra dunya thi—jahan aurton ki izzat aur mehnat ki kadar thi—aur doosri taraf woh sadak-chaap mardangi ka nasha, jise Vicky ne uske zeher mein ghol diya tha.
Jab bhi mummy uski taraf dekh kar kehti, "Mihir, thoda aur le le beta, chehra bahut utra hua hai," toh Mihir ko lagta jaise unki nazrein uske gunahon ko dekh legi. Usey apne hi ghar ke log ajnabi lagne lage the, ya shayad usey lag raha tha ki woh unke beech rehne layak nahi raha. Har baar jab Mihika usey paani ka gilaas pakdati, uske dimaag mein Ananya ka rota hua chehra aa jata.
"Mera pet bhara hai," usne dhire se kaha aur bina kisi ki taraf dekhe uth gaya. Table par baith kar usne jo nivala toda tha, woh waise hi pada raha—bilkul uski bikhri hui masoomiyat ki tarah.
Usne bina kisi ki taraf dekhe, kursi piche dhakeli aur bina ek shabd bole wahan se uth gaya. Peeche se mummy ki fikar-mand awaz aayi, "Beta, khana toh poora kar leta..." par Mihir ne ansuna kar diya. Woh apne kamre mein dakhil hua aur darwaza band karke seedha bistar par lait gaya.
Kamre mein andhera tha, sirf khidki se aati hui street light ki halki si roshni deewar par ek ajeeb sa saya bana rahi thi. Mihir ne chhat ki taraf dekhte hue ek gehri saans li, par sukoon koso door tha. Jaise hi usne apni aankhein band kin, canteen ka woh poora manzar kisi 'slow motion' film ki tarah uske dimaag mein chalne laga.
Use yaad aaya ki kaise woh hamesha se ek seedha-saadha ladka tha, jo kisi ko chinti tak nahi maarta tha. Par aaj? Aaj usne sabke saamne ek ladki ki izzat ke saath khilwad kiya tha, sirf kuch "cool" ladkon ki nazron mein bada banne ke liye. Bistar ki naram chadar bhi aaj usey chubhti hui mehsoos ho rahi thi.
Uske kaano mein Vicky ki woh baat baar-baar goonj rahi thi—"Mard piche nahi mudte." Par Mihir ko mehsoos ho raha tha ki piche mudne ki baat toh door, woh ab aage badhne se bhi darr raha hai. Woh us andhere kamre mein akela laita hua tha, par usey lag raha tha jaise hazaron nazrein usey dekh rahi hain aur us par thook rahi hain. Usey apne aap se hi ghin aane lagi thi. Woh nind ka intezar kar raha tha, par pachtawa usey sone nahi de raha tha.
Subah ki woh halki aur narm dhoop Mihir ke kamre mein bikhri hui thi, jo us andheri raat ke baad ek nayi shuruat ka ishara de rahi thi. Par Mihir ke liye, yeh dhoop sukoon se zyada ek chubhan jaisi thi. Use mehsoos hua ki koi uske sar par bahut hi komalta se haath pher raha hai.
Mihika uske sirhane baithi thi, uski nazron mein wahi purani mamta aur fikar thi jo hamesha se Mihir ki dhaal rahi hai. Usne dhire se hilaate hue kaha, "Mihir... uth ja mere bhai, college ke liye der ho jayegi. Dekh, tera naashta thanda ho raha hai aur aaj toh tera favourite poha bana hai."
Mihir ne jaise hi apni aankhein kholi, use apni behen ka muskurata hua chehra dikha. Uske sar par Mihika ka woh narm haath usey kisi kaante ki tarah chubha. Use turant yaad aaya ki kal usne ek ladki ke saath kya kiya tha—vahi ladki jo kisi ki behen hogi, kisi ki beti hogi.
Mihika ke us be-looth (selfless) pyaar ke saamne Mihir ko apna wajood bahut chota aur ganda lagne laga. Usne turant karwat badli aur chadar se apna chehra dhakne ki koshish ki, taaki Mihika uski aankhon mein chhupe us pachtave aur dar ko na padh le.
"Bas paanch minute Di... main uth raha hoon," usne bhari awaz mein kaha.
Mihika wahan se uth toh gayi, par usne jate-jate ek baar mudkar apne bhai ko dekha. Use mehsoos ho raha tha ki Mihir ke andar kuch toot raha hai, par woh samajh nahi paa rahi thi ki woh kya hai. Mihir wahi leta raha, dhoop ki us kiran ko dekhte hue, aur dimaag mein bas ek hi sawal chal raha tha—"Kya aaj college ja kar main phir se wahi 'Vicky' ka Mihir banunga, ya wahi purana Mihir jo Di ka bhai tha?"
Mihir ne jab apni behen ka woh masoom aur muskurata hua chehra dekha, toh ek pal ke liye use laga ki waqt peeche mud gaya hai. Use laga ki woh abhi bhi wahi purana, bholapan se bhara Mihir hai jise apni behen ki god mein sir rakh kar sukoon milta tha. Par woh ehsas ek jugnu ki tarah chamak kar turant bujh gaya.
Jaise hi Mihika uthi aur darwaze ki taraf badhi, Mihir ki nazrein—jo kabhi uske liye izzat aur bharose se bhari hoti thin—na chahte hue bhi uske badan par ja tikin. Uska dimaag jaise uske bas mein nahi raha. Vicky aur Sonu ki woh gandi baatein, ladkiyon ke kapdon aur unke jism par unke woh behuda comments, Mihir ke kaano mein kisi purane 'virus' ki tarah ghar kar chuke the.
Woh chahta tha ki nazrein hata le, woh chahta tha ki apni aankhein band kar le, par uske dimaag mein chal rahi woh gandi 'commentary' rukne ka naam nahi le rahi thi. Usne pehli baar apni sagi behen ko us nazariye se dekha jo use khud ko andar se kisi tezaab ki tarah jala raha tha. Use apni hi nazron se ghin aane lagi.
Uska dum ghutne laga. Use aisa mehsoos hua jaise usne koi bahut bada paap kar diya ho. Mihika toh uske liye nashta lene kitchen mein chali gayi, par Mihir wahi bister par sunn pada raha. Use samajh aa gaya tha ki Vicky ki dosti ne use sirf ek bura dost nahi, balki ek bura insaan aur ek bura bhai bhi bana diya hai. Uska apna hi ghar, jahan woh sabse zyada 'safe' tha, ab uski gandi soch ki wajah se uske liye nark ban raha tha.
Usne apne dono hathon se apna sar pakad liya aur zor se aankhein meech lin, maano woh un gande khayalon ko dimaag se nichod kar baahar nikalna chahta ho.
"Main yeh kya kar raha hoon?" Usne ek jhatke se apna mooh takiye mein chhupa liya, jaise us andhere mein wo apne chehre ko duniya aur khud se chhipa sake. Uske seene mein ek ajeeb sa bojh tha, ek aisi ghin jo uske dil-o-dimag ko andar se noch rahi thi. Par dardnak sach ye tha ki jitna wo khud ko kos raha tha, wahi "dirty curiosity"—wahi zeherila nazariya—uske dimaag ke kisi kone mein ab bhi zinda tha, baar-baar ubhar raha tha.
Wo bed se aise utha jaise kisi aag par baitha ho. Bina nashte ki parwah kiye, bina Mihika ko koi jawab diye, wo jaldi-jaldi apne kapde pehenne laga. Har kapda pehente waqt use aisa lag raha tha jaise wo apni purani masoomiyat ko peeche chhod raha ho. Usne apna bag uthaya aur darwaze ki taraf bhaga, jaise khud apne aap se aur apne ghar ke us sukoon se bhaag raha ho jo ab usey bojh lag raha tha.
Ghar ki dahleez ko paar karte waqt usne peeche mud kar bhi nahi dekha. Use darr tha ki agar wo ruk gaya, toh shayad wo toot jayega. College ki sadak par chalte hue, wo bheed mein toh tha, par akelepan ka shikaar ho chuka tha. Uske dimaag mein Vicky ki wo gandi baatein ek loop ki tarah chal rahi thin, aur wo usse bachne ke liye tez kadmon se chalne laga—ek aise raaste par jahan manzil sirf barbadi dikh rahi thi.
Kuch din isi tarah guzre, jaise waqt kisi dhalan par tezi se fisal raha ho. Mihir ab college mein ghuste hi apni purani jagah—library ya labs—ki taraf nahi dekhta tha. Uski aankhein sirf campus ke us kone ko dhundhti thin jahan Vicky aur uska group apne "adday" par jamawada lagaye baithe hote the.
Kitabein ab sirf uske bag mein ek bojhal vajan ban kar reh gayi thin. Usko ab un lafango ki us "high" ki lat lag gayi thi—woh 'fake respect', woh jhuta dabdaba, aur canteen mein baith kar logon par comments karne wali woh gandi "power trip". Usey lagta tha ki woh ab ek alag hi level par hai, jahan padhai-likhai sirf kamzor logon ka kaam hai.
Mihir ka poora routine badal gaya tha. Ab woh lecture attend karne ke bajaye canteen ki bench par baith kar cigratte ka dhuaan udana aur ladkiyon ko ghoorna hi apna "lifestyle" samajhne laga tha. Usey realize hi nahi ho raha tha ki yeh 'high' kitni temporary hai aur iske peeche uske career, uske character aur uski asliyat ki qurbani di ja rahi hai.
Jab bhi koi purana professor ya dost usey raaste mein milta, toh Mihir apni akad mein sar uthaye nikal jata, jaise usne koi jung jeet li ho. Lekin uski aankhon ki khamoshi mein ek aisa dar tha jo bata raha tha ki yeh sab ek jhootha naqab hai. Woh us bheed ka hissa ban gaya tha, jahan har koi doosre ko girane mein laga rehta tha, aur Mihir is gande khel ka ek naya 'pyada' ban chuka tha.
Ek din jab Mihir college pahuncha, toh use sab kuch badla-badla sa laga. Hamesha shor-sharabe se bhari rehne wali canteen aaj aise sunsaan thi jaise koi bhoot-bangla ho. Woh pareshan hokar yahan-wahan bhatakne laga—purani building ke peeche wala woh 'adda' jahan cigarette ke dhuen ke beech woh ladkiyon par bhashan diya karte the, aaj wahan sirf dhool aur sukhe patte udd rahe the. Use laga jaise usne apni duniya ka wo sahara kho diya hai jis par usne apni nayi aur zeherili pehchan buni thi.
Tabhi, usne door se Sonu ko aate dekha. Sonu ke chehre par ek aisi ajeeb si chamak thi, uske daant poore baahar nikle hue the, aur uski chaal mein ek aisa garv tha jaise koi bahut bada 'inaam' jeet kar aaya ho. Woh Mihir ki taraf aise bhagta hua aa raha tha jaise koi khushkhabri dene wala dhoot ho.
Mihir ne ek gehri saans li aur uski taraf badha. Uske dil mein ek ummeed thi ki shayad koi badi "kaamyaabi" mili hai—shayad kisi aur ko nicha dikhane ka mauka, ya shayad koi aisi baat jo usey group mein aur bhi 'bada' sabit kare. Par uski aankhon mein wahi ek pal ki jhijhak thi, jo baar-baar usse puch rahi thi ki kya woh waqayi yahi banna chahta tha? Sonu ki woh shaitani hansi dekh kar Mihir ko mehsoos hua ki aaj kuch hone wala hai—kuch aisa, jo shayad uski zindagi ka agla bada kadam—ya uski barbadi ka akhiri saboot—ho sakta tha.
Mihir ki bechaini ab ek ajeeb se gusse aur darr mein badal chuki thi. Usne Sonu ko pakda, uske kandhe ko jhatka diya aur haanpte hue poocha, "Oye Sonu! Kahan mar gaye tum log? Subah se dhund raha hoon. Vicky bhaiyya kahan hain? College mein sannata kyun hai? Kuch toh bol!"
Sonu ne Mihir ke haath ko ek jhatke mein hataya, par uske chehre ki woh shaitani muskurahat aur choudhatt khatam nahi hui. Usne apni collar theek ki aur ek gehri, rahasyamayi hansi hans kar bola, "Arre 'Professor', itna kyun ghabra raha hai? Vicky bhaiyya abhi 'Mission' par gaye hain. Aaj sab kuch hone wala hai jiska hum itne dino se intezar kar rahe the.
Sonu ki baatein sunkar Mihir ke dimaag ki dhadkan badh gayi. Use laga jaise uske pairo ke neeche se zameen khisak rahi ho.
Sonu ki wo gandi hansi canteen ki khamoshi mein kisi tezaab ki tarah goonj rahi thi. Usne Mihir ke kaan ke paas jhuk kar, ek aisi ada mein kaha jaise woh koi badi "vijay-gaatha" suna raha ho, "Arre 'Professor', itna utavla kyun ho raha hai? Vicky bhaiyya aaj kal 'full form' mein hain. Ek nayi ladki phasayi hai unhone, 1st year ki hai... ek number ka maal hai, bhai!"
Mihir ka dil ek pal ke liye baith gaya. Wahi shabd—"maal," "phasayi hai"—jo kabhi uske liye sirf ek shor hua karte the, ab uske apne andar ke rishton ki tasveeron se takra rahe the. Use turant apni behen, Mihika, ka chehra yaad aaya. Uska dimaag kisi chakravyuh mein phans gaya tha. Ek taraf woh Vicky ka group tha jahan ise "coolness" aur "mardangi" ka certificate milta tha, aur doosri taraf uska zameer tha jo cheekh-cheekh kar keh raha tha ki ye sab kitna ghinona hai.
Mihir ne Sonu ki taraf dekha, par uski nazrein thodi thahri hui thin. Use pehli baar mehsoos hua ki Vicky aur Sonu ki duniya sirf Ananya tak seemit nahi thi; yeh ek aisi gandi chain thi jo har nayi ladki ko nishana bana rahi thi. Uska gala sookh gaya, aur usne dhire se pucha, "Kaun hai woh?"
Sonu ne ek aisi muskurahat di jo uski darindgi ko bayan kar rahi thi. "Chal, chal tujhe dikhata hoon. Aaj toh asli khel wahi hone wala hai. Vicky bhaiyya ne aaj sabko bulaya hai—tujhe bhi dekhna hoga ki asli player kaise kaam karte hain."
Mihir wahan khada raha, uske kadam jaise zameen se chipak gaye the. Use samajh aa raha tha ki wo ek aise daldal mein hai jahan jitna wo ladne ki koshish karega, utna hi wo andar dhasta jayega. Lekin Vicky ka darr aur group ka wo "fake status" abhi bhi uske upar haavi tha.
Mihir ka gala sookh gaya. Usne ek pal ke liye socha ki kya woh wahan jaye, ya phir yahan se bhaag kar ghar chala jaye? Lekin woh "fake ego" aur Vicky ka darr uske dil mein itna gehra tha ki uske kadam khud-ba-khud Sonu ke peeche chalne lage. Woh jaanta tha ki woh galat raaste par hai, par us "group" ka hissa bane rehne ki bhook ne uske zameer ko puri tarah se bandi bana liya tha.
Mihir ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi. "Kya matlab? Kahan hain woh dono?"
Sonu ne angutha piche ki taraf dikhaya, "Wahi... college ki purani building ke niche wala jo store room hai na? Wahan maza le raha hai bhai hamara. Hum sab bahar pehra de rahe the, main toh bas gutkha lene aaya tha."
Mihir ke kadam jaise zameen mein dhans gaye the. Uska dil kisi band kamre mein phadphadati hui chidiya ki tarah seene se takra raha tha. Ab tak, Vicky ki baaton ko woh bas ek "bada hone ka tareeka" ya "status symbol" samajh kar nazar-andaz kar raha tha, lekin yeh? Yeh toh aaparadh tha—ek aisa ghinona khel jiski parchhai uske apne ghar tak pahunch sakti thi.
Uske dimaag mein do alag-alag duniya takra rahi thin. Ek taraf wahi "Vicky ka group" tha, jiske liye usne apne purane doston ko chhod diya, apni padhai ko daanv par laga diya aur apni izzat ko daav par laga diya. Us group mein "action" ka matlab power thi, aur Mihir ko ek ajib si, bimaar karne wali "excitement" mehsoos ho rahi thi—woh dekhne ki lalak ki kya Vicky sach mein itna bada khiladi bana hua hai?
Lekin, dusri taraf uska zameer tha. Woh wahi masoom ladka tha jo apni behen ke liye sandwich banata tha aur Ananya ki aankhon mein aansu dekh kar raat bhar so nahi paaya tha. Uska darr sirf Vicky se nahi tha; uska darr khud apni us shakhsiyat se tha jo aahista-aahista uske andar pal rahi thi.
"Mihir, tu kya kar raha hai?" usne khud se dhire se kaha, par uski awaz uske apne kaano mein gunguni pad rahi thi.
Woh wahan khada, us purani building ki deewaron ko dekh raha tha, jahan se kuch halki-halki aawazein aa rahi thin. Ek pal ke liye use laga ki woh wahan se bhag jaye, par dusre hi pal uske kadam us andhere store room ki taraf badh gaye. Woh ruk nahi sakta tha, kyunki ab uske liye wahan se lautna, us jurm ka hissa banne ke barabar tha.
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)