Incest Echoes Of Lust

[mistyvixen]

Latest chapter 38
Splinters I

 

[mistyvixen]

Next update today evening. ^⁠_⁠^

 

[mistyvixen]

Update in some time...

 

[dhalchandarun]

Update in some time...

Karan ka kya haal chaal hai Saltyvixen.

 

[mistyvixen]

Site bahut slow ho rhe hai abhi. How do I post in this... morning mein karte hoon fir ab kya karein

 

[mistyvixen]

Karan ka kya haal chaal hai Saltyvixen.

Sach bolun toh bahut bure lol. Read more to find out

 

[king1969]

Intezar rahega

 

[mistyvixen]

Par maza aya

​

Chapter 5 se aage padhna shuru kiya. Karan aur Meher ki chemistry ekdum mast set ho gayi hai. Elemental training ki baat karte hue Karan ka attitude aur Meher ka constant mazaak udana.. yeh dono ka dynamic interesting lag raha hai. Uske baad ka jo scene hai jisme Karan apni mom Nandani ko harata hai, woh ek subtle power-up ka moment tha, lekin uske baad jo tension build hui usme se romance ki chingari bhi dikh gayi. Thoda bold move tha, lekin natural laga. Character dynamics complex ho rahe hain, maa aur bete ka rishta hai, lekin attraction bhi hai; mentor-student hai, lekin magic bhi hai. Yeh balance aapne ache se capture kiya hai.

Chapter 6 aur 7 mein duniya ka expansion bahut solid hai. VanRajya ka introduction, Payal ki entry, political twist.. sab kuch smoothly introduce hua hai. Aapne Payal ko ek strong character banaya hai, lekin uski loyalty questionable bhi dikhayi, yeh twist achha tha. Woh jail vaale scene mein jo emotional moment tha “Maa…yeh sab maine aap dono ke hi bhalai ke liye kiya” is line ne poora perspective change kar diya. Yeh raaz ki baat thi ki yahan sab kuch itna simple nahi hai. Akansha ki entry bhi impactful thi. Uska demeanor, royal aur controlling hone ke saath saath mysterious aur slightly seductive bhi hai. Very intriguing combination hai.

Coming on to Chapter 8.. Akansha ka character abhi tak jo build-up tha, uska payoff yahan dikh raha hai. Woh scene jisme woh Karan ko identify karne ke liye uski jaangh check karti hai.. sensual bhi tha aur story-driven bhi. Library vaale scene mein exposition aur sexual tension dono maintain rahi. Very good balancing..!!

Kaljayi Granth ka concept interesting hai, ek aisa artifact jo kisi ki pure life ka raaz bata de.. isse plot ka scale bada ho gaya hai. Traas ke teen sevakon ka zikr aaya hai, ab lag raha hai ki villain ek system hai, sirf ek aadmi nahi. World-building ab depth dikha rahi hai.

Karan ka character arc abhi tak consistent hai.. woh confused hai, loyal hai, par uski desires bhi realistic hain. Uska internal conflict between duty, family, and attraction.. yeh abhi se set up ho raha hai. Climax ka jo moment tha jab Akansha uski god mein baith kar kiss karti hai…woh bold tha aur story ke context mein fit bhi tha. Yeh relationship kaise develop karega, yeh dekhna interesting hoga.

Overall, track strong hai. Fantasy ka setup solid hai, political drama shuru ho raha hai, aur character relationships complex hote ja rahe hain. Aapne romance ko bhi naturally blend kiya hai.. kahin bhi kuchh forced nahi laga. Aage dekhna hai ki Karan apni maa ko kaise dhoondta hai, Traas ke against alliance kaise banate hain, aur Akansha ka true motive kya hai. Keep going, yeh buildup promising lag raha hai!​

Nice update

Why I'm not able to find it in any prefix?

Shaandar update

Nice and superb update....

Bahut hi shaandar update diya hai mistyvixen ji....
Nice and lovely update....

Ok
Will read

Nice update....

Bhut hi badhiya update mistyvixen ji
Udhar karan aur adhitya mahal me Jane ke secret rasto ko dhundne gaye hai
Aur idhar kankalo ki sena ne pull paar kar liya
Dhekte hai ab aage kya hota hai

Nice update bro

Karan toh artist nikla accha tha drawing wala sequence

Thanks for the mega updates

wow super update bohot maja aya

Karan ka kya haal chaal hai Saltyvixen.

Chapter 37 is up! ^⁠_⁠^

 

[mistyvixen]

Chapter 37
Knife's Edge


Jungle ki dusri paar se Ghode ki taap door se pehle sunaiye de jahan raat abhi poori tarah nahi gayi thi aur subah abhi aadhi hi aayi thi. Awaz aate hi Kalindi ka haath apne aap apne hathiyaar par chala gaya. Phir woh ek pal ruka. Kyunki woh awaaz alag thi woh koi bhagta hua ghoda nahi tha. Shayd ek aisi sawari thi jisme koi bahut der se chal raha ho aur ab thak ke bhi nahi ruka ho kyunki rukne se jaruri uska maksad tha.

Kalindi jungle ke us hisse ki taraf badha jahan raah seedhi thi. Dhundh abhi thi ped ke upar chaiye hue the. Ghoda ped ke saaye se nikla toh Kalindi ki nazar seedha sawaar par gayi.

Ek pal ke liye woh bas khada raha.

"Hmmm..." Usne apne aap se kaha.

Akansha neeche utri. Uske paon zameen par pade toh ek pal ke liye taangein itne dur ki sawari ke baad kaanp si gayi. Usne ek haath ghode ki gardan par rakha aur dheere se sehlaya.



Kalindi do kadam aage aaya. "Aap...?"

"Haan." Akansha ki awaaz mein woh thakan thi jo sirf andar se aati hai.

"Mere saath aur bhi log aa rahe hain tere. Thoda peeche hain. Unhe yahan pahuchne mein thoda sa waqt lag skta hai"

Kalindi ne apne sir dusre disha mein Kiya. Woh sab woh dekh lega par pehle dusre tarf camp mein jake suchit karna jyada jaruri tha.

Kalindi muda aur jungle ki raah par chala gaya. Aur Akansha ke unn sab se milne ke liye utsukta badh gye jab uske nazar un chhote chhote camp aur unke beech jal rhe aanch par padi.

***

Nandani uss waqt ek patthar ke paas baithi thi.

Haath mein kapda tha jise woh silne ki koshish thi par uska dhyan nahi lag raha tha. Usse neend bhi nhi aa rhe the. Woh jaanti thi ki soona chahiye, aaram karna chahiye par dil tha ki maanta nahi. Dil ko apni qarar nahi milti jab tak kuch sahi na ho aur abhi toh uska beta aur behan usse dur the. Abhi toh kuch bhi sahi nahi tha.

Roopmati ne darwaze ke paas se awaaz di. Roopmati pichle kuch dino se uske seva mein thi. "Maharani Kalindi keh raha tha koi aayi hai" usse sunte hi Nandani ne kapda neeche rakha aur uthne lagi. Baar baar yahi hota tha itne dino se har din koi na koi usse milne aata tha.

Ped ke lambe saayo ke beech aur camp ke ek kone mein ek stri khadi thi.

Usse dekhte hi Nandani ke kadam ruk gaye.

Woh stri jiski peeth abhi uske taraf thi par jis tarah se woh khadi thi... Nandani ka dil ek pal ke liye tham gaya. Kuch tha uss mein jo woh bahut pehle se dekhte aa rhe the.

Phir achanak woh mudi.

Aur Nandani ka haath apne aap apne muh par chala gaya.

Chehra wahi tha. Bilkul wahi. Jo uske yaad mein tha. Bilkul wahi nakassi. Wahi aankhen. Wahi muskaan jo abhi aadhi thi.

Par woh twacha.

Aur woh neela rang. Haath se lekar gardan tak woh nilaahat jo uski chamdi mein ghuli hui thi. Nandani ki aankhein chaude ho gayi. Woh ek qadam aage badhi phir ruk gayi.

"Akansha?" Uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.

"Di." Usne bas ek hi shabd kaha. Par uss ek shabd mein saalon ke alag hone ke gehrayi thi.

Nandani bhaagi ya shayad Akansha ne pehle qadam liya. Baad mein kisi ko yaad nahi raha. Bas yeh raha ki dono ek saath the Nandani ne apni behen ko iss tarah se pakda jaise kabhi dubara nahi chhordna ho, jaise agar haath dhila kiya toh kuch baar phir se bichad jayenge. Aur Akansha ne apni badi behen ki peeth mein apna chehra chhupa liya aur apne aankein band kar lein.

Bahut der tak dono ne kuch nahi bola.

Phir Nandani ne dheere se peeche hat ke Akansha ka chehra apne haathon mein liya. Uski ungliyan Akansha ki gaal par gayi.

"Yeh..." Nandani ki bhanwein simat gayi.

"Baad mein Di," Akansha ne jawab diya. "Sab bataungi Di. Sab kuch. Par abhi..." Usne Nandani ki ungliyan pakd li. "Abhi sirf yahaan aapke paas rehne do mujhe."

Nandani ne ek lambi saans li. Agar woh keh rahi hai baad mein toh wajah hogi. Woh hamesha aisi thi seedha baat karne wali par hamesha shi samay pe sab zaahir karte the.

"Theek hai. Par zyada din nahi taltegi yeh baat."

Akansha halke se muskurayi "Nahi talungi Di."

***

Payal ne bahar kisi goonz sune aur apne camp se bahar aake usne dekha.

"Mausi!"

Akansha ka dil ek pal ke liye ruka. Woh shabd. Woh awaaz. Kitne saalon baad sune the usne.

Payal ne paas aate hi lipat ke usse pakad liya. Itne zoron se ki Akansha ko ek kadam peeche hona pada. Apne bhaare aankhon aur apni thakan ke bawajood ke bhi woh hasi. Payal hans aur ro ek saath rahi thi.

Jab dono alag hue toh Payal ne sar se paon tak dekha.

"Aap pehle alag lagte the," Payal bole. "Matlab... jo pehle thi woh aap nhi thi. Main..." Woh ek pal ke liye ruki apne alfaaz dhundhte hue. "Main hamesha jaanti thi ke kuch theek nahi hai. Hamesha lagta tha ke woh... Kuch toh tha jo andar se nahi aata tha. Isliye main unse zyada nahi jud payi. Hamesha door hi rahi...sab kuch sunne ke baad mere samjh mein aaya sab."

Dono ke beech ek pal ke kaamoshi thi.

Akansha ne Payal ke maathe pe haath rakha. "Bahut samajhdaar ho gayi hai tu Payal."

Payal ke aankhe chamke. "Matlab mein sahi thi?"

"Bilkul sahi thi. Woh main nahi thi. Par ab mein yahan tumahre saath hoon hoon. Yeh bhi sach hai."

Akansha ne phir se usse gale laga liya, "Kaise ho Payal? Jab tumhe antim baar dekha tha toh tum shayd 19 saal ke thi?"

Payal ke yeh sunte hi dil paseez gaya woh 8 saal baad usse mil rhe the?!?

Thode der baad Akansha Nandani ke baaki saathiyon se mile. Par baar baar uski nazar ghoomti. Camp ke ek kone se doosre kone tak. Jungle ki raah ki taraf har baar jab koi kadamon ki awaaz aate.

Nandani ne yeh notice kiya. Pehli baar chhodne diya. Doosri baar bhi. Teesri baar halki si muskaan aayi uske honthon par.

"Kisse dhundh rahi ho... Akansha?" Nandani ne woh seedha sawaal kiya.

Akansha ek dum se jhatka kha gye. Phir usne usse taalne ki koshish ki.
"Nahi Di... bas camp dekh rahi thi."

"Haan," Nandani ne itminaan se kaha. "Bilkul. Camp...par usmein aisa kuch khaas toh nhi hai."

Akansha ne apna gilaas apne sharmindagi chupne ke liye apne hothon se laga diya. Payal ne dusri taraf muh kar ke hansne ki koshish ki.

Nandani ne bhi apni chai ki ghooont li. Phir woh seedha bole "Akansha. Main jaanti hoon. Saalon se jaanti hoon tumhe. Tune kabhi muh se nahi kaha par kuch cheezein kehni nahi padti." Usne apna haath Akansha ke haath par rakha. "Woh yahaan nahi hai abhi."

Akansha ki aankhein ek pal ke liye band hui.

"Kahan gaya hai?" Uski awaaz bahut dheemi thi.

"Abhi khin gaya hai woh Aditya ke saath ek kaam ke liye Vanrjaya ko. Jab tak mujhse baat karlo...ya apne badi behan mein koi ruchi nhi hai tumhe?"

"Nhi...nhi," Woh boli.

Nandani "Jaanti hoon mein ab boodhi ho gye."

"Nhi woh baat nhi hai..." Akansha hichkichate hue bole.

Payal unke tang kichayi dekh ke man ke man prasan thi.

**

Suabh sirf ek patli si lakeer thi jo haandi ke kinare par padi thi.

Prachi ke haath kaam kar rahe the. Woh subah ka khana banane mein lage hue the. Uske haath apna kaam jante the. Par uska dimaag kahin aur tha. Bahut door. Ya shayad bahut paas.



Kal ki wo gehri, narm ghaas ki khushboo abhi bhi uske zehen mein thi woh jungle ki khamoshi, woh pal jab sab kuch tham gaya tha, duniya bhi, waqt bhi, aur uske saans bhi. Sirf woh pal raha tha aur Karan raha tha, aur in dono ke darmiyan kuch aisa tha jis ka koi naam dhundhne ki zaroorat nahi thi.

Prachi ke rukhsaar par ek lataafat bhari lali chadh aayi.

Usne apna chehra doosri taraf phera jaise koi dekh naa le . Par rasoi mein sirf woh thi aur khali kuch dhuan tha. Aur woh khayaalaat the jo baar baar palat ke aate the jaise koi lehrein aati hain.

*"Mujhe apna bana lo..."*

Usne haandi mein chamcha kuch zyada hi zor se ghuma diya. Ek chheenat aayi uske haath par lage.

"Uff," Prachi ne apne aap ko kosa. Phir woh muskaan aayi jo rokne ki tamam koshishon ke bawajood honton par aa jaati hai, jaise phool ko koi rok nahi sakta jab khilna uski fitrat ho.

Usne chamcha saaf kiya. Aanch dheem ke. ek lamha uss khamoshi mein rahi woh khamoshi jo mehroom nahi thi par itne bhari bhi nhi the.

***

Kamra chhota tha, ek chota sa kamra jisme se jungle ki thandi meethi hawa aati thi, ek darwaza aur ek bistar bas.

Prachi ne apne kapde utaare aur kapdon ki potli ki taraf dekha.



Tabhi nazar Karan ki kameez par padi.

Woh wahi waali kal ki. Prachi ke kapdon ke beech woh pata nhi kab uske saath aa gye. Woh iss potli mein kab aayi uss jaldi mein, uss pagal si hulchul mein Prachi ko yaad nahi raha.

Usne use uthaya.

Isme abhi bhi uski khushboo thi. Prachi ne aankhein band ki aur ek lambi saans li.

*Yahi hai teri haqeeqat Prachi. Isse mat bhaago ab.*

Usne use ek taraf ittminan se rakha. Apne naye kapde pehne kurta, dupatta aur aaine ke saamne khadi hui. Ek pal apna hi chehra dekha. Aankhon mein aaj ek alag rang tha woh rang jo tab aa jaata hai jab koi dil ke andar koi cheez le ke jeene lagta hai, koi aisi cheez jo bojh nahi dusre ke roshni hote hai.


Jabhi darwaze se dastak aayi.

"Prachi? Tum andar ho? Kya fursat hai thodi tumhe?"

Payal ki awaz uske kano mein pade

Prachi ka haath ek pal ke liye hawa mein ruka. Kameez jo abhi bhi bistar ke kinare par wahi rakhi thi usne ek gahri saans li aur kapdon ke neeche thoda daba de. Phir jaake darwaza khola.

Payal dahleez par khadi thi. Chehra hamesha ki tarah saaf aur seedha par aankhon mein aaj kuch aur tha.

"Haan Rajkumari aaiye," Prachi ne jagah banayi. "Sab khairiyet?"

Payal andar aayi. Ek nazar kamre par gayi use woh chhoti si aadat jisme sab kuch dekhne ki fitrat thi. Phir woh ek pathar ke tile par baith gayi.

"Kuch poochhna tha," Payal ne seedha kaha.

"Puchiye."

"Karan ke baare mein kuch..." Payal.
"Kuch ajeeb toh nahi laga tujhe? Koi cheez hai jo tujhe maloom ho aur mujhe nahi?"

Prachi ki bhanwein upar uthti. "Ajeeb? Karan bilkul theek hai. Yeh sawaal kyun Rajkumari?"

Payal "Bas...Woh thoda alag lagta hai. Kuch alag rehta hai usmein aaj kal. Socha tum kuch jaanti ho."

"Nahi aisa kuch nahi Rajkumari" Prachi ne jaldi se kaha.

"Sab waisa toh hai."

Par Payal baar baar ek hi jawab se raazi hone wali nahi thi. Woh jaanti thi ki kuch tha usne jitne jaldi jawab diya, abhi ek pal mein jab Prachi ki nazar kahin aur gayi thi. Chhoti chhoti cheezein pakadna uski aadat thi.

Payal ki nazar kamre mein ghoomne lagi. Uske aankhon jisme ek talab tha, woh talab jo tab hota hai jab jawab alfazon mein nahi milta toh nishaanon mein dhundha jaata hai.

Bistar ke ek kone par uski nazar ruki. Wahan se kuch bahar nikla hua tha ek kapda. Woh rang... woh kaala laal rang... yeh Prachi ka nahi tha. Kyuki usne usse waise rang ke vastr phente hue kabhi dekha hi nhi.

Payal uthke bistar ki taraf chali.

"Payal woh"

Par Payal ne woh kapda utha liya tha.

Woh uske haath mein thi ab. Kamre mein ek khamoshi chaaye.

Payal ne uski dekha. Phir Prachi ko. Phir dobara uss vastr ko.

"Yeh..." Payal ki awaaz dheemi thi. "Yeh Karan ke kapde hai."

Prachi ne kuch nahi kaha.

"Tere kapdon mein," Payal ne aahista aahista kaha jaise har lafz ek ek karke sahi jagah rakh rahi ho. "mere bhai ki kameez... tere bistar mein?!?."

Prachi ki nazar zameen par utri aur whin tik gayi.

"Prachi." Payal ki awaaz mein ek kat thi par woh kat naram thi. "Prachi mein tumhe apne dost smjhte hoon...isliye ek dost ke hasiyat se puch rhe hoon koi baat kehni hai tumhe? Isko samjhaogi mujhe?"

Prachi ne ek lambe saans le. Phir aankhein uthaayi aur seedha Payal ko dekha. Jis pal mein jhooth chhordne ka faisla hota hai woh pal sab se bhaari hota hai aur sab se halka bhi kisi ke liye. Uske aage usse tay karna tha.

"Nahi Payal." Uski awaaz mein ek ajeeb qism ka sukoon tha woh sukoon jo tab aata hai jab insaan bojh utaar deta hai. "Nahi samaajhaa sakti koi aur koi baat banaake. Jo hai wahi hai."

Payal ki bhanwein simat gayi. "Matlab?"

Prachi ne ek pal liya. Phir seedha, bina kisi laapetwali baat ke bina kisi bahane ke bole

"Main Karan se muhabbat karti hoon."

Woh teen alfaaz kamre mein ghoom gaye.

Payal ne kuch nahi kaha. Woh bas sun hoke Prachi ko dekhti rahi. Uske chehre par koi ek bhaavna nahi thi jo kise ek shabd mein samete jaa ske.

Phir usne dheere se kameez bistar par rakhi. Aur bistar par baith gayi. Dono haath ghutno par rkhe.

"Kab se?" Uski awaaz nihayat halki thi.

"Zyada nahi," Prachi bole. "Matlab... lamba arsa nahi hai hua hai Payal. Yeh..." Woh ruki. "Yeh ek baar mein nahi hua. Koi ek din nahi tha jab maine faisla kiya ho ke use apne jaal mein fasaun. Bas... hota gaya. Jaise kuch cheezein hoti hain bina izaazat maange, bina ittila diye jab bhi usko dekthi thi."

Payal ne Prachi ke chehre par ek nazar daali. Uss aankhon mein koi khel nahi tha woh sach aur jhooth mein fark karna jaanti thi, aur Prachi ke chehra mein woh dard tha jo kise natak mein nahi hota.

Woh jaanti thi. Prachi jhooth nahi bol rahi thi.

Par jaanna aur maan lena alag raahein hote hain.

Payal uthke khidki ki taraf gayi. Jungle ki madham hawa andar aayi. Uski aankhein bahar par thi par dekh kuch aur rahi thi woh kuch jo uske andar daud rha tha.

Ek aisi bhaavna jo Payal ne khud bhi nahi pehchani thi abhi tak ya shayad pehchani thi aur aankhein pher li thi. Ek halki si chhoti si tees woh tees jo tab aarti hai jab koi cheez jo dil ke bahut qareeb thi woh kisi aur ke haath chali jaati hai. Woh tees jiski koi naam nahi tha jiski koi haq nahi thi par lagte shi jagah hai woh.

Payal ne uss tees ko andar hi andar daba liya. Aur fir mudi.

"Woh Vanrajya ka Rajkumar hai Prachi". Uski awaaz ab seedhi aur thi woh awaaz jo badi behen ki hoti hai jab zimmedaari ki baat aaye. "Yeh koi aam baat nahi hai Prachi. Uski zimmedaariyan hain, uske dushman hain, uska ek wujood hai jis par bahut kuch tika hua hai. Aur main..." Woh ek pal ke liye ruki. "Main use kisi bhi aisi jagah mein nahi dekh sakti jahan use zakhm mile. Chahe kisi ke bhi hathon se."

"Payal"

"Mein poora hisaab maangungi tum dono se," Payal ne beech mein kaha. Uski awaaz mein woh bedagi thi jo dard ko chhupane ke liye karte hain. "Sab kuch. Kab hua, kaise hua, kya hua. Ek baar bas woh wapas aaye"

Prachi ne sir hilaya. Apne aansuon ko andar hi roka. "Haan theek hai Rajkumari."

"Aur yeh bhi sun," Payal ne aage kaha ab uski awaaz thodi thos thi. "Uske saath jo bhi hai usme agar teri niyat mein koi khot hai agar—"

"Nahi." Prachi ki awaaz mein ek aissi pukhtagi aayi jo pehle nahi thi. "Koi khot nahi. Koi buri niyat nahi thi kabhi. Main jaanti hoon woh kaun hai. Main jaanti hoon yeh asaan nahi. Par..." Uski awaaz thodi kaanpi.

Payal ne ek lambi pal tak kuch nahi kaha.

Phri woh Darwaze ki taraf badhi aur bina mude bole.

"Karan bahut saaf dil ka hai Prachi. Mujhe uske saath koi ched chad nhi chaiye."

Prachi ki aankhein bhar aayi "Woh kabhi nahi hogi Payal."

Payal ne darwaza khola aur woh bahar chali gayi.

Prachi kaafi der tak wahi rahi. Usne dheere se Karan ka vastr uthaaya. Apne seene se lagaaya aur halke se, jaise koi amaanat pakadta hai uske apne muthe ke beech mein kas liya.

***

Nadi ka paani thanda tha par kaankaalon ko thandi kab lagti hai upar se woh toh kood kar usse paar kar rhe the.

Ek ke baad ek woh patthar ke raaste par aate rahe. Agrak ne jo pull banaya tha woh tera medha tha, thoda khisak raha tha par kaam kar raha tha. Haddiyon ki khatkhatahat aur lohe ki ragad dono mil ke ek azeeb sa sur bana
Unka Commander sabse aage tha.

Aur uske saath ek cheez jo mara hua janwar tha. Ab sirf haddiyon ka dhaacha tha jo zameen par khichta hua chalta tha. Chaar pair the par woh zinda janwar ki tarah nahi uthte the woh nochte the zameen ko. Uski badi si khopdi mein do jagah khooli thi.

Commander kinare par pahunchke ruk gaya.

***

Harish ne woh jaal pure teen raat mein banaya tha.

Harish beech beech mein zameen ke andar ke halchal ko sunta tha. Zameen ko sunna uski aadat thi saalon se.

Pehla jaal jungle ke kuch door wale raaste ke neeche tha. Upar pattiyaan, geeli mitti ki patli parat se dhaka jo nangi aankhon ko kuch nazar nahi aata tha.

Pehla kaankal sipahi jab us raaste se guzra.

*DHUM.*

Neeche andar gira aur haddiyan ek pal mein usmein bhikar gye.

Harish ek bade patthar ke peeche khada tha. Usne woh awaaz suni. Aankhein band ki. Zameen ke zariye mahsoos kiya paon ke neeche se uss kaampan ko.

Bahut saare the, usne
ek unchi chattan par chadhna shuru kiya. Umar ne apna asar kiya tha saans phool rahi thi par zameen ki shakti ne kabhi usse akela nahi choda. Upar pahuncha toh jungle ke paar tak nazar gayi.

Usne dekha ke Kaankaalon ki fauj jo Door tak pheli hui. Unki haddiyan dhundh mein bhi chamak rahi thi. Aur aage unka ek bada sa commander aur uske saath woh mitr janwar.



Harish ne ek lambi saans le aur neeche dekha.

Vrishank apni chhoti tukdi ke saath tha, sab ke haath hathiyaaron par taiyaar the.

"VRISHANK!" Harish ki awaaz jungle mein dono taraf gayi. "SAB KO TAIYAAR KARO! AAJ LADNA hi HOGA!"

Vrishank ne upar dekha aur talwar nikaali. Neeche haath se apne saathiyon ko ishara kiya.


Commander ruk gaya jab ek akela aadmi jungle ki chhaon se nikal ke saamne aa gaya.

Chaal mein wo tezi nahi thi jo jawaan mein hoti hai jisse pata hota hai ke pair kahaan rakne hain.

Harish ne dono haath dheere se band kiye. Zameen ne jawaab diya aur uske paon ke neeche se ek bahut halki kaampan aayi.

"Whi Rukke raho," Harish ne seedha commander ki aankhon mein dekh ke chetwani di. "Jab tak main hoon ek kadam bhi aage nahi jaana koi."

Commander ne ek nazar pheri. Phir woh khokhli hansi aayi jo andar se nahi haddiyon se nikli thi.

"Rani ka hukm hai," Commander ne kaha. Uski awaaz toot toot ke aati thi jaise purana darwaza khulta hai. "Jhuk jao aur hamari maange puri karo ya zameen mein mil jao. Chunna tumhare haath mein hai abhi bhi." Usne apna haath apne janwar ki khopdi par rakha. "Khoon maafi se hoga mehanga hota hai."

"Ho gaya?!?," Harish ne bola

"Jawaab hai nahi."

***

Commander ka haath uthaa.

Janwar woh haddiyon dhaacha ek pal ke liye ruka. Uske aankhe toh thi nhi toh woh bas sungh ke apne sikhr ka pata lagata tha. Phir woh Harish ki taraf itna tez bhaaga ki aankh jhaptke hi woh uske paas pahuch gaya.

Harish ne ek kadam peeche liya aur dono haath zameen par de maare.

Zameen kaanpi aur ek badi chattan zameen se seedhe upar bahar aayi jaise kisi ne neeche se dhakela ho. Janwar usse takraya. haddi se patthar ki awaaz goonji. Bagal mein koodte hue woh apni chaar taangon par khada ho gaya aur dobaara bhagane laga.

Harish ne is baar mitti aur kayi pattharon ko ek saath hawa mein uthaya. Aur janwar ke taraf seedha hamla kiya.

*KRAAK.*

Uske japde ke ek taraf laga aur woh dur dhad hoke gir gaya woh janwar phir bhi bhagta rha.

Harish ne dono haath ek saath aapas mein milaye. Zameen ki ret, patthar, sab ek saath udne lage.

Janwar ka bacha hua dhancha usmein ud ke bhikarne laga.

Haddiyon ka baaki dhaancha bikhar gaya aur woh neeche gir gaya.

Harish ne saans li.

Tabhi charon taraf se hamala shru ho gye shru mein teen kaankal the. Aur fir sabne usse ek saath gher liya




Harish ne abhi apne peeth nahi pheri aur ankh band ke.

Dono haath uthaye zameen mein ek gahri dararr aagye jisme ek kaankal seedha samaa gaya. Doosre ke Harish ne ek haath se uske talwar ko pakda, thodi der mein uske haath ke gird patthar ka kavach se ban gaya tha.

Doosra haath ghuma ke dusre tarah ke sainik mitti ke toofan mein gayab se hone lage.

Par yeh sab bahut saare the woh Harish ke abhi ke umar ke hisab se bahut zyada the isliye woh jaydatar yud khsetr ke door se hi Aditya ka saath deta tha. Par ab usse Maharani Nandani ke surakshit rkhne ke liye thoda samay nikalna tha.

Ek ne peeche se apna bhala uske kandhe par maara. Dusra ne jhukke ke uske ghutne pe vaar kiya. Teesre ek taraf se uske gardan ko pakad liya. Harish ne zameen se ek badi deewar uthaayi do sipahiyon ko rokne ke liye. par tab tak chaar aur aa chuke the. Kuch usko kood kar paar kar le rhe the.

Harish ke ghutne par kuch laga. Ek talwar uske baazu ko cheerte hue nikal gayi par woh khada raha.

Uska ek haath zameen par pada. Usse apne aakhiri skti ka istemal karna hi hoga chahe uske jaan chale jaye usmein... Maharani Nandani ko surakshit rkhna hi hoga chahe kuch bhi ho.

Usne Uthne ki koshish ki..tabhi

*DHAK.*

Commander ka haath puri shakti se saath Harish ke kandhe par aaya. Harish ka doosra ghutna bhi uske zor se zameen pe aa gaya.

Commander dheere dheere uske saamne aaya. Harish ne upar dekha.

"Boodhe ho gaye ho meri purane saathi Harish." Uski awaaz mein kuch tha jo Harish ke samajh nahi aaya "Apni umar ke hisaab se lado. Yeh tumhara jungle nahi hai ab."

"Tu Mera naam janta hai?" Uske thaki hui thi par toot nhi the abhi.

Commander ne hansna shuru kiya.

Jungle mein woh hansi goonj gayi. Baaki Sipahiyon ne ek bhi kadam peeche liya.

"Sochta tha tu bhool jaayega," Commander ne kaha. "Par itna bhi nahi socha tha."

Harish ne dhyan se dekha ab. Uss Kavach ko. Uss nishaan ko jo ek taraf bana hua tha kavach par. Uske ek khaas Nishan bana hua tha.

"Dhruv?"

Uske bolte hi jaise koi andar se bahut puraani deewar toot gayi ho.

Phir commander ne apna sar thoda jhukaya jo ke uske purani aadat thi.

"Tu... tu mar gaya tha". Harish ke awaaz kaanp rahi thi . "Woh jab pehli baar hamla tha jab Kaalandard ke jaanwaron se lad rhe the tu unke saath tha. Humne tujhe itna dhoonda bhi tha. Par kuch nahi mila. Hum sab ne socha ki!"

"Kaalandard ke janwar mujhe keech ke le gaye the," Commander ne jawab diya. Uski awaaz ab aur thandi thi itne thandi jo baraf ke andar se aati hai. "Par mein itne jaldi marna nhi chata. Mujhe wapas laaya gaya. Naya roop mein. Nayi taaqat mein."

"Dhruv sun!"

"Woh naam mat le Harish."

"Woh aadmi ab jaa chuka hai. Zameen mein sama chuka hai woh. Jo main ab hoon woh alag hoon."

"Par Teri patni "

"CHUP."

Phir dheere se bola "Uske yaad nhi dilane the tujhe."

Uss ek shabd mein bahut kuch daba hua tha. Kuch jo abhi bhi uske andar chub rha tha chahe woh kuch bhi ho ab chahe kitna bhi badal gaya ho.

Harish ne aankhein band ki.

*Dhruv tu mera saathi hai. Hum ek hi fauj mein the kitne saal tak. Teri hassi yaad hai mujhe. Teri patni ki roti yaad hai jo woh camp mein hamare liye saath laati thi.*

Dhruv "Sawaalon ke jawaab nahi deta main. Woh aage badha uske haath mein kaali dhaar ka chaaku tha . "Mare hue aadmi ko kya jawab dena chaiye vaise bhi." Dhruv ke aankhon se ab aansu beh rahe the.

Harish ne haath aage badhaya. Zameen se ek patthar uthane ki koshish ki.

Zameen ne dheere se jawaab diya. Harish ke haath kaanp raha tha darr ke wajah se nhi apne purane saathi se milkar aur usse iss haal mein dekhar.

Patthar aadha andar hi raha.

Dhruv ka chaaku seedha ek jhatke mein ek tez dhaar ke saath Harish ke gardan ke paas se guzar gaya.

Harish ka sharir ek taraf jhuka. Jaise zameen ne use thaama ho, jungle ki mitti ne pakad liya woh mitti jisse usne zindagi bhar baat ki thi.

Uski aankhein khuli rahi aur aasan ke taraf dekhte rhe. Kuch VanRajya ke paate udte hue uske chere ke taraf aa rhe the.

Door se Vrishank ki kaadmon ke woh jaane pechane awaaz aa rhe the.

Par woh sab bahut door tha abhi uske ke liye.

Uski ungliyan zameen mein dhasi gaye. Aur zameen ne ek halki si kaampan ke saath ek aakhri baar jawab diya jaise koi uska purana dost ho jo haath thaame ho jab jaane ka waqt ho.

Dhruv khada rha aur upar dekh raha tha. Uske aansu ke boonde Hairsh ke haath ke band mutthi ke ret mein mil gye.


***

Mahal ki deewarein door se hi alag dikhti thi.

Karan ne jungle ki aakhri jhaadiyon ke peechhe se dekha. Mahal ki neenv moti thi, darwaze bade the aur darwaze ke bahar...

"Yeh kaankal nahi hain," Aditya ne halki awaaz mein kaha. Woh uske saath bagal mein tha.



Haan. Yeh Kaankal nahi the.

Woh zinda insaan the. Kavach pehne hue neele rang ka kavach jo kisi dhaatu se bana tha, uss dhaatu ki tarah jo paani ke neeche samudar mein milti hai..

"Yeh..." Karan ne poocha.

"Samudargrihka." Aditya ki awaaz mein hairani thi. "Yeh Samudargrihka ke sipahi hain Rajkumar."

"Samudargrihka?" Karan ne dobara kaha. "Woh toh..."

"Samudra ke kinare ka rajya hai." Aditya ne jhuk ke aur gaur se dekha. "Bahut door hai yahan se. Yeh log yahaan kya kar rahe hain? Kyun aaye hain?" Woh kuch pal chup raha. "Kuch bhi ho Rajkumar andar nahi jaana chahiye inhe. Jo bhi andar hai woh inhe nahi pata. Ek baar andar gaye toh Ravisha ke haath mein aa jayenge. Woh zinda nahi bachenge wahan se"

Karan ki nazar mahal ke darwaze par gayi.

"Rokna hoga inhe par kaise,".

"Haan. Par kaise? Yeh log humare ko nahi jaante. Agar seedha bola toh maanenge nahi."

Karan ne ek pal socha. "Chalo fir kuch toh karna hi hoga."

Dono jhaadiyon se bahar nikle. Bina kisi haath mein hathiyaar liye aur woh zaroori tha, pehli nazar mein unhe woh dushman nahi lagni chahiye

Neele kavach wale sipahiyon mein se ek ne inhe dekha aur apni bhaala seedhi kiya

"Ruko," Ek sipahi ne chetwani di. Uski awaaz thos thi "Kaun ho tum? Kahan se aaye ho?"

"Yaheen Vanrajya se, Jungle se. Aur tumse kuch kehna tha." Aditya ne narm awaaz mein kaha.

"Kya baat hai?"

"Yeh ke andar mat jao yahan khatra hai" Aditya ne jawab diya

Sipahi ne ek baar Karan ko dekha. Ek baar Aditya ko. Phir apne saathi ko. Doosre sipahi ne halki si hansi dabaai.

"Andar nahi jana?" Pehle sipahi ne poocha. "Tum kaun hote ho rokne wale?"

"Aisa koi nahi hai jo-" Doosre sipahi ne bolna shuru kiya tha

"Meri baat suno pehle," Aditya bola. Uski awaaz mein na gussa tha na ghabrahat. "Main jaanta hoon tum log kahan jaana chahte ho. Par jis jagah mein jaana chahte ho woh ab uss jagah nahi rahi. Sab badal gaya hai andar."

"Kya bol raha hai yeh?" Ek aur sipahi ne aage aakar kaha. "Hume Maharani se milna hai. Unhe badhayi dene hai unki wapsi par. Yeh?!?"

"Maharani wahan nahi hain," Karan ne kaha.

Sab ne Karan ki taraf dekha.

Unka Commander jo ab tak thoda peeche khada tha aage aaya lambai mein Karan ke barabar tha.

"Kaun ho tum?" Commander ne poocha. Uski awaaz bhaari thi.

Karan "Yeh jaroori nahi hai jaruri yeh hai ki tum andar mat jao."

"Kyun nahi jayein?"

"Kyunki andar se koi zinda nahi nikla kafi dino se."

Commander ne ek pal Karan ko dekha. Woh kuch soch raha tha.

Par tabhi Sipahiyon ke beech se ek awaaz aayi

Sab ne peeche ke taraf mudhkar dekha.

Woh ek stri thi nahi... woh sirf koi aaam stri nahi thi. Woh kuch aur thi uss ek pal mein jab woh sipahiyon ke beech se aage aayi. Uski chaal mein ek aisa ittminaan tha jo sirf unhe hota hai jo jaante hain ki sab unhe dekh rahe hain aur unhe fark nahi padta.




Woh Karan ke saamne ruki. Dono ko ek baar ek baar dekha.

"Kya hua hai?"

"Yeh dono humein andar jaane se rok rahe hain," Commander ne kaha. "Kehte hain andar nahi jaana chahiye."

Stri ne Aditya ki taraf dekha. "Kyun?"

"Kyunki andar ab Maharani nahi hain," Aditya ne seedha kaha. "Jo koi bhi andar hai woh Vanrajya ka nahi hai. Aur agar aap log andar gaye toh woh logon ko whi khtm kar denge."

Varsha ne suna par chup rhi. Uski aankhein Aditya par tiki rahi.

"Naam kya hai tumhara?"

"Aditya."

"Aditya." Usne naam doharaaya jaise use parichay jaanch kar rahi ho. "Aur tum?"

"Karan."

"Main tumhare baat kyu maanun?" Usne seedha poocha. "Tum dono kahin se bhi aa sakte ho. Koi bhi yeh keh sakta hai ki andar khatraa hai. Aur hum rukk jayein aise hi? Sirf tumhare kehne par?"

"Hum jhooth nahi bol rahe," Karan

"Jhooth bolne wale bhi yahi kehte hain," Varsha ne jawab diya. "Mujhe koi cheez chahiye. Koi pramaan. Koi aisi baat jo tum mujhe bata sako jo sirf woh jaante hain jo sach mein Maharani ke apne hain."

Karan ne Aditya ki taraf dekha. Aditya samajh gaya.

"Maharani ka poora naam," Varsha ne pucha. "Jo naam sirf unke bahut khaas log jaante hain. Agar tum sach mein unke apne ho toh batao."

Karan ne ek saans li. Usne khainhe toh padha hoga woh...usse woh bhi kaise ab tak nhi pata tha?

Karan ne muh khola par uske shabd ke jagah Mahal ka darwaza khula.

gehri awaaz jo bade darwazon ki hoti hai jab woh khulte hain aaye. Phir ek aurat usmein se bahar aaye

Ravisha.


Woh bilkul ussi andaaz mein chal rahi thi jaise Akanksha ko woh itne dino se dekh rha tha.

Aur uski aankhein Uski aankhein iss puri jagah par ghoomin. Sipahiyon par. Varhsa par. Aditya par.

Karan par!!?



Aaj ke liye itna hi milte hai next update mein parson tak. ^⁠_⁠^

 

[parkas]

Chapter 37
Knife's Edge


Jungle ki dusri paar se Ghode ki taap door se pehle sunaiye de jahan raat abhi poori tarah nahi gayi thi aur subah abhi aadhi hi aayi thi. Awaz aate hi Kalindi ka haath apne aap apne hathiyaar par chala gaya. Phir woh ek pal ruka. Kyunki woh awaaz alag thi woh koi bhagta hua ghoda nahi tha. Shayd ek aisi sawari thi jisme koi bahut der se chal raha ho aur ab thak ke bhi nahi ruka ho kyunki rukne se jaruri uska maksad tha.

Kalindi jungle ke us hisse ki taraf badha jahan raah seedhi thi. Dhundh abhi thi ped ke upar chaiye hue the. Ghoda ped ke saaye se nikla toh Kalindi ki nazar seedha sawaar par gayi.

Ek pal ke liye woh bas khada raha.

"Hmmm..." Usne apne aap se kaha.

Akansha neeche utri. Uske paon zameen par pade toh ek pal ke liye taangein itne dur ki sawari ke baad kaanp si gayi. Usne ek haath ghode ki gardan par rakha aur dheere se sehlaya.



Kalindi do kadam aage aaya. "Aap...?"

"Haan." Akansha ki awaaz mein woh thakan thi jo sirf andar se aati hai.

"Mere saath aur bhi log aa rahe hain tere. Thoda peeche hain. Unhe yahan pahuchne mein thoda sa waqt lag skta hai"

Kalindi ne apne sir dusre disha mein Kiya. Woh sab woh dekh lega par pehle dusre tarf camp mein jake suchit karna jyada jaruri tha.

Kalindi muda aur jungle ki raah par chala gaya. Aur Akansha ke unn sab se milne ke liye utsukta badh gye jab uske nazar un chhote chhote camp aur unke beech jal rhe aanch par padi.

***

Nandani uss waqt ek patthar ke paas baithi thi.

Haath mein kapda tha jise woh silne ki koshish thi par uska dhyan nahi lag raha tha. Usse neend bhi nhi aa rhe the. Woh jaanti thi ki soona chahiye, aaram karna chahiye par dil tha ki maanta nahi. Dil ko apni qarar nahi milti jab tak kuch sahi na ho aur abhi toh uska beta aur behan usse dur the. Abhi toh kuch bhi sahi nahi tha.

Roopmati ne darwaze ke paas se awaaz di. Roopmati pichle kuch dino se uske seva mein thi. "Maharani Kalindi keh raha tha koi aayi hai" usse sunte hi Nandani ne kapda neeche rakha aur uthne lagi. Baar baar yahi hota tha itne dino se har din koi na koi usse milne aata tha.

Ped ke lambe saayo ke beech aur camp ke ek kone mein ek stri khadi thi.

Usse dekhte hi Nandani ke kadam ruk gaye.

Woh stri jiski peeth abhi uske taraf thi par jis tarah se woh khadi thi... Nandani ka dil ek pal ke liye tham gaya. Kuch tha uss mein jo woh bahut pehle se dekhte aa rhe the.

Phir achanak woh mudi.

Aur Nandani ka haath apne aap apne muh par chala gaya.

Chehra wahi tha. Bilkul wahi. Jo uske yaad mein tha. Bilkul wahi nakassi. Wahi aankhen. Wahi muskaan jo abhi aadhi thi.

Par woh twacha.

Aur woh neela rang. Haath se lekar gardan tak woh nilaahat jo uski chamdi mein ghuli hui thi. Nandani ki aankhein chaude ho gayi. Woh ek qadam aage badhi phir ruk gayi.

"Akansha?" Uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.

"Di." Usne bas ek hi shabd kaha. Par uss ek shabd mein saalon ke alag hone ke gehrayi thi.

Nandani bhaagi ya shayad Akansha ne pehle qadam liya. Baad mein kisi ko yaad nahi raha. Bas yeh raha ki dono ek saath the Nandani ne apni behen ko iss tarah se pakda jaise kabhi dubara nahi chhordna ho, jaise agar haath dhila kiya toh kuch baar phir se bichad jayenge. Aur Akansha ne apni badi behen ki peeth mein apna chehra chhupa liya aur apne aankein band kar lein.

Bahut der tak dono ne kuch nahi bola.

Phir Nandani ne dheere se peeche hat ke Akansha ka chehra apne haathon mein liya. Uski ungliyan Akansha ki gaal par gayi.

"Yeh..." Nandani ki bhanwein simat gayi.

"Baad mein Di," Akansha ne jawab diya. "Sab bataungi Di. Sab kuch. Par abhi..." Usne Nandani ki ungliyan pakd li. "Abhi sirf yahaan aapke paas rehne do mujhe."

Nandani ne ek lambi saans li. Agar woh keh rahi hai baad mein toh wajah hogi. Woh hamesha aisi thi seedha baat karne wali par hamesha shi samay pe sab zaahir karte the.

"Theek hai. Par zyada din nahi taltegi yeh baat."

Akansha halke se muskurayi "Nahi talungi Di."

***

Payal ne bahar kisi goonz sune aur apne camp se bahar aake usne dekha.

"Mausi!"

Akansha ka dil ek pal ke liye ruka. Woh shabd. Woh awaaz. Kitne saalon baad sune the usne.

Payal ne paas aate hi lipat ke usse pakad liya. Itne zoron se ki Akansha ko ek kadam peeche hona pada. Apne bhaare aankhon aur apni thakan ke bawajood ke bhi woh hasi. Payal hans aur ro ek saath rahi thi.

Jab dono alag hue toh Payal ne sar se paon tak dekha.

"Aap pehle alag lagte the," Payal bole. "Matlab... jo pehle thi woh aap nhi thi. Main..." Woh ek pal ke liye ruki apne alfaaz dhundhte hue. "Main hamesha jaanti thi ke kuch theek nahi hai. Hamesha lagta tha ke woh... Kuch toh tha jo andar se nahi aata tha. Isliye main unse zyada nahi jud payi. Hamesha door hi rahi...sab kuch sunne ke baad mere samjh mein aaya sab."

Dono ke beech ek pal ke kaamoshi thi.

Akansha ne Payal ke maathe pe haath rakha. "Bahut samajhdaar ho gayi hai tu Payal."

Payal ke aankhe chamke. "Matlab mein sahi thi?"

"Bilkul sahi thi. Woh main nahi thi. Par ab mein yahan tumahre saath hoon hoon. Yeh bhi sach hai."

Akansha ne phir se usse gale laga liya, "Kaise ho Payal? Jab tumhe antim baar dekha tha toh tum shayd 19 saal ke thi?"

Payal ke yeh sunte hi dil paseez gaya woh 8 saal baad usse mil rhe the?!?

Thode der baad Akansha Nandani ke baaki saathiyon se mile. Par baar baar uski nazar ghoomti. Camp ke ek kone se doosre kone tak. Jungle ki raah ki taraf har baar jab koi kadamon ki awaaz aate.

Nandani ne yeh notice kiya. Pehli baar chhodne diya. Doosri baar bhi. Teesri baar halki si muskaan aayi uske honthon par.

"Kisse dhundh rahi ho... Akansha?" Nandani ne woh seedha sawaal kiya.

Akansha ek dum se jhatka kha gye. Phir usne usse taalne ki koshish ki.
"Nahi Di... bas camp dekh rahi thi."

"Haan," Nandani ne itminaan se kaha. "Bilkul. Camp...par usmein aisa kuch khaas toh nhi hai."

Akansha ne apna gilaas apne sharmindagi chupne ke liye apne hothon se laga diya. Payal ne dusri taraf muh kar ke hansne ki koshish ki.

Nandani ne bhi apni chai ki ghooont li. Phir woh seedha bole "Akansha. Main jaanti hoon. Saalon se jaanti hoon tumhe. Tune kabhi muh se nahi kaha par kuch cheezein kehni nahi padti." Usne apna haath Akansha ke haath par rakha. "Woh yahaan nahi hai abhi."

Akansha ki aankhein ek pal ke liye band hui.

"Kahan gaya hai?" Uski awaaz bahut dheemi thi.

"Abhi khin gaya hai woh Aditya ke saath ek kaam ke liye Vanrjaya ko. Jab tak mujhse baat karlo...ya apne badi behan mein koi ruchi nhi hai tumhe?"

"Nhi...nhi," Woh boli.

Nandani "Jaanti hoon mein ab boodhi ho gye."

"Nhi woh baat nhi hai..." Akansha hichkichate hue bole.

Payal unke tang kichayi dekh ke man ke man prasan thi.

**

Suabh sirf ek patli si lakeer thi jo haandi ke kinare par padi thi.

Prachi ke haath kaam kar rahe the. Woh subah ka khana banane mein lage hue the. Uske haath apna kaam jante the. Par uska dimaag kahin aur tha. Bahut door. Ya shayad bahut paas.



Kal ki wo gehri, narm ghaas ki khushboo abhi bhi uske zehen mein thi woh jungle ki khamoshi, woh pal jab sab kuch tham gaya tha, duniya bhi, waqt bhi, aur uske saans bhi. Sirf woh pal raha tha aur Karan raha tha, aur in dono ke darmiyan kuch aisa tha jis ka koi naam dhundhne ki zaroorat nahi thi.

Prachi ke rukhsaar par ek lataafat bhari lali chadh aayi.

Usne apna chehra doosri taraf phera jaise koi dekh naa le . Par rasoi mein sirf woh thi aur khali kuch dhuan tha. Aur woh khayaalaat the jo baar baar palat ke aate the jaise koi lehrein aati hain.

*"Mujhe apna bana lo..."*

Usne haandi mein chamcha kuch zyada hi zor se ghuma diya. Ek chheenat aayi uske haath par lage.

"Uff," Prachi ne apne aap ko kosa. Phir woh muskaan aayi jo rokne ki tamam koshishon ke bawajood honton par aa jaati hai, jaise phool ko koi rok nahi sakta jab khilna uski fitrat ho.

Usne chamcha saaf kiya. Aanch dheem ke. ek lamha uss khamoshi mein rahi woh khamoshi jo mehroom nahi thi par itne bhari bhi nhi the.

***

Kamra chhota tha, ek chota sa kamra jisme se jungle ki thandi meethi hawa aati thi, ek darwaza aur ek bistar bas.

Prachi ne apne kapde utaare aur kapdon ki potli ki taraf dekha.



Tabhi nazar Karan ki kameez par padi.

Woh wahi waali kal ki. Prachi ke kapdon ke beech woh pata nhi kab uske saath aa gye. Woh iss potli mein kab aayi uss jaldi mein, uss pagal si hulchul mein Prachi ko yaad nahi raha.

Usne use uthaya.

Isme abhi bhi uski khushboo thi. Prachi ne aankhein band ki aur ek lambi saans li.

*Yahi hai teri haqeeqat Prachi. Isse mat bhaago ab.*

Usne use ek taraf ittminan se rakha. Apne naye kapde pehne kurta, dupatta aur aaine ke saamne khadi hui. Ek pal apna hi chehra dekha. Aankhon mein aaj ek alag rang tha woh rang jo tab aa jaata hai jab koi dil ke andar koi cheez le ke jeene lagta hai, koi aisi cheez jo bojh nahi dusre ke roshni hote hai.


Jabhi darwaze se dastak aayi.

"Prachi? Tum andar ho? Kya fursat hai thodi tumhe?"

Payal ki awaz uske kano mein pade

Prachi ka haath ek pal ke liye hawa mein ruka. Kameez jo abhi bhi bistar ke kinare par wahi rakhi thi usne ek gahri saans li aur kapdon ke neeche thoda daba de. Phir jaake darwaza khola.

Payal dahleez par khadi thi. Chehra hamesha ki tarah saaf aur seedha par aankhon mein aaj kuch aur tha.

"Haan Rajkumari aaiye," Prachi ne jagah banayi. "Sab khairiyet?"

Payal andar aayi. Ek nazar kamre par gayi use woh chhoti si aadat jisme sab kuch dekhne ki fitrat thi. Phir woh ek pathar ke tile par baith gayi.

"Kuch poochhna tha," Payal ne seedha kaha.

"Puchiye."

"Karan ke baare mein kuch..." Payal.
"Kuch ajeeb toh nahi laga tujhe? Koi cheez hai jo tujhe maloom ho aur mujhe nahi?"

Prachi ki bhanwein upar uthti. "Ajeeb? Karan bilkul theek hai. Yeh sawaal kyun Rajkumari?"

Payal "Bas...Woh thoda alag lagta hai. Kuch alag rehta hai usmein aaj kal. Socha tum kuch jaanti ho."

"Nahi aisa kuch nahi Rajkumari" Prachi ne jaldi se kaha.

"Sab waisa toh hai."

Par Payal baar baar ek hi jawab se raazi hone wali nahi thi. Woh jaanti thi ki kuch tha usne jitne jaldi jawab diya, abhi ek pal mein jab Prachi ki nazar kahin aur gayi thi. Chhoti chhoti cheezein pakadna uski aadat thi.

Payal ki nazar kamre mein ghoomne lagi. Uske aankhon jisme ek talab tha, woh talab jo tab hota hai jab jawab alfazon mein nahi milta toh nishaanon mein dhundha jaata hai.

Bistar ke ek kone par uski nazar ruki. Wahan se kuch bahar nikla hua tha ek kapda. Woh rang... woh kaala laal rang... yeh Prachi ka nahi tha. Kyuki usne usse waise rang ke vastr phente hue kabhi dekha hi nhi.

Payal uthke bistar ki taraf chali.

"Payal woh"

Par Payal ne woh kapda utha liya tha.

Woh uske haath mein thi ab. Kamre mein ek khamoshi chaaye.

Payal ne uski dekha. Phir Prachi ko. Phir dobara uss vastr ko.

"Yeh..." Payal ki awaaz dheemi thi. "Yeh Karan ke kapde hai."

Prachi ne kuch nahi kaha.

"Tere kapdon mein," Payal ne aahista aahista kaha jaise har lafz ek ek karke sahi jagah rakh rahi ho. "mere bhai ki kameez... tere bistar mein?!?."

Prachi ki nazar zameen par utri aur whin tik gayi.

"Prachi." Payal ki awaaz mein ek kat thi par woh kat naram thi. "Prachi mein tumhe apne dost smjhte hoon...isliye ek dost ke hasiyat se puch rhe hoon koi baat kehni hai tumhe? Isko samjhaogi mujhe?"

Prachi ne ek lambe saans le. Phir aankhein uthaayi aur seedha Payal ko dekha. Jis pal mein jhooth chhordne ka faisla hota hai woh pal sab se bhaari hota hai aur sab se halka bhi kisi ke liye. Uske aage usse tay karna tha.

"Nahi Payal." Uski awaaz mein ek ajeeb qism ka sukoon tha woh sukoon jo tab aata hai jab insaan bojh utaar deta hai. "Nahi samaajhaa sakti koi aur koi baat banaake. Jo hai wahi hai."

Payal ki bhanwein simat gayi. "Matlab?"

Prachi ne ek pal liya. Phir seedha, bina kisi laapetwali baat ke bina kisi bahane ke bole

"Main Karan se muhabbat karti hoon."

Woh teen alfaaz kamre mein ghoom gaye.

Payal ne kuch nahi kaha. Woh bas sun hoke Prachi ko dekhti rahi. Uske chehre par koi ek bhaavna nahi thi jo kise ek shabd mein samete jaa ske.

Phir usne dheere se kameez bistar par rakhi. Aur bistar par baith gayi. Dono haath ghutno par rkhe.

"Kab se?" Uski awaaz nihayat halki thi.

"Zyada nahi," Prachi bole. "Matlab... lamba arsa nahi hai hua hai Payal. Yeh..." Woh ruki. "Yeh ek baar mein nahi hua. Koi ek din nahi tha jab maine faisla kiya ho ke use apne jaal mein fasaun. Bas... hota gaya. Jaise kuch cheezein hoti hain bina izaazat maange, bina ittila diye jab bhi usko dekthi thi."

Payal ne Prachi ke chehre par ek nazar daali. Uss aankhon mein koi khel nahi tha woh sach aur jhooth mein fark karna jaanti thi, aur Prachi ke chehra mein woh dard tha jo kise natak mein nahi hota.

Woh jaanti thi. Prachi jhooth nahi bol rahi thi.

Par jaanna aur maan lena alag raahein hote hain.

Payal uthke khidki ki taraf gayi. Jungle ki madham hawa andar aayi. Uski aankhein bahar par thi par dekh kuch aur rahi thi woh kuch jo uske andar daud rha tha.

Ek aisi bhaavna jo Payal ne khud bhi nahi pehchani thi abhi tak ya shayad pehchani thi aur aankhein pher li thi. Ek halki si chhoti si tees woh tees jo tab aarti hai jab koi cheez jo dil ke bahut qareeb thi woh kisi aur ke haath chali jaati hai. Woh tees jiski koi naam nahi tha jiski koi haq nahi thi par lagte shi jagah hai woh.

Payal ne uss tees ko andar hi andar daba liya. Aur fir mudi.

"Woh Vanrajya ka Rajkumar hai Prachi". Uski awaaz ab seedhi aur thi woh awaaz jo badi behen ki hoti hai jab zimmedaari ki baat aaye. "Yeh koi aam baat nahi hai Prachi. Uski zimmedaariyan hain, uske dushman hain, uska ek wujood hai jis par bahut kuch tika hua hai. Aur main..." Woh ek pal ke liye ruki. "Main use kisi bhi aisi jagah mein nahi dekh sakti jahan use zakhm mile. Chahe kisi ke bhi hathon se."

"Payal"

"Mein poora hisaab maangungi tum dono se," Payal ne beech mein kaha. Uski awaaz mein woh bedagi thi jo dard ko chhupane ke liye karte hain. "Sab kuch. Kab hua, kaise hua, kya hua. Ek baar bas woh wapas aaye"

Prachi ne sir hilaya. Apne aansuon ko andar hi roka. "Haan theek hai Rajkumari."

"Aur yeh bhi sun," Payal ne aage kaha ab uski awaaz thodi thos thi. "Uske saath jo bhi hai usme agar teri niyat mein koi khot hai agar—"

"Nahi." Prachi ki awaaz mein ek aissi pukhtagi aayi jo pehle nahi thi. "Koi khot nahi. Koi buri niyat nahi thi kabhi. Main jaanti hoon woh kaun hai. Main jaanti hoon yeh asaan nahi. Par..." Uski awaaz thodi kaanpi.

Payal ne ek lambi pal tak kuch nahi kaha.

Phri woh Darwaze ki taraf badhi aur bina mude bole.

"Karan bahut saaf dil ka hai Prachi. Mujhe uske saath koi ched chad nhi chaiye."

Prachi ki aankhein bhar aayi "Woh kabhi nahi hogi Payal."

Payal ne darwaza khola aur woh bahar chali gayi.

Prachi kaafi der tak wahi rahi. Usne dheere se Karan ka vastr uthaaya. Apne seene se lagaaya aur halke se, jaise koi amaanat pakadta hai uske apne muthe ke beech mein kas liya.

***

Nadi ka paani thanda tha par kaankaalon ko thandi kab lagti hai upar se woh toh kood kar usse paar kar rhe the.

Ek ke baad ek woh patthar ke raaste par aate rahe. Agrak ne jo pull banaya tha woh tera medha tha, thoda khisak raha tha par kaam kar raha tha. Haddiyon ki khatkhatahat aur lohe ki ragad dono mil ke ek azeeb sa sur bana
Unka Commander sabse aage tha.

Aur uske saath ek cheez jo mara hua janwar tha. Ab sirf haddiyon ka dhaacha tha jo zameen par khichta hua chalta tha. Chaar pair the par woh zinda janwar ki tarah nahi uthte the woh nochte the zameen ko. Uski badi si khopdi mein do jagah khooli thi.

Commander kinare par pahunchke ruk gaya.

***

Harish ne woh jaal pure teen raat mein banaya tha.

Harish beech beech mein zameen ke andar ke halchal ko sunta tha. Zameen ko sunna uski aadat thi saalon se.

Pehla jaal jungle ke kuch door wale raaste ke neeche tha. Upar pattiyaan, geeli mitti ki patli parat se dhaka jo nangi aankhon ko kuch nazar nahi aata tha.

Pehla kaankal sipahi jab us raaste se guzra.

*DHUM.*

Neeche andar gira aur haddiyan ek pal mein usmein bhikar gye.

Harish ek bade patthar ke peeche khada tha. Usne woh awaaz suni. Aankhein band ki. Zameen ke zariye mahsoos kiya paon ke neeche se uss kaampan ko.

Bahut saare the, usne
ek unchi chattan par chadhna shuru kiya. Umar ne apna asar kiya tha saans phool rahi thi par zameen ki shakti ne kabhi usse akela nahi choda. Upar pahuncha toh jungle ke paar tak nazar gayi.

Usne dekha ke Kaankaalon ki fauj jo Door tak pheli hui. Unki haddiyan dhundh mein bhi chamak rahi thi. Aur aage unka ek bada sa commander aur uske saath woh mitr janwar.



Harish ne ek lambi saans le aur neeche dekha.

Vrishank apni chhoti tukdi ke saath tha, sab ke haath hathiyaaron par taiyaar the.

"VRISHANK!" Harish ki awaaz jungle mein dono taraf gayi. "SAB KO TAIYAAR KARO! AAJ LADNA hi HOGA!"

Vrishank ne upar dekha aur talwar nikaali. Neeche haath se apne saathiyon ko ishara kiya.


Commander ruk gaya jab ek akela aadmi jungle ki chhaon se nikal ke saamne aa gaya.

Chaal mein wo tezi nahi thi jo jawaan mein hoti hai jisse pata hota hai ke pair kahaan rakne hain.

Harish ne dono haath dheere se band kiye. Zameen ne jawaab diya aur uske paon ke neeche se ek bahut halki kaampan aayi.

"Whi Rukke raho," Harish ne seedha commander ki aankhon mein dekh ke chetwani di. "Jab tak main hoon ek kadam bhi aage nahi jaana koi."

Commander ne ek nazar pheri. Phir woh khokhli hansi aayi jo andar se nahi haddiyon se nikli thi.

"Rani ka hukm hai," Commander ne kaha. Uski awaaz toot toot ke aati thi jaise purana darwaza khulta hai. "Jhuk jao aur hamari maange puri karo ya zameen mein mil jao. Chunna tumhare haath mein hai abhi bhi." Usne apna haath apne janwar ki khopdi par rakha. "Khoon maafi se hoga mehanga hota hai."

"Ho gaya?!?," Harish ne bola

"Jawaab hai nahi."

***

Commander ka haath uthaa.

Janwar woh haddiyon dhaacha ek pal ke liye ruka. Uske aankhe toh thi nhi toh woh bas sungh ke apne sikhr ka pata lagata tha. Phir woh Harish ki taraf itna tez bhaaga ki aankh jhaptke hi woh uske paas pahuch gaya.

Harish ne ek kadam peeche liya aur dono haath zameen par de maare.

Zameen kaanpi aur ek badi chattan zameen se seedhe upar bahar aayi jaise kisi ne neeche se dhakela ho. Janwar usse takraya. haddi se patthar ki awaaz goonji. Bagal mein koodte hue woh apni chaar taangon par khada ho gaya aur dobaara bhagane laga.

Harish ne is baar mitti aur kayi pattharon ko ek saath hawa mein uthaya. Aur janwar ke taraf seedha hamla kiya.

*KRAAK.*

Uske japde ke ek taraf laga aur woh dur dhad hoke gir gaya woh janwar phir bhi bhagta rha.

Harish ne dono haath ek saath aapas mein milaye. Zameen ki ret, patthar, sab ek saath udne lage.

Janwar ka bacha hua dhancha usmein ud ke bhikarne laga.

Haddiyon ka baaki dhaancha bikhar gaya aur woh neeche gir gaya.

Harish ne saans li.

Tabhi charon taraf se hamala shru ho gye shru mein teen kaankal the. Aur fir sabne usse ek saath gher liya




Harish ne abhi apne peeth nahi pheri aur ankh band ke.

Dono haath uthaye zameen mein ek gahri dararr aagye jisme ek kaankal seedha samaa gaya. Doosre ke Harish ne ek haath se uske talwar ko pakda, thodi der mein uske haath ke gird patthar ka kavach se ban gaya tha.

Doosra haath ghuma ke dusre tarah ke sainik mitti ke toofan mein gayab se hone lage.

Par yeh sab bahut saare the woh Harish ke abhi ke umar ke hisab se bahut zyada the isliye woh jaydatar yud khsetr ke door se hi Aditya ka saath deta tha. Par ab usse Maharani Nandani ke surakshit rkhne ke liye thoda samay nikalna tha.

Ek ne peeche se apna bhala uske kandhe par maara. Dusra ne jhukke ke uske ghutne pe vaar kiya. Teesre ek taraf se uske gardan ko pakad liya. Harish ne zameen se ek badi deewar uthaayi do sipahiyon ko rokne ke liye. par tab tak chaar aur aa chuke the. Kuch usko kood kar paar kar le rhe the.

Harish ke ghutne par kuch laga. Ek talwar uske baazu ko cheerte hue nikal gayi par woh khada raha.

Uska ek haath zameen par pada. Usse apne aakhiri skti ka istemal karna hi hoga chahe uske jaan chale jaye usmein... Maharani Nandani ko surakshit rkhna hi hoga chahe kuch bhi ho.

Usne Uthne ki koshish ki..tabhi

*DHAK.*

Commander ka haath puri shakti se saath Harish ke kandhe par aaya. Harish ka doosra ghutna bhi uske zor se zameen pe aa gaya.

Commander dheere dheere uske saamne aaya. Harish ne upar dekha.

"Boodhe ho gaye ho meri purane saathi Harish." Uski awaaz mein kuch tha jo Harish ke samajh nahi aaya "Apni umar ke hisaab se lado. Yeh tumhara jungle nahi hai ab."

"Tu Mera naam janta hai?" Uske thaki hui thi par toot nhi the abhi.

Commander ne hansna shuru kiya.

Jungle mein woh hansi goonj gayi. Baaki Sipahiyon ne ek bhi kadam peeche liya.

"Sochta tha tu bhool jaayega," Commander ne kaha. "Par itna bhi nahi socha tha."

Harish ne dhyan se dekha ab. Uss Kavach ko. Uss nishaan ko jo ek taraf bana hua tha kavach par. Uske ek khaas Nishan bana hua tha.

"Dhruv?"

Uske bolte hi jaise koi andar se bahut puraani deewar toot gayi ho.

Phir commander ne apna sar thoda jhukaya jo ke uske purani aadat thi.

"Tu... tu mar gaya tha". Harish ke awaaz kaanp rahi thi . "Woh jab pehli baar hamla tha jab Kaalandard ke jaanwaron se lad rhe the tu unke saath tha. Humne tujhe itna dhoonda bhi tha. Par kuch nahi mila. Hum sab ne socha ki!"

"Kaalandard ke janwar mujhe keech ke le gaye the," Commander ne jawab diya. Uski awaaz ab aur thandi thi itne thandi jo baraf ke andar se aati hai. "Par mein itne jaldi marna nhi chata. Mujhe wapas laaya gaya. Naya roop mein. Nayi taaqat mein."

"Dhruv sun!"

"Woh naam mat le Harish."

"Woh aadmi ab jaa chuka hai. Zameen mein sama chuka hai woh. Jo main ab hoon woh alag hoon."

"Par Teri patni "

"CHUP."

Phir dheere se bola "Uske yaad nhi dilane the tujhe."

Uss ek shabd mein bahut kuch daba hua tha. Kuch jo abhi bhi uske andar chub rha tha chahe woh kuch bhi ho ab chahe kitna bhi badal gaya ho.

Harish ne aankhein band ki.

*Dhruv tu mera saathi hai. Hum ek hi fauj mein the kitne saal tak. Teri hassi yaad hai mujhe. Teri patni ki roti yaad hai jo woh camp mein hamare liye saath laati thi.*

Dhruv "Sawaalon ke jawaab nahi deta main. Woh aage badha uske haath mein kaali dhaar ka chaaku tha . "Mare hue aadmi ko kya jawab dena chaiye vaise bhi." Dhruv ke aankhon se ab aansu beh rahe the.

Harish ne haath aage badhaya. Zameen se ek patthar uthane ki koshish ki.

Zameen ne dheere se jawaab diya. Harish ke haath kaanp raha tha darr ke wajah se nhi apne purane saathi se milkar aur usse iss haal mein dekhar.

Patthar aadha andar hi raha.

Dhruv ka chaaku seedha ek jhatke mein ek tez dhaar ke saath Harish ke gardan ke paas se guzar gaya.

Harish ka sharir ek taraf jhuka. Jaise zameen ne use thaama ho, jungle ki mitti ne pakad liya woh mitti jisse usne zindagi bhar baat ki thi.

Uski aankhein khuli rahi aur aasan ke taraf dekhte rhe. Kuch VanRajya ke paate udte hue uske chere ke taraf aa rhe the.

Door se Vrishank ki kaadmon ke woh jaane pechane awaaz aa rhe the.

Par woh sab bahut door tha abhi uske ke liye.

Uski ungliyan zameen mein dhasi gaye. Aur zameen ne ek halki si kaampan ke saath ek aakhri baar jawab diya jaise koi uska purana dost ho jo haath thaame ho jab jaane ka waqt ho.

Dhruv khada rha aur upar dekh raha tha. Uske aansu ke boonde Hairsh ke haath ke band mutthi ke ret mein mil gye.


***

Mahal ki deewarein door se hi alag dikhti thi.

Karan ne jungle ki aakhri jhaadiyon ke peechhe se dekha. Mahal ki neenv moti thi, darwaze bade the aur darwaze ke bahar...

"Yeh kaankal nahi hain," Aditya ne halki awaaz mein kaha. Woh uske saath bagal mein tha.



Haan. Yeh Kaankal nahi the.

Woh zinda insaan the. Kavach pehne hue neele rang ka kavach jo kisi dhaatu se bana tha, uss dhaatu ki tarah jo paani ke neeche samudar mein milti hai..

"Yeh..." Karan ne poocha.

"Samudargrihka." Aditya ki awaaz mein hairani thi. "Yeh Samudargrihka ke sipahi hain Rajkumar."

"Samudargrihka?" Karan ne dobara kaha. "Woh toh..."

"Samudra ke kinare ka rajya hai." Aditya ne jhuk ke aur gaur se dekha. "Bahut door hai yahan se. Yeh log yahaan kya kar rahe hain? Kyun aaye hain?" Woh kuch pal chup raha. "Kuch bhi ho Rajkumar andar nahi jaana chahiye inhe. Jo bhi andar hai woh inhe nahi pata. Ek baar andar gaye toh Ravisha ke haath mein aa jayenge. Woh zinda nahi bachenge wahan se"

Karan ki nazar mahal ke darwaze par gayi.

"Rokna hoga inhe par kaise,".

"Haan. Par kaise? Yeh log humare ko nahi jaante. Agar seedha bola toh maanenge nahi."

Karan ne ek pal socha. "Chalo fir kuch toh karna hi hoga."

Dono jhaadiyon se bahar nikle. Bina kisi haath mein hathiyaar liye aur woh zaroori tha, pehli nazar mein unhe woh dushman nahi lagni chahiye

Neele kavach wale sipahiyon mein se ek ne inhe dekha aur apni bhaala seedhi kiya

"Ruko," Ek sipahi ne chetwani di. Uski awaaz thos thi "Kaun ho tum? Kahan se aaye ho?"

"Yaheen Vanrajya se, Jungle se. Aur tumse kuch kehna tha." Aditya ne narm awaaz mein kaha.

"Kya baat hai?"

"Yeh ke andar mat jao yahan khatra hai" Aditya ne jawab diya

Sipahi ne ek baar Karan ko dekha. Ek baar Aditya ko. Phir apne saathi ko. Doosre sipahi ne halki si hansi dabaai.

"Andar nahi jana?" Pehle sipahi ne poocha. "Tum kaun hote ho rokne wale?"

"Aisa koi nahi hai jo-" Doosre sipahi ne bolna shuru kiya tha

"Meri baat suno pehle," Aditya bola. Uski awaaz mein na gussa tha na ghabrahat. "Main jaanta hoon tum log kahan jaana chahte ho. Par jis jagah mein jaana chahte ho woh ab uss jagah nahi rahi. Sab badal gaya hai andar."

"Kya bol raha hai yeh?" Ek aur sipahi ne aage aakar kaha. "Hume Maharani se milna hai. Unhe badhayi dene hai unki wapsi par. Yeh?!?"

"Maharani wahan nahi hain," Karan ne kaha.

Sab ne Karan ki taraf dekha.

Unka Commander jo ab tak thoda peeche khada tha aage aaya lambai mein Karan ke barabar tha.

"Kaun ho tum?" Commander ne poocha. Uski awaaz bhaari thi.

Karan "Yeh jaroori nahi hai jaruri yeh hai ki tum andar mat jao."

"Kyun nahi jayein?"

"Kyunki andar se koi zinda nahi nikla kafi dino se."

Commander ne ek pal Karan ko dekha. Woh kuch soch raha tha.

Par tabhi Sipahiyon ke beech se ek awaaz aayi

Sab ne peeche ke taraf mudhkar dekha.

Woh ek stri thi nahi... woh sirf koi aaam stri nahi thi. Woh kuch aur thi uss ek pal mein jab woh sipahiyon ke beech se aage aayi. Uski chaal mein ek aisa ittminaan tha jo sirf unhe hota hai jo jaante hain ki sab unhe dekh rahe hain aur unhe fark nahi padta.




Woh Karan ke saamne ruki. Dono ko ek baar ek baar dekha.

"Kya hua hai?"

"Yeh dono humein andar jaane se rok rahe hain," Commander ne kaha. "Kehte hain andar nahi jaana chahiye."

Stri ne Aditya ki taraf dekha. "Kyun?"

"Kyunki andar ab Maharani nahi hain," Aditya ne seedha kaha. "Jo koi bhi andar hai woh Vanrajya ka nahi hai. Aur agar aap log andar gaye toh woh logon ko whi khtm kar denge."

Varsha ne suna par chup rhi. Uski aankhein Aditya par tiki rahi.

"Naam kya hai tumhara?"

"Aditya."

"Aditya." Usne naam doharaaya jaise use parichay jaanch kar rahi ho. "Aur tum?"

"Karan."

"Main tumhare baat kyu maanun?" Usne seedha poocha. "Tum dono kahin se bhi aa sakte ho. Koi bhi yeh keh sakta hai ki andar khatraa hai. Aur hum rukk jayein aise hi? Sirf tumhare kehne par?"

"Hum jhooth nahi bol rahe," Karan

"Jhooth bolne wale bhi yahi kehte hain," Varsha ne jawab diya. "Mujhe koi cheez chahiye. Koi pramaan. Koi aisi baat jo tum mujhe bata sako jo sirf woh jaante hain jo sach mein Maharani ke apne hain."

Karan ne Aditya ki taraf dekha. Aditya samajh gaya.

"Maharani ka poora naam," Varsha ne pucha. "Jo naam sirf unke bahut khaas log jaante hain. Agar tum sach mein unke apne ho toh batao."

Karan ne ek saans li. Usne khainhe toh padha hoga woh...usse woh bhi kaise ab tak nhi pata tha?

Karan ne muh khola par uske shabd ke jagah Mahal ka darwaza khula.

gehri awaaz jo bade darwazon ki hoti hai jab woh khulte hain aaye. Phir ek aurat usmein se bahar aaye

Ravisha.


Woh bilkul ussi andaaz mein chal rahi thi jaise Akanksha ko woh itne dino se dekh rha tha.

Aur uski aankhein Uski aankhein iss puri jagah par ghoomin. Sipahiyon par. Varhsa par. Aditya par.

Karan par!!?



Aaj ke liye itna hi milte hai next update mein parson tak. ^⁠_⁠^

Bahut hi badhiya update diya hai mistyvixen ji....
Nice and beautiful update....

 

[Xkingthakur]

Chapter 37
Knife's Edge


Jungle ki dusri paar se Ghode ki taap door se pehle sunaiye de jahan raat abhi poori tarah nahi gayi thi aur subah abhi aadhi hi aayi thi. Awaz aate hi Kalindi ka haath apne aap apne hathiyaar par chala gaya. Phir woh ek pal ruka. Kyunki woh awaaz alag thi woh koi bhagta hua ghoda nahi tha. Shayd ek aisi sawari thi jisme koi bahut der se chal raha ho aur ab thak ke bhi nahi ruka ho kyunki rukne se jaruri uska maksad tha.

Kalindi jungle ke us hisse ki taraf badha jahan raah seedhi thi. Dhundh abhi thi ped ke upar chaiye hue the. Ghoda ped ke saaye se nikla toh Kalindi ki nazar seedha sawaar par gayi.

Ek pal ke liye woh bas khada raha.

"Hmmm..." Usne apne aap se kaha.

Akansha neeche utri. Uske paon zameen par pade toh ek pal ke liye taangein itne dur ki sawari ke baad kaanp si gayi. Usne ek haath ghode ki gardan par rakha aur dheere se sehlaya.



Kalindi do kadam aage aaya. "Aap...?"

"Haan." Akansha ki awaaz mein woh thakan thi jo sirf andar se aati hai.

"Mere saath aur bhi log aa rahe hain tere. Thoda peeche hain. Unhe yahan pahuchne mein thoda sa waqt lag skta hai"

Kalindi ne apne sir dusre disha mein Kiya. Woh sab woh dekh lega par pehle dusre tarf camp mein jake suchit karna jyada jaruri tha.

Kalindi muda aur jungle ki raah par chala gaya. Aur Akansha ke unn sab se milne ke liye utsukta badh gye jab uske nazar un chhote chhote camp aur unke beech jal rhe aanch par padi.

***

Nandani uss waqt ek patthar ke paas baithi thi.

Haath mein kapda tha jise woh silne ki koshish thi par uska dhyan nahi lag raha tha. Usse neend bhi nhi aa rhe the. Woh jaanti thi ki soona chahiye, aaram karna chahiye par dil tha ki maanta nahi. Dil ko apni qarar nahi milti jab tak kuch sahi na ho aur abhi toh uska beta aur behan usse dur the. Abhi toh kuch bhi sahi nahi tha.

Roopmati ne darwaze ke paas se awaaz di. Roopmati pichle kuch dino se uske seva mein thi. "Maharani Kalindi keh raha tha koi aayi hai" usse sunte hi Nandani ne kapda neeche rakha aur uthne lagi. Baar baar yahi hota tha itne dino se har din koi na koi usse milne aata tha.

Ped ke lambe saayo ke beech aur camp ke ek kone mein ek stri khadi thi.

Usse dekhte hi Nandani ke kadam ruk gaye.

Woh stri jiski peeth abhi uske taraf thi par jis tarah se woh khadi thi... Nandani ka dil ek pal ke liye tham gaya. Kuch tha uss mein jo woh bahut pehle se dekhte aa rhe the.

Phir achanak woh mudi.

Aur Nandani ka haath apne aap apne muh par chala gaya.

Chehra wahi tha. Bilkul wahi. Jo uske yaad mein tha. Bilkul wahi nakassi. Wahi aankhen. Wahi muskaan jo abhi aadhi thi.

Par woh twacha.

Aur woh neela rang. Haath se lekar gardan tak woh nilaahat jo uski chamdi mein ghuli hui thi. Nandani ki aankhein chaude ho gayi. Woh ek qadam aage badhi phir ruk gayi.

"Akansha?" Uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.

"Di." Usne bas ek hi shabd kaha. Par uss ek shabd mein saalon ke alag hone ke gehrayi thi.

Nandani bhaagi ya shayad Akansha ne pehle qadam liya. Baad mein kisi ko yaad nahi raha. Bas yeh raha ki dono ek saath the Nandani ne apni behen ko iss tarah se pakda jaise kabhi dubara nahi chhordna ho, jaise agar haath dhila kiya toh kuch baar phir se bichad jayenge. Aur Akansha ne apni badi behen ki peeth mein apna chehra chhupa liya aur apne aankein band kar lein.

Bahut der tak dono ne kuch nahi bola.

Phir Nandani ne dheere se peeche hat ke Akansha ka chehra apne haathon mein liya. Uski ungliyan Akansha ki gaal par gayi.

"Yeh..." Nandani ki bhanwein simat gayi.

"Baad mein Di," Akansha ne jawab diya. "Sab bataungi Di. Sab kuch. Par abhi..." Usne Nandani ki ungliyan pakd li. "Abhi sirf yahaan aapke paas rehne do mujhe."

Nandani ne ek lambi saans li. Agar woh keh rahi hai baad mein toh wajah hogi. Woh hamesha aisi thi seedha baat karne wali par hamesha shi samay pe sab zaahir karte the.

"Theek hai. Par zyada din nahi taltegi yeh baat."

Akansha halke se muskurayi "Nahi talungi Di."

***

Payal ne bahar kisi goonz sune aur apne camp se bahar aake usne dekha.

"Mausi!"

Akansha ka dil ek pal ke liye ruka. Woh shabd. Woh awaaz. Kitne saalon baad sune the usne.

Payal ne paas aate hi lipat ke usse pakad liya. Itne zoron se ki Akansha ko ek kadam peeche hona pada. Apne bhaare aankhon aur apni thakan ke bawajood ke bhi woh hasi. Payal hans aur ro ek saath rahi thi.

Jab dono alag hue toh Payal ne sar se paon tak dekha.

"Aap pehle alag lagte the," Payal bole. "Matlab... jo pehle thi woh aap nhi thi. Main..." Woh ek pal ke liye ruki apne alfaaz dhundhte hue. "Main hamesha jaanti thi ke kuch theek nahi hai. Hamesha lagta tha ke woh... Kuch toh tha jo andar se nahi aata tha. Isliye main unse zyada nahi jud payi. Hamesha door hi rahi...sab kuch sunne ke baad mere samjh mein aaya sab."

Dono ke beech ek pal ke kaamoshi thi.

Akansha ne Payal ke maathe pe haath rakha. "Bahut samajhdaar ho gayi hai tu Payal."

Payal ke aankhe chamke. "Matlab mein sahi thi?"

"Bilkul sahi thi. Woh main nahi thi. Par ab mein yahan tumahre saath hoon hoon. Yeh bhi sach hai."

Akansha ne phir se usse gale laga liya, "Kaise ho Payal? Jab tumhe antim baar dekha tha toh tum shayd 19 saal ke thi?"

Payal ke yeh sunte hi dil paseez gaya woh 8 saal baad usse mil rhe the?!?

Thode der baad Akansha Nandani ke baaki saathiyon se mile. Par baar baar uski nazar ghoomti. Camp ke ek kone se doosre kone tak. Jungle ki raah ki taraf har baar jab koi kadamon ki awaaz aate.

Nandani ne yeh notice kiya. Pehli baar chhodne diya. Doosri baar bhi. Teesri baar halki si muskaan aayi uske honthon par.

"Kisse dhundh rahi ho... Akansha?" Nandani ne woh seedha sawaal kiya.

Akansha ek dum se jhatka kha gye. Phir usne usse taalne ki koshish ki.
"Nahi Di... bas camp dekh rahi thi."

"Haan," Nandani ne itminaan se kaha. "Bilkul. Camp...par usmein aisa kuch khaas toh nhi hai."

Akansha ne apna gilaas apne sharmindagi chupne ke liye apne hothon se laga diya. Payal ne dusri taraf muh kar ke hansne ki koshish ki.

Nandani ne bhi apni chai ki ghooont li. Phir woh seedha bole "Akansha. Main jaanti hoon. Saalon se jaanti hoon tumhe. Tune kabhi muh se nahi kaha par kuch cheezein kehni nahi padti." Usne apna haath Akansha ke haath par rakha. "Woh yahaan nahi hai abhi."

Akansha ki aankhein ek pal ke liye band hui.

"Kahan gaya hai?" Uski awaaz bahut dheemi thi.

"Abhi khin gaya hai woh Aditya ke saath ek kaam ke liye Vanrjaya ko. Jab tak mujhse baat karlo...ya apne badi behan mein koi ruchi nhi hai tumhe?"

"Nhi...nhi," Woh boli.

Nandani "Jaanti hoon mein ab boodhi ho gye."

"Nhi woh baat nhi hai..." Akansha hichkichate hue bole.

Payal unke tang kichayi dekh ke man ke man prasan thi.

**

Suabh sirf ek patli si lakeer thi jo haandi ke kinare par padi thi.

Prachi ke haath kaam kar rahe the. Woh subah ka khana banane mein lage hue the. Uske haath apna kaam jante the. Par uska dimaag kahin aur tha. Bahut door. Ya shayad bahut paas.



Kal ki wo gehri, narm ghaas ki khushboo abhi bhi uske zehen mein thi woh jungle ki khamoshi, woh pal jab sab kuch tham gaya tha, duniya bhi, waqt bhi, aur uske saans bhi. Sirf woh pal raha tha aur Karan raha tha, aur in dono ke darmiyan kuch aisa tha jis ka koi naam dhundhne ki zaroorat nahi thi.

Prachi ke rukhsaar par ek lataafat bhari lali chadh aayi.

Usne apna chehra doosri taraf phera jaise koi dekh naa le . Par rasoi mein sirf woh thi aur khali kuch dhuan tha. Aur woh khayaalaat the jo baar baar palat ke aate the jaise koi lehrein aati hain.

*"Mujhe apna bana lo..."*

Usne haandi mein chamcha kuch zyada hi zor se ghuma diya. Ek chheenat aayi uske haath par lage.

"Uff," Prachi ne apne aap ko kosa. Phir woh muskaan aayi jo rokne ki tamam koshishon ke bawajood honton par aa jaati hai, jaise phool ko koi rok nahi sakta jab khilna uski fitrat ho.

Usne chamcha saaf kiya. Aanch dheem ke. ek lamha uss khamoshi mein rahi woh khamoshi jo mehroom nahi thi par itne bhari bhi nhi the.

***

Kamra chhota tha, ek chota sa kamra jisme se jungle ki thandi meethi hawa aati thi, ek darwaza aur ek bistar bas.

Prachi ne apne kapde utaare aur kapdon ki potli ki taraf dekha.



Tabhi nazar Karan ki kameez par padi.

Woh wahi waali kal ki. Prachi ke kapdon ke beech woh pata nhi kab uske saath aa gye. Woh iss potli mein kab aayi uss jaldi mein, uss pagal si hulchul mein Prachi ko yaad nahi raha.

Usne use uthaya.

Isme abhi bhi uski khushboo thi. Prachi ne aankhein band ki aur ek lambi saans li.

*Yahi hai teri haqeeqat Prachi. Isse mat bhaago ab.*

Usne use ek taraf ittminan se rakha. Apne naye kapde pehne kurta, dupatta aur aaine ke saamne khadi hui. Ek pal apna hi chehra dekha. Aankhon mein aaj ek alag rang tha woh rang jo tab aa jaata hai jab koi dil ke andar koi cheez le ke jeene lagta hai, koi aisi cheez jo bojh nahi dusre ke roshni hote hai.


Jabhi darwaze se dastak aayi.

"Prachi? Tum andar ho? Kya fursat hai thodi tumhe?"

Payal ki awaz uske kano mein pade

Prachi ka haath ek pal ke liye hawa mein ruka. Kameez jo abhi bhi bistar ke kinare par wahi rakhi thi usne ek gahri saans li aur kapdon ke neeche thoda daba de. Phir jaake darwaza khola.

Payal dahleez par khadi thi. Chehra hamesha ki tarah saaf aur seedha par aankhon mein aaj kuch aur tha.

"Haan Rajkumari aaiye," Prachi ne jagah banayi. "Sab khairiyet?"

Payal andar aayi. Ek nazar kamre par gayi use woh chhoti si aadat jisme sab kuch dekhne ki fitrat thi. Phir woh ek pathar ke tile par baith gayi.

"Kuch poochhna tha," Payal ne seedha kaha.

"Puchiye."

"Karan ke baare mein kuch..." Payal.
"Kuch ajeeb toh nahi laga tujhe? Koi cheez hai jo tujhe maloom ho aur mujhe nahi?"

Prachi ki bhanwein upar uthti. "Ajeeb? Karan bilkul theek hai. Yeh sawaal kyun Rajkumari?"

Payal "Bas...Woh thoda alag lagta hai. Kuch alag rehta hai usmein aaj kal. Socha tum kuch jaanti ho."

"Nahi aisa kuch nahi Rajkumari" Prachi ne jaldi se kaha.

"Sab waisa toh hai."

Par Payal baar baar ek hi jawab se raazi hone wali nahi thi. Woh jaanti thi ki kuch tha usne jitne jaldi jawab diya, abhi ek pal mein jab Prachi ki nazar kahin aur gayi thi. Chhoti chhoti cheezein pakadna uski aadat thi.

Payal ki nazar kamre mein ghoomne lagi. Uske aankhon jisme ek talab tha, woh talab jo tab hota hai jab jawab alfazon mein nahi milta toh nishaanon mein dhundha jaata hai.

Bistar ke ek kone par uski nazar ruki. Wahan se kuch bahar nikla hua tha ek kapda. Woh rang... woh kaala laal rang... yeh Prachi ka nahi tha. Kyuki usne usse waise rang ke vastr phente hue kabhi dekha hi nhi.

Payal uthke bistar ki taraf chali.

"Payal woh"

Par Payal ne woh kapda utha liya tha.

Woh uske haath mein thi ab. Kamre mein ek khamoshi chaaye.

Payal ne uski dekha. Phir Prachi ko. Phir dobara uss vastr ko.

"Yeh..." Payal ki awaaz dheemi thi. "Yeh Karan ke kapde hai."

Prachi ne kuch nahi kaha.

"Tere kapdon mein," Payal ne aahista aahista kaha jaise har lafz ek ek karke sahi jagah rakh rahi ho. "mere bhai ki kameez... tere bistar mein?!?."

Prachi ki nazar zameen par utri aur whin tik gayi.

"Prachi." Payal ki awaaz mein ek kat thi par woh kat naram thi. "Prachi mein tumhe apne dost smjhte hoon...isliye ek dost ke hasiyat se puch rhe hoon koi baat kehni hai tumhe? Isko samjhaogi mujhe?"

Prachi ne ek lambe saans le. Phir aankhein uthaayi aur seedha Payal ko dekha. Jis pal mein jhooth chhordne ka faisla hota hai woh pal sab se bhaari hota hai aur sab se halka bhi kisi ke liye. Uske aage usse tay karna tha.

"Nahi Payal." Uski awaaz mein ek ajeeb qism ka sukoon tha woh sukoon jo tab aata hai jab insaan bojh utaar deta hai. "Nahi samaajhaa sakti koi aur koi baat banaake. Jo hai wahi hai."

Payal ki bhanwein simat gayi. "Matlab?"

Prachi ne ek pal liya. Phir seedha, bina kisi laapetwali baat ke bina kisi bahane ke bole

"Main Karan se muhabbat karti hoon."

Woh teen alfaaz kamre mein ghoom gaye.

Payal ne kuch nahi kaha. Woh bas sun hoke Prachi ko dekhti rahi. Uske chehre par koi ek bhaavna nahi thi jo kise ek shabd mein samete jaa ske.

Phir usne dheere se kameez bistar par rakhi. Aur bistar par baith gayi. Dono haath ghutno par rkhe.

"Kab se?" Uski awaaz nihayat halki thi.

"Zyada nahi," Prachi bole. "Matlab... lamba arsa nahi hai hua hai Payal. Yeh..." Woh ruki. "Yeh ek baar mein nahi hua. Koi ek din nahi tha jab maine faisla kiya ho ke use apne jaal mein fasaun. Bas... hota gaya. Jaise kuch cheezein hoti hain bina izaazat maange, bina ittila diye jab bhi usko dekthi thi."

Payal ne Prachi ke chehre par ek nazar daali. Uss aankhon mein koi khel nahi tha woh sach aur jhooth mein fark karna jaanti thi, aur Prachi ke chehra mein woh dard tha jo kise natak mein nahi hota.

Woh jaanti thi. Prachi jhooth nahi bol rahi thi.

Par jaanna aur maan lena alag raahein hote hain.

Payal uthke khidki ki taraf gayi. Jungle ki madham hawa andar aayi. Uski aankhein bahar par thi par dekh kuch aur rahi thi woh kuch jo uske andar daud rha tha.

Ek aisi bhaavna jo Payal ne khud bhi nahi pehchani thi abhi tak ya shayad pehchani thi aur aankhein pher li thi. Ek halki si chhoti si tees woh tees jo tab aarti hai jab koi cheez jo dil ke bahut qareeb thi woh kisi aur ke haath chali jaati hai. Woh tees jiski koi naam nahi tha jiski koi haq nahi thi par lagte shi jagah hai woh.

Payal ne uss tees ko andar hi andar daba liya. Aur fir mudi.

"Woh Vanrajya ka Rajkumar hai Prachi". Uski awaaz ab seedhi aur thi woh awaaz jo badi behen ki hoti hai jab zimmedaari ki baat aaye. "Yeh koi aam baat nahi hai Prachi. Uski zimmedaariyan hain, uske dushman hain, uska ek wujood hai jis par bahut kuch tika hua hai. Aur main..." Woh ek pal ke liye ruki. "Main use kisi bhi aisi jagah mein nahi dekh sakti jahan use zakhm mile. Chahe kisi ke bhi hathon se."

"Payal"

"Mein poora hisaab maangungi tum dono se," Payal ne beech mein kaha. Uski awaaz mein woh bedagi thi jo dard ko chhupane ke liye karte hain. "Sab kuch. Kab hua, kaise hua, kya hua. Ek baar bas woh wapas aaye"

Prachi ne sir hilaya. Apne aansuon ko andar hi roka. "Haan theek hai Rajkumari."

"Aur yeh bhi sun," Payal ne aage kaha ab uski awaaz thodi thos thi. "Uske saath jo bhi hai usme agar teri niyat mein koi khot hai agar—"

"Nahi." Prachi ki awaaz mein ek aissi pukhtagi aayi jo pehle nahi thi. "Koi khot nahi. Koi buri niyat nahi thi kabhi. Main jaanti hoon woh kaun hai. Main jaanti hoon yeh asaan nahi. Par..." Uski awaaz thodi kaanpi.

Payal ne ek lambi pal tak kuch nahi kaha.

Phri woh Darwaze ki taraf badhi aur bina mude bole.

"Karan bahut saaf dil ka hai Prachi. Mujhe uske saath koi ched chad nhi chaiye."

Prachi ki aankhein bhar aayi "Woh kabhi nahi hogi Payal."

Payal ne darwaza khola aur woh bahar chali gayi.

Prachi kaafi der tak wahi rahi. Usne dheere se Karan ka vastr uthaaya. Apne seene se lagaaya aur halke se, jaise koi amaanat pakadta hai uske apne muthe ke beech mein kas liya.

***

Nadi ka paani thanda tha par kaankaalon ko thandi kab lagti hai upar se woh toh kood kar usse paar kar rhe the.

Ek ke baad ek woh patthar ke raaste par aate rahe. Agrak ne jo pull banaya tha woh tera medha tha, thoda khisak raha tha par kaam kar raha tha. Haddiyon ki khatkhatahat aur lohe ki ragad dono mil ke ek azeeb sa sur bana
Unka Commander sabse aage tha.

Aur uske saath ek cheez jo mara hua janwar tha. Ab sirf haddiyon ka dhaacha tha jo zameen par khichta hua chalta tha. Chaar pair the par woh zinda janwar ki tarah nahi uthte the woh nochte the zameen ko. Uski badi si khopdi mein do jagah khooli thi.

Commander kinare par pahunchke ruk gaya.

***

Harish ne woh jaal pure teen raat mein banaya tha.

Harish beech beech mein zameen ke andar ke halchal ko sunta tha. Zameen ko sunna uski aadat thi saalon se.

Pehla jaal jungle ke kuch door wale raaste ke neeche tha. Upar pattiyaan, geeli mitti ki patli parat se dhaka jo nangi aankhon ko kuch nazar nahi aata tha.

Pehla kaankal sipahi jab us raaste se guzra.

*DHUM.*

Neeche andar gira aur haddiyan ek pal mein usmein bhikar gye.

Harish ek bade patthar ke peeche khada tha. Usne woh awaaz suni. Aankhein band ki. Zameen ke zariye mahsoos kiya paon ke neeche se uss kaampan ko.

Bahut saare the, usne
ek unchi chattan par chadhna shuru kiya. Umar ne apna asar kiya tha saans phool rahi thi par zameen ki shakti ne kabhi usse akela nahi choda. Upar pahuncha toh jungle ke paar tak nazar gayi.

Usne dekha ke Kaankaalon ki fauj jo Door tak pheli hui. Unki haddiyan dhundh mein bhi chamak rahi thi. Aur aage unka ek bada sa commander aur uske saath woh mitr janwar.



Harish ne ek lambi saans le aur neeche dekha.

Vrishank apni chhoti tukdi ke saath tha, sab ke haath hathiyaaron par taiyaar the.

"VRISHANK!" Harish ki awaaz jungle mein dono taraf gayi. "SAB KO TAIYAAR KARO! AAJ LADNA hi HOGA!"

Vrishank ne upar dekha aur talwar nikaali. Neeche haath se apne saathiyon ko ishara kiya.


Commander ruk gaya jab ek akela aadmi jungle ki chhaon se nikal ke saamne aa gaya.

Chaal mein wo tezi nahi thi jo jawaan mein hoti hai jisse pata hota hai ke pair kahaan rakne hain.

Harish ne dono haath dheere se band kiye. Zameen ne jawaab diya aur uske paon ke neeche se ek bahut halki kaampan aayi.

"Whi Rukke raho," Harish ne seedha commander ki aankhon mein dekh ke chetwani di. "Jab tak main hoon ek kadam bhi aage nahi jaana koi."

Commander ne ek nazar pheri. Phir woh khokhli hansi aayi jo andar se nahi haddiyon se nikli thi.

"Rani ka hukm hai," Commander ne kaha. Uski awaaz toot toot ke aati thi jaise purana darwaza khulta hai. "Jhuk jao aur hamari maange puri karo ya zameen mein mil jao. Chunna tumhare haath mein hai abhi bhi." Usne apna haath apne janwar ki khopdi par rakha. "Khoon maafi se hoga mehanga hota hai."

"Ho gaya?!?," Harish ne bola

"Jawaab hai nahi."

***

Commander ka haath uthaa.

Janwar woh haddiyon dhaacha ek pal ke liye ruka. Uske aankhe toh thi nhi toh woh bas sungh ke apne sikhr ka pata lagata tha. Phir woh Harish ki taraf itna tez bhaaga ki aankh jhaptke hi woh uske paas pahuch gaya.

Harish ne ek kadam peeche liya aur dono haath zameen par de maare.

Zameen kaanpi aur ek badi chattan zameen se seedhe upar bahar aayi jaise kisi ne neeche se dhakela ho. Janwar usse takraya. haddi se patthar ki awaaz goonji. Bagal mein koodte hue woh apni chaar taangon par khada ho gaya aur dobaara bhagane laga.

Harish ne is baar mitti aur kayi pattharon ko ek saath hawa mein uthaya. Aur janwar ke taraf seedha hamla kiya.

*KRAAK.*

Uske japde ke ek taraf laga aur woh dur dhad hoke gir gaya woh janwar phir bhi bhagta rha.

Harish ne dono haath ek saath aapas mein milaye. Zameen ki ret, patthar, sab ek saath udne lage.

Janwar ka bacha hua dhancha usmein ud ke bhikarne laga.

Haddiyon ka baaki dhaancha bikhar gaya aur woh neeche gir gaya.

Harish ne saans li.

Tabhi charon taraf se hamala shru ho gye shru mein teen kaankal the. Aur fir sabne usse ek saath gher liya




Harish ne abhi apne peeth nahi pheri aur ankh band ke.

Dono haath uthaye zameen mein ek gahri dararr aagye jisme ek kaankal seedha samaa gaya. Doosre ke Harish ne ek haath se uske talwar ko pakda, thodi der mein uske haath ke gird patthar ka kavach se ban gaya tha.

Doosra haath ghuma ke dusre tarah ke sainik mitti ke toofan mein gayab se hone lage.

Par yeh sab bahut saare the woh Harish ke abhi ke umar ke hisab se bahut zyada the isliye woh jaydatar yud khsetr ke door se hi Aditya ka saath deta tha. Par ab usse Maharani Nandani ke surakshit rkhne ke liye thoda samay nikalna tha.

Ek ne peeche se apna bhala uske kandhe par maara. Dusra ne jhukke ke uske ghutne pe vaar kiya. Teesre ek taraf se uske gardan ko pakad liya. Harish ne zameen se ek badi deewar uthaayi do sipahiyon ko rokne ke liye. par tab tak chaar aur aa chuke the. Kuch usko kood kar paar kar le rhe the.

Harish ke ghutne par kuch laga. Ek talwar uske baazu ko cheerte hue nikal gayi par woh khada raha.

Uska ek haath zameen par pada. Usse apne aakhiri skti ka istemal karna hi hoga chahe uske jaan chale jaye usmein... Maharani Nandani ko surakshit rkhna hi hoga chahe kuch bhi ho.

Usne Uthne ki koshish ki..tabhi

*DHAK.*

Commander ka haath puri shakti se saath Harish ke kandhe par aaya. Harish ka doosra ghutna bhi uske zor se zameen pe aa gaya.

Commander dheere dheere uske saamne aaya. Harish ne upar dekha.

"Boodhe ho gaye ho meri purane saathi Harish." Uski awaaz mein kuch tha jo Harish ke samajh nahi aaya "Apni umar ke hisaab se lado. Yeh tumhara jungle nahi hai ab."

"Tu Mera naam janta hai?" Uske thaki hui thi par toot nhi the abhi.

Commander ne hansna shuru kiya.

Jungle mein woh hansi goonj gayi. Baaki Sipahiyon ne ek bhi kadam peeche liya.

"Sochta tha tu bhool jaayega," Commander ne kaha. "Par itna bhi nahi socha tha."

Harish ne dhyan se dekha ab. Uss Kavach ko. Uss nishaan ko jo ek taraf bana hua tha kavach par. Uske ek khaas Nishan bana hua tha.

"Dhruv?"

Uske bolte hi jaise koi andar se bahut puraani deewar toot gayi ho.

Phir commander ne apna sar thoda jhukaya jo ke uske purani aadat thi.

"Tu... tu mar gaya tha". Harish ke awaaz kaanp rahi thi . "Woh jab pehli baar hamla tha jab Kaalandard ke jaanwaron se lad rhe the tu unke saath tha. Humne tujhe itna dhoonda bhi tha. Par kuch nahi mila. Hum sab ne socha ki!"

"Kaalandard ke janwar mujhe keech ke le gaye the," Commander ne jawab diya. Uski awaaz ab aur thandi thi itne thandi jo baraf ke andar se aati hai. "Par mein itne jaldi marna nhi chata. Mujhe wapas laaya gaya. Naya roop mein. Nayi taaqat mein."

"Dhruv sun!"

"Woh naam mat le Harish."

"Woh aadmi ab jaa chuka hai. Zameen mein sama chuka hai woh. Jo main ab hoon woh alag hoon."

"Par Teri patni "

"CHUP."

Phir dheere se bola "Uske yaad nhi dilane the tujhe."

Uss ek shabd mein bahut kuch daba hua tha. Kuch jo abhi bhi uske andar chub rha tha chahe woh kuch bhi ho ab chahe kitna bhi badal gaya ho.

Harish ne aankhein band ki.

*Dhruv tu mera saathi hai. Hum ek hi fauj mein the kitne saal tak. Teri hassi yaad hai mujhe. Teri patni ki roti yaad hai jo woh camp mein hamare liye saath laati thi.*

Dhruv "Sawaalon ke jawaab nahi deta main. Woh aage badha uske haath mein kaali dhaar ka chaaku tha . "Mare hue aadmi ko kya jawab dena chaiye vaise bhi." Dhruv ke aankhon se ab aansu beh rahe the.

Harish ne haath aage badhaya. Zameen se ek patthar uthane ki koshish ki.

Zameen ne dheere se jawaab diya. Harish ke haath kaanp raha tha darr ke wajah se nhi apne purane saathi se milkar aur usse iss haal mein dekhar.

Patthar aadha andar hi raha.

Dhruv ka chaaku seedha ek jhatke mein ek tez dhaar ke saath Harish ke gardan ke paas se guzar gaya.

Harish ka sharir ek taraf jhuka. Jaise zameen ne use thaama ho, jungle ki mitti ne pakad liya woh mitti jisse usne zindagi bhar baat ki thi.

Uski aankhein khuli rahi aur aasan ke taraf dekhte rhe. Kuch VanRajya ke paate udte hue uske chere ke taraf aa rhe the.

Door se Vrishank ki kaadmon ke woh jaane pechane awaaz aa rhe the.

Par woh sab bahut door tha abhi uske ke liye.

Uski ungliyan zameen mein dhasi gaye. Aur zameen ne ek halki si kaampan ke saath ek aakhri baar jawab diya jaise koi uska purana dost ho jo haath thaame ho jab jaane ka waqt ho.

Dhruv khada rha aur upar dekh raha tha. Uske aansu ke boonde Hairsh ke haath ke band mutthi ke ret mein mil gye.


***

Mahal ki deewarein door se hi alag dikhti thi.

Karan ne jungle ki aakhri jhaadiyon ke peechhe se dekha. Mahal ki neenv moti thi, darwaze bade the aur darwaze ke bahar...

"Yeh kaankal nahi hain," Aditya ne halki awaaz mein kaha. Woh uske saath bagal mein tha.



Haan. Yeh Kaankal nahi the.

Woh zinda insaan the. Kavach pehne hue neele rang ka kavach jo kisi dhaatu se bana tha, uss dhaatu ki tarah jo paani ke neeche samudar mein milti hai..

"Yeh..." Karan ne poocha.

"Samudargrihka." Aditya ki awaaz mein hairani thi. "Yeh Samudargrihka ke sipahi hain Rajkumar."

"Samudargrihka?" Karan ne dobara kaha. "Woh toh..."

"Samudra ke kinare ka rajya hai." Aditya ne jhuk ke aur gaur se dekha. "Bahut door hai yahan se. Yeh log yahaan kya kar rahe hain? Kyun aaye hain?" Woh kuch pal chup raha. "Kuch bhi ho Rajkumar andar nahi jaana chahiye inhe. Jo bhi andar hai woh inhe nahi pata. Ek baar andar gaye toh Ravisha ke haath mein aa jayenge. Woh zinda nahi bachenge wahan se"

Karan ki nazar mahal ke darwaze par gayi.

"Rokna hoga inhe par kaise,".

"Haan. Par kaise? Yeh log humare ko nahi jaante. Agar seedha bola toh maanenge nahi."

Karan ne ek pal socha. "Chalo fir kuch toh karna hi hoga."

Dono jhaadiyon se bahar nikle. Bina kisi haath mein hathiyaar liye aur woh zaroori tha, pehli nazar mein unhe woh dushman nahi lagni chahiye

Neele kavach wale sipahiyon mein se ek ne inhe dekha aur apni bhaala seedhi kiya

"Ruko," Ek sipahi ne chetwani di. Uski awaaz thos thi "Kaun ho tum? Kahan se aaye ho?"

"Yaheen Vanrajya se, Jungle se. Aur tumse kuch kehna tha." Aditya ne narm awaaz mein kaha.

"Kya baat hai?"

"Yeh ke andar mat jao yahan khatra hai" Aditya ne jawab diya

Sipahi ne ek baar Karan ko dekha. Ek baar Aditya ko. Phir apne saathi ko. Doosre sipahi ne halki si hansi dabaai.

"Andar nahi jana?" Pehle sipahi ne poocha. "Tum kaun hote ho rokne wale?"

"Aisa koi nahi hai jo-" Doosre sipahi ne bolna shuru kiya tha

"Meri baat suno pehle," Aditya bola. Uski awaaz mein na gussa tha na ghabrahat. "Main jaanta hoon tum log kahan jaana chahte ho. Par jis jagah mein jaana chahte ho woh ab uss jagah nahi rahi. Sab badal gaya hai andar."

"Kya bol raha hai yeh?" Ek aur sipahi ne aage aakar kaha. "Hume Maharani se milna hai. Unhe badhayi dene hai unki wapsi par. Yeh?!?"

"Maharani wahan nahi hain," Karan ne kaha.

Sab ne Karan ki taraf dekha.

Unka Commander jo ab tak thoda peeche khada tha aage aaya lambai mein Karan ke barabar tha.

"Kaun ho tum?" Commander ne poocha. Uski awaaz bhaari thi.

Karan "Yeh jaroori nahi hai jaruri yeh hai ki tum andar mat jao."

"Kyun nahi jayein?"

"Kyunki andar se koi zinda nahi nikla kafi dino se."

Commander ne ek pal Karan ko dekha. Woh kuch soch raha tha.

Par tabhi Sipahiyon ke beech se ek awaaz aayi

Sab ne peeche ke taraf mudhkar dekha.

Woh ek stri thi nahi... woh sirf koi aaam stri nahi thi. Woh kuch aur thi uss ek pal mein jab woh sipahiyon ke beech se aage aayi. Uski chaal mein ek aisa ittminaan tha jo sirf unhe hota hai jo jaante hain ki sab unhe dekh rahe hain aur unhe fark nahi padta.




Woh Karan ke saamne ruki. Dono ko ek baar ek baar dekha.

"Kya hua hai?"

"Yeh dono humein andar jaane se rok rahe hain," Commander ne kaha. "Kehte hain andar nahi jaana chahiye."

Stri ne Aditya ki taraf dekha. "Kyun?"

"Kyunki andar ab Maharani nahi hain," Aditya ne seedha kaha. "Jo koi bhi andar hai woh Vanrajya ka nahi hai. Aur agar aap log andar gaye toh woh logon ko whi khtm kar denge."

Varsha ne suna par chup rhi. Uski aankhein Aditya par tiki rahi.

"Naam kya hai tumhara?"

"Aditya."

"Aditya." Usne naam doharaaya jaise use parichay jaanch kar rahi ho. "Aur tum?"

"Karan."

"Main tumhare baat kyu maanun?" Usne seedha poocha. "Tum dono kahin se bhi aa sakte ho. Koi bhi yeh keh sakta hai ki andar khatraa hai. Aur hum rukk jayein aise hi? Sirf tumhare kehne par?"

"Hum jhooth nahi bol rahe," Karan

"Jhooth bolne wale bhi yahi kehte hain," Varsha ne jawab diya. "Mujhe koi cheez chahiye. Koi pramaan. Koi aisi baat jo tum mujhe bata sako jo sirf woh jaante hain jo sach mein Maharani ke apne hain."

Karan ne Aditya ki taraf dekha. Aditya samajh gaya.

"Maharani ka poora naam," Varsha ne pucha. "Jo naam sirf unke bahut khaas log jaante hain. Agar tum sach mein unke apne ho toh batao."

Karan ne ek saans li. Usne khainhe toh padha hoga woh...usse woh bhi kaise ab tak nhi pata tha?

Karan ne muh khola par uske shabd ke jagah Mahal ka darwaza khula.

gehri awaaz jo bade darwazon ki hoti hai jab woh khulte hain aaye. Phir ek aurat usmein se bahar aaye

Ravisha.


Woh bilkul ussi andaaz mein chal rahi thi jaise Akanksha ko woh itne dino se dekh rha tha.

Aur uski aankhein Uski aankhein iss puri jagah par ghoomin. Sipahiyon par. Varhsa par. Aditya par.

Karan par!!?



Aaj ke liye itna hi milte hai next update mein parson tak. ^⁠_⁠^

Dhamakedar update hai padkar maja aa gaya