[Lusty_bOOz]

security officer ki karwai ke baad caretaker jail ki salakhon ke pichhe pahunch chuka tha aur blackmailing ka khatra filhal tal gaya tha. Lekin Sonam ke andar ka sannata abhi bhi barkarar tha.

Vikram abhi bhi nahi lauta tha. Na unka koi pata tha, na koi khabar. Sonam ke dil mein unke liye jo 3-second ke sparsh ki aatmik tadhap thi, use woh apne ghar mein kisi se bhi share nahi kar sakti thi. Apne pati ke samne roz ek muskurati hui sanskari patni ka naatak karna aur andar hi andar Vikram ki chinta mein ghulna—yeh ghutan Sonam ke liye uss caretaker se bhi bada imtihan banti ja rahi thi.

Dheere-dheere kuch din beet gaye. Sonam roz subah rasoi ki khidki se bahar dekhti, iss aas mein ki shayad koi achhi khabar aaye, par har din sirf khamoshi milti.

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Ek shaam, Sonam ke pati Sanjay ghar laute. Unke haath mein ek haseen shaadi ka card tha.

"Sonam," Sanjay ne sofas par baithte hue kaha, "Mera ek purana business partner aur dost hai, uski behen ki shaadi hai out of town. Poore parivaar ko bulaya tha, par Nana ji ki tabiyat thik nahi hai aur mausi Chintoo ko sambhalne ke liye ruk rahi hain. Toh hum dono ko hi jana padega."

Sonam ka man kahin aane-jaane ka nahi tha. Uss uthal-puthal aur Vikram ki yaad ke beech woh ghar par hi rehna chahti thi. Lekin pati ki baat ko talna uske asoolon ke khilaf tha.

"Thik hai, jaisa aap kahein. Kab nikalna hai?" Sonam ne nazrein jhuka kar kaha.

"Kal subah hi nikalna hoga. Safar thoda lambha hai, par wahan mausam aur venue dono bahut khoobsurat hain. Tumhe bhi thoda change milega," Sanjay ne uska haath pakad kar kaha.

Sonam ne halki si muskaan di, par uske dimaag mein ajeeb si bechani chal rahi thi. Usse lag raha tha ki yeh safar sirf ek shaadi mein shamil hone ke liye nahi hai... balki uski zindagi aage chal kar kisi naye, unjaane mod par mudne wali hai.

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Agle din subah, dono gaadi se shaadi ke venue ke liye nikal pade. Safar ke dauran rashte bhar Sonam khidki se bahar dekhti rahi. Musladaar baarish ke baad ka mausam behad haseen tha, lekin Sonam ke dil mein sirf Vikram ke chehre ka aks ghoom raha tha.

Shaam ke 7 baje woh log shehar se door ek behad vishal, rajwada-style Resort Grand Venue par pahuche. Shaadi ki sajawat, lights aur music se poora mahal jagmagara tha.

Sanjay apne doston se milne mein busy ho gaye. Sonam ek kone mein khadi hokar sharbat ka glass haath mein liye venue ke aalishan decor ko dekh rahi thi. Uss bheed-bhad aur shor-shabaabe mein bhi woh akeli mehsoos kar rahi thi.

Tabhi shaadi ke main VIP section mein ek zordar halchal hui. Heavy security officer security aur VIP escort gaadiyon ka kaafila venue ke main gate par ruka.

Sanjay ne aakar Sonam ke kaan mein kaha, "Suno Sonam, iss shaadi ke Chief Guest aaye hain. State HQ ke sabse naye aur jaanbaaz Senior IPS Officer... unhi ke welcome ke liye sab aage badh rahe hain."

Sonam ka dil ek pal ke liye thamak gaya. Usne tezz dhadkanon ke saath VIP entrance ki taraf dekha.

VIP security ke beech, kaali uniform, shoulders par stars, aur wahi purakshashiyat aura ke saath venue mein enter kar rahe the—**IPS Vikram!**

Sonam ke haath se sharbat ka glass chhut-te chhut-te bacha. Uska rom-rom kaamp utha.

Vikram yahan the! Par woh akele nahi the... unke saath VIP lounge se ek aur khoobsurat high-profile lady officer chal rahi thi. Vikram ne jaise hi bheed mein nazrein ghumayi, unki siddhi nazar ek kone mein khadi Sonam par padi.

Vikram ke kadam ek second ke liye ruke, aur Sonam ki aankhon mein achanak aansu aur aascharya ka toofan umad pada.

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