[Babab96]

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Agale 20 din tumhare pita Nimrit se milne nhi gye.
Wo coaching wali road se bhi nhi gujre.

Lakin unhone Aftab ke jariye Delhi aur State Capital se kuchh important government reports aur journals mangwaye, jo Nimrit ki preparation me kaam aa sakte the.

Unhone wo books khud dene ke bajay Central Library ke librarian ke paas Nimrit ke naam se rakhwa di.

Nimrit ne jab books dekhi to turant samajh gyi ki wo kisne bheji hai.

Books ke andar koi love letter nhi tha.

Bus ak chhota sa paper tha—

“Collector sahiba, ab bahana nhi chalega. Exam clear karna hi padega.”

Niche naam bhi nhi likha tha.

Nimrit ne wo paper apni diary me sambhal kar rakh liya.

Me_ Kyaa wo paper maa ke paas baad tak tha?

Dadaji_ Haa.

Tumhari maa ki death ke baad uski personal diary mujhe mili thi.

Wo chhota sa paper usme tab bhi rakha hua tha.

Me_ Wo diary ab kaha hai?

Dadaji kuchh pal chup ho gye.

Dadaji_ Safe jagah per hai.

Me_ Mujhe kab milegi?

Dadaji_ Jab tum usme likhi bate samajhne layak ho jaoge.

Me_ Me ab bada ho gya hu, Dadu.

Dadaji_ Umar se bade ho gye ho. Lakin kuchh sach insaan ko ak pal me uski umar se kai saal bada kar dete hai.

Abhi kahani suno.

Nimrit ne apni Mains examination di.

Exam ke din uske pita aur mosi uske sath jana chahte the, lakin Nimrit ne mana kar diya.

Wo apni car se examination centre pahuchi.
Tumhare pita waha nhi aaye.

Me_ Papa ko aana chahiye tha.

Dadaji_ Tumhari maa ne bhi yahi socha tha.
Wo examination centre ke bahar ak baar idhar-udhar dekhi thi.

Lakin tumhare pita ne promise kia tha ki wo use disturb nhi karenge.

Exam khatam hone ke baad jab Nimrit bahar aayi, to uski car ke paas ak chhota sa flower bouquet rakha tha.

Uske sath ak note tha—

“Paper kesa hua, ye baad me batana. Pahle ghar jakar rest karna.”

Nimrit samajh gyi ki tumhare pita aas-paas hi kahi the.
Usne charo taraf dekha.

Sadak ke dusri taraf Aftab ki car khadi thi. Usme tumhare pita baithe the.

Dono ki najre mili.

Abhay ne dur se bus apna hath uthakar use congratulations kaa ishara kia.

Wo car se niche nhi utre.

Nimrit ne bhi dur se halki muskan ke sath jawab diya.
Me_ Papa milne kyun nhi aaye?

Dadaji_ Kyunki examination centre ke bahar bahut sare students aur Nimrit ki coaching ke log the.

Tumhare pita nhi chahte the ki koi Nimrit ke bare me bate banaye.

Uske liye Nimrit ki reputation uski apni khushi se jyada important thi.

Exam ke agle din Nimrit khud Rajput Construction ke office pahuch gyi.

Aftab ne use aate dekha to muskurakar kaha—

Aftab_ Kunwar sahab ne kaha tha exam ke baad aap jitni der chahe baat kar sakti hai. Me meeting room free karwa deta hu.

Nimrit_ Aap har baat sunte hai?

Aftab_ Partnership me secrets allowed nhi hote.

Nimrit_ Ye business partnership hai.

Aftab_ Hum college se dost hai. Business to baad me aaya.
Tumhare pita apne cabin se bahar aaye.

Abhay_ Exam kesa hua?

Nimrit_ Achcha hua.

Abhay_ Bus achcha?

Nimrit_ Bahut achcha hua.

Abhay_ Fir to mithai banti hai.

Nimrit_ Result aane ke baad.

Abhay_ Me advance me celebrate karta hu.

Nimrit_ Itna confidence?

Abhay_ Aap per hai.

Nimrit ne bag se wahi chhota sa paper nikala, jo books ke andar mila tha.

Nimrit_ Ye aapne bheja tha?

Abhay_ Isper mera naam kaha likha hai?

Nimrit_ Ye “Collector sahiba” bolne ki aadat or kisi ki nhi hai.

Abhay_ Ho sakta hai librarian sahab kaa confidence ho.

Nimrit_ Or flower bouquet bhi librarian ne bheja tha?

Abhay_ Ho sakta hai.

Nimrit_ Or examination centre ke samne car me bhi librarian baithe the?

Abhay chup ho gye.

Nimrit_ Aap mujhse milne aaye the, fir mile kyun nhi?

Abhay_ Me bus dekhna chahta tha ki exam ke baad aap theek hai.

Nimrit_ Aapko lagta tha me exam hall se ghayal hokar niklungi?

Abhay_ IAS Mains bhi kisi battle se kam nhi hota.
Nimrit_ Aap mil lete to kyaa ho jata?

Abhay_ Waha aapke coaching ke students the. Koi hamare bare me galat baat karta to mujhe achcha nhi lagta.

Nimrit_ Aapko apni image ki chinta thi?

Abhay_ Mujhe aapki image ki chinta thi.

Nimrit kuchh pal chup rhi.

Usne tumhare pita ko pahli baar itni gehri najar se dekha.

Nimrit_ Abhay ji, ak baat puchu?

Abhay_ Haa.

Nimrit_ Aap mujhe itna respect kyun karte hai?

Abhay_ Kyunki pyar bina respect ke adhura hota hai.

Nimrit_ Aur agar me IAS clear karke aapse bahut dur kisi dusre state me chali gyi to?

Abhay_ To me train pakadkar milne aa jaunga.

Nimrit_ Har baar?

Abhay_ Jitni baar aap bulayengi.

Nimrit_ Aur agar me busy rhi?

Abhay_ Intejar karunga.

Nimrit_ Kab tak?

Abhay_ Ye sawal aap baar-baar kyun puchti hai?

Nimrit_ Kyunki me dekhna chahti hu ki har baar aapka jawab badalta hai ya nhi.

Abhay_ Jawab nhi badlega.

Nimrit_ Or agar mera jawab badal jaye to?

Abhay ne Nimrit ki taraf dekha.

Abhay_ Kis taraf?

Nimrit ne turant najar niche kar li.

Nimrit_ Pata nhi.

Abhay_ Mujhe pata hai.

Nimrit_ Aapko har baat kaa pata kese hota hai?

Abhay_ Aapki aankhe aapki bato se jyada sach bolti hai.

Nimrit_ Aap bahut confident ho rhe hai.

Abhay_ Galat hu to bata dijiye.

Nimrit ne jawab nhi diya.

Kuchh pal cabin me bilkul shanti rhi.

Fir Nimrit ne dheere se kaha—

Nimrit_ Me ab aapko lafanga nhi samajhti.

Abhay_ Itni progress bhi mere liye badi baat hai.

Nimrit_ Me aapko ak achcha insaan samajhti hu.

Abhay_ Or?

Nimrit_ Intelligent bhi.

Abhay_ Or?

Nimrit_ Responsible bhi.

Abhay_ Or?

Nimrit_ Jyada lalach mat kijiye.

Abhay_ Me uss jawab kaa intejar kar rha hu, jiske liye itne din se ruka hu.

Nimrit_ Abhi mera interview baki hai.

Abhay_ Iska matlab interview ke baad jawab milega?

Nimrit_ Ho sakta hai.

Abhay_ Ye bhi progress hai.

Nimrit jane ke liye khadi ho gyi.

Door tak pahuchkar wo ruki aur piche mudkar boli—

Nimrit_ Abhay ji…

Abhay_ Ji?

Nimrit_ Jab tak mera final result nhi aa jata, tab tak kisi aur ladki ko pasand mat kar lijiyega.

Abhay kuchh pal use dekhta rha.

Fir uske chehre per aisi muskan aayi, jise wo chhupa nhi saka.

Abhay_ Ab kisi aur ko pasand karne ki possibility hi nhi hai.

Nimrit_ Itna confidence achcha nhi hota.

Abhay_ Aapne abhi-abhi mujhe intejar karne kaa adhikar diya hai.

Nimrit_ Maine bus mana kia hai ki kisi aur ko pasand mat karna.

Abhay_ Mere liye dono bate ak hi hai.

Nimrit bina jawab diye office se bahar chali gyi.

Aftab bahar reception ke paas khada tha.
Usne Nimrit ke chehre ki muskan dekhi, fir cabin ke andar baithe Abhay ko dekha.

Aftab_ Result exam kaa baad me aayega… lakin Kunwar sahab kaa result lagta hai aaj hi aa gya.

Abhay_ Aftab, tumhare paas koi kaam nhi hai?

Aftab_ Bahut kaam hai. Lakin dost ki love story company ke kisi bhi project se jyada interesting hai.

Me_ Fir Nimrit ne papa ko haa kab kaha?

Dadaji_ Mains kaa result aane ke baad.

Nimrit ne Mains clear kar liya tha.

Jis din result aaya, usne sabse pahle apne pita aur mosi ko bataya.

Uske baad usne Rajput Construction ke office phone kia.
Phone Aftab ne uthaya.

Aftab_ Rajput Construction.

Nimrit_ Abhay ji hai?

Aftab_ Kon bol rha hai?

Nimrit_ Aap meri aawaj jante hai.

Aftab_ Me confirm kar rha hu. Kunwar sahab ne kaha hai ki important call ho to hi meeting se bahar bulana.

Nimrit_ Unse kahiye future Collector kaa call hai.
Aftab turant hans pada.

Kuchh der baad tumhare pita phone per aaye.

Abhay_ Result aa gya?

Nimrit_ Haa.

Abhay_ Clear hua?

Nimrit_ Aapko kyaa lagta hai?

Abhay_ Clear hua hai.

Nimrit_ Itna confidence?

Abhay_ Aapki aawaj bata rhi hai.

Nimrit_ Mains clear ho gya.

Abhay kuchh pal chup rhe.

Fir cabin se bahar unki tej aawaj sunayi di—

Abhay_ Aftab, mithai mangwa!

Nimrit phone per hansne lagi.

Nimrit_ Interview abhi baki hai.

Abhay_ Wo bhi clear hoga.

Nimrit_ Aaj sham Central Library aa sakte hai?

Abhay_ Library band hone ke baad bhi aa jaunga.

Sham ko dono Library ke piche wale garden me mile.
Nimrit ke hath me uski maa ki wahi purani photo thi.

Nimrit_ Mains clear hone ke baad mujhe sabse pahle maa ki yaad aayi.

Abhay_ Wo jaha bhi hongi, aaj bahut khush hongi.

Nimrit_ Abhi final result baki hai.

Abhay_ Lakin aap unke sapne ke bahut kareeb pahuch gyi hai.
Nimrit ne photo apne bag me rakh di.

Fir wo kuchh pal tumhare pita ko dekhti rhi.

Nimrit_ Aapko yaad hai, aap mere jawab kaa intejar kar rhe the

Abhay_ Ak-ak din yaad hai.

Nimrit_ Maine socha tha interview ke baad jawab dungi.

Abhay_ Me intejar kar sakta hu.

Nimrit_ Lakin ab mujhe nhi lagta ki aapko aur intejar karwana sahi hai.

Tumhare pita bilkul shant khade rhe.

Nimrit_ Me abhi shaadi ke liye ready nhi hu. Pahle mujhe interview dena hai, result kaa intejar karna hai aur apni training puri karni hai.

Abhay_ Me aapse abhi shaadi karne ke liye nhi kah rha.

Nimrit_ Mujhe pata hai.

Abhay_ Fir?
Nimrit ne gahri saans li..

Nimrit_ Fir ye… ki me aapko janna chahti thi.

Ab me aapko pahle se bahut jyada janti hu.

Me ye nhi kah sakti ki future me kyaa hoga. Kaha posting hogi, career kesa hoga ya hamare families kyaa kahenge.
Lakin itna jarur kah sakti hu ki…
Me bhi aapko pasand karne lagi hu.
Tumhare pita ki aankho me ak alag hi khushi aa gyi.
Lakin unhone turant koi dramatic baat nhi ki.

Abhay_ Sirf pasand?

Nimrit ne use gusse se dekha.

Nimrit_ Me itni mushkil se bol rhi hu aur aapko ab bhi jyada chahiye?

Abhay_ Pichle kai mahino kaa intejar hai. Thoda lalach to banta hai.

Nimrit_ Haa… me aapse pyar karne lagi hu.

Tumhare pita kuchh pal tak kuchh bol hi nhi paye.

Nimrit_ Ab chup kyun hai?

Abhay_ Bus ye confirm kar rha hu ki me sapna to nhi dekh rha.

Nimrit_ Aapko yakin nhi hai to me apni baat wapas le leti hu.

Abhay_ Bilkul nhi.

Nimrit_ To fir?

Abhay_ To fir aaj se aapke Collector banne kaa sapna sirf aapka aur aapki maa kaa nhi… ham dono kaa hai.

Nimrit_ Aur hamare relationship kaa?

Abhay_ Wo aapke career ke raste me kabhi nhi aayega.

Nimrit_ Promise?

Abhay_ Promise.

Dadaji_ Uss sham tumhare mata-pita ne pahli baar ak dusre ke pyar ko accept kia tha.

Lakin pyar accept karna ak baat thi aur dono pariwar kaa uss relationship ko accept karna dusri.
Nimrit ke pita tumhare pita ki kabiliyat se impress jarur the, lakin unke man me age difference aur politics ko lekar ab bhi doubts the.
Aur mujhe bhi abhi tak tumhare pita ne Nimrit ke bare me puri baat nhi batayi thi.

Me_ Fir aapko kese pata chala?

Dadaji_ Tumhari Dadi Manjot ki wajah se.
Tumhare pita ne socha tha ki wo pahle mujhe akele me samjhayenge.

Lakin Manjot ne dinner table per sabke samne puchh liya—

Manjot_ Abhay, teri Collector wali ladki ne haa kar di ya abhi bhi tujhe lafanga samajhti hai?

Tumhare pita ke hath se pani kaa glass girte-girte bacha.
Me_ Aapne kyaa kaha?

Dadaji_ Maine tumhare pita ki taraf dekha aur pucha—

Baldev_ Konsi Collector wali ladki?

Manjot_ Lo ji, aapko abhi tak kuchh pata hi nhi?

Tumhare pita ne apna sir pakad liya.

Abhay_ Maa, maine kaha tha sahi samay aane per Pitaji ko bataunga.

Manjot_ Sahi samay aa gya. Ladki ne haa kar di naa?

Baldev_ Koi mujhe shuru se batayega?

Tumhare pita ne uss raat mujhe Nimrit ke bare me sab kuchh bataya.

Uski age, uski IAS preparation, uske pariwar aur ye bhi ki Nimrit ne pahle use mana kar diya tha.

Me_ Aapko maa papa se 5-6 saal badi thi, iss baat se problem huyi?

Dadaji_ Hairani jarur huyi thi.

Lakin mene tumhare pita se ak hi sawal pucha—

Baldev_ Tujhe uski age se koi problem hai?

Abhay_ Nhi.

Baldev_ Use teri age se problem hai?

Abhay_ Ab nhi.

Baldev_ To fir mujhe kyun hogi?

Tumhari Dadi Manjot turant boli—

Manjot_ Mujhe pahle se pata tha mera pati samajhdar hai.

Baldev_ Tum bich me mat bolo. Tumne itni badi baat mujhse chhupayi hai.

Manjot_ Maine nhi chhupayi. Aapne pucha nhi.

Baldev_ Mujhe kese pata hota ki kyaa puchna hai?

Manjot_ Apne bete kaa chehra dekh lete. Pichle mahino se bina wajah muskurata fir rha hai.

Me_ Fir aap maa se kab mile?

Dadaji_ Bahut jaldi.

Lakin hamari Nimrit se pahli formal mulakat se pahle tumhare pita ke business me ak aur bada conflict shuru ho gya.
Salman Pathan ne ak naye partner ke sath hath mila liya tha.
Me_ Kon tha wo?

Dadaji_ Michael D’Souza.

Me_ Christian tha?

Dadaji_ Haa. Lakin uski dushmani uske dharm ki wajah se nhi thi.

Michael D’Souza ak bahut bada infrastructure businessman tha. Uske paas road construction, hotels aur government supply ke contracts the.

Wo Salman se alag tha.

Salman gusse aur ego me decision leta tha.

Michael shant chehre ke piche calculation karta tha.

Salman saamne se dhamki deta tha.

Michael muskurakar hath milata tha aur piche se pura business model badal deta tha.

Dono ko ak hi baat se problem thi—

Rajput Construction kaa badhta hua naam.

Unhe lagne laga tha ki agar Kunwar Abhay Pratap Singh Thakur ko abhi nhi roka gya, to kuchh saalo me business aur politics dono me unki jagah kam ho jayegi.

Aur usi samay State Government ne sahar ke paas ak bahut bade housing project kaa tender nikalne ki taiyari shuru kar di.

Rajput Construction, Salman Pathan aur Michael D’Souza… tino ki najar usi project per thi.

Me_ Kyaa yahi se unki asli dushmani shuru huyi?
Dadaji_ Haa bete.

Pyar ki kahani apni jagah badh rhi thi…
Aur dushmani ki kahani apni jagah.

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