[Lusty_bOOz]

SEASON 2 — CHAPTER 3

[PART 1: VARTAMAN (PRESENT) — DELEMA AUR PAHLI SHART]

Dopahar ke 2:45 baj rahe the. Musladaar baarish ruk chuki thi, lekin aasmaan mein abhi bhi kaale badal ghire hue the.

Sonam ka dil seene mein tezz aawaz ke saath dhadak raha tha. Usne kitchen mein rakhe first-aid box ko dekha, fir door khidki ke bahar ghaas aur jhadiyon ke beech dekha. Blackmailer ka message saaf tha: 3 baje pichhle darwaze par aao, nahi toh Vikram ki photo aur audio clips public kar di jayengi.

Sonam ke dimaag mein ek taraf pati aur parivaar ke sanskar the, toh doosri taraf Vikram ke saath judaa woh 3-second ka aatmik sparsh aur unki duty-bound izzat.

"Sonam... tum zaroorat se zyada soch rahi ho. Darne se baat nahi banegi, ab samna karna hi hoga," Sonam ne khud se kaha aur deep breath liya.

Usne ek chhota sa metallic scale/knife apni saree ke pallu mein chhupaya—apni suraksha ke liye. 3 baje, woh chupke se ghar ke pichhle darwaze se bahar nikli.

[PART 2: PICHHLE DARWAZE PAR SAMNA — A NAYEE CHETAVANI]

Ghar ke pichhle hissed mein lambi-lambi jhadiyaan aur purana aam ka ped tha, jahan dhalati shaam mein hamesha andhera rehta tha.

Jab Sonam jhadiyon ko paar karke ped ke paas pahuche, toh wahan ek lambi height wala aadmi rain-coat pehne khada tha. Uska chehra hood se dhaka hua tha. Uski kamar par ek purana bag latak raha tha.

Sonam ne thode fasle par ruk kar, apni aawaz ko jitna ho sake dridhh banate hue kaha, "Kaun ho tum? Aur IPS Vikram ki tasveer ke sahare mujhe yahan bulane ki himmat kaise hui?"

Woh aadmi dheere se hasa. Uski aawaz mein ek aisi thandak thi jo reenh ki haddi tak mein shihan paida kar de.

"Vikram ki nahi, Sonam ji... aapki tasveer," woh aage badha. "Vikram toh apna kaam karke shehar se nikal gaya. Par aap? Aap iss ghar ki sanskari bahu hokar ek IPS officer ke sparsh par sharma rahi thi. Kya aapke pati ko pata hai ki jab Vikram aapki rasoi mein khada tha, tab aapke chehre par kya expressions the?"

Sonam ne mutthi bhichi. "Yeh bakwas band karo! Tumhe jo paise chahiye bolo, par Vikram aur mere parivaar ko beech mein mat lao."

"Paise?" Woh aadmi ek kadam aur paas aaya. "Mujhe paison ki bhookh nahi hai. Mujhe toh bas iss sanskari dhal ke peechhe chhipi uss ghabrahat ko dekhne mein maza aata hai. Vikram ne tumhe 3 second chhua... aur tumhare rom-rom mein aag lag gayi. Par tum akele mein kya sochti ho, woh sab mujhe pata hai."

Sonam ne aage badhkar kaha, "Tumhara dimag kharab hai. Main abhi security officer ko phone kar sakti hoon!"

"security officer ko?" Woh aadmi zor se hasa. "Phone karo. Pehla call IPS Vikram ke HQ par jayega. Unki reputation, unka medal, aur unki naukri teenon ek minute mein khatam. Aur tum? Tumhara pati tumhe issi ghar se bahar nikal dega."

Sonam freeze ho gayi. Woh aage kuch nahi bol saki.

[PART 3: NAYA SUSPENSE — EK ANJAAN CHIZ]
Woh aadmi apne jacket ki pocket se ek chhota sa Sealed Envelope (lifafa) nikalta hai aur zameen par phek deta hai.

"Isme ek purani memory chip hai," blackmailer ne kaha. "Isme Vikram ke aane se pehle ka bhi kuch aisa hai jo tumne hamesha ke liye bhulane ki koshish ki thi. Agar chahti ho ki Vikram safe rahe, toh iss lifafe ko kholo aur isme jo task likha hai, use 24 ghante mein poora karo."

Sonam ne kaampte haathon se lifafa uthaya. "Task? Kaisa task?"

"Kal shaam ko pata chal jayega. Aur haan... khidki par roz subah aakar bahar dekhna band mat karna. Kyonki main wahin se nazar rakhta hoon."

Yeh keh kar woh aadmi tezz kadmon se jhadiyon ke beech andhere mein gayab ho gaya.

Sonam wahan akeli khadi rahi. Uska dil darr se kaamp raha tha, lekin saath hi use yeh ehsaas ho raha tha ki Blackmailer unke rishte aur uske akelepan ka fayda uthana chahta hai.

Lifafa haath mein liye Sonam ghar ke andar aayi. Usne lifafa khola... andar memory chip ke saath ek kagaz tha jis par likha tha:

"Vikram ki uniform bachani hai, toh kal shaam ko 5 baje akele City Library ke basement mein aao."

[Lusty_bOOz]

Sonam ke kaampte haathon ne lifafa khola. Kagaz par saaf likha tha: “Vikram ki uniform bachani hai, toh shaam ko 5 baje City Library ke basement mein aao.”

Sonam ke paas koi doosra raasta nahi tha. Woh Vikram ko kisi museebat mein nahi daalna chahti thi. Usne darr ko apne andar dabaya aur shaam 5 baje City Library ke sunsaan basement ki taraf chal di.

Basement mein charo taraf purani kitabon aur dhool ki badboo thi. Halaki roshni ke naam par sirf ek peeli tube-light timtima rahi thi.

"Main aa gayi hoon... kahan ho tum?" Sonam ne apni aawaz ko dridhh banane ki koshish ki, par uski aawaz basement ki deewaron se takra kar goonj uthi.

Peechhe se ek tezz aahat hui. Isse pehle ki Sonam mud kar dekh pati, ek bhari kapda uske chehre par rakha gaya. Ek gandi, karak behoshi ki dawa ki mehak uske naak mein ghusi. Sonam ne chhutne ki poori koshish ki, par uski aakhri cheekh ussi kapde mein dab kar reh gayi. Uski aankhon ke samne andhera chha gaya.

Jab Sonam ki aankhein khuli, toh uska sar tezz dard se phat raha tha.

Usne hosh sambhalne ki koshish ki, par uske haath aur pair ek wooden chair se rassi se kas kar bandhe hue the. Yeh basement ka ek aisa kona tha jahan koi nahi aata tha.

Saamne wahi raincoat wala aadmi khada tha. Usne apna hood peechhe kiya.

Uska chehra dekh kar Sonam ke hosh ud gaye. Woh koi anjaan aadmi nahi tha—woh City Library ka purana caretaker tha, jo pichhle kai dino se Sonam par nazar rakhe hue tha!

"Lagta hai hosh aa gaya, Sonam ji?" woh badsoorat muskaan ke saath aage badha. Uske haath mein Sonam ka phone tha.

"Mujhe chhodo! Tum kya chahte ho?" Sonam ne tadap kar rassi kholne ki koshish ki, par kasrat se bandhi rassi ne uski kalaiyon ko chheel diya.

"Main kya chahta hoon? Main toh bas yeh chahta tha ki aap mere jaal mein phans jayein," usne Sonam ke phone ki screen uske chehre ke samne ki. Screen par ek live timer chal raha tha aur ek message draft tha jo IPS Vikram ke Senior Ministry Officer ko send hone wala tha.

"Aapne socha tha ki aap akele aakar mujhe samjha lengi? Ya darr kar mera har task poora karengi?" Caretaker ne uske chehre ke paas aakar kaha. "Aapki sabse badi galti yeh thi ki aapne pehle ki tarah iss baar bhi yeh baat sabse chhupayi. Aapki yeh 'chuppi' hi mera sabse bada hathiyaar hai."

Sonam ki aankhon se (continuously) aansu behne lage. Woh samajh gayi ki woh ek behad khaufnaak trap mein phans chuki hai. Uski maryada, uska parivaar, aur Vikram ka career—sab kuch ab iss ek gande aadmi ke haath mein tha.

"Ab yahan se chhutna itna aasan nahi hoga, Sonam ji. Aapka phone mere haath mein hai, aap bandhi hui hain... aur agle 10 minute mein aapka pati aur Vikram dono barbaad hone wale hain," usne ek teekhi muskaan ke saath kaha.

Sonam ka dil tezz dhadak raha tha. Usne apni mutthi bhichi. Usse ehsaas hua ki rassi ke saath-saath uske saree ke pallu mein chhupa woh metallic scale abhi bhi uski peeth ke peechhe mojood tha.

Sonam ne samajh liya ki aam tareekey se ya gusse se baat nahi banegi. Usne deep breath liya aur apne ghabrahat wale chehre ko ek alag haseen aur samjhauta bhare roop mein badalne ka faisla kiya. Uss caretaker ki gandi niyat hi uski sabse badi kamzori thi, aur Sonam ne ussi par vaar karne ka tay kiya.

Sonam ne apni aanchal ko halka sa dhalne diya aur apni jhuki hui palkon ko uthakar caretaker ki aankhon mein dekha. Uski aawaz ab kaampne ke bajaye behad dheemi aur madhoshar ho gayi thi.

"Tumne bilkul sahi kaha... main kab tak iss chuppi aur darr ke peechhe chhupati rahungi?" Sonam ne halki se muskaan ke saath kaha. "Vikram toh door chala gaya... mera pati business mein mashgool rehta hai... tumne mujhe pehchana ki main kitni akeli hoon."

Caretaker surprise ho gaya. Uske haath mein pakda phone halka sa niche ho gaya. "Kya... kya keh rahi ho tum?"

"Main sach keh rahi hoon," Sonam ne apni gardan ko halka sa jhukate hue, apni nazron se use baandhte hue kaha. "Agar mujhe sirf darr hi chaahiye hota, toh main yahan akele kyun aati? Tumne jo mere liye tadhap dikhayi hai, wahi toh main chahti thi. Par yeh rassi... yeh ganda basement... kya tum mere saath aisi jagah shuruat karna chahte ho?"

Caretaker ke chehre par hawas aur ghamand ki chamak aa gayi. Sonam ka yeh roop aur uske roop-rang ki aisi jhalak dekh kar uska dimag kaam karna band kar gaya. Uski pakad phone par dhili pad gayi.

"Toh tum... tum tayyar ho?" Caretaker madhosh hokar uske paas aaya.

"Mera phone rakh do... aur yeh rassi kholo," Sonam ne behad kareeb se uski aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha. "Ghar par koi nahi hai. Agar tum mujhe azaad karo aur shaant ho jao, toh main khud tumhe apne paas bulaungi... jahan na koi darr hoga, na koi rassi. Kya tum mujhe aisi gandi jagah paana chahte ho, ya poori tarah se mera saath chahte ho?"

Sonam ke iss achanak badle hue roop aur haseen jaal ne caretaker ko poori tarah behka diya. Usne bina soche-samjhe timer ko pause kiya, phone ko table par rakha aur jaldi-jaldi Sonam ke haathon ki rassi kholne laga.

Jaise hi aakhri rassi dhili hui, Sonam ne apne haathon ko azaad kar liya. Caretaker jaise hi uske aur kareeb aane laga, Sonam ne sharmati hui nazron se use peeche hatne ka ishara kiya.

"Thoda sabr karo... ghar par intezaar karungi," Sonam ne uske gaal par halka sa haath phera aur minute bhar ke liye use wahi madhosh chhod kar, table se apna phone uthaya aur tezz kadmon se basement se bahar nikal gayi.

Caretaker jab tak hosh mein aata aur samajhta ki kya hua hai, Sonam library se bahar nikal kar ek auto mein baith chuki thi.

Ghar pahunch kar Sonam ne andar se darwaza lock kiya aur zameen par baith kar chain ki saans li. Usne apne husn aur dimag ke zariye uss khatre ko filhal ke liye taal diya tha aur bina kisi nuksaan ke sahi-salamat ghar laut aayi thi. Par woh jaanti thi ki yeh jung abhi khatam nahi hui hai.

[Lusty_bOOz]

Ghar lautkar Sonam ne apne aansu ponchhe aur khud ko sambhala. Vikram ki gair-mojoodgi ne use todne ke bajaye andar se mazboot kar diya tha. Use ehsaas ho gaya tha ki ab apni maryada aur parivaar ki raksha use akele hi karni hogi.

Woh jaanti thi ki basement mein diye gaye husn ke jaal ke baad caretaker zaroor aayega.

Sonam ne ek gehri saans li aur rasoi se lekar hall tak ek cleverly thought-out trap set karne lagi. Usne sabse pehle rasoi ke wooden box se Vikram ka diya woh chhota metallic pendant nikala aur use hall ki main table par aisi jagah rakha jahan se samne wale ki nazar sabse pehle pade. Uske theek peechhe, ek flower vase ke andar usne apne phone ki video recording ON karke aisi position par set kar diya jahan se poora hall aur caretaker ka chehra saaf capture ho sake.

Saath hi, usne hall ke darwaze ke paas ek chhota portable alarm sensor aur ek heavy iron rod parde ke peechhe chhupa kar rakh di.

---

Shaam ke lagbhag 6:30 baj rahe the. Aasmaan mein phir se kaale badal ghir aaye the. Pati abhi business meeting se der se aane wale the aur beta pados mein mausi ke yaha tha.

Ghar ke pichhle darwaze par tezz aahat hui.

Sonam ne dupatta sambhala, chehre par halki si sharm-o-hayah aur madhosh muskaan laayi, aur pichhla darwaza khola.

Bahar caretaker khada tha. Uska raincoat gila tha aur uski aankhon mein wohi gandi, ziddi chamak thi.

"Main aa gaya, Sonam ji... aapke wadeh ke mutabiq," woh bina ijazat andar ghusa.

"Mujhe pata tha tum aoge," Sonam ne aawaz ko behad dheema aur aakarshak banate hue kaha, aur pichhla darwaza lock kar diya. "Par andar aane se pehle shant ho jao... ghar mein koi nahi hai."

Woh use hall tak le aayi. Caretaker ki nazar table par rakhe Vikram ke pendant par gayi. Woh ruka aur ek teekhi muskaan ke saath bola, "Toh IPS saab ki yeh aakhri nishani abhi bhi yahan hai? Main kal issi ki photo aur video viral karne wala tha."

Sonam caretaker ke behad paas aayi. Usne caretaker ke kandhe par haath rakha aur uski aankhon mein jhankte hue bola, "Tum IPS Vikram ki baat kyon kar rahe ho? Vikram toh mere liye ek guzra hua kal tha... Par tumne jis tarah mere akelepan ko pehchana, mere roop ko chaaha... kya tum sach mein IPS Vikram ki photo aur unki aawaaz ke clips ke sahare mujhe blackmail kar rahe the?"

Caretaker Sonam ke iss sparsh aur husn par poori tarah fisal gaya. Usne ghamand mein aakar apne pocket se pen-drive nikal kar table par rakhi aur bola:

> *"Blackmail? Haan, yeh wahi pen-drive hai jisme IPS Vikram ki woh 3-second ki photo aur audio recording hai! Main isse tumhare pati ko bhej kar tumhari maryada ko nilaam karne wala tha. Par jab tum khud mere paas aa gayi ho, toh ab mujhe iss blackmailing ki zaroorat nahi hai!"*

Sonam ne nazrein jhuka kar halki se muskaan di: *"Toh tumne library ke basement se lekar pichhle darwaze tak, mujhe pane ke liye yeh saara blackmailing ka jaal bichaya tha?"*

"Haan! Maine hi woh photo khinchi thi, maine hi audio record kiya tha aur main hi tumhe blackmail kar raha tha!" Caretaker ne behad besharmi se qbool kiya.

---

**"Bass... itna hi kaafi tha!"**

Sonam ke chehre se madhoshi ka naatak ek pal mein gayab ho gaya. Uski aankhon mein ab darr nahi, balki ek aag thi.

Usne jhatke se caretaker ko peechhe dhakela aur vase ke peechhe se apna phone utha kar recording STOP kar di. Recording mein caretaker ka chehra, uska qboolnama aur woh blackmailing pen-drive sab kuch 4K HD video mein record ho chuka tha!

Caretaker shock ho gaya. "Yeh... yeh kya hai?"

"Yeh tumhari tabahi ka saboot hai," Sonam ne tezz aawaz mein kaha aur turant table par rakhi pen-drive ko apni mutthi mein kas liya.

Caretaker ka maatha bhannak utha. Usne samjha ki uske saath dhokha hua hai. "Kaminee! Tu mujhe ullu bana rahi thi?" Woh bahashi tarike se Sonam par jhapatne laga.

Lekin Sonam pehle se taiyar thi. Usne parde ke peechhe se iron rod nikali aur caretaker ke pairon par zordar vaar kiya. Caretaker dard se cheekhte hue zameen par gir pada.

Sonam ne turant emergency dial karke local security officer Station aur SP Office ke control room mein call milaya, aur caretaker ke qboolname wali video aur location share kar di.

10 minute mein security officer ki gaadi siren bajati hui ghar ke bahar khadi thi. security officer ne zameen par tadapte hue caretaker ko arrest kar liya. Sonam ne video proof aur pen-drive security officer Inspector ke haath mein thama di.

security officer Officer ne kaha, "Well done, Mrs. Sonam. Yeh banda shehar ka purana offender hai. Aapne behad hoshiyari se iska sach samne laya hai. IPS Vikram saab ko bhi yeh update bhej di jayegi ki case solve ho gaya hai."

security officer ke jaane ke baad, Sonam ne khidki ke paas khade hokar ek gehri aur sukoon bhari saans li. Uski maryada, uska parivaar aur Vikram ka amar rishta—sab kuch safe tha. Usne aaj sabit kar diya tha ki ek maryadit aurat jab apne parivaar par aayi aanch ke khilaf khadi hoti hai, toh woh har shaitani saaye ko mita sakti hai.

---

[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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

[Lusty_bOOz]

VIP lounge ki jagah aur deep security guards ke beech, Sonam ka dil seene mein tezz-tezz dhadak raha tha. Uske pati Sanjay apne doston ke saath baaton mein mashgool the, aur Sonam ne issi mauke ka fayda uthaya.

Woh chupke se bheed se alag hui aur mahal ke uss aalishan heritage resort ke pichhle balcony area ki taraf badh gayi, jahan roshni thodi madham thi aur mausam mein ek ajab si thandak thi.

Sonam wahan railing se tik kar khadi thi, uski aankhein aur saansein dono Vikram ke intezaar mein bechain thi.

Tabhi peechhe se ek gehri, jaani-pehchani aawaz aayi—

"Sonam..."

Sonam jhatke se mudi. Vikram raincoat ya kaali uniform ke bajaye ab ek formal dark suit mein khade the, par unki aankhon ki wohi purani gambhirta aur aatmik tezz barkarar tha.

Sonam ne apni aanchal ko tight thama, uski aankhon se achanak ek boond aansu beh nikla. "Vikram... aap? Aap achanak bina bataye kahan gayab ho gaye the? Mujhe thoda bhi andaza hai ki main kis uthal-puthal se gujri hoon? Sarkari daftar se lekar...har jagah maine aapka pata lagane ki koshish ki."

Vikram ne ek kadam aage badhaya, par aaspas ke VIP protocol ka dhyan rakhte hue unhone khud ko control kiya. Unka chehra thoda udaas aur sankat-bhara laga.

"Main jaanta hoon, Sonam... main sab jaanta hoon," Vikram ne behad dheemi aawaz mein kaha. "Uss din rasoi ke 3-second ke sparsh ke baad jab main shehar se nikla, toh mujhe State Headquarters se ek highly confidential Operation 'Red Shadow' par bhej diya gaya tha."

"Operation?" Sonam ne hairani se poocha.

"Haan," Vikram ne charo taraf ek nazar daal kar bataya. "Woh jo library ka caretaker tha, woh koi aam blackmailer nahi tha. Woh ek bade inter-state extortion racket ka chhota sa mohra tha. Mujhe mere seniors ne iss mission par bheja tha taaki main unke main head to expose kar sakoon. Maine apna contact number aur location security reasons se poori tarah classified (gupt) kar di thi. Main kisi se bhi contact nahi kar sakta tha—yahan tak ki tumse bhi nahi."

Sonam ne nazrein jhuka li. Uske andar ka darr ab dheere-dheere door ho raha tha, par ek shikayat abhi bhi baki thi.

"Aur aapne... aapne socha ki main uss blackmailer ke saamne toot jaungi?" Sonam ne thodi teekhi aawaz mein kaha.

Vikram ke chehre par ek behad aadar aur garv bhari muskaan aayi. Unhone Sonam ki aankhon mein dekha.

"Nahi, Sonam. Mujhe tumhari maryada aur tumhare andar ki takat par poora bharosa tha. Mujhe pata chala ki tumne uss caretaker ko uske hi jaal mein phansa kar security officer ke haath thama diya. Tumne jiss hoshiyari aur courage se apna aur mera dono ka samman bachaya, usne mera tumhare prati sammaan aur badha diya hai."

Vikram ne apne coat ki andaruni pocket se ek chhota sa silver chain nikal kar Sonam ke haath mein rakh diya.

"Yeh meri posting ki nayi location ka encrypted tag hai. Ab main safe hoon, aur tum bhi safe ho. Humein ab iss chhupne-chhaapne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Tumhari maryada aur mera farz—dono apni jagah amar hain."

Sonam ne woh silver tag apni mutthi mein kas liya. Uske dil ko ek aisi shanti aur sukoon mila jo pichhle kai dino se missing tha. Tabhi door se Sanjay ki aawaz aayi—"Sonam? Kahan ho tum?"

Sonam ne Vikram ki taraf dekha. Vikram ne halka sa sar jhukakar use jaane ka ishara kiya.

Sonam ne ek aakhri haseen muskaan ke saath wahan se kadam peeche hataye. Uski zindagi ki saari uthal-puthal ab khatam ho chuki thi. Woh apne pati Sanjay ke paas wapas laut aayi, iss vishwas ke saath ki usne apni maryada bhi bachayi aur apne aatmik rishte ko bhi ek naya aur pavan aakaar diya.

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[Lusty_bOOz]

Sonam ke wapas lautte hi, mahal ki oopri terrace par thandi hawa ke beech IPS Vikram aur Lady Officer Maya akele khade the. Maya ne Vikram ke chehre par aayi achanak rahat aur sukoon ko dekha aur halki muskaan ke saath use tease karte hue boli, "Ohh... toh ab hamare Senior IPS Officer saab ka mood itna achha kaise ho gaya? Abhi tak toh tumhare maathe par chinta ki lakeerein thi, achanak yeh badlav?"

Vikram ne Maya ki taraf dekha aur ek gehri saans lete hue kaha, "Sab sambhal gaya, Maya. Ab tension lene ki koi baat nahi hai... 'Red Shadow' par ab koi khatra nahi rahega. Operation ka sabse sensitive hissa ab poori tarah safe hai."

Maya abhi kuch aur poochhti, tabhi Vikram ki pocket mein rakha encrypted satellite phone tezz vibration ke saath baj utha. Screen par koi number nahi, balki ek classified code name chamak raha tha—**INDRA DHANUSH**.

Vikram ne turant call receive karke phone kaan se lagaya. Doosri taraf se sirf 5 second ki ek aawaz aayi. Woh 5 second sunte hi Vikram ke chehre ka saara rang ud gaya, uska chehra peela-neela pad gaya aur uski aankhon mein ek aisa khauf chha gaya jo Maya ne aaj tak nahi dekha tha.

"Vikram? Kya hua?" Maya ne ghabra kar uske kandhe par haath rakha. "Kiska phone tha? Aisa kya bol diya usne? Tum thik toh ho?"

Vikram bilkul khamosh khada raha. Uska shareer jaise patthar ka ho gaya tha. Usne phone kaat diya, par uski nazrein hawa mein kisi anjaan darr ko ghoor rahi thi.

Isse pehle ki Maya use dobara jhakjhor pati, Vikram ke haath mein pakda phone **dobara zordar ring karne laga**. Screen par wahi red alert code dobara flash ho raha tha.

Maya ki bechani aur badh gayi. Woh lagataar poochh rahi thi, "Vikram, aakhir hua kya hai? Kuch toh bolo! Indra Dhanush kaun hai aur woh kya keh raha hai?"

Lekin Vikram ke hont sil chuke the. Uska haath kaamp raha tha aur phone uske haath mein baar-baar bajta ja raha tha, jise uthane ki himmat ab IPS Vikram mein bhi nahi bachi thi.

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[Lusty_bOOz]

Udhhar mahal ke andhar rasmon aur sangeet ka daur shuru ho chuka tha. Sonam kitne hi dino ke baad aaj dil se muskura rahi thi. Uski zindagi ki saari uthal-puthal thamtay hue lag rahi thi, aur apne pati Sanjay ke saath iss aalishan maahol ko enjoy karte hue uske chehre par ek alag hi rounak thi.

Tabhi bheed ke beech se **Sneha (dulhan) ki maa** aati hui dikhai di. Unke chehre par pareshani aur chinta ke baadal saaf dikh rahe the. Sanjay unhe achhe se jaanta tha. Unhe iss tarah worried dekh kar Sanjay unke paas gaya.

"Aunty ji, kya hua? Aap itni pareshan kyun lag rahi hain? Sab thik toh hai na?" Sanjay ne fikr se poochha.

Dulhan ki maa ne ek gehri saans li aur bola, "Arre Sanjay beta, kya bataoon... Sneha ke liye ek special designer gown banwaya tha jo shaadi ke baad ke function ke liye behad zaroori hai. Delivery wale ka abhi phone aaya ki uski gaadi kharab ho gayi hai aur woh aage nahi aa sakta. Shop yahan se bas 15-20 minute ki doori par hai, par Sneha ke papa VIP mehmaanon mein busy hain aur mere paas bhejne ko koi nahi hai."

Sanjay ne thoda socha aur muskurate hue bola, "Bas itni si baat? Aap bilkul chinta mat kariye, main jaakar abhi le aata hoon."

Dulhan ki maa thodi embarrass ho gayi aur bolin, "Nahi nahi beta, aap hamare mehmaan hain, aap kyun takleef lenge?"

Sanjay ne unhe aashwast karte hue kaha, "Arre aunty ji, takleef kis baat ki? Sneha meri chhoti behen jaisi hai. Isme koi formality ki zaroorat nahi hai. Main abhi gaadi nikalta hoon." Sanjay ne charo taraf nazar ghuma kar dekha—Sonam door kuch ladies ke saath baaton mein mashgool thi aur kaafi khush lag rahi thi.

Sanjay ne dulhan ki maa se kaha, "Agar Sonam mere baare mein poochhe, toh aap bas use bol dijiyega ki main thodi der mein ek zaroori kaam se bahar gaya hoon aur abhi laut raha hoon."

Dulhan ki maa ne shukraguzar hokar haan mein sir hilaya. Unke jaane ke baad Sanjay bina kisi ko distrub kiye, bahar parking area ki taraf nikal gaya aur apni gaadi start karke venue se bahar chala gaya.

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[Lusty_bOOz]

Sonam ko pyas lagti hai toh woh paani ke counter ki taraf aati hai. Paani peete hue uski nazrein Sanjay ko dhoondh rahi hoti hain, par woh poore hall mein kahin nazar nahi aata.

Tabhi uske bilkul peechhe se ek aawaz aati hai. Sonam peeche mudti hai toh dekhti hai ki **Sneha (dulhan) ke papa** wahan paani peene aaye hain aur unhi ke peechhe khade hain. Achanak unhe itne paas dekh kar Sonam thoda darr jati hai.

"Arre Sonam beti, Sanjay kahan hai? Kafi der se dikh nahi raha," Sneha ke papa ne sharabat ka glass uthate hue poocha.

"Woh... shayad idhar hi kahin honge doston ke saath," Sonam ne nazrein sambhaltay hue kaha.

"Achha ek baat batao, tum Sneha beti se mili ki nahi abhi tak?" unhone poocha.

Sonam ne dheere se na mein sir hilaya.

"Arre yeh kya baat hui! Shaadi mein aaye ho aur dulhan se hi nahi mile? Aao, main tumhe le chalte hoon, mil bhi lena aur badhai bhi de dena," unhone muskurate hue kaha.

Sonam ko unke baatcheet ke tareeke se thoda ajeeb aur uncomfortable mehsoos ho raha tha. Unki aankhon mein ek aisi chinchinahat thi jo Sonam ko andar tak uncomfortable kar rahi thi. Lekin fir usne socha ki aakhir shaadi hai, Sneha se milkar congratulations bol aana hi sahi rahega.

Sonam unke peechhe-peechhe chalne lagi.

Dono VIP section ke ek khaali corridor mein pahunch gaye. Uss waqt wahan door-door tak koi nahi tha—poora corridor sunsaan tha aur sirf unke kadmon ki aahat goonj rahi thi. Unke aage chalte hue Sneha ke papa baar-baar peeche mudkar Sonam ko dekh rahe the.

Dono lift ke paas pahunche. Unhone lift ka button dabaya aur jaise hi lift khuli, dono lift ke andar enter kar gaye... dulhan ke kamre ki taraf jaane ke liye.

Lift ke darwaze band hote hi Sonam ka dil achanak tezz-tezz dhadakne laga. Uss chhotay se lift mein Sneha ke papa ke saath akele hona use ek anjani bechaini lg rhi thi...

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