Incest Baadshah ~ The Tales of Debauchery

[Werewolf]

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Latest Update ~ Update 213 ​

 

[rajtheroyal]

Update - 211 ~ The Night the mirror cracked​

Ab tak...

Erica dheere se hasi.

Erica : Yes boss! Don't worry hehe. Mein sab sambhaal lungi.

Veer : Yeah. Kyunki, hum dono hi hai. Media aur company ke saamne sab kuchh reveal karne ke baad Ava busy hai. Aur, Garofano business clients se deal kar rahi hai. It's just you and me.

Erica : Kuchh bhi gadbad nahi hogi. You just have to believe in me. *winks*

Veer (smiles) : Alright! Let's go!

Erica : Yesss boss~

Aur, dono hi andar ki orr chal pade.

Ab aage...

26th January,
Suhana’s house,
Evening - 7:15 ~

Janmdin ki shaam Suhana ka aiyyaash bunglow raushni se jagmaga raha tha. Baahar, sandhya aaj chahal-pahal se bhari thi. Jaisa ki aam taur par shaadi partiyo me hota hai, ek ke baad ek luxury gaadiyo ka kaafila parking me daakhil ho raha tha.

Security waale furti se kaam kar rahe the, hired cameramen photos kheechne me vyast the, aur hasi-mazaak ki awaaz poore vatavaran me goonj rahi thi.

Vishaal bunglow ke andar jhoomaro ki sunehri raushni chaaro orr feli hui thi. Kuchh jaane-maane, toh kuchh naye gaayak halki awaaz me geet gunguna rahe the, jo baat-cheet ke shor me dheere se ghul raha tha. Kuchh dancers apna getup theek karne me lagi hui thi. Waiters tray lekar idhar-udhar ghoom rahe the.

Ye paise ka dikhawa, jashn ka nasha, taaqat aur satta ka namoona adhik prateet ho raha tha bajaaye kisi janmdin ke kaaryakram ke. Dekhne me toh yeh raat ekdum paripoorn lag rahi thi.

Kintu, bungalow ke andar, Suhana ke kamre ke band darwazo ke peechhe ki hawa kuchh alag thi. Bhaari. Ekdum ghutan bhari.

Gaurav sheeshe ke saamne khada hua tha, poornta behatreen dhang se taiyaar. Silwaya gaya ek kaala suit. Beige color ki shirt. Usne apne cologne ki bottle uthaayi aur apne galey, kaan ke peechhe aur seene par chhidka.

Uske peechhe Suhana bistar par baithi hui thi. Behad khubsurat. Aaj usne ek sundar si kaali dress pehni hui thi. Black uske pasandeeda rango me se ek jo tha. Uski nigaahein zameen par tiki hui thi. Ek haath me phone tha aur ungliyaan thodi kaanp rahi thi.




Screen par ek message type kiya hua tha : “Aaj mera birthday hai. Please, aana! Mein tumhara intezar karungi.”

Aur, chat me upar Veer ka naam tha. Usne aaj poora din intezar kiya tha.

Subah. Dopahar. Shaam. Lekin, Veer ka koi call nahi aaya. Koi sandesh nahi. Koi post nahi. Koi shubhkamnaye tak nahi.

Shayad… Shayad woh bhool gaya hoga.

Suhana ne apne aap me hi socha. Akhir, kaamo me itna vyast bhi toh rehta hai woh. Par, ab jaise-jaise samay beet raha tha, raat qareeb aa rahi thi, uski wo subah ki aaturta ab ek dard me badal gayi. Usne Veer ko nimantran nahi diya tha. Abhi tak toh nahi.

Kyunki, uske dil ke kisi nadaan hisse ko yeh ummeed thi ki Veer ka call zaroor aayega. Use Veer ko bulaane ki zaroorat hi nahi padegi. Use uska janmdin yaad hoga.

Magar-

Sannaata achanak toota.

Gaurav : Tumne uss Veer ko toh nahi invite kiya, hai na!?

Uski awaaz kamre me goonji, woh abhi bhi sheeshe ki orr hi dekh raha tha. Aur, yeh sawaal kam, aadesh zyada lag raha tha. Suhana ki maano saans atak gayi.

Uska angootha screen ke upar hi send button par mandra raha tha. Usne Gaurav ki orr dekha. Uski peeth uski orr thi, lekin Suhana uss lehze ko achhi tarah se jaanti thi.

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh keh paati, Gaurav muda, woh uski orr badhne laga. Aur, Suhana thitak ke reh gayi.

Usne jhatpat backspace button dabaayi aur dhadalle se saare type kiye gaye shabd mitate chale gaye. Usne screen ko upar ki orr swipe kiya aur home screen par wapas aa gayi. Gaurav theek uske saamne aa kar khada hua.

Iske pehle ki woh button press kar phone lock karti, Gaurav ne uske haath se phone kheench liya.

Suhana (yelps) : Gaurav-!!!

Kintu, tab tak derr ho chuki thi. Gaurav ki nazrein screen par ghoomi aur phir usne recent apps ki screen kholi, jaha use whatsapp dikhaayi diya. Use kholte hi use Veer ki chat screen par nazar aayi.

Bas itna kaafi tha.

Usne Suhana ki taraf dekha. Phir, phone ki taraf. Phir, dobara uski taraf. Usne phone ko bistar par iss qadar feka jaise maano wo koi ghinauni cheez ho. Uska haath tezi se badha aur usne Suhana ka jabda kasskar pakad liya.

Suhana (shrieks) : Ahhh-!

Gaurav : Tum jaanti ho ki mujhe woh Veer bilkul bhi pasand nahi, hai na?

Suhana ne muh khola, par shabd baahar na nikle. Gaurav ki pakad bahut mazboot thi.

Gaurav : Kya karne jaa rahi thi tum, haan? Uski chat khol ke kya karne ka iraada tha tumhara?

Suhana : G-Gaurav chhoro! Maine Veer ko invite nahi kiya hai. What are you implying? Leave me!

Ladkhadaate shabdo me Suhana ne jawaab diya, aur Gaurav ki aankhein gusse se laal ho gayi.

Gaurav (leans in) : Toh phir phone me uski chat kyu khuli hui thi?

Suhana : Mein-

Gaurav (yells) : TUMHE LAGTA HAI MEIN BEWAKOOF HU? TUMHE LAGTA HAI MUJHE PATA NAHI CHALEGA, HAAN?

Uski pakad aur adhik kass gayi.

Gaurav : TUM APNE AAP KO MUJHSE ZYADA SMART SAMAJHTI HO, HAAN???

Woh toh achha hua jo Suhana ne disappearing messages ka option on kar ke rakha hua tha jis wajah se Gaurav ko unki puraani koi bhi chats nazar nahi aayi. Warna shayad anjaam aur bhi bura ho sakta tha.

Suhana ki saans sisakte hue baahar aayi.

Gaurav : TUM USE BULAANE HI JAA RAHI THI, HAI NA!??

Uska haath achanak utha. Sehej hi Suhana ne apni aankhein band kar li aur apna chehra dusri taraf mod liya, apne haatho ko khud ko bachaane ki vyarth koshish me upar uthaaya. Woh thappad ka intezar kar rahi thi lekin-

*CRASH*

Kaanch ke tootne ki ek zordaar awaaz aayi, jo neeche mach rahe shor me kamre ke baahar na jaa paayi. Suhana ne dekha. Sheesha toot chuka tha. Woh itni zor se kaanp rahi thi ki uska poora shareer hil raha tha.

Gaurav ke cologne ki bottle farsh par tukdo me bikhri padi thi. Cologne zameen par fela hua tha. Aayina toot chuka tha. Gaurav ne ek baar phir uska jabda pakda.

Gaurav : Shukr manao jo aaj tumhara birthday hai. Yaad rakhna, Suhana. Agar, Veer aaj raat yaha aaya, toh uske liye anjaam achha nahi hoga.

Suhana ki nigaahein uss se mili.

Gaurav : Aur, na hi tumhare liye achha hoga… You got that? I hate that motherfucker. Woh tumhare aas-paas bhi bhatakta hua mujhe nazar nahi aana chaahiye.

Suhana ne zor se uska haath jhatak diya, awaaz kaanp rahi thi magar teekhi thi.

Suhana : Don’t act so obsessive!

Ab uski aankhon se aasu beh rahe the.

Suhana : Kya mein jaanti nahi-!? Mujhe pata hai tumhare baare me. Office me apni secretary ke saath, employees ke saath… mere peeth peechhe- aur ab tum mujhe ye obsession yaha dikha rahe ho?

Usne Gaurav ko ghor tiraskaar bhari aankhon se ghoora. Ek pal ke liye Gaurav bhi bas dekhta reh gaya. Phir, woh muskuraaya. Dheere se, aur shayad thode vyang me.

Gaurav (grins) : Oh? Toh tumhe bhi mehsoos hua akhir, hai na?

Usne komalta se haath badhaaya aur uske baalo ko aise sehlaaya jaise kisi bacche ko dilaasa de raha ho. Lekin, Suhana ne sehamte hue uska haath jhatak diya aur yeh Gaurav ko raas na aaya.

Uske haath ne Suhana ke baalo ko jakda. Woh cheenkhi. Gaurav ne uska sarr peechhe ki orr jhatka, use zabardasti apni orr dekhne ke liye majboor kiya.

Gaurav : Dekha? Dard hua na? Tumhe bhi chidh hoti hai na jab tum ye sochti ho ki mein kisi aur ke saath-? Theek aise hi mujhe bhi mehsoos hota hai jab mein uss nikamme Veer ko tumhare aas-paas dekhta hu. Samjhi?

Usne achanak uske baal chhore aur Suhana haafte hue peechhe ho gayi, khud ko sambhaalne ki koshish me usne bistar ke kinaare ko kasskar pakad liya. Gaurav ne apna blazer vyavasthit kiya.

Gaurav : You are a smart woman. Right? Tumhe pata hona chaahiye ki kya karna hai, aur kya nahi. Hai na?

Uska haath apne jeb me gaya. Blazer sarka aur uski kamar me khusi hui gun Suhana ko nazar aayi. Suhana ki aankhein khauf se chaudi ho gayi.

Gaurav ne jaane se pehle uske gaalo ko jakda aur uske maathe ko choomne ka prayaas kiya. Suhana ke haath virodh me chalte rahe par mard ke bal ke aage use majboor hona pada. Gaurav ne uske maathe ko chooma aur naatkeeya pyaar dikhaate hue uske sarr ko sehla ke mud ke waha se nikal gaya. Jaise maano kuchh hua hi na ho.

Suhana kaanpti hui wahi baithi rahi, uska make-up bigad chuka tha, aur seena khamosh siskiyo se ab dard karne laga tha. Dheere se usne apna sirr ghumaaya, sheeshe ki orr.

Usne toote hue aaine me khud ko dekha. Darpan me uski chhavi khandit dikhaayi de rahi thi. Tukdo me bikhri hui.

Shayad… Sheesha nahi toota tha. Woh swayam hi-

---

Jaise hi Gaurav seedhiyon se neeche utra, poora hall taaliyon ki gadgadahat se goonj utha. Jaam aapas me takra rahe the, koi seeti baja raha tha, koi banavti muskaan sajaaye hue tha aur cameras uski photo utaarne me jut gaye.

Woh muskuraaya, vinamrata se sirr hilaaya, utarte hue apni baahein felaate hue logon se mila. Raaste me parichit chehro ko galey lagaate hue aage badha.

Kuchh puraane investors. Politicians. Business partners.

“Ah! My friend haha~” Usne kisi vyakti ko milte hue use galey se lagaaya. “Long time, haan?”

Tabhi, ek jaani-pehchaani awaaz shorgul ke beech sunaayi di.

“Oi oi Gaurav my dude!”

Gaurav ne awaaz sunn mudkar dekha toh Nik baahein felaaye, tedhi-medhi ajeeb si muskaan liye uske paas aa raha tha. Dono ek-dusre ke zor se galey mile, lag raha tha jaise dono dost nahi bhai the.

Nik : Where’s Sonny, eh?

Gaurav : She hates that name, you know that mate.

Nik : Hahaha! I know! I know!

Gaurav : She’s getting ready. You know women. Time moves differently for them.

Nik hasa. Phir, thoda qareeb aaya aur uski muskaan gaayab ho gayi. Aur, dheemi awaaz me usne Gaurav ke kaan me poochha.

Nik : She invited Divya?

Gaurav (nods) : She did. Whether she shows up or not is another story.

Nik ka jabda yeh sunn kass gaya.

Nik (growls) : That bitch is hiding somewhere in Mumbai only. I know it.

Gaurav : Relax! Once tonight’s over, I’ll look into it. Someone’s helping her stay hidden. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have lasted this long.

Nik : It’s that motherfucker Veer. I’m 100% sure of it dude.

Veer ke baare me sochke hi Nik ki aankhein gusse se laal ho uthi.

Nik : We should erase him. I want to do it myself. I’ll kill him.

Gaurav ki muskaan nahi badli. Lekin, uski awaaz me sakhti zaroor thi abki baar.

Gaurav : Our target is the same. But… Not here. Not tonight.

Usne drinks section ki orr ishaara kiya.

Gaurav (smiles) : Enjoy the drinks. Tomorrow, I’ll set things in motion. And don’t get reckless like last time.

Nik : What do you mean?

Gaurav : Last time, you revealed that you were tracking her phone. She’s alert now. That trick won’t work again. We’ll lure her out in some other way.

Nik ne haami bhari. Uske andar jhunjhlaahat bhari hui thi. Gaurav ne uske kandhe par ek baar thap-thapaaya aur bheed me gaayab ho gaya.

Nik seedhe bar ki orr badha, apne liye ek kadak drink order ki aur bhookhi nigaaho se aati-jaati aurton ko taadne laga.

---

Baahar driveway ki raushni me Erica lamppost se tik kar, baahein modi khadi hui thi. Woh Veer ko hi besabri se dekh rahi thi.




Erica : Hum kab andar jaayenge??

Usne shabdo ko kheechte hue poochha.

Veer : Bas kuchh hi derr me.

Erica (pouts) : Muuuu~ tumne 10 minute pehle bhi yahi kaha tha.



Veer (smiles) : I know!

Erica (huffs) : Hum bas andar jaane hi waale the ki tum bewajah ruk gaye. Kyun???

Veer : Kyunki, unke saath andar jaana behtar hoga.

Erica : Kinke saath?

Veer bas muskuraaya, jiske chalte Erica ka muh aur bhi phool gaya. Par, tabhi-

Gaadiyo ke pahiyo ki awaaz Erica ke kaano me padi. Usne ek jhatke me apne muh par mask pehen liya. 3-4 gaadiya aakar Veer ke theek saamne ruki.

Darwaza khula aur andar se kayi log baahar nikle. Erica unhe dekhte hi chaunk gayi aur usne-

‘Check’

*Ding*

[Name : Rohan
Bio : ….]

*Ding*

[Name : Trisha
Bio : ….]

Rohan. Trisha, baaki police officers ke saath businessmen ke getup me khade hue the.

Veer ko saamne dekhte hi Rohan ki bauhe kass gayi. Trisha hairat aur thodi ghabrahat me Veer ko dekhi. Phir, apne pati ko aur phir wapas se Veer ko.

Veer apne jebo me haath daale nidar hoke unke saamne khada hua tha. Balki… uske hontho par ek muskaan bhi thi.

---

Hall ke andar shorgul chaalu tha.




Sonia aa chuki thi. Janmdin bhale hi Suhana ka tha par woh khud aaj kisi actress se kam nahi lag rahi thi. Photographers uske peechhe pad gaye. Woh vinamrata se muskuraayi, aur apne mata-pita ke nazdeek jaa kar khadi ho gayi.

Shailendra aur Namrita ICONGLOBE ki deal ke baad se hi charcha me bane hue the, dono hi apni beti ke upar garv kar rahe the.

Sonia ke aagman ke baad aur bhi mehmaan padhaarne lage. Casa Belle ka Aadesh Jaisinghani, Kaera ka chhota bhai - Karan, Tanishq, jo Autoshield jaisi company ka maalik tha, sabhi iss birthday party ka hissa the. Kayi vyapaari, celebrities aur social media influencers bhi aaye hue the.

Gaurav ki aankhein turant hi Sonia par jaa kar ruki. Uski aankhon me Sonia ki khubsurti dekhte hi chamak aa gayi. Woh baahein fela kar Shailendra aur Namrita ki orr badha.

Gaurav : Mummi ji! Papa ji! So good to have you here..!

Sonia ke mata-pita ne badi hi garmjoshi se Gaurav ko apne galey se lagaaya, iss baat se bilkul anjaan ki unka damaad kis kism ka neech insaan tha.

Gaurav Sonia ki orr muda, uski muskaan aur bhi chaudi ho gayi.

Gaurav : My dear-

Usne apni baahein kholi. Sonia thoda hichkichaayi. Shayad hi kisi ko kuchh samajh aaya ho, magar Sonia ko yeh mehsoos hua, woh jaani-pehchaani bechaini jo Gaurav ke nazdeek aakar woh humesha mehsoos karti thi.

Usne ek taraf se Gaurav ko apne galey se lagne diya, phir jaldi se peechhe hat gayi.

Sonia : Dii kaha hai?

Gaurav (shrugs) : Ready ho rahi hogi. Tum toh jaanti hi ho apni behan ko haha.

Sonia ne haami bhari, lekin uski bechaini kam nahi hui thi. ICONGLOBE deal waali raat me Suhana dwara kahi gayi baat woh bhooli nahi thi. Uss baat ka matlab aaj woh jaanana chaahti thi.

Kuchh toh gadbad thi. Filhaal ke liye, baat-cheet aur jashn me magn hone ke chalte usne iss baat ko apne andar daba liya.

---

Phir, sangeet dheema hua. Hall ka shorgul kam hua. Suhana seedhiyo ke upar dikhaayi di. Spotlight me woh behad sundar lag rahi thi.




Woh neeche utarne ke liye badhi, har qadam napa-tula aur niyantrit, maano koi raani apne singhaasan se utar kar aa rahi ho. Poora hall sannaate me doob gaya. Sabki nigaahein uss par tiki thi, chaaro orr prashansa ka bhaav vyaapt tha.

Sonia ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Usne Suhana ko gaur se dekha. Muskaan waisi hi thi har baar ki tarah, saleeke se saji hui. Kuchh zyada hi saleeke se saji hui.

Neeche utarte hue Suhana ki nazar bheed me ghoom gayi. Alag-alag chehre, muskaane, jaane-pehchaane log.

Lekin, ek kami baaki sab se kahi zyada chubh rahi thi.

Veer.

Uski ungliyaan railing par halke se gharshan khaayi. Seene me ek ajeeb sa dard jo saans lene me bhi ab dikkat de raha tha. Usne apne nichle honth ko daato taley dabaaya, maano jaise chehre ke bhaavo ko chhipaane ki koshish kar rahi ho.

‘Kya woh bhool gaya?’

Yeh vichaar uski ummeed se kahi zyada kashtdaayak tha. Nahi. Woh yaha nahi ro sakti thi. Abhi kuchh derr pehle hi toh woh upar royi thi. Fatafat apne umadte hue aasuon ko pochhi thi. Apna makeup theek ki thi. Toote hue aaine me usne khud ko sawaara tha. Ab dobaara inn sab ke saamne nahi.

Magar, phir bhi-

Andar se uska haal yahi tha.

Kya use message karna chaahiye? Sirf ek baar?

Nahi.

Woh aisa nahi kar sakti thi. Woh apne akelepann aur khushi ke liye use mushqil me nahi daal sakti thi. Aaj raat nahi.

Parantu… aaj uska janmdin tha.

Aur, aaj hi pehli baar use aisa laga jaise uska janmdin nahi bhi tha.

Seedhiyon ke neeche pahuchte hi taaliyon ki gadgadahat gehri ho gayi. Woh naatkeeya roop se muskuraayi. Logo ko dhanyavad di. Galey se lagi.

Uski therapist Ashita bhi aayi hui thi, taali baja rahi thi, muskura rahi thi. Family ke advisor Prakash Uncle bhi the.

Sab log aaye the. Sab log siwaaye… uske.

Uski nigaahein phir se entrance ki orr mudi. Kya woh aayega?

Sawaal uske mann me baar-baar goonj raha tha. Aisa pehle kabhi nahi hua tha. Bhala woh kab se iss qadar kisi ke liye itna-!?

Magar, aaj hua tha. Aur, yeh itna gehra tha ki iska bodh use aur bhi adhik dara raha tha.

---

Suhana sab ke beecho beech khadi hui thi. Phir bhi aisa lag raha tha jaise akeli khadi hui ho.

Shailendra : Happy birthday my dear daughter~

Kehte hue unhone Suhana ko galey se laga liya. Suhana lipte hue aankhein band kar li. Namrita ne pyaar se uska chehra apne haatho me liya.

Namrita (smiles) : Aaj bahut sundar lag rahi hai meri bacchi. Happy birthday beta~

Suhana : Thank you mom~

Bagal se Sonia aage badhi aur use kass kar galey laga li.

Sonia : Happy birthday to the most beautiful dii in the world~

Suhana : Thank you Sonu~

Sonia (smiles) : Look at you. You didn’t tell me you were planning to outshine the entire city tonight, huh?

Suhana (smiles) : I have competition in this family you know. I have to try.

Sonia ne muskuraate hue thoda peechhe hatkar uski aankhon me dekha.

Sonia (whispers) : Theek ho na?

Suhana (smiles) : Ekdum!

Usne bina jhijak ke jawaab diya. Sonia ke aur kuchh poochhne se pehle hi Gaurav Suhana ke bagal se aake khada ho gaya aur apne ek haath se adhikaar jataate hue uski kamar ko thaam liya.

Gaurav : My queen~ Akhirkar, aa hi gayi tum.

Suhana halka sa sehmi. Thoda akdi. Gaurav ka haath dheere se kamar par daba. Ek sanket ki muskurao. Aur, woh muskuraayi bhi.

Nik thodi derr baad haath me glass liye paas aaya.

Nik : Ah, happy birthday, Sonny! Hahahaha!

Aaya toh woh galey milne tha par Suhana ne haath aage badha kar wahi se unke beech rekha kheench di.

Suhana : Thank you.

Hall ke dusri orr se Ashita dhyaan se saari baat-cheet ko dekh rahi thi. Mann me vichaar kuchh aur hi chal rahe the. Aadesh bar ke paas Tanishq ke saath gehri baat-cheet me mashgool tha. Karan kuchh businessmen se baato me laga hua tha. Sonia apne mata-pita ke paas hi thi, lekin Suhana ko ghoor rahi thi.

Aur, Suhana-




Uski nigaahein baar-baar entrance ki orr bhaag rahi thi. Har baar jab entrance se koi andar aata toh woh ummeed karti ki kaash Veer aaya ho.

Gaurav : Entrance ki taraf baar-baar kya dekh rahi ho?

Suhana : K-Kuchh nahi-!

Gaurav (murmurs) : Jhooth mat kaho. Tum baar-baar wahi dekhe jaa rahi ho. Kahi tumne uss Veer ko-

Suhana : N-Nahi! Maine nahi bulaaya hai.

Gaurav : Good!

Janmdin ka geet goonja, cake cutting ceremony chaalu hui, hall taaliyon se chehek utha.

Gaurav ne Suhana ko cake ka pehla tukda khilaaya, Suhana ne nakli muskaan bikherte hue badle me use ek tukda khilaaya.

Magar, Suhana ke liye yeh mithaas kadwaahat se kam nahi thi. Woh rone hi waali thi ki itne me-

Entrance se saleeke se kapde pehne purusho ka ek samooh andar aaya. Aur, unke peechhe-

Rohan.

Bina wardi ke bhi, uski maujoodagi ka wazan kaafi bhaari tha. Uske bagal se thi uski patni, Trisha.

Ekdum shaant. Satark. Aur, chaukas.

Kuchh aur aadmi bhi unke peechhe-peechhe daakhil hue. Par, jaise hi pravesh ke dauran wo jis tarah se aapas me feley, paarkhi nazar waale logo ne unhe kuchh hadd tak pehchaan liya.

Gaurav ki hasi beech me hi ruk gayi. Uski muskaan gaayab ho gayi. Sirf, ek pal ke liye. Phir, wo laut aayi.

Woh bewakoof nahi tha. Aur, na hi ignorant. Bina wardi ke bhi woh Rohan ko pehchaanane me galti nahi kar sakta tha.

Gaurav : DGP Sir…!

Usne apne haath khole aur Suhana ki orr dheere se muda.

Gaurav : Excuse me babe~

Suhana ne uski nazar ka peechha kiya. Uski dhadkane tez ho gayi. DGP? Ye log kyun aaye the bhala yaha? Kya Gaurav ne unhe nyota diya tha?

Police officers ki aadh me Erica apne saath ek bag liye andar pravesh ki. Woh kab andar aayi, kaise andar pahuchi, logo ka dhyaan uss par gaya hi nahi. Jaise maano woh pehle se hi waha maujood thi.




Kamaal tha uski [Chameleon] aur [Dead Silence] skills ka.

Uski nazar chaaro orr ghoomi aur phir logo ko ‘Check’ karte hi nigaahein event manager par tik gayi. Woh bina kisi jhijhak ke uske paas pahuchi.

---

Hall ke uss paar, Gaurav khule haatho se Rohan ke paas pahucha.

Gaurav : Sir! What a surprise hahahaha! Aap yaha? Aapko mujhe bataana chaahiye tha na!? Agar, mujhe maalum hota ki aap aa rahe hai toh mein aapka swaagat acchhe se karta.

Rohan ne bina muskuraaye uska haath thaama.

Rohan : Kabhi-kabhi mein bina bataaye hi jaana pasand karta hu, Mister Gaurav.

Gaurav : Oh!? *smiles* Toh, kya mein jaan sakta hu ki aapka aaj yaha aana kaise hua? Surely, aap meri wife ka birthday celebrate karne toh nahi hi aaye honge yaha?

Usne chalaaki se poochha. Rohan ne jawaab dene se pehle Trisha ki taraf dekha.

Rohan : Hum kisi ko dhoondh rahe hai.

Gaurav : Oh? Aur, yeh ‘kisi’ bhala kaun ho sakta hai?

Rohan ki aankhein sikudi. Woh yaha ek nahi, kayi maqsad ke liye tha. Jaise hi Gaurav ne prashn kiya, Rohan ka mann kuchh ghante peechhe chala gaya.

Woh apne ghar par hi maujood tha, jab phone ki ghanti baji. Koi unknown number.

Rohan ne jawaab dene se pehle ek pal ke liye screen ko ghoora. Uske baad-

Rohan : Hello?

Kshan bhar ka virhaam aur phir-

"Good evening, DGP Sir."

Rohan jamm gaya.

Rohan : Kaun?

"Mujhe nahi pehchaana? Abhi uss raat aap hi ne toh mujhe surveillance me rakhne ki baat kahi thi na?"

Sunte hi Rohan ki aankhein phel gayi. Ab woh uss awaaz ko jaanta tha. Isliye, nahi ki awaaz usne kayi dafa sunn rakhi thi. Balki, isliye ki... Woh isi awaaz ki talaash me tha.

Rohan (frowns) : Veer...!!!

Sofe ke dusri orr baithi Trisha ne turant upar dekha. Aur, Rohan ne idhar call ko speaker par daal diya.

Rohan : Hmph! Mujhe nahi pata tha tum jail me jaane ke liye itne utaawle ho?

Speaker se ek halki si hasi sunaayi di.

"Jail? Cut the bullshit, Sir. Bina saboot ke aap jail me mujhe nahi daal sakte. Besides... Mein jaanta hu aap kis cheez ke liye betaab ho."

Rohan : !!?

"Mere interrogation ke liye. Hai na?"

Rohan ka jabda kass gaya.

Rohan : Underground incident aur Prestige incident ke baad se tum kisi bhi poochh-taachh me shaamil nahi hue ho. Tumhe lagta hai ki police iss baat ko nazar-andaaz kar degi?

Halka sa sannaata chhaa gaya. Aur, phir Veer ki awaaz gambheer ho gayi.

"I'm ready!"

Rohan aur Trisha dono stabdh reh gaye.

Rohan : Ready? Kis liye?

"Aapko uss raat ki dastaan sunaane ke liye. Yes. That night. The night your daughter got abducted. I'm ready for the interrogation you are seeking."

Rohan aur Trisha ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Woh raat. Unki beti, Pihu ka laapata hona. Underground lair. Serial killer.

Rohan ki ungliyaan desk ke kinaare par kass gayi.

"Aap ye toh jaante hi hai ki Pihu aur Juhi ko bacha kar laane waala kaun tha. Lekin, zameen ke neeche uss underground lair me kya hua? Kya ye aap jaanana nahi chaahoge?"

Trisha ki nazrein Rohan se mili. Dono hi bhauchakke the. Rohan ka lehza thoda sakht ho gaya.

Rohan : Aur, achanak tum bhala itne generous kaise ho gaye, Mister Veer?

"Generous nahi, Sir. Strategic."

Rohan ko Veer ka lehza raas na aaya.

"Aaj raat ek aur crime par se parda uthne waala hai. Ek aisa crime jisey achhi tarah se daba diya gaya tha. Aap toh kanoon ko haath me rakhte hai. Agar, kanoon ki itni hi parvaah hai, toh aa jaaiyega."

Rohan : K-Kya matlab? Kaun sa crime? Kaha?

Veer ne use phir ek pata bataaya. Suhana ke ghar ka pata.

Rohan : T-Tum? Tum pagal ho kya? Ye toh- Ye toh Globerays ke CEO Gaurav ke ghar ka address hai.

"Sahi farmaya aapne. Wahi aana hai. Apne baaki officers ko saath laana mat bhooliyega. Lekin, dhyaan rahe- wardi me nahi. Aise aaiyega jaise undercover operation ke liye jaa rahe ho. Party ka scene hai. Uss hisaab se kapde daal lijiyega. Baad me kehna mat ki bataaya nahi."

Rohan naatkeeya roop se hasa.

Rohan : Aur, tum ye ummeed karte ho ki mein tumhare inn bachkaane instructions ko follow karunga? Tumhe pata bhi hai ki tum kis se baat kar rahe ho?

"Meri ummeed bas itni hai ki agar aapko mauqa diya jaaye, toh aap uss mauqe ko haath se jaane nahi doge."

Rohan (mutters) : Tumne abhi-abhi phone par ye accept kar liya ki uss raat tum underground lair me the.

"Nahi toh? Bhala kya hi saboot hai aapke paas?"

Rohan (grins) : Tumhari call record ho rahi hai. Ab tak jo kuchh bhi tumne kaha sab record ho chuka hai. Zyada hoshiyar mat bano, Veer. Tumne ye qubool kar liya hai ki underground lair me tum hi the. Police ka poora haq hai tumhe interrogate karne ka. Mein abhi aa raha hu. Aur, khabardar agar kahi bhaagne ki koshish ki toh-

Ek gehra sannaata chhaa gaya. Phir, Veer ke hassne ki awaaz aayi.

"Toh zara... Apni patni ji se ye bhi poochh lijiye ki mere khilaaf call recording ko istemal karna sahi rahega ya nahi?"

Rohan ne jab yeh suna toh uske maathe par silvatein chhaa gayi. Usne Trisha ko dekha jiski aankhein bhay me chaudi ho rakhi thi.

Woh envelope... Woh tasveer... Jab Trisha ne Ranjeet ko maara tha. Use yaad aaya. Usne Rohan ko dekh fauran hi naa me sirr hilaaya. Aur, Rohan apni patni ko aise dekh achambhav me reh gaya.

Rohan (grits) : T-Tum... Kya chhipa rahe ho tum mujhse?

"Chhipa toh aapki patni ji rahi hai aapse, DGP Sir. Anyways, mujhe vishvas hai ki aap mauqe ko nahi gawaenge. Aur, na hi mere khilaaf aisi ghatiya tactic apnaenge. Khaaskar tab jab maine aapki beti ko maut ke muh se baahar nikaala ho."

Yeh baat na chaahte hue bhi chubhi. Kyunki, baat satya thi. Trisha jaanti thi.

"Aaj raat time par pahuchiyega. Kanoon jo kehta hai aap uss hisaab se hi aaj chaliyega. Uske baad... Mein khud interrogation ke liye aapke paas aaunga."

Rohan ke dimaag me tarah-tarah ke sawaal uthne lage. Bhala Trisha uss se aisa kya chhipa rahi thi jo Veer jaanta tha?

Rohan : Aur, agar mein nahi aaya toh?

"Toh aap ek aisa mauqa kho denge jo aapko dobaara nahi milega. Aur... Woh crime ek baar phir dab ke reh jaayega."

Veer ki halki si dabi hui hasi Rohan ko sunaayi di.

"Isliye, soch samajhkar faisla lijiyega, DGP Sir. Oh! Aur, ek antim baat. Waha par Globerays ke CEO Mister Gaurav agar poochhe aapse ki aap waha kyu aaye hai? Toh bas itna kahiyega ki-"

Veer ki antim baat sunn, Rohan ne jaise hi kuchh kehne ke liye muh khola toh itne me phone kat gaya. Woh bas khamosh phone ko dekhta raha. Uske maathe par paseene ke boonde saji hui thi.

Trisha : H-Humein chalna hoga, Rohan.

Rohan : Tumhare aur uske beech ki koi baat hai, hai na? Kya chhipa rahi ho tum mujhse Trisha?

Trisha ne uski jaangh par haath rakha.

Trisha : Sab bata dungi. Par, iske baad. Humaara aaj udhar jaana bahut zaroori hai, trust me. Uske baad mein tumhe sab kuchh sach-sach bata dungi. Please!

Rohan ne bas haami bhar di.

"DGP Sir?"

Gaurav ki awaaz use wapas se hosh me laayi. Woh ateet se baahar aaya. Usne Gaurav ko sthir nigaahon se dekha.

Gaurav : Maine poochha ki kiski talaash me aaye hai aap? Kya mein jaan sakta hu? *smiles*

Rohan (breathes) : Hum 'Nik' naamak vyakti ki talaash me hai.

Gaurav ki reedh me ek sihran daud gayi.

Gaurav : Nik? Kaun Nik? Haha. Aapko shayad koi galat-fehmi hui hai, Sir. Aaj toh meri wife ki b'day party hai.

Rohan : Wahi Nik jo aapka param mitr hai, Mister Gaurav. Wahi mitr jiske sang aapki photos social media par dali hui hai. Humein jankaari mili hai ki woh yahi hai.

Gaurav ki bauhe phadki. Saboot toh mita diye gaye the. Nik ke dwaara le jaayi gayi cars ko toh secure kar liya gaya tha. Phir, akhir kaise? Uske mann me bas ek hi naam aaya.

Veer!

Usne apne daant meese.

Gaurav (laughs) : Hahaha! Achha! Achha! Nik? Mera friend? Lekin, wo toh yaha nahi hai, Sir. Mein yakeen ke saath keh sakta hu. Woh toh India me hi nahi hai. Aur, bhala woh kaise aapki nigraani me aa gaya, Sir?

Rohan : Kuchh classified baatein hai. Abhi nahi bata sakta.

Pillar ke peechhe chhip ke Nik sab kuchh dhyaan se dekh raha tha. Usne Gaurav ka ek ishaara dekha.

Niklo yaha se. Abhi.

Aur, Nik ne ishaara padhte hi apna glass neeche rakha aur bheed me aur andar ghuste hue peechhe ke galiyaare se nikalne ke liye bhaaga.

Gaurav (smiles) : Kya mein jaan sakta hu ki aapko ye information kisne di ki Nik yaha par hai?

Rohan (smirks) : I’m afraid not, Mister Gaurav. Humaare bhi kuchh usool hote hai. Now, if you don’t mind, we’d like to just check the place.

Gaurav : Aap wardi me nahi hai, Sir.

Rohan : Hum undercover operation ke tehet aaye hai. *smiles*

Aur, uske utna kehte hi Rohan ke aadmi hall me titar-bitar ho gaye. Sab kuchh shaanti me ho raha tha. Trisha ki nazrein bhi baaj ki tarah hall me chaaro orr ghoomne lagi.

Phir-

Lights off ho gayi.

“Ohh!? Power cut?”

“Generator laga hoga.”

Log aapas me baat karne lage. Achanak se halki si raushni aayi. Dur ki deewar par ek bada sa safed kapda fela hua tha. Erica apna mask pehne ek chhoti table ke paas khadi thi, laptop khula hua tha aur projector ne safed kapde par apni kirane bikheri.

Projector chaalu hua.

Ek puraani tasveer.

Suhana aur Gaurav ki kayi saal pehle ki tasveer. Slide palti. Suhana ke bachpan ki ek tasveer. Sacchi muskaan ke saath.

“Oh wow~”

“So cute!”

Suhana swayam aashcharyachakit thi. Par, uss se bhi zyada koi hairat me tha toh khud Gaurav. Lekin, yeh chinta ek raahat me badal gayi.

Usne mann hi mann event manager ki tareef ke pul baandhe. Usne toh iske paise hi nahi diye the. Ye toh plan me hi nahi tha. Lagta hai event manager ne koi surprise plan kiya tha.

Iske baad aur tasveerein aayi. Unki shaadi ki, kuchh business launches ki, trips ki, functions ki, aur Gaurav ne thaan liya ki party ke baad woh event manager ko baksheesh zaroor dega.

Idhar Gaurav use paise dene ki soch raha tha, toh udhar event manager yeh soch raha tha ki ye sab taam-jhaam shayad Gaurav ne swayam taiyaar kiya hua tha.

Ek achhe vaivaahik jeevan ki kahani chal rahi thi projector pe. Suhana ne Gaurav ko ajeeb nigaahon se dekha. Gaurav uske qareeb aaya aur uske haath ko thaama.

Gaurav : Dekha? Maine tumhare liye kya kuchh plan kiya hua tha aaj? Kitna sochta hu mein tumhare baare me!

Suhana ne koi jawab nahi diya. Use ye sab ajeeb sa lag raha tha. Slides ke transition kaafi dheeme the. Ajeeb dhang se. Aur, woh sahi thi.

Erica ke chehre par mask ke peechhe muskaan gehri ho gayi. Achanak, slides ke saath-saath ek voice over bhi chaalu ho gaya.

Jaise hi voice over chaalu hua, Rohan Gaurav ke peechhe aake khada hua aur usne peechhe se hi uske kaan me kaha.

Rohan : Ab jo kuchh bhi hoga, tass se mass bhi nahi hona, Mister Gaurav.

Gaurav ko apni peeth par ek revolver feel hua.

Rohan : You are under surveillance for now. Aur, shayad- soon under arrest bhi ho sakte ho. Depend karta hai projector kya dikhaane waala hai.

Gaurav : Huh-!?

Gaurav ki reedh ki haddi kaanp uthi. Uski nazrein projector screen par hi jami hui thi jab-

Projector ka scene chaalu hua.

Kuchh saal pehle,
Boston, Hallowell Hall, MIT ~

Duniya ke kone-kone se aaye hue chhaatr sard kapdo me lipte aur aatmavishvas se lathpath yaha apne sapne sakaar karne ke liye aaye hue the. Har kisi ko kuchh na kuchh saabit karna tha.

Mumbai se aaya Engineering me dhurandhar Gaurav bhi iss bheed ka hissa tha. Apne kamre ke number 211 ke pravesh dwaar par khada, ek haath me duffle bag aur dusre haath me ‘The art of systems architecting’ ka naya-naya edition tha.

Usne kamre ke darwaaze ko dhakka dekar khola. Aur, dhue ka ek jhoka uske muh par aakar laga. Cigarettes. Aur, thodi chamde ki mehek bhi.

Kamra pehle se hi aadha bhara hua tha. Ek suitcase. Farsh par kaale joote. Mej par whiskey ka glass, aadha khaali. Aur, ek achhi kad-kaathi ka chaude kandho waala ladka jo khidki ke paas hi khada use hi ghoor raha tha.

Nicholas.

Nicholas : So… You’re the roommate they assigned me? *grins* Let’s see how long you last dude.

Gaurav : Just stay out of my business. And, we’ll be good.

Nicholas (smiles) : I like the sound of that…!

Pehle hafte toh dono ke beech baat-cheet lagbhag ne ke barabar hi rahi. Phir, ek raat, Gaurav gusse me lab se lauta. Usne ghuste hi apna bag de pheka.

Gaurav : Fuckkkk! The entire project got delayed because some idiot leaked our dataset to the rival group. Fucking bastards. Can’t even keep the data secured enough. Fucking losers.

Nicholas ne apni kitaab se nazrein utha kar upar uski orr dekha aur pehli baar kuchh poochha.

Nicholas : And? Do you want revenge or results?

Gaurav : Both. I want leverage.

Nicholas ne apni crimes studies se sambandhit kitaab neeche rakhi.

Nicholas (smiles) : Now you are talking in my language. Let’s sit and talk.

Uss raat, unn dono ke beech kuchh badal gaya. Dono ne baatein saajha ki, Gaurav ne use ‘Nik’ kehkar bulaana shuru kar diya. Aur, Nik ne use bataaya ki kaise woh casino players ki manovaigyanik profiling karke, unki bhavnao ki nakal karke aur unki kamzoriyon ka faayda uthakar bade daanv waale poker games me hera-pheri karta tha.

Toh wahi Gaurav ne use bataya ki kaise usne ek baar Mumbai me apne school server ko iss tarah se hack kiya tha ki kayi saari files uske haath lag sake aur bhrashtachaar ke maamlo ko woh unhe saamne dikha sake.

Raat se lekar subah tak, dono ke beech baatein chalti rahi, kisse saajha hote chale gaye aur dono ke beech ka rishta pehle se gehra ho gaya. Dekhte hi dekhte ve dono pakke dost bann chuke the.

Derr raat ki meetings lambi rann-neeti baithako me badal gayi. Ek logo ko padhne me maahir tha aur dusra logo ke data ko hadapne me. Ve dono logo ko shikaar ki tarah dekhne lage, aur aapas me jankaari saajha karne lage.

Kaun sa student dabaav me jhooth bolega? Kaun chupke se dhoka de raha hai? Kisko khareeda jaa sakta hai? Kiska patta saaf karna hai? Sab kuchh.

Nik : You know dude…! Everyone has a pressure point. You just have to know where to press. Or how long to wait before they push it themselves. Haha.

Gaurav (drunk) : *hic* I agree! *hic* People are like codes, Nik. I just need a system. You… *hic* provide the vulnerabilities and- and- *hic*

Nik (smiles) : And you’ll create the algorithm to exploit them. Hahahahaha!

Gaurav : Hahahaha! Yesssss. *hic*

Unn dono ne ek dusre ki taaqat ko samajhkar ek dusre ke liye istemaal karna seekh liya tha. Unki shuruaat chhote-chhote tests se hui.

Jaise ki farzi aaropo me fasa kar kuchh professors ko college se nikalwana. Foreign students ko pass karwaane ke liye grading invigilators ko blackmail karna. Campus ke elections me herr-ferr karna.

Koi bhi kabhi bhi unke baare me kuchh bhi pata nahi laga paaya. Wo humesha do qadam aage rehte the. Aur, inn sab ke dauraan unhe ehsaas hua ki-

Unhe ‘zindagi’ naam ke game ko khelne ki zaroorat hi nahi thi. Bas niyamo ko samajhne ki zaroorat thi.

Ek baar jab ek guest lecture ke dauraan Information Warfare aur Behavioral Economics ko lekar charcha ho rahi thi, tab ek FBI ke analyst unhe samjha rahe the ki aajkal ki sarkaare kis baat se joojh rahi thi.

“Students, you know what’s the problem? Data is not the problem anymore. Emotionally weighted intelligence is.”

Nik aur Gaurav ne ek dusre ko dekha. Ek khamosh si sehmati.

Gaurav : They don’t know what to do with people’s secrets, Nik hehe~

Nik (smirks) : But we do.

Dekhte hi dekhte ek saal guzar gaya. Nik aur Gaurav ke beech ki dosti bas gehri hoti chali gayi. Aur, phir woh aayi-

Suhana.

Sunehra din tha jab usne usi MIT me apne qadam rakhe. Gaurav khidki ke paas baithe code type kar raha tha jab uski nazar Suhana par padi.

Aur, maano jaise sab kuchh dhundhla pad gaya. Suhana? Suhana ko toh woh school se hi jaanta tha. Bhagwan ne kis qadar kismat likhi thi uski? Jiske liye woh school se pada hua tha, aaj woh swayam chalke yaha videsh tak uske paas aa gayi.

Uss raat usne Nik se kayi baatein saajha ki-

Gaurav : She’s my childhood crush dude. The eldest daughter of Shailendra, that guy owns Elite Motors and what not.

Nik (smiles) : Oh!?

Gaurav : She’s smart. Untouched. Powerful. Lonely. And… very submissive as well. *licks* I want her dude.

Nik (smiles) : You want her because… of the Elite Motors. Am I right? Or do you like her docile nature?

Gaurav : Both. Hahahaha~

Nik (smiles) : You son of a-

Gaurav ke liye Suhana baaki ladkiyo se ekdum hi alag thi. Woh na toh bigdi hui waaris thi aur na hi bewakoof, bholi-bhaali ameer ladki. Woh hoshiyaar thi, lekin thoda shaant, aur namr-vinamr swabhaav ki bhi.

Woh har baat par sawaal uthaati thi, professors ko challenge karti thi, aur ek baar toh usne publicly kisi teacher se behas karke unhe sharminda bhi kar diya tha. Lekin, woh zor se nahi bolti thi. Sateek rehti thi. Aur, sabse badi baat- woh swabhaav me submissive thi. Khaaskar mardo ke prati. Aur, yahi Gaurav ko lubhaata tha.

Gaurav sharing classes me uske theek peechhe baithne laga. Jab Suhana derr tak library me rehti, woh bhi wahi rehta. Pehle se jaan-pehchaan hone ki wajah se baat-cheet unn dono me bade hi araam se shuru ho chuki thi.

Suhana : Tumhara iraada apne dad ki tarah job karne ka nahi hai kya?

Gaurav : Ji haan! Mera aisa koi iraada nahi hai. Mein apne naam se kuchh banaunga. Mera khud ka empire.

Suhana : Bade-bade sapne huh-!?

Gaurav ne har tarqeeb apnaayi Suhana ko paane ke liye. Suhana ne badle me suhanubhuti dikhaayi. Dosti nibhaayi. Lekin, uss se zyada kuchh nahi. Usne kabhi bhi dosti ki seema ko paar nahi hone diya.

Gaurav : Suhana, I love you! Tum mujhe school se pasand ho.

Suhana : Gaurav maine tumse kaha na!? Mein tumhe bas ek dost ki tarah hi maanti hu. Mere andar tumhare liye waisi feelings nahi hai.

Gaurav : Feelings develop ho jaayengi. Tum ek baar-

Suhana : Maine kaha na nahi, Gaurav! I’m sorry but iss mamle me mein ye bilkul bhi force nahi karna chaahti. Relationship mere liye bahut maayne rakhta hai.

Magar, Gaurav mehez dosti se zyada chaahta tha. Usne Suhana ko kaise bhi paane ke liye rann-neeti banaani shuru kar di thi. Kintu, har paitra uska nakaam saabit hua.

Graduation ke baad uska Mumbai wapas jaana tay hua. Nik Las Vegas ki taraf nikal chuka tha. Suhana Boston me abhi bhi apne akhiri saal me thi.

Jab Gaurav Mumbai wapas laut ke aaya toh usne apni kuchh nayi tarqeebein lagaani shuru ki. Jinme se ek thi-

Suhana ke gharwalo se pehchaan banaana. Aur, jaha uski pehchaan hui-

Sonia se.

Sonia : Dii aur aap ek saath the college me? Wow~ Toh kaisa tha MIT? Maza aaya?

Gaurav : Bahut yaar! Sab badhiya tha. Bas ek aashiq ki kami thi. Haha.

Sonia : Oh hooo! Koi mili nahi kya waha?

Gaurav : Pyaar itna asaan kaha hai, Sonia.

Sonia : Hmm! I hope aapko aapki chaahne waali jald hi mil jaaye.

Gaurav : Yahi toh mein bhi chaahta hu!

Kehte hue uski nigaahein Sonia par phiri. Gaurav ko dono behne raas aa gayi thi. Magar, woh jaanta tha ki agar Suhana mutthi me aa jaaye toh Sonia ko hathiyaana kaafi asaan ho jaana tha.

Par tabhi, uske saleeke se soche gaye plan me ek adanga aa gaya.

Sonia : Ahh! Pushkar! Aao na!

Ek naujavan ladka sharmaate hue Sonia ke ghar ke gate ke paas aake khada hua tha. Andar qadam rakhne se sharma raha tha. Sonia use dekhte hi chehek uthi, woh uthi aur daudate hue uske paas gayi, uske haath ko pakadte hue use kheench kar andar le aayi.

Gaurav : Y-Ye kaun hai?

Sonia : Ye Pushkar! Mera achha dost. Pushkar, yeh Gaurav bhaiya hai. Dii Boston gayi hai na? Toh unke senior the ye waha pe. Ab graduate ho gaye hai.

Pushkar (nods) : H-Hello!

Gaurav ne bade hi achhe se uske saath haath milaaya. Par, sacchaayi toh yeh thi ki woh Pushkar ko abhi hi kaccha chaba jaana chaahta tha.

Jis tarah se Sonia uske paas chipak rahi thi, dono ke beech jis tarah se taal-mel tha, kahi na kahi use darr tha ki-

Gaurav : Waise, kya karte hai aapke papa, Pushkar?

Ek gehra sannaata chhaa gaya.

Pushkar sarr jhuka ke khada raha. Sonia bhi thodi chintit nazar aane lagi. Gaurav ko laga jaise usne kuchh galat poochh liya ho.

Sonia : Wo- Gaurav bhaiya, Pushkar ki jo family hai na wo humare ghar me work karte hai. Unki achhi si job hai. Hai na, Pushkar?

Sonia ne apne mitr ki baat ko dhak kar use bachaana chaaha parantu, yeh daya aur humdardi jaise Pushkar ke liye marham nahi, balki jaley par namak chhidakne ke samaan thi.

Pushkar : Mera parivar…? Hum gareeb hai. Sonia… Sonia ke papa ji ke liye hi kaam karte hai. Hum… hum servants quarter me rehte hai, peechhe hi.

Sonia ki bauhe chinta me sikud gayi. Ek yahi baat thi jiske liye woh humesha ghabraati thi. Woh kabhi nahi chaahti thi ki uska dost, Pushkar kabhi bhi uske rutbe, paise aur aiyyaash zindagi se darey aur bhaagne ki koshish kare.

Jaha woh vyakul thi, toh wahi idhar Gaurav ke hontho par ek kapti muskaan saj gayi. Jis darr ka woh intezaar kar raha tha woh toh kuchh aur hi nikla-

Par, kehte hai na, lohe pe hathoda tabhi maarna chaahiye jab woh garam ho. Aur, Gaurav yeh baat bakhoobi jaanta tha.

*Ring* *Ring*

Ek din, screen par naam dekhte hi Nik ne muskuraate hue call ko uthaaya.

Nik : What’s going on dude? *smiles* How’s your love life going? Any good news?

Gaurav : There is… but a bad one. And, I need your help.

Nik : Oh? Go on!

Gaurav : Someone unwanted has entered into the field. I want him eliminated.

Nik : Hmm? Eliminate? Do you-

Gaurav : No! Not the killing. Just gone.

Nik : Oh!? Who’s the lad?

Gaurav : A young guy. Somewhat pretty face. Tall. Slim. Poor. His family works for Suhana’s house. Lives in servant quarters behind her house. He’s a threat…!

Nik : Suhana and him-!?

Gaurav : No! Him and Sonia. Sonia is… the younger sister of Suhana.

Nik (grins) : You son of a-! So, you want the sister-in-law too, huh!?

Gaurav (smiles) : Just help me dude! And, to let you get started, he’s very afraid of his own status. He has that inferiority complex of being poor.

Nik : Hahahaha! Your half job is already done, dude! I’ll prepare a plan for him. Stay in touch.

Gaurav (grins) : That’s like my pal!

Nik logo ko padhne me maahir tha. Kaise unki kamzoriyon ka faayda utha ke unhe fasaana hai, yeh woh bakhoobi jaanta tha.

Nik ke kahe anusaar, Gaurav ne apni dosti Pushkar se bhi gehri kar li. Woh use apne sang parties me le jaata. Bars me le jaata. Use baahar ki duniya dikhaata. Beer, whiskey, alcohol se lekar cigarettes tak, woh sab kuchh use pilaata. Aur, ye sab Sonia ke peeth peechhe ho raha tha.

Dheere-dheere Pushkar baahri duniya se waaqif ho chuka tha. Aur, ek din-

Jab Sonia kisi party se laut kar aayi, jab Pushkar apne dil ki baat uss se kehne jaa hi raha tha ki woh uss se bahut pyaar karta hai, tabhi Gaurav ne use rok liya.

Gaurav : Arey arey! Kaha jaa rahe ho bandhu?

Pushkar : G-Gaurav bhaiya? *blushes* Woh mein-

Gaurav ne uske haatho me ek phool ka guldasta dekha aur uski muskaan aur adhik fel gayi.

Gaurav : Oh? Toh majnu laila ke pyaar me pad hi gaya, haan?

Pushkar (shyly) : Kya Gaurav bhaiya! A-Aisa kuchh bhi nahi hai. Mein toh bas Sonia ko ye-

Gaurav : Par, dukh ki baat hai bahut yaar. Jao jao! Mere samjhaane se kya hi hota hai.

Pushkar : M-Matlab?

Gaurav : Ni ni kuchh nahi yaar. Mujhe pyaar nahi mila toh mujhe tumhe nahi rokna chaahiye. Sacchaayi ki thokar sabhi ko lagni hi chaahiye.

Kehte hue woh palat ke jaane laga toh Pushkar ne uska haath thaam use roka.

Pushkar : Bhaiya bataiye na. Kya baat hai? A-Aap aur dara rahe ho. Seedhe-seedhe bol do. Ab toh hum dost hai na?

Gaurav (sighs) : Chal achha theek hai. Tujhe apna chhota bhai maanta hu toh jeevan ki sacchaayi aaj tu sunn hi le.

Usne Pushkar ke kandhe me haath daala aur use thoda dur le gaya.

Gaurav : Achha, ek baat bata. Tu Sonia se pyaar karta hai, hai na?

Pushkar (fumbles) : E-Eh-!

Gaurav : Arey bol na!

Pushkar (shyly) : H-Haan!

Gaurav : Kya Sonia tum se pyaar karti hai?

Pushkar : P-Pata nahi bhaiya.

Gaurav : Arey karti hi hogi, paagal hahaha!

Usne uske kandhe ko jhanjhora. Pushkar bechaara sharma ke reh gaya.

Gaurav : Pyaar-vyaar toh chalo ho gaya. Par, dikkat kaha par hai?

Pushkar : K-Kaha par?

Gaurav ne palatate hue Pushkar ko moda aur dur Sonia ki orr ishaara kiya jo apni chamchamaati gaadi se utar kar apni kuchh college friends se baat kar rahi thi.

Gaurav : Dekh udhar zara. Kya nazar aaya tujhe?

Pushkar : Huh? S-Sonia hai. Apni dosto se baat kar rahi hai.

Gaurav ne uske sarr par ek tapli maari.

Gaurav : Abey dhyaan se dekh. Uske haath me dekh. Kya hai? LV ka bag. Kya lagta hai kitne ka hoga? Lakho ka hai wo, samjha? Uski heels dekh. Qareeban 20-30 hazaar se kam ki nahi hongi. Dress? Araam se 50 hazaar ke qareeb. Gaadi? Karodo me keemat hai uski. Kuchh samajh aaya?

Pushkar, jo yeh sab sunn raha tha use achanak hi kuchh bodh hua. Jo 50-100 rupaye ka guldasta usne apne seene se laga ke rakha hua tha, woh haath me ab neeche jhool gaya. Uska sarr neeche ho gaya.

Gaurav : Kal maine tujhe wo beer pilaayi thi!? Kaisi thi?

Pushkar : A-Achhi thi!

Gaurav : Sach-sach bol! Darr mat!

Pushkar : Kh-Kharaab!

Gaurav : Bilkul sahi! Aur, aaj jo pilaayi thi woh?

Pushkar : Bahut achhi!

Gaurav : Tujhe kaaran pata hai uska?

Pushkar : N-Nahi!

Gaurav : Kyunki, aaj waali bahut mehngi thi, chhote! Ab jeevan ka kadwa sach sunn le. Ek raees baap ki beti jo hoti hai na… Use bhi aise hi inn sab cheezon ki aadat pad chuki hoti hai. Toh bhala woh ye sab araam chhor ke kisi aise ke paas kyu jaayegi jo uss se auhde me kam ho? Samjha?

Pushkar ki aankhein namm pad gayi. Gaurav ki baatein kadwi zaroor thi, magar unme kahi na kahi gehri sacchaayi bhi chhipi hui thi.

Pushkar : P-Par- Par, Sonia aisi nahi hai. Woh kehti hai ki-

Gaurav : Kyunki, abhi use bodh nahi hua hai, chhote. ‘Paisa’ uske liye haatho ka mel hai. Isliye, uski qadr nahi hai abhi. Par, use tum abhi bina paise ke chhor do. Phir, dekho-

Pushkar : …!? Aap nahi chaahte kya ki mein aur Sonia-

Gaurav : Arey paagal hai kya?

Usne kass ke Pushkar ko apne galey se lagaaya.

Gaurav : Tu toh bhai jaisa hai pagle. Mein kyu tera bura chaahunga? Mein bas tujhe sacchaayi bata raha hu ki-

Pushkar : Ki?

Gaurav : -ki ladkiyon ko sirf ek hi cheez chaahiye hoti hai.

Pushkar : !!?

Gaurav (smiles) : Paisa!

Pushkar : Huh?

Gaurav : Haan! Paisa! Tu khud soch. Agar, abhi tere paas dher saara paisa hota, toh aaj tu kaha hota? Tu Sonia ke bagal se khada hota, unki friends ke saath. Woh tere se chipak ki apni dosto ke saamne show-off kar rahi hoti.

Pushkar : …


Gaurav : Mujhe dekh le. Mere paas bhi thoda bahut paisa hai. Lekin, abhi tak single hu. Kyu? Kyunki, mujhe jo ladki chaahiye, use paane ke liye mujhe aur paisa kamaana padega.

Pushkar : A-Aapko kaun si ladki chaahiye?

Gaurav ne bas muskura diya. Maagr, uski baat Pushkar ke dil me baith chuki thi. Aaj ke jeevan me paisa bahut aavashyak tha. Jiske paas paisa hai, wahi taqatvar hai.

Pushkar : M-Mujhe bhi paisa kamaana hai. Bhaiya aap meri naukri kahi lagwa sakte ho? Mein paisa kamaunga! Mein ye ghar ke kaam karta raha toh kuchh bhi jod nahi paunga.

Gaurav : Abe chhote! Tu agar saari zindagi bhi naukri karega na, toh bhi tu itna paisa nahi jod paayega.

Pushkar : T-Toh kya karu? Mein Sonia ko har woh khushi dena chaahta hu jo use chaahiye. Mein uske liye dher saara paisa kamaana chaahta hu.

Gaurav : Dhandha!

Pushkar : Huh?

Gaurav : Paisa do dhandho se kamaaya jaa sakta hai, chhote. Ek safed dhandha. Aur, ek… *grins* kaala dhandha.

Pushkar : Par ye toh galat hai-

Gaurav : Aaj ke yug me kuchh bhi galat nahi pagle. Sonia ko dekh. Tujhe lagta hai ki har ek paayi-paayi uske pita ji ne imaandari karke kamaayi hai? Hargiz nahi!

Uss raat Pushkar ko samajh aa chuka tha ki paisa akhir kitna taqatvar tha. Dheere-dheere na chaahte hue bhi woh Gaurav ke bataaye gaye kaamo me uska saath dene laga.

Gaurav use kayi logo se milwaata, uss se gerr-kanooni kaam karwaata aur badle me use dher saara paisa deta.

Jab jebo me paisa bharne laga toh Pushkar ka aatmavishvas aur badhta chala gaya, woh Sonia ke liye paise jodne laga.

Magar, ant me Gaurav ne apni asli chaal bhi chal di. Pushkar ke badalte ravaiyye se uske gharwaale bhi pareshan ho chuke the. Woh jaan chuke the ki unke ghar ka chiraag ab raaste se bhatak raha hai. Aur, isliye-

Aaye din ghar par tu-tu mein-mein hoti. Jhagde hote. Jaha Pushkar aksar rooth ke ghar se nikal jaaya karta.

Pushkar : Aapne ekdum sahi kaha tha bhaiya. Ye gareeb ki kaum saali hoti hai gareeb rehne ke liye hai. Ye kabhi upar uth kar jeena nahi chaahte.

Gaurav (grins) : Par, tu toh alag hai na chhote!?

Pushkar : Haan! Sirf aapki wajah se. Mere kaaran hi gharwaale aaj kam se kam dhang ki dal roti kha paa rahe hai, hum upar uth rahe hai par nahi. Kaha se ye paisa? Imaandar raho. Kya rakha hai imaandari me? Koi kisi ki qadr nahi karta.

Gaurav : Ab tum jeevan ki sacchaayi ko jaan rahe ho.

Pushkar : Haan! Mujhe aur paisa kamaana hai. Lekin, ye gharwaale. Mere peechhe pade hue hai. Mann toh karta hai ki kisi din-

Gaurav : Agar kisi din zyaada tang aa jao, aur ghar se nikalne ka mann kare *smiles* Toh mein tumhari madad kar sakta hu.

Pushkar : Kaise?

Gaurav : Mera ek dost hai. Las Vegas me. Waha dollar chalta hai chhote. Woh tujhe dollar kamaane me madad karega. Tu aaj agar Sonia ke liye gaadi khareed sakta hai na, toh udhar jaa ke kuchh saal me hi tu use se shaadi karne ke liye yogya bhi ho jaayega.

Pushkar : Itna paisa hai udhar?

Gaurav : Teri soch se bhi zyada. Ye le. Rakh ise. Mere dost ka number hai. Jab tera mann kare, baat kar lena. Lekin, dhyaan rahe, uss se hindi nahi aati. Tu bas ek baar mujhe phone kar dena. Mein use sab samjha dunga.

Pushkar : Aap hi sabse sacche insaan ho bhaiya. Mere asli supporter. Lekin, mein Sonia ko yaha aise akele-

Gaurav : Mein kisliye hu? Kisi bhi ladke ko aas-paas bhi bhatakne nahi dunga uske.

Pushkar : S-Sach?

Gaurav : Aur nahi toh kya-

Pushkar : Bhaiya! Bolo kya karu aapke liye?

Ummeed toh Pushkar ne yahi kari thi ki kabhi use Nik tak jaane ke liye majboor na hona pade. Par, samay jaise-jaise aage badhta gaya, uske rishte apne gharwalo ke saath kamzor hote chale gaye.

Maar-peet, ladaayi, shorgul uske ghar me ab samaanya ho chuka tha. Aur, yahi kaaran tha jab Pushkar akhirkar apna ghar chhor ke bhaag nikla.

Yahi kaaran tha ki woh kyun Las Vegas gaya. Saara ka saara pratibandh Gaurav ne karwaya tha. Aur, udhar Las Vegas me Nik use kathputli ki tarah nachaate hue uss se kaale karnaame karwaane laga.

Yahi kaaran tha ki kyun woh Las Vegas me itne waqt tak rehne ke baad bhi pakda nahi gaya. Nik ki chhatr-chhaaya me jo har kaam ho raha tha.

Yahi kaaran tha ki kyun uska ravaiyya itne saalo me badal chuka tha. Yahi kaaran tha ki kyun woh udhar rehkar Sonia se bhi ghrina karne laga. Kyunki, Sonia ko Mumbai me vyast rakhne ka kaam Gaurav sambhaal raha tha aur udhar Pushkar ko bigaadne ka kaam, Nik.

Jab Gaurav yaha Sonia se rishte bana raha tha, tab Nik ki mulaqat udhar Divya se ho chuki thi. Nik ne use sab kuchh sikhaana shuru kar diya. Usne Gaurav ko bataaya ki Divya uske saath hai, jaha se dono ko pata laga ki Divya Suhana ki achhi dost hai.

Aur, aise hi ek din jab Pushkar Nik ke dwaara hi kisi gerr-kanooni kaam ko anjaam de raha tha, tab uske raaste me Suhana aur Divya aa gayi.

Yahi woh pal tha jab Suhana beech me Divya ke paas uss se milne gayi hui thi. Yahi woh pal tha jab Divya ne Suhana ko Nik se milwaaya tha. Yahi woh pal tha jab Pushkar aur Divya, Suhana ke beech ladaayi chhidi, aur yahi woh pal tha jab Divya ne Suhana ko bachaane ke liye-

*Bang*

Pushkar ka qatl kar diya.

Ek anhoni.

Lekin, saath hi ek sochi-samjhi gayi vardaat.

Aur, isi saboot ke saath dono Divya aur Suhana ki zindagiyo ki taqdeer bhi tay kar di gayi. Nik aur Gaurav ka wo phone call. Gaurav ka Suhana ko bachaana. Nik ka Divya ko bachaana.

Jabki… Pushkar ke uss sthiti me jaane ka kaaran yahi dono, Gaurav aur Nik hi the.

Gaurav ne Suhana par vijay praapt kar li thi. Usne Globerays ko praapt kiya. CEO bana. Par, uska asli maqsad?

DATA.

Gaurav apni company ki madad se data ikhatta karta, aur information sell karta tha. Chaahe wo phir dark web par hi kyu na ho.

Jiske badle me use itna paisa milta ki uska career aur Globerays skyrocket ho chuke the.

Akhirkar, slides dheeme padi. Ek financial dashboard khula.

Globerays ke internal access logs. Server routes. Encrypted transfers.

Bheed me fusfusaahat shuru ho gayi. Screen par ek highlight ki gayi line :

Client Data Extraction - Batch 47

Transferred to offshore wallet. Amounts follow. Crores.

Phir, dusri slide. Batch 61.

“Ye toh- ye toh data hai. Private information. Ise kaha sell kiya gaya hai?”

“Ek minute! Ye toh- ye toh internal audit ki footage hai.”

Slide phir palti.

Backend servers ka record ek recorded screen video me nazar aaya. Kaise user ke data ko real time me churaaya jaa raha tha. Biometric logs. Government contracts.

Phir, ek aur slide palti. Dark web ki chat windows. Kuchh anonymous buyers. Crypto confirmations.

Logo ki hairaani badhti jaa rahi thi.

“Ye toh- classified infrastructure data hai…”

Ek aur slide palti.

Shell companies. Receipts. Foreign Transfers. Tax evasion charts. ‘Consultation fee’ ke naam par li gayi rishwatein.

Gaurav ki peeth par abhi bhi Rohan ke revolver ki thandi nok tiki hui thi. Gaurav hila nahi. Ekdum seedha khada raha. Par, maathe par paseena zaroor chhaaya hua tha.

Slide ek baar phir badli. Iss baar hall me maujood logo ki saansein atak gayi. Chhipe hue cameras ki kuchh tasveerein aur footages.

Bedroom. Hallways. Kuchh zoom ki gayi tasveerein. Aur, tasveeron me-

Sonia.

Zaahir taur se Sonia ki image rakhne ke liye woh pictures blur kar di gayi thi, Erica ke dwaara.

Tasveerein dhundhli thi. Koi aur pehchaane ya na pehchaane, Sonia ki aankhein kabhi dhoka nahi kha sakti thi. Woh jaanti thi unn kapdo ke rango ko. Unn dhundhle hallways ko.

Suhana ke ghar par. Kapde badalte hue. Towel me lipti hui. Nange kandhe liye. Ye wahi thi. Log itna toh samajh gaye the ki tasveer kisi ladki ki thi par kaun thi? Ye wo nahi jaante the. Siwaaye Sonia ke.

Namrita ka haath apne muh par chala gaya. Kahi na kahi woh pehchaan chuki thi. Sonia bhauchakki si khadi hui thi. Uski aankhon ki putliyaan feli hui thi. Jo dekh rahi thi use theek se samajh nahi paa rahi thi.

Ek aur slide. Gaurav ke private archive folders. Assets. Encrypted backups. Aur, phir-

Woh khud.

Hotel ke kamro me. Alag-alag mahilaaye. Kuchh female employees. Explicit blurred images. Ekdum hi ashleel nahi, magar samajhne ke liye kaafi.

Hasi mazaak ki footage. Hookah. Alcohol. Transactions ki receipts.

Pushkar ka naam. Payment. Documents. Accident report. Nik aur uske dwaara kiye gaye kaale karnaamo ke saboot.

Suhana ki saansein jaise tham gayi. Pushkar. Jiski wajah se woh aaj iss daldal me fasi hui thi. Woh toh- swayam Gaurav aur Nik ke jaal ka shikaar tha.

Suhana ka badan buri tarah kaanp utha.

“N-Nahi-!” Woh fusfusaayi. Jis satya par woh itne varsho se vishvas kar rahi thi woh toh satya tha hi nahi.

Kamre me gehra sannaata chhaa gaya. Suhana ladkhadaayi. Ashita daud kar uske paas aayi aur uski kohni ko pakad li.

Suhana : I-Itne saalo se- *shivers* M-Mein-

Uske honth kaanpe. Aasu behte chale gaye. Ashita ne use sambhaala.

Suhana : IT WAS YOU!!!

Woh zor se chillaayi aur neeche baith gayi. Gaurav ki ungliyaan phadki aur peechhe se Rohan ne apna revolver par zor diya.

Rohan : Hilna nahi, Mister Gaurav. You are now officially… under arrest.

Gaurav : Aapko lagta hai iss se kuchh saabit ho gaya, Sir? Ye sab kisi ki chaal hai. Mujhe fasaaya jaa raha hai. Sab mann-gadhant hai. Fabricated. Edited hai sab. Koi bhi ise bana ke-

Rohan ne bandook ki nok ko aur zor se uski peeth par dabaaya.

Rohan : Ab jo kehna, woh police station me kehna, Mister Gaurav. Aapki saari baaton ko wahi suna jaayega.

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

Kisi ke taali bajaane ki awaaz waha goonj uthi. Entrance ki orr sabhi ki nigaahein phiri.

Koi andar aa raha tha.

Veer.

Muskuraate hue. Uski nazar Gaurav par tiki hui thi. Antatah, Suhana ne apni roti hui dhundhli aankhon se dekha. Aur, use paaya.

Jiska woh sabse zyada intezar kar rahi thi. Woh akhirkar aa chuka tha. Woh bhoola nahi tha. Aur, abki baar uske aansu bekqaabu hokar behne lage. Veer ki nigaahein pal bhar ke liye Suhana par tiki, uski aankhein narm pad gayi.

Woh wapas Gaurav ki orr muda.

Gaurav (growls) : VEEEERRR!!!

Veer : Tch tch tch!

Veer ne apni jeebh chatkaate hue projector par lage sabooto ko dekha. Phir, Gaurav ki orr. Phir, aas-paas khade logon ki taraf. Aur, phir woh wapas se Gaurav ki orr aaya. Uske nazdeek.

Gaurav (mutters) : Haram khor! Ye sab teri kartoot hai na? Tu bachega nahi! Tu ne galat aadmi se panga le liya Veer. Tu ne galat aadmi ke saath daav khela hai. Mein shantranj ka woh raja hu jo aaj tak nahi haara. Aaj tu bhale hi jeet gaya, lekin ye end nahi hai. Ye bas shuruaat hai.

Veer uske kaan ke qareeb aaya.

Veer : Oh, but you already lost…!

Gaurav (mutters) : Bhosdike, agar ye DGP yaha nahi hota na toh mein-

Veer : Do you know why you lost?

Gaurav : !!?

Veer ne ek jhalak neeche baithi Suhana ko dekha aur phir Gaurav ko.

Veer (whispers) : Because you underestimated your queen!!!

Gaurav : !!!!?
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This was part 1. Part 2 will finish the consequences of all of this. Socha toh ek part me hi karne ka tha but wo almost impossible hai kyunki itna sab dikhaana padta hai. Past ko maine yaha alag dhang se dikhaaya hai, let me know ye speed up flashback kaisa tha. Update consists of around 10.3k words. Ab mein lengths ghataane waala hu. Maine ye dekh liya hai ki readers ka attention span kitna hai. Toh length ab itni hi rahegi. It will never go to 12k and all. Iss se kam bhi ho sakti hai. 8k is what I have decided ideally. Baaki, target remains the same. Ab tum logo ke upar hai kab poora karte ho. Milenge agle bhaag me.
Dhanyavad.

जबरदस्त लिखा है भाई

 

[darkrider1]

Update - 211 ~ The Night the mirror cracked​

Ab tak...

Erica dheere se hasi.

Erica : Yes boss! Don't worry hehe. Mein sab sambhaal lungi.

Veer : Yeah. Kyunki, hum dono hi hai. Media aur company ke saamne sab kuchh reveal karne ke baad Ava busy hai. Aur, Garofano business clients se deal kar rahi hai. It's just you and me.

Erica : Kuchh bhi gadbad nahi hogi. You just have to believe in me. *winks*

Veer (smiles) : Alright! Let's go!

Erica : Yesss boss~

Aur, dono hi andar ki orr chal pade.

Ab aage...

26th January,
Suhana’s house,
Evening - 7:15 ~

Janmdin ki shaam Suhana ka aiyyaash bunglow raushni se jagmaga raha tha. Baahar, sandhya aaj chahal-pahal se bhari thi. Jaisa ki aam taur par shaadi partiyo me hota hai, ek ke baad ek luxury gaadiyo ka kaafila parking me daakhil ho raha tha.

Security waale furti se kaam kar rahe the, hired cameramen photos kheechne me vyast the, aur hasi-mazaak ki awaaz poore vatavaran me goonj rahi thi.

Vishaal bunglow ke andar jhoomaro ki sunehri raushni chaaro orr feli hui thi. Kuchh jaane-maane, toh kuchh naye gaayak halki awaaz me geet gunguna rahe the, jo baat-cheet ke shor me dheere se ghul raha tha. Kuchh dancers apna getup theek karne me lagi hui thi. Waiters tray lekar idhar-udhar ghoom rahe the.

Ye paise ka dikhawa, jashn ka nasha, taaqat aur satta ka namoona adhik prateet ho raha tha bajaaye kisi janmdin ke kaaryakram ke. Dekhne me toh yeh raat ekdum paripoorn lag rahi thi.

Kintu, bungalow ke andar, Suhana ke kamre ke band darwazo ke peechhe ki hawa kuchh alag thi. Bhaari. Ekdum ghutan bhari.

Gaurav sheeshe ke saamne khada hua tha, poornta behatreen dhang se taiyaar. Silwaya gaya ek kaala suit. Beige color ki shirt. Usne apne cologne ki bottle uthaayi aur apne galey, kaan ke peechhe aur seene par chhidka.

Uske peechhe Suhana bistar par baithi hui thi. Behad khubsurat. Aaj usne ek sundar si kaali dress pehni hui thi. Black uske pasandeeda rango me se ek jo tha. Uski nigaahein zameen par tiki hui thi. Ek haath me phone tha aur ungliyaan thodi kaanp rahi thi.




Screen par ek message type kiya hua tha : “Aaj mera birthday hai. Please, aana! Mein tumhara intezar karungi.”

Aur, chat me upar Veer ka naam tha. Usne aaj poora din intezar kiya tha.

Subah. Dopahar. Shaam. Lekin, Veer ka koi call nahi aaya. Koi sandesh nahi. Koi post nahi. Koi shubhkamnaye tak nahi.

Shayad… Shayad woh bhool gaya hoga.

Suhana ne apne aap me hi socha. Akhir, kaamo me itna vyast bhi toh rehta hai woh. Par, ab jaise-jaise samay beet raha tha, raat qareeb aa rahi thi, uski wo subah ki aaturta ab ek dard me badal gayi. Usne Veer ko nimantran nahi diya tha. Abhi tak toh nahi.

Kyunki, uske dil ke kisi nadaan hisse ko yeh ummeed thi ki Veer ka call zaroor aayega. Use Veer ko bulaane ki zaroorat hi nahi padegi. Use uska janmdin yaad hoga.

Magar-

Sannaata achanak toota.

Gaurav : Tumne uss Veer ko toh nahi invite kiya, hai na!?

Uski awaaz kamre me goonji, woh abhi bhi sheeshe ki orr hi dekh raha tha. Aur, yeh sawaal kam, aadesh zyada lag raha tha. Suhana ki maano saans atak gayi.

Uska angootha screen ke upar hi send button par mandra raha tha. Usne Gaurav ki orr dekha. Uski peeth uski orr thi, lekin Suhana uss lehze ko achhi tarah se jaanti thi.

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh keh paati, Gaurav muda, woh uski orr badhne laga. Aur, Suhana thitak ke reh gayi.

Usne jhatpat backspace button dabaayi aur dhadalle se saare type kiye gaye shabd mitate chale gaye. Usne screen ko upar ki orr swipe kiya aur home screen par wapas aa gayi. Gaurav theek uske saamne aa kar khada hua.

Iske pehle ki woh button press kar phone lock karti, Gaurav ne uske haath se phone kheench liya.

Suhana (yelps) : Gaurav-!!!

Kintu, tab tak derr ho chuki thi. Gaurav ki nazrein screen par ghoomi aur phir usne recent apps ki screen kholi, jaha use whatsapp dikhaayi diya. Use kholte hi use Veer ki chat screen par nazar aayi.

Bas itna kaafi tha.

Usne Suhana ki taraf dekha. Phir, phone ki taraf. Phir, dobara uski taraf. Usne phone ko bistar par iss qadar feka jaise maano wo koi ghinauni cheez ho. Uska haath tezi se badha aur usne Suhana ka jabda kasskar pakad liya.

Suhana (shrieks) : Ahhh-!

Gaurav : Tum jaanti ho ki mujhe woh Veer bilkul bhi pasand nahi, hai na?

Suhana ne muh khola, par shabd baahar na nikle. Gaurav ki pakad bahut mazboot thi.

Gaurav : Kya karne jaa rahi thi tum, haan? Uski chat khol ke kya karne ka iraada tha tumhara?

Suhana : G-Gaurav chhoro! Maine Veer ko invite nahi kiya hai. What are you implying? Leave me!

Ladkhadaate shabdo me Suhana ne jawaab diya, aur Gaurav ki aankhein gusse se laal ho gayi.

Gaurav (leans in) : Toh phir phone me uski chat kyu khuli hui thi?

Suhana : Mein-

Gaurav (yells) : TUMHE LAGTA HAI MEIN BEWAKOOF HU? TUMHE LAGTA HAI MUJHE PATA NAHI CHALEGA, HAAN?

Uski pakad aur adhik kass gayi.

Gaurav : TUM APNE AAP KO MUJHSE ZYADA SMART SAMAJHTI HO, HAAN???

Woh toh achha hua jo Suhana ne disappearing messages ka option on kar ke rakha hua tha jis wajah se Gaurav ko unki puraani koi bhi chats nazar nahi aayi. Warna shayad anjaam aur bhi bura ho sakta tha.

Suhana ki saans sisakte hue baahar aayi.

Gaurav : TUM USE BULAANE HI JAA RAHI THI, HAI NA!??

Uska haath achanak utha. Sehej hi Suhana ne apni aankhein band kar li aur apna chehra dusri taraf mod liya, apne haatho ko khud ko bachaane ki vyarth koshish me upar uthaaya. Woh thappad ka intezar kar rahi thi lekin-

*CRASH*

Kaanch ke tootne ki ek zordaar awaaz aayi, jo neeche mach rahe shor me kamre ke baahar na jaa paayi. Suhana ne dekha. Sheesha toot chuka tha. Woh itni zor se kaanp rahi thi ki uska poora shareer hil raha tha.

Gaurav ke cologne ki bottle farsh par tukdo me bikhri padi thi. Cologne zameen par fela hua tha. Aayina toot chuka tha. Gaurav ne ek baar phir uska jabda pakda.

Gaurav : Shukr manao jo aaj tumhara birthday hai. Yaad rakhna, Suhana. Agar, Veer aaj raat yaha aaya, toh uske liye anjaam achha nahi hoga.

Suhana ki nigaahein uss se mili.

Gaurav : Aur, na hi tumhare liye achha hoga… You got that? I hate that motherfucker. Woh tumhare aas-paas bhi bhatakta hua mujhe nazar nahi aana chaahiye.

Suhana ne zor se uska haath jhatak diya, awaaz kaanp rahi thi magar teekhi thi.

Suhana : Don’t act so obsessive!

Ab uski aankhon se aasu beh rahe the.

Suhana : Kya mein jaanti nahi-!? Mujhe pata hai tumhare baare me. Office me apni secretary ke saath, employees ke saath… mere peeth peechhe- aur ab tum mujhe ye obsession yaha dikha rahe ho?

Usne Gaurav ko ghor tiraskaar bhari aankhon se ghoora. Ek pal ke liye Gaurav bhi bas dekhta reh gaya. Phir, woh muskuraaya. Dheere se, aur shayad thode vyang me.

Gaurav (grins) : Oh? Toh tumhe bhi mehsoos hua akhir, hai na?

Usne komalta se haath badhaaya aur uske baalo ko aise sehlaaya jaise kisi bacche ko dilaasa de raha ho. Lekin, Suhana ne sehamte hue uska haath jhatak diya aur yeh Gaurav ko raas na aaya.

Uske haath ne Suhana ke baalo ko jakda. Woh cheenkhi. Gaurav ne uska sarr peechhe ki orr jhatka, use zabardasti apni orr dekhne ke liye majboor kiya.

Gaurav : Dekha? Dard hua na? Tumhe bhi chidh hoti hai na jab tum ye sochti ho ki mein kisi aur ke saath-? Theek aise hi mujhe bhi mehsoos hota hai jab mein uss nikamme Veer ko tumhare aas-paas dekhta hu. Samjhi?

Usne achanak uske baal chhore aur Suhana haafte hue peechhe ho gayi, khud ko sambhaalne ki koshish me usne bistar ke kinaare ko kasskar pakad liya. Gaurav ne apna blazer vyavasthit kiya.

Gaurav : You are a smart woman. Right? Tumhe pata hona chaahiye ki kya karna hai, aur kya nahi. Hai na?

Uska haath apne jeb me gaya. Blazer sarka aur uski kamar me khusi hui gun Suhana ko nazar aayi. Suhana ki aankhein khauf se chaudi ho gayi.

Gaurav ne jaane se pehle uske gaalo ko jakda aur uske maathe ko choomne ka prayaas kiya. Suhana ke haath virodh me chalte rahe par mard ke bal ke aage use majboor hona pada. Gaurav ne uske maathe ko chooma aur naatkeeya pyaar dikhaate hue uske sarr ko sehla ke mud ke waha se nikal gaya. Jaise maano kuchh hua hi na ho.

Suhana kaanpti hui wahi baithi rahi, uska make-up bigad chuka tha, aur seena khamosh siskiyo se ab dard karne laga tha. Dheere se usne apna sirr ghumaaya, sheeshe ki orr.

Usne toote hue aaine me khud ko dekha. Darpan me uski chhavi khandit dikhaayi de rahi thi. Tukdo me bikhri hui.

Shayad… Sheesha nahi toota tha. Woh swayam hi-

---

Jaise hi Gaurav seedhiyon se neeche utra, poora hall taaliyon ki gadgadahat se goonj utha. Jaam aapas me takra rahe the, koi seeti baja raha tha, koi banavti muskaan sajaaye hue tha aur cameras uski photo utaarne me jut gaye.

Woh muskuraaya, vinamrata se sirr hilaaya, utarte hue apni baahein felaate hue logon se mila. Raaste me parichit chehro ko galey lagaate hue aage badha.

Kuchh puraane investors. Politicians. Business partners.

“Ah! My friend haha~” Usne kisi vyakti ko milte hue use galey se lagaaya. “Long time, haan?”

Tabhi, ek jaani-pehchaani awaaz shorgul ke beech sunaayi di.

“Oi oi Gaurav my dude!”

Gaurav ne awaaz sunn mudkar dekha toh Nik baahein felaaye, tedhi-medhi ajeeb si muskaan liye uske paas aa raha tha. Dono ek-dusre ke zor se galey mile, lag raha tha jaise dono dost nahi bhai the.

Nik : Where’s Sonny, eh?

Gaurav : She hates that name, you know that mate.

Nik : Hahaha! I know! I know!

Gaurav : She’s getting ready. You know women. Time moves differently for them.

Nik hasa. Phir, thoda qareeb aaya aur uski muskaan gaayab ho gayi. Aur, dheemi awaaz me usne Gaurav ke kaan me poochha.

Nik : She invited Divya?

Gaurav (nods) : She did. Whether she shows up or not is another story.

Nik ka jabda yeh sunn kass gaya.

Nik (growls) : That bitch is hiding somewhere in Mumbai only. I know it.

Gaurav : Relax! Once tonight’s over, I’ll look into it. Someone’s helping her stay hidden. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have lasted this long.

Nik : It’s that motherfucker Veer. I’m 100% sure of it dude.

Veer ke baare me sochke hi Nik ki aankhein gusse se laal ho uthi.

Nik : We should erase him. I want to do it myself. I’ll kill him.

Gaurav ki muskaan nahi badli. Lekin, uski awaaz me sakhti zaroor thi abki baar.

Gaurav : Our target is the same. But… Not here. Not tonight.

Usne drinks section ki orr ishaara kiya.

Gaurav (smiles) : Enjoy the drinks. Tomorrow, I’ll set things in motion. And don’t get reckless like last time.

Nik : What do you mean?

Gaurav : Last time, you revealed that you were tracking her phone. She’s alert now. That trick won’t work again. We’ll lure her out in some other way.

Nik ne haami bhari. Uske andar jhunjhlaahat bhari hui thi. Gaurav ne uske kandhe par ek baar thap-thapaaya aur bheed me gaayab ho gaya.

Nik seedhe bar ki orr badha, apne liye ek kadak drink order ki aur bhookhi nigaaho se aati-jaati aurton ko taadne laga.

---

Baahar driveway ki raushni me Erica lamppost se tik kar, baahein modi khadi hui thi. Woh Veer ko hi besabri se dekh rahi thi.




Erica : Hum kab andar jaayenge??

Usne shabdo ko kheechte hue poochha.

Veer : Bas kuchh hi derr me.

Erica (pouts) : Muuuu~ tumne 10 minute pehle bhi yahi kaha tha.



Veer (smiles) : I know!

Erica (huffs) : Hum bas andar jaane hi waale the ki tum bewajah ruk gaye. Kyun???

Veer : Kyunki, unke saath andar jaana behtar hoga.

Erica : Kinke saath?

Veer bas muskuraaya, jiske chalte Erica ka muh aur bhi phool gaya. Par, tabhi-

Gaadiyo ke pahiyo ki awaaz Erica ke kaano me padi. Usne ek jhatke me apne muh par mask pehen liya. 3-4 gaadiya aakar Veer ke theek saamne ruki.

Darwaza khula aur andar se kayi log baahar nikle. Erica unhe dekhte hi chaunk gayi aur usne-

‘Check’

*Ding*

[Name : Rohan
Bio : ….]

*Ding*

[Name : Trisha
Bio : ….]

Rohan. Trisha, baaki police officers ke saath businessmen ke getup me khade hue the.

Veer ko saamne dekhte hi Rohan ki bauhe kass gayi. Trisha hairat aur thodi ghabrahat me Veer ko dekhi. Phir, apne pati ko aur phir wapas se Veer ko.

Veer apne jebo me haath daale nidar hoke unke saamne khada hua tha. Balki… uske hontho par ek muskaan bhi thi.

---

Hall ke andar shorgul chaalu tha.




Sonia aa chuki thi. Janmdin bhale hi Suhana ka tha par woh khud aaj kisi actress se kam nahi lag rahi thi. Photographers uske peechhe pad gaye. Woh vinamrata se muskuraayi, aur apne mata-pita ke nazdeek jaa kar khadi ho gayi.

Shailendra aur Namrita ICONGLOBE ki deal ke baad se hi charcha me bane hue the, dono hi apni beti ke upar garv kar rahe the.

Sonia ke aagman ke baad aur bhi mehmaan padhaarne lage. Casa Belle ka Aadesh Jaisinghani, Kaera ka chhota bhai - Karan, Tanishq, jo Autoshield jaisi company ka maalik tha, sabhi iss birthday party ka hissa the. Kayi vyapaari, celebrities aur social media influencers bhi aaye hue the.

Gaurav ki aankhein turant hi Sonia par jaa kar ruki. Uski aankhon me Sonia ki khubsurti dekhte hi chamak aa gayi. Woh baahein fela kar Shailendra aur Namrita ki orr badha.

Gaurav : Mummi ji! Papa ji! So good to have you here..!

Sonia ke mata-pita ne badi hi garmjoshi se Gaurav ko apne galey se lagaaya, iss baat se bilkul anjaan ki unka damaad kis kism ka neech insaan tha.

Gaurav Sonia ki orr muda, uski muskaan aur bhi chaudi ho gayi.

Gaurav : My dear-

Usne apni baahein kholi. Sonia thoda hichkichaayi. Shayad hi kisi ko kuchh samajh aaya ho, magar Sonia ko yeh mehsoos hua, woh jaani-pehchaani bechaini jo Gaurav ke nazdeek aakar woh humesha mehsoos karti thi.

Usne ek taraf se Gaurav ko apne galey se lagne diya, phir jaldi se peechhe hat gayi.

Sonia : Dii kaha hai?

Gaurav (shrugs) : Ready ho rahi hogi. Tum toh jaanti hi ho apni behan ko haha.

Sonia ne haami bhari, lekin uski bechaini kam nahi hui thi. ICONGLOBE deal waali raat me Suhana dwara kahi gayi baat woh bhooli nahi thi. Uss baat ka matlab aaj woh jaanana chaahti thi.

Kuchh toh gadbad thi. Filhaal ke liye, baat-cheet aur jashn me magn hone ke chalte usne iss baat ko apne andar daba liya.

---

Phir, sangeet dheema hua. Hall ka shorgul kam hua. Suhana seedhiyo ke upar dikhaayi di. Spotlight me woh behad sundar lag rahi thi.




Woh neeche utarne ke liye badhi, har qadam napa-tula aur niyantrit, maano koi raani apne singhaasan se utar kar aa rahi ho. Poora hall sannaate me doob gaya. Sabki nigaahein uss par tiki thi, chaaro orr prashansa ka bhaav vyaapt tha.

Sonia ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Usne Suhana ko gaur se dekha. Muskaan waisi hi thi har baar ki tarah, saleeke se saji hui. Kuchh zyada hi saleeke se saji hui.

Neeche utarte hue Suhana ki nazar bheed me ghoom gayi. Alag-alag chehre, muskaane, jaane-pehchaane log.

Lekin, ek kami baaki sab se kahi zyada chubh rahi thi.

Veer.

Uski ungliyaan railing par halke se gharshan khaayi. Seene me ek ajeeb sa dard jo saans lene me bhi ab dikkat de raha tha. Usne apne nichle honth ko daato taley dabaaya, maano jaise chehre ke bhaavo ko chhipaane ki koshish kar rahi ho.

‘Kya woh bhool gaya?’

Yeh vichaar uski ummeed se kahi zyada kashtdaayak tha. Nahi. Woh yaha nahi ro sakti thi. Abhi kuchh derr pehle hi toh woh upar royi thi. Fatafat apne umadte hue aasuon ko pochhi thi. Apna makeup theek ki thi. Toote hue aaine me usne khud ko sawaara tha. Ab dobaara inn sab ke saamne nahi.

Magar, phir bhi-

Andar se uska haal yahi tha.

Kya use message karna chaahiye? Sirf ek baar?

Nahi.

Woh aisa nahi kar sakti thi. Woh apne akelepann aur khushi ke liye use mushqil me nahi daal sakti thi. Aaj raat nahi.

Parantu… aaj uska janmdin tha.

Aur, aaj hi pehli baar use aisa laga jaise uska janmdin nahi bhi tha.

Seedhiyon ke neeche pahuchte hi taaliyon ki gadgadahat gehri ho gayi. Woh naatkeeya roop se muskuraayi. Logo ko dhanyavad di. Galey se lagi.

Uski therapist Ashita bhi aayi hui thi, taali baja rahi thi, muskura rahi thi. Family ke advisor Prakash Uncle bhi the.

Sab log aaye the. Sab log siwaaye… uske.

Uski nigaahein phir se entrance ki orr mudi. Kya woh aayega?

Sawaal uske mann me baar-baar goonj raha tha. Aisa pehle kabhi nahi hua tha. Bhala woh kab se iss qadar kisi ke liye itna-!?

Magar, aaj hua tha. Aur, yeh itna gehra tha ki iska bodh use aur bhi adhik dara raha tha.

---

Suhana sab ke beecho beech khadi hui thi. Phir bhi aisa lag raha tha jaise akeli khadi hui ho.

Shailendra : Happy birthday my dear daughter~

Kehte hue unhone Suhana ko galey se laga liya. Suhana lipte hue aankhein band kar li. Namrita ne pyaar se uska chehra apne haatho me liya.

Namrita (smiles) : Aaj bahut sundar lag rahi hai meri bacchi. Happy birthday beta~

Suhana : Thank you mom~

Bagal se Sonia aage badhi aur use kass kar galey laga li.

Sonia : Happy birthday to the most beautiful dii in the world~

Suhana : Thank you Sonu~

Sonia (smiles) : Look at you. You didn’t tell me you were planning to outshine the entire city tonight, huh?

Suhana (smiles) : I have competition in this family you know. I have to try.

Sonia ne muskuraate hue thoda peechhe hatkar uski aankhon me dekha.

Sonia (whispers) : Theek ho na?

Suhana (smiles) : Ekdum!

Usne bina jhijak ke jawaab diya. Sonia ke aur kuchh poochhne se pehle hi Gaurav Suhana ke bagal se aake khada ho gaya aur apne ek haath se adhikaar jataate hue uski kamar ko thaam liya.

Gaurav : My queen~ Akhirkar, aa hi gayi tum.

Suhana halka sa sehmi. Thoda akdi. Gaurav ka haath dheere se kamar par daba. Ek sanket ki muskurao. Aur, woh muskuraayi bhi.

Nik thodi derr baad haath me glass liye paas aaya.

Nik : Ah, happy birthday, Sonny! Hahahaha!

Aaya toh woh galey milne tha par Suhana ne haath aage badha kar wahi se unke beech rekha kheench di.

Suhana : Thank you.

Hall ke dusri orr se Ashita dhyaan se saari baat-cheet ko dekh rahi thi. Mann me vichaar kuchh aur hi chal rahe the. Aadesh bar ke paas Tanishq ke saath gehri baat-cheet me mashgool tha. Karan kuchh businessmen se baato me laga hua tha. Sonia apne mata-pita ke paas hi thi, lekin Suhana ko ghoor rahi thi.

Aur, Suhana-




Uski nigaahein baar-baar entrance ki orr bhaag rahi thi. Har baar jab entrance se koi andar aata toh woh ummeed karti ki kaash Veer aaya ho.

Gaurav : Entrance ki taraf baar-baar kya dekh rahi ho?

Suhana : K-Kuchh nahi-!

Gaurav (murmurs) : Jhooth mat kaho. Tum baar-baar wahi dekhe jaa rahi ho. Kahi tumne uss Veer ko-

Suhana : N-Nahi! Maine nahi bulaaya hai.

Gaurav : Good!

Janmdin ka geet goonja, cake cutting ceremony chaalu hui, hall taaliyon se chehek utha.

Gaurav ne Suhana ko cake ka pehla tukda khilaaya, Suhana ne nakli muskaan bikherte hue badle me use ek tukda khilaaya.

Magar, Suhana ke liye yeh mithaas kadwaahat se kam nahi thi. Woh rone hi waali thi ki itne me-

Entrance se saleeke se kapde pehne purusho ka ek samooh andar aaya. Aur, unke peechhe-

Rohan.

Bina wardi ke bhi, uski maujoodagi ka wazan kaafi bhaari tha. Uske bagal se thi uski patni, Trisha.

Ekdum shaant. Satark. Aur, chaukas.

Kuchh aur aadmi bhi unke peechhe-peechhe daakhil hue. Par, jaise hi pravesh ke dauran wo jis tarah se aapas me feley, paarkhi nazar waale logo ne unhe kuchh hadd tak pehchaan liya.

Gaurav ki hasi beech me hi ruk gayi. Uski muskaan gaayab ho gayi. Sirf, ek pal ke liye. Phir, wo laut aayi.

Woh bewakoof nahi tha. Aur, na hi ignorant. Bina wardi ke bhi woh Rohan ko pehchaanane me galti nahi kar sakta tha.

Gaurav : DGP Sir…!

Usne apne haath khole aur Suhana ki orr dheere se muda.

Gaurav : Excuse me babe~

Suhana ne uski nazar ka peechha kiya. Uski dhadkane tez ho gayi. DGP? Ye log kyun aaye the bhala yaha? Kya Gaurav ne unhe nyota diya tha?

Police officers ki aadh me Erica apne saath ek bag liye andar pravesh ki. Woh kab andar aayi, kaise andar pahuchi, logo ka dhyaan uss par gaya hi nahi. Jaise maano woh pehle se hi waha maujood thi.




Kamaal tha uski [Chameleon] aur [Dead Silence] skills ka.

Uski nazar chaaro orr ghoomi aur phir logo ko ‘Check’ karte hi nigaahein event manager par tik gayi. Woh bina kisi jhijhak ke uske paas pahuchi.

---

Hall ke uss paar, Gaurav khule haatho se Rohan ke paas pahucha.

Gaurav : Sir! What a surprise hahahaha! Aap yaha? Aapko mujhe bataana chaahiye tha na!? Agar, mujhe maalum hota ki aap aa rahe hai toh mein aapka swaagat acchhe se karta.

Rohan ne bina muskuraaye uska haath thaama.

Rohan : Kabhi-kabhi mein bina bataaye hi jaana pasand karta hu, Mister Gaurav.

Gaurav : Oh!? *smiles* Toh, kya mein jaan sakta hu ki aapka aaj yaha aana kaise hua? Surely, aap meri wife ka birthday celebrate karne toh nahi hi aaye honge yaha?

Usne chalaaki se poochha. Rohan ne jawaab dene se pehle Trisha ki taraf dekha.

Rohan : Hum kisi ko dhoondh rahe hai.

Gaurav : Oh? Aur, yeh ‘kisi’ bhala kaun ho sakta hai?

Rohan ki aankhein sikudi. Woh yaha ek nahi, kayi maqsad ke liye tha. Jaise hi Gaurav ne prashn kiya, Rohan ka mann kuchh ghante peechhe chala gaya.

Woh apne ghar par hi maujood tha, jab phone ki ghanti baji. Koi unknown number.

Rohan ne jawaab dene se pehle ek pal ke liye screen ko ghoora. Uske baad-

Rohan : Hello?

Kshan bhar ka virhaam aur phir-

"Good evening, DGP Sir."

Rohan jamm gaya.

Rohan : Kaun?

"Mujhe nahi pehchaana? Abhi uss raat aap hi ne toh mujhe surveillance me rakhne ki baat kahi thi na?"

Sunte hi Rohan ki aankhein phel gayi. Ab woh uss awaaz ko jaanta tha. Isliye, nahi ki awaaz usne kayi dafa sunn rakhi thi. Balki, isliye ki... Woh isi awaaz ki talaash me tha.

Rohan (frowns) : Veer...!!!

Sofe ke dusri orr baithi Trisha ne turant upar dekha. Aur, Rohan ne idhar call ko speaker par daal diya.

Rohan : Hmph! Mujhe nahi pata tha tum jail me jaane ke liye itne utaawle ho?

Speaker se ek halki si hasi sunaayi di.

"Jail? Cut the bullshit, Sir. Bina saboot ke aap jail me mujhe nahi daal sakte. Besides... Mein jaanta hu aap kis cheez ke liye betaab ho."

Rohan : !!?

"Mere interrogation ke liye. Hai na?"

Rohan ka jabda kass gaya.

Rohan : Underground incident aur Prestige incident ke baad se tum kisi bhi poochh-taachh me shaamil nahi hue ho. Tumhe lagta hai ki police iss baat ko nazar-andaaz kar degi?

Halka sa sannaata chhaa gaya. Aur, phir Veer ki awaaz gambheer ho gayi.

"I'm ready!"

Rohan aur Trisha dono stabdh reh gaye.

Rohan : Ready? Kis liye?

"Aapko uss raat ki dastaan sunaane ke liye. Yes. That night. The night your daughter got abducted. I'm ready for the interrogation you are seeking."

Rohan aur Trisha ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Woh raat. Unki beti, Pihu ka laapata hona. Underground lair. Serial killer.

Rohan ki ungliyaan desk ke kinaare par kass gayi.

"Aap ye toh jaante hi hai ki Pihu aur Juhi ko bacha kar laane waala kaun tha. Lekin, zameen ke neeche uss underground lair me kya hua? Kya ye aap jaanana nahi chaahoge?"

Trisha ki nazrein Rohan se mili. Dono hi bhauchakke the. Rohan ka lehza thoda sakht ho gaya.

Rohan : Aur, achanak tum bhala itne generous kaise ho gaye, Mister Veer?

"Generous nahi, Sir. Strategic."

Rohan ko Veer ka lehza raas na aaya.

"Aaj raat ek aur crime par se parda uthne waala hai. Ek aisa crime jisey achhi tarah se daba diya gaya tha. Aap toh kanoon ko haath me rakhte hai. Agar, kanoon ki itni hi parvaah hai, toh aa jaaiyega."

Rohan : K-Kya matlab? Kaun sa crime? Kaha?

Veer ne use phir ek pata bataaya. Suhana ke ghar ka pata.

Rohan : T-Tum? Tum pagal ho kya? Ye toh- Ye toh Globerays ke CEO Gaurav ke ghar ka address hai.

"Sahi farmaya aapne. Wahi aana hai. Apne baaki officers ko saath laana mat bhooliyega. Lekin, dhyaan rahe- wardi me nahi. Aise aaiyega jaise undercover operation ke liye jaa rahe ho. Party ka scene hai. Uss hisaab se kapde daal lijiyega. Baad me kehna mat ki bataaya nahi."

Rohan naatkeeya roop se hasa.

Rohan : Aur, tum ye ummeed karte ho ki mein tumhare inn bachkaane instructions ko follow karunga? Tumhe pata bhi hai ki tum kis se baat kar rahe ho?

"Meri ummeed bas itni hai ki agar aapko mauqa diya jaaye, toh aap uss mauqe ko haath se jaane nahi doge."

Rohan (mutters) : Tumne abhi-abhi phone par ye accept kar liya ki uss raat tum underground lair me the.

"Nahi toh? Bhala kya hi saboot hai aapke paas?"

Rohan (grins) : Tumhari call record ho rahi hai. Ab tak jo kuchh bhi tumne kaha sab record ho chuka hai. Zyada hoshiyar mat bano, Veer. Tumne ye qubool kar liya hai ki underground lair me tum hi the. Police ka poora haq hai tumhe interrogate karne ka. Mein abhi aa raha hu. Aur, khabardar agar kahi bhaagne ki koshish ki toh-

Ek gehra sannaata chhaa gaya. Phir, Veer ke hassne ki awaaz aayi.

"Toh zara... Apni patni ji se ye bhi poochh lijiye ki mere khilaaf call recording ko istemal karna sahi rahega ya nahi?"

Rohan ne jab yeh suna toh uske maathe par silvatein chhaa gayi. Usne Trisha ko dekha jiski aankhein bhay me chaudi ho rakhi thi.

Woh envelope... Woh tasveer... Jab Trisha ne Ranjeet ko maara tha. Use yaad aaya. Usne Rohan ko dekh fauran hi naa me sirr hilaaya. Aur, Rohan apni patni ko aise dekh achambhav me reh gaya.

Rohan (grits) : T-Tum... Kya chhipa rahe ho tum mujhse?

"Chhipa toh aapki patni ji rahi hai aapse, DGP Sir. Anyways, mujhe vishvas hai ki aap mauqe ko nahi gawaenge. Aur, na hi mere khilaaf aisi ghatiya tactic apnaenge. Khaaskar tab jab maine aapki beti ko maut ke muh se baahar nikaala ho."

Yeh baat na chaahte hue bhi chubhi. Kyunki, baat satya thi. Trisha jaanti thi.

"Aaj raat time par pahuchiyega. Kanoon jo kehta hai aap uss hisaab se hi aaj chaliyega. Uske baad... Mein khud interrogation ke liye aapke paas aaunga."

Rohan ke dimaag me tarah-tarah ke sawaal uthne lage. Bhala Trisha uss se aisa kya chhipa rahi thi jo Veer jaanta tha?

Rohan : Aur, agar mein nahi aaya toh?

"Toh aap ek aisa mauqa kho denge jo aapko dobaara nahi milega. Aur... Woh crime ek baar phir dab ke reh jaayega."

Veer ki halki si dabi hui hasi Rohan ko sunaayi di.

"Isliye, soch samajhkar faisla lijiyega, DGP Sir. Oh! Aur, ek antim baat. Waha par Globerays ke CEO Mister Gaurav agar poochhe aapse ki aap waha kyu aaye hai? Toh bas itna kahiyega ki-"

Veer ki antim baat sunn, Rohan ne jaise hi kuchh kehne ke liye muh khola toh itne me phone kat gaya. Woh bas khamosh phone ko dekhta raha. Uske maathe par paseene ke boonde saji hui thi.

Trisha : H-Humein chalna hoga, Rohan.

Rohan : Tumhare aur uske beech ki koi baat hai, hai na? Kya chhipa rahi ho tum mujhse Trisha?

Trisha ne uski jaangh par haath rakha.

Trisha : Sab bata dungi. Par, iske baad. Humaara aaj udhar jaana bahut zaroori hai, trust me. Uske baad mein tumhe sab kuchh sach-sach bata dungi. Please!

Rohan ne bas haami bhar di.

"DGP Sir?"

Gaurav ki awaaz use wapas se hosh me laayi. Woh ateet se baahar aaya. Usne Gaurav ko sthir nigaahon se dekha.

Gaurav : Maine poochha ki kiski talaash me aaye hai aap? Kya mein jaan sakta hu? *smiles*

Rohan (breathes) : Hum 'Nik' naamak vyakti ki talaash me hai.

Gaurav ki reedh me ek sihran daud gayi.

Gaurav : Nik? Kaun Nik? Haha. Aapko shayad koi galat-fehmi hui hai, Sir. Aaj toh meri wife ki b'day party hai.

Rohan : Wahi Nik jo aapka param mitr hai, Mister Gaurav. Wahi mitr jiske sang aapki photos social media par dali hui hai. Humein jankaari mili hai ki woh yahi hai.

Gaurav ki bauhe phadki. Saboot toh mita diye gaye the. Nik ke dwaara le jaayi gayi cars ko toh secure kar liya gaya tha. Phir, akhir kaise? Uske mann me bas ek hi naam aaya.

Veer!

Usne apne daant meese.

Gaurav (laughs) : Hahaha! Achha! Achha! Nik? Mera friend? Lekin, wo toh yaha nahi hai, Sir. Mein yakeen ke saath keh sakta hu. Woh toh India me hi nahi hai. Aur, bhala woh kaise aapki nigraani me aa gaya, Sir?

Rohan : Kuchh classified baatein hai. Abhi nahi bata sakta.

Pillar ke peechhe chhip ke Nik sab kuchh dhyaan se dekh raha tha. Usne Gaurav ka ek ishaara dekha.

Niklo yaha se. Abhi.

Aur, Nik ne ishaara padhte hi apna glass neeche rakha aur bheed me aur andar ghuste hue peechhe ke galiyaare se nikalne ke liye bhaaga.

Gaurav (smiles) : Kya mein jaan sakta hu ki aapko ye information kisne di ki Nik yaha par hai?

Rohan (smirks) : I’m afraid not, Mister Gaurav. Humaare bhi kuchh usool hote hai. Now, if you don’t mind, we’d like to just check the place.

Gaurav : Aap wardi me nahi hai, Sir.

Rohan : Hum undercover operation ke tehet aaye hai. *smiles*

Aur, uske utna kehte hi Rohan ke aadmi hall me titar-bitar ho gaye. Sab kuchh shaanti me ho raha tha. Trisha ki nazrein bhi baaj ki tarah hall me chaaro orr ghoomne lagi.

Phir-

Lights off ho gayi.

“Ohh!? Power cut?”

“Generator laga hoga.”

Log aapas me baat karne lage. Achanak se halki si raushni aayi. Dur ki deewar par ek bada sa safed kapda fela hua tha. Erica apna mask pehne ek chhoti table ke paas khadi thi, laptop khula hua tha aur projector ne safed kapde par apni kirane bikheri.

Projector chaalu hua.

Ek puraani tasveer.

Suhana aur Gaurav ki kayi saal pehle ki tasveer. Slide palti. Suhana ke bachpan ki ek tasveer. Sacchi muskaan ke saath.

“Oh wow~”

“So cute!”

Suhana swayam aashcharyachakit thi. Par, uss se bhi zyada koi hairat me tha toh khud Gaurav. Lekin, yeh chinta ek raahat me badal gayi.

Usne mann hi mann event manager ki tareef ke pul baandhe. Usne toh iske paise hi nahi diye the. Ye toh plan me hi nahi tha. Lagta hai event manager ne koi surprise plan kiya tha.

Iske baad aur tasveerein aayi. Unki shaadi ki, kuchh business launches ki, trips ki, functions ki, aur Gaurav ne thaan liya ki party ke baad woh event manager ko baksheesh zaroor dega.

Idhar Gaurav use paise dene ki soch raha tha, toh udhar event manager yeh soch raha tha ki ye sab taam-jhaam shayad Gaurav ne swayam taiyaar kiya hua tha.

Ek achhe vaivaahik jeevan ki kahani chal rahi thi projector pe. Suhana ne Gaurav ko ajeeb nigaahon se dekha. Gaurav uske qareeb aaya aur uske haath ko thaama.

Gaurav : Dekha? Maine tumhare liye kya kuchh plan kiya hua tha aaj? Kitna sochta hu mein tumhare baare me!

Suhana ne koi jawab nahi diya. Use ye sab ajeeb sa lag raha tha. Slides ke transition kaafi dheeme the. Ajeeb dhang se. Aur, woh sahi thi.

Erica ke chehre par mask ke peechhe muskaan gehri ho gayi. Achanak, slides ke saath-saath ek voice over bhi chaalu ho gaya.

Jaise hi voice over chaalu hua, Rohan Gaurav ke peechhe aake khada hua aur usne peechhe se hi uske kaan me kaha.

Rohan : Ab jo kuchh bhi hoga, tass se mass bhi nahi hona, Mister Gaurav.

Gaurav ko apni peeth par ek revolver feel hua.

Rohan : You are under surveillance for now. Aur, shayad- soon under arrest bhi ho sakte ho. Depend karta hai projector kya dikhaane waala hai.

Gaurav : Huh-!?

Gaurav ki reedh ki haddi kaanp uthi. Uski nazrein projector screen par hi jami hui thi jab-

Projector ka scene chaalu hua.

Kuchh saal pehle,
Boston, Hallowell Hall, MIT ~

Duniya ke kone-kone se aaye hue chhaatr sard kapdo me lipte aur aatmavishvas se lathpath yaha apne sapne sakaar karne ke liye aaye hue the. Har kisi ko kuchh na kuchh saabit karna tha.

Mumbai se aaya Engineering me dhurandhar Gaurav bhi iss bheed ka hissa tha. Apne kamre ke number 211 ke pravesh dwaar par khada, ek haath me duffle bag aur dusre haath me ‘The art of systems architecting’ ka naya-naya edition tha.

Usne kamre ke darwaaze ko dhakka dekar khola. Aur, dhue ka ek jhoka uske muh par aakar laga. Cigarettes. Aur, thodi chamde ki mehek bhi.

Kamra pehle se hi aadha bhara hua tha. Ek suitcase. Farsh par kaale joote. Mej par whiskey ka glass, aadha khaali. Aur, ek achhi kad-kaathi ka chaude kandho waala ladka jo khidki ke paas hi khada use hi ghoor raha tha.

Nicholas.

Nicholas : So… You’re the roommate they assigned me? *grins* Let’s see how long you last dude.

Gaurav : Just stay out of my business. And, we’ll be good.

Nicholas (smiles) : I like the sound of that…!

Pehle hafte toh dono ke beech baat-cheet lagbhag ne ke barabar hi rahi. Phir, ek raat, Gaurav gusse me lab se lauta. Usne ghuste hi apna bag de pheka.

Gaurav : Fuckkkk! The entire project got delayed because some idiot leaked our dataset to the rival group. Fucking bastards. Can’t even keep the data secured enough. Fucking losers.

Nicholas ne apni kitaab se nazrein utha kar upar uski orr dekha aur pehli baar kuchh poochha.

Nicholas : And? Do you want revenge or results?

Gaurav : Both. I want leverage.

Nicholas ne apni crimes studies se sambandhit kitaab neeche rakhi.

Nicholas (smiles) : Now you are talking in my language. Let’s sit and talk.

Uss raat, unn dono ke beech kuchh badal gaya. Dono ne baatein saajha ki, Gaurav ne use ‘Nik’ kehkar bulaana shuru kar diya. Aur, Nik ne use bataaya ki kaise woh casino players ki manovaigyanik profiling karke, unki bhavnao ki nakal karke aur unki kamzoriyon ka faayda uthakar bade daanv waale poker games me hera-pheri karta tha.

Toh wahi Gaurav ne use bataya ki kaise usne ek baar Mumbai me apne school server ko iss tarah se hack kiya tha ki kayi saari files uske haath lag sake aur bhrashtachaar ke maamlo ko woh unhe saamne dikha sake.

Raat se lekar subah tak, dono ke beech baatein chalti rahi, kisse saajha hote chale gaye aur dono ke beech ka rishta pehle se gehra ho gaya. Dekhte hi dekhte ve dono pakke dost bann chuke the.

Derr raat ki meetings lambi rann-neeti baithako me badal gayi. Ek logo ko padhne me maahir tha aur dusra logo ke data ko hadapne me. Ve dono logo ko shikaar ki tarah dekhne lage, aur aapas me jankaari saajha karne lage.

Kaun sa student dabaav me jhooth bolega? Kaun chupke se dhoka de raha hai? Kisko khareeda jaa sakta hai? Kiska patta saaf karna hai? Sab kuchh.

Nik : You know dude…! Everyone has a pressure point. You just have to know where to press. Or how long to wait before they push it themselves. Haha.

Gaurav (drunk) : *hic* I agree! *hic* People are like codes, Nik. I just need a system. You… *hic* provide the vulnerabilities and- and- *hic*

Nik (smiles) : And you’ll create the algorithm to exploit them. Hahahahaha!

Gaurav : Hahahaha! Yesssss. *hic*

Unn dono ne ek dusre ki taaqat ko samajhkar ek dusre ke liye istemaal karna seekh liya tha. Unki shuruaat chhote-chhote tests se hui.

Jaise ki farzi aaropo me fasa kar kuchh professors ko college se nikalwana. Foreign students ko pass karwaane ke liye grading invigilators ko blackmail karna. Campus ke elections me herr-ferr karna.

Koi bhi kabhi bhi unke baare me kuchh bhi pata nahi laga paaya. Wo humesha do qadam aage rehte the. Aur, inn sab ke dauraan unhe ehsaas hua ki-

Unhe ‘zindagi’ naam ke game ko khelne ki zaroorat hi nahi thi. Bas niyamo ko samajhne ki zaroorat thi.

Ek baar jab ek guest lecture ke dauraan Information Warfare aur Behavioral Economics ko lekar charcha ho rahi thi, tab ek FBI ke analyst unhe samjha rahe the ki aajkal ki sarkaare kis baat se joojh rahi thi.

“Students, you know what’s the problem? Data is not the problem anymore. Emotionally weighted intelligence is.”

Nik aur Gaurav ne ek dusre ko dekha. Ek khamosh si sehmati.

Gaurav : They don’t know what to do with people’s secrets, Nik hehe~

Nik (smirks) : But we do.

Dekhte hi dekhte ek saal guzar gaya. Nik aur Gaurav ke beech ki dosti bas gehri hoti chali gayi. Aur, phir woh aayi-

Suhana.

Sunehra din tha jab usne usi MIT me apne qadam rakhe. Gaurav khidki ke paas baithe code type kar raha tha jab uski nazar Suhana par padi.

Aur, maano jaise sab kuchh dhundhla pad gaya. Suhana? Suhana ko toh woh school se hi jaanta tha. Bhagwan ne kis qadar kismat likhi thi uski? Jiske liye woh school se pada hua tha, aaj woh swayam chalke yaha videsh tak uske paas aa gayi.

Uss raat usne Nik se kayi baatein saajha ki-

Gaurav : She’s my childhood crush dude. The eldest daughter of Shailendra, that guy owns Elite Motors and what not.

Nik (smiles) : Oh!?

Gaurav : She’s smart. Untouched. Powerful. Lonely. And… very submissive as well. *licks* I want her dude.

Nik (smiles) : You want her because… of the Elite Motors. Am I right? Or do you like her docile nature?

Gaurav : Both. Hahahaha~

Nik (smiles) : You son of a-

Gaurav ke liye Suhana baaki ladkiyo se ekdum hi alag thi. Woh na toh bigdi hui waaris thi aur na hi bewakoof, bholi-bhaali ameer ladki. Woh hoshiyaar thi, lekin thoda shaant, aur namr-vinamr swabhaav ki bhi.

Woh har baat par sawaal uthaati thi, professors ko challenge karti thi, aur ek baar toh usne publicly kisi teacher se behas karke unhe sharminda bhi kar diya tha. Lekin, woh zor se nahi bolti thi. Sateek rehti thi. Aur, sabse badi baat- woh swabhaav me submissive thi. Khaaskar mardo ke prati. Aur, yahi Gaurav ko lubhaata tha.

Gaurav sharing classes me uske theek peechhe baithne laga. Jab Suhana derr tak library me rehti, woh bhi wahi rehta. Pehle se jaan-pehchaan hone ki wajah se baat-cheet unn dono me bade hi araam se shuru ho chuki thi.

Suhana : Tumhara iraada apne dad ki tarah job karne ka nahi hai kya?

Gaurav : Ji haan! Mera aisa koi iraada nahi hai. Mein apne naam se kuchh banaunga. Mera khud ka empire.

Suhana : Bade-bade sapne huh-!?

Gaurav ne har tarqeeb apnaayi Suhana ko paane ke liye. Suhana ne badle me suhanubhuti dikhaayi. Dosti nibhaayi. Lekin, uss se zyada kuchh nahi. Usne kabhi bhi dosti ki seema ko paar nahi hone diya.

Gaurav : Suhana, I love you! Tum mujhe school se pasand ho.

Suhana : Gaurav maine tumse kaha na!? Mein tumhe bas ek dost ki tarah hi maanti hu. Mere andar tumhare liye waisi feelings nahi hai.

Gaurav : Feelings develop ho jaayengi. Tum ek baar-

Suhana : Maine kaha na nahi, Gaurav! I’m sorry but iss mamle me mein ye bilkul bhi force nahi karna chaahti. Relationship mere liye bahut maayne rakhta hai.

Magar, Gaurav mehez dosti se zyada chaahta tha. Usne Suhana ko kaise bhi paane ke liye rann-neeti banaani shuru kar di thi. Kintu, har paitra uska nakaam saabit hua.

Graduation ke baad uska Mumbai wapas jaana tay hua. Nik Las Vegas ki taraf nikal chuka tha. Suhana Boston me abhi bhi apne akhiri saal me thi.

Jab Gaurav Mumbai wapas laut ke aaya toh usne apni kuchh nayi tarqeebein lagaani shuru ki. Jinme se ek thi-

Suhana ke gharwalo se pehchaan banaana. Aur, jaha uski pehchaan hui-

Sonia se.

Sonia : Dii aur aap ek saath the college me? Wow~ Toh kaisa tha MIT? Maza aaya?

Gaurav : Bahut yaar! Sab badhiya tha. Bas ek aashiq ki kami thi. Haha.

Sonia : Oh hooo! Koi mili nahi kya waha?

Gaurav : Pyaar itna asaan kaha hai, Sonia.

Sonia : Hmm! I hope aapko aapki chaahne waali jald hi mil jaaye.

Gaurav : Yahi toh mein bhi chaahta hu!

Kehte hue uski nigaahein Sonia par phiri. Gaurav ko dono behne raas aa gayi thi. Magar, woh jaanta tha ki agar Suhana mutthi me aa jaaye toh Sonia ko hathiyaana kaafi asaan ho jaana tha.

Par tabhi, uske saleeke se soche gaye plan me ek adanga aa gaya.

Sonia : Ahh! Pushkar! Aao na!

Ek naujavan ladka sharmaate hue Sonia ke ghar ke gate ke paas aake khada hua tha. Andar qadam rakhne se sharma raha tha. Sonia use dekhte hi chehek uthi, woh uthi aur daudate hue uske paas gayi, uske haath ko pakadte hue use kheench kar andar le aayi.

Gaurav : Y-Ye kaun hai?

Sonia : Ye Pushkar! Mera achha dost. Pushkar, yeh Gaurav bhaiya hai. Dii Boston gayi hai na? Toh unke senior the ye waha pe. Ab graduate ho gaye hai.

Pushkar (nods) : H-Hello!

Gaurav ne bade hi achhe se uske saath haath milaaya. Par, sacchaayi toh yeh thi ki woh Pushkar ko abhi hi kaccha chaba jaana chaahta tha.

Jis tarah se Sonia uske paas chipak rahi thi, dono ke beech jis tarah se taal-mel tha, kahi na kahi use darr tha ki-

Gaurav : Waise, kya karte hai aapke papa, Pushkar?

Ek gehra sannaata chhaa gaya.

Pushkar sarr jhuka ke khada raha. Sonia bhi thodi chintit nazar aane lagi. Gaurav ko laga jaise usne kuchh galat poochh liya ho.

Sonia : Wo- Gaurav bhaiya, Pushkar ki jo family hai na wo humare ghar me work karte hai. Unki achhi si job hai. Hai na, Pushkar?

Sonia ne apne mitr ki baat ko dhak kar use bachaana chaaha parantu, yeh daya aur humdardi jaise Pushkar ke liye marham nahi, balki jaley par namak chhidakne ke samaan thi.

Pushkar : Mera parivar…? Hum gareeb hai. Sonia… Sonia ke papa ji ke liye hi kaam karte hai. Hum… hum servants quarter me rehte hai, peechhe hi.

Sonia ki bauhe chinta me sikud gayi. Ek yahi baat thi jiske liye woh humesha ghabraati thi. Woh kabhi nahi chaahti thi ki uska dost, Pushkar kabhi bhi uske rutbe, paise aur aiyyaash zindagi se darey aur bhaagne ki koshish kare.

Jaha woh vyakul thi, toh wahi idhar Gaurav ke hontho par ek kapti muskaan saj gayi. Jis darr ka woh intezaar kar raha tha woh toh kuchh aur hi nikla-

Par, kehte hai na, lohe pe hathoda tabhi maarna chaahiye jab woh garam ho. Aur, Gaurav yeh baat bakhoobi jaanta tha.

*Ring* *Ring*

Ek din, screen par naam dekhte hi Nik ne muskuraate hue call ko uthaaya.

Nik : What’s going on dude? *smiles* How’s your love life going? Any good news?

Gaurav : There is… but a bad one. And, I need your help.

Nik : Oh? Go on!

Gaurav : Someone unwanted has entered into the field. I want him eliminated.

Nik : Hmm? Eliminate? Do you-

Gaurav : No! Not the killing. Just gone.

Nik : Oh!? Who’s the lad?

Gaurav : A young guy. Somewhat pretty face. Tall. Slim. Poor. His family works for Suhana’s house. Lives in servant quarters behind her house. He’s a threat…!

Nik : Suhana and him-!?

Gaurav : No! Him and Sonia. Sonia is… the younger sister of Suhana.

Nik (grins) : You son of a-! So, you want the sister-in-law too, huh!?

Gaurav (smiles) : Just help me dude! And, to let you get started, he’s very afraid of his own status. He has that inferiority complex of being poor.

Nik : Hahahaha! Your half job is already done, dude! I’ll prepare a plan for him. Stay in touch.

Gaurav (grins) : That’s like my pal!

Nik logo ko padhne me maahir tha. Kaise unki kamzoriyon ka faayda utha ke unhe fasaana hai, yeh woh bakhoobi jaanta tha.

Nik ke kahe anusaar, Gaurav ne apni dosti Pushkar se bhi gehri kar li. Woh use apne sang parties me le jaata. Bars me le jaata. Use baahar ki duniya dikhaata. Beer, whiskey, alcohol se lekar cigarettes tak, woh sab kuchh use pilaata. Aur, ye sab Sonia ke peeth peechhe ho raha tha.

Dheere-dheere Pushkar baahri duniya se waaqif ho chuka tha. Aur, ek din-

Jab Sonia kisi party se laut kar aayi, jab Pushkar apne dil ki baat uss se kehne jaa hi raha tha ki woh uss se bahut pyaar karta hai, tabhi Gaurav ne use rok liya.

Gaurav : Arey arey! Kaha jaa rahe ho bandhu?

Pushkar : G-Gaurav bhaiya? *blushes* Woh mein-

Gaurav ne uske haatho me ek phool ka guldasta dekha aur uski muskaan aur adhik fel gayi.

Gaurav : Oh? Toh majnu laila ke pyaar me pad hi gaya, haan?

Pushkar (shyly) : Kya Gaurav bhaiya! A-Aisa kuchh bhi nahi hai. Mein toh bas Sonia ko ye-

Gaurav : Par, dukh ki baat hai bahut yaar. Jao jao! Mere samjhaane se kya hi hota hai.

Pushkar : M-Matlab?

Gaurav : Ni ni kuchh nahi yaar. Mujhe pyaar nahi mila toh mujhe tumhe nahi rokna chaahiye. Sacchaayi ki thokar sabhi ko lagni hi chaahiye.

Kehte hue woh palat ke jaane laga toh Pushkar ne uska haath thaam use roka.

Pushkar : Bhaiya bataiye na. Kya baat hai? A-Aap aur dara rahe ho. Seedhe-seedhe bol do. Ab toh hum dost hai na?

Gaurav (sighs) : Chal achha theek hai. Tujhe apna chhota bhai maanta hu toh jeevan ki sacchaayi aaj tu sunn hi le.

Usne Pushkar ke kandhe me haath daala aur use thoda dur le gaya.

Gaurav : Achha, ek baat bata. Tu Sonia se pyaar karta hai, hai na?

Pushkar (fumbles) : E-Eh-!

Gaurav : Arey bol na!

Pushkar (shyly) : H-Haan!

Gaurav : Kya Sonia tum se pyaar karti hai?

Pushkar : P-Pata nahi bhaiya.

Gaurav : Arey karti hi hogi, paagal hahaha!

Usne uske kandhe ko jhanjhora. Pushkar bechaara sharma ke reh gaya.

Gaurav : Pyaar-vyaar toh chalo ho gaya. Par, dikkat kaha par hai?

Pushkar : K-Kaha par?

Gaurav ne palatate hue Pushkar ko moda aur dur Sonia ki orr ishaara kiya jo apni chamchamaati gaadi se utar kar apni kuchh college friends se baat kar rahi thi.

Gaurav : Dekh udhar zara. Kya nazar aaya tujhe?

Pushkar : Huh? S-Sonia hai. Apni dosto se baat kar rahi hai.

Gaurav ne uske sarr par ek tapli maari.

Gaurav : Abey dhyaan se dekh. Uske haath me dekh. Kya hai? LV ka bag. Kya lagta hai kitne ka hoga? Lakho ka hai wo, samjha? Uski heels dekh. Qareeban 20-30 hazaar se kam ki nahi hongi. Dress? Araam se 50 hazaar ke qareeb. Gaadi? Karodo me keemat hai uski. Kuchh samajh aaya?

Pushkar, jo yeh sab sunn raha tha use achanak hi kuchh bodh hua. Jo 50-100 rupaye ka guldasta usne apne seene se laga ke rakha hua tha, woh haath me ab neeche jhool gaya. Uska sarr neeche ho gaya.

Gaurav : Kal maine tujhe wo beer pilaayi thi!? Kaisi thi?

Pushkar : A-Achhi thi!

Gaurav : Sach-sach bol! Darr mat!

Pushkar : Kh-Kharaab!

Gaurav : Bilkul sahi! Aur, aaj jo pilaayi thi woh?

Pushkar : Bahut achhi!

Gaurav : Tujhe kaaran pata hai uska?

Pushkar : N-Nahi!

Gaurav : Kyunki, aaj waali bahut mehngi thi, chhote! Ab jeevan ka kadwa sach sunn le. Ek raees baap ki beti jo hoti hai na… Use bhi aise hi inn sab cheezon ki aadat pad chuki hoti hai. Toh bhala woh ye sab araam chhor ke kisi aise ke paas kyu jaayegi jo uss se auhde me kam ho? Samjha?

Pushkar ki aankhein namm pad gayi. Gaurav ki baatein kadwi zaroor thi, magar unme kahi na kahi gehri sacchaayi bhi chhipi hui thi.

Pushkar : P-Par- Par, Sonia aisi nahi hai. Woh kehti hai ki-

Gaurav : Kyunki, abhi use bodh nahi hua hai, chhote. ‘Paisa’ uske liye haatho ka mel hai. Isliye, uski qadr nahi hai abhi. Par, use tum abhi bina paise ke chhor do. Phir, dekho-

Pushkar : …!? Aap nahi chaahte kya ki mein aur Sonia-

Gaurav : Arey paagal hai kya?

Usne kass ke Pushkar ko apne galey se lagaaya.

Gaurav : Tu toh bhai jaisa hai pagle. Mein kyu tera bura chaahunga? Mein bas tujhe sacchaayi bata raha hu ki-

Pushkar : Ki?

Gaurav : -ki ladkiyon ko sirf ek hi cheez chaahiye hoti hai.

Pushkar : !!?

Gaurav (smiles) : Paisa!

Pushkar : Huh?

Gaurav : Haan! Paisa! Tu khud soch. Agar, abhi tere paas dher saara paisa hota, toh aaj tu kaha hota? Tu Sonia ke bagal se khada hota, unki friends ke saath. Woh tere se chipak ki apni dosto ke saamne show-off kar rahi hoti.

Pushkar : …


Gaurav : Mujhe dekh le. Mere paas bhi thoda bahut paisa hai. Lekin, abhi tak single hu. Kyu? Kyunki, mujhe jo ladki chaahiye, use paane ke liye mujhe aur paisa kamaana padega.

Pushkar : A-Aapko kaun si ladki chaahiye?

Gaurav ne bas muskura diya. Maagr, uski baat Pushkar ke dil me baith chuki thi. Aaj ke jeevan me paisa bahut aavashyak tha. Jiske paas paisa hai, wahi taqatvar hai.

Pushkar : M-Mujhe bhi paisa kamaana hai. Bhaiya aap meri naukri kahi lagwa sakte ho? Mein paisa kamaunga! Mein ye ghar ke kaam karta raha toh kuchh bhi jod nahi paunga.

Gaurav : Abe chhote! Tu agar saari zindagi bhi naukri karega na, toh bhi tu itna paisa nahi jod paayega.

Pushkar : T-Toh kya karu? Mein Sonia ko har woh khushi dena chaahta hu jo use chaahiye. Mein uske liye dher saara paisa kamaana chaahta hu.

Gaurav : Dhandha!

Pushkar : Huh?

Gaurav : Paisa do dhandho se kamaaya jaa sakta hai, chhote. Ek safed dhandha. Aur, ek… *grins* kaala dhandha.

Pushkar : Par ye toh galat hai-

Gaurav : Aaj ke yug me kuchh bhi galat nahi pagle. Sonia ko dekh. Tujhe lagta hai ki har ek paayi-paayi uske pita ji ne imaandari karke kamaayi hai? Hargiz nahi!

Uss raat Pushkar ko samajh aa chuka tha ki paisa akhir kitna taqatvar tha. Dheere-dheere na chaahte hue bhi woh Gaurav ke bataaye gaye kaamo me uska saath dene laga.

Gaurav use kayi logo se milwaata, uss se gerr-kanooni kaam karwaata aur badle me use dher saara paisa deta.

Jab jebo me paisa bharne laga toh Pushkar ka aatmavishvas aur badhta chala gaya, woh Sonia ke liye paise jodne laga.

Magar, ant me Gaurav ne apni asli chaal bhi chal di. Pushkar ke badalte ravaiyye se uske gharwaale bhi pareshan ho chuke the. Woh jaan chuke the ki unke ghar ka chiraag ab raaste se bhatak raha hai. Aur, isliye-

Aaye din ghar par tu-tu mein-mein hoti. Jhagde hote. Jaha Pushkar aksar rooth ke ghar se nikal jaaya karta.

Pushkar : Aapne ekdum sahi kaha tha bhaiya. Ye gareeb ki kaum saali hoti hai gareeb rehne ke liye hai. Ye kabhi upar uth kar jeena nahi chaahte.

Gaurav (grins) : Par, tu toh alag hai na chhote!?

Pushkar : Haan! Sirf aapki wajah se. Mere kaaran hi gharwaale aaj kam se kam dhang ki dal roti kha paa rahe hai, hum upar uth rahe hai par nahi. Kaha se ye paisa? Imaandar raho. Kya rakha hai imaandari me? Koi kisi ki qadr nahi karta.

Gaurav : Ab tum jeevan ki sacchaayi ko jaan rahe ho.

Pushkar : Haan! Mujhe aur paisa kamaana hai. Lekin, ye gharwaale. Mere peechhe pade hue hai. Mann toh karta hai ki kisi din-

Gaurav : Agar kisi din zyaada tang aa jao, aur ghar se nikalne ka mann kare *smiles* Toh mein tumhari madad kar sakta hu.

Pushkar : Kaise?

Gaurav : Mera ek dost hai. Las Vegas me. Waha dollar chalta hai chhote. Woh tujhe dollar kamaane me madad karega. Tu aaj agar Sonia ke liye gaadi khareed sakta hai na, toh udhar jaa ke kuchh saal me hi tu use se shaadi karne ke liye yogya bhi ho jaayega.

Pushkar : Itna paisa hai udhar?

Gaurav : Teri soch se bhi zyada. Ye le. Rakh ise. Mere dost ka number hai. Jab tera mann kare, baat kar lena. Lekin, dhyaan rahe, uss se hindi nahi aati. Tu bas ek baar mujhe phone kar dena. Mein use sab samjha dunga.

Pushkar : Aap hi sabse sacche insaan ho bhaiya. Mere asli supporter. Lekin, mein Sonia ko yaha aise akele-

Gaurav : Mein kisliye hu? Kisi bhi ladke ko aas-paas bhi bhatakne nahi dunga uske.

Pushkar : S-Sach?

Gaurav : Aur nahi toh kya-

Pushkar : Bhaiya! Bolo kya karu aapke liye?

Ummeed toh Pushkar ne yahi kari thi ki kabhi use Nik tak jaane ke liye majboor na hona pade. Par, samay jaise-jaise aage badhta gaya, uske rishte apne gharwalo ke saath kamzor hote chale gaye.

Maar-peet, ladaayi, shorgul uske ghar me ab samaanya ho chuka tha. Aur, yahi kaaran tha jab Pushkar akhirkar apna ghar chhor ke bhaag nikla.

Yahi kaaran tha ki woh kyun Las Vegas gaya. Saara ka saara pratibandh Gaurav ne karwaya tha. Aur, udhar Las Vegas me Nik use kathputli ki tarah nachaate hue uss se kaale karnaame karwaane laga.

Yahi kaaran tha ki kyun woh Las Vegas me itne waqt tak rehne ke baad bhi pakda nahi gaya. Nik ki chhatr-chhaaya me jo har kaam ho raha tha.

Yahi kaaran tha ki kyun uska ravaiyya itne saalo me badal chuka tha. Yahi kaaran tha ki kyun woh udhar rehkar Sonia se bhi ghrina karne laga. Kyunki, Sonia ko Mumbai me vyast rakhne ka kaam Gaurav sambhaal raha tha aur udhar Pushkar ko bigaadne ka kaam, Nik.

Jab Gaurav yaha Sonia se rishte bana raha tha, tab Nik ki mulaqat udhar Divya se ho chuki thi. Nik ne use sab kuchh sikhaana shuru kar diya. Usne Gaurav ko bataaya ki Divya uske saath hai, jaha se dono ko pata laga ki Divya Suhana ki achhi dost hai.

Aur, aise hi ek din jab Pushkar Nik ke dwaara hi kisi gerr-kanooni kaam ko anjaam de raha tha, tab uske raaste me Suhana aur Divya aa gayi.

Yahi woh pal tha jab Suhana beech me Divya ke paas uss se milne gayi hui thi. Yahi woh pal tha jab Divya ne Suhana ko Nik se milwaaya tha. Yahi woh pal tha jab Pushkar aur Divya, Suhana ke beech ladaayi chhidi, aur yahi woh pal tha jab Divya ne Suhana ko bachaane ke liye-

*Bang*

Pushkar ka qatl kar diya.

Ek anhoni.

Lekin, saath hi ek sochi-samjhi gayi vardaat.

Aur, isi saboot ke saath dono Divya aur Suhana ki zindagiyo ki taqdeer bhi tay kar di gayi. Nik aur Gaurav ka wo phone call. Gaurav ka Suhana ko bachaana. Nik ka Divya ko bachaana.

Jabki… Pushkar ke uss sthiti me jaane ka kaaran yahi dono, Gaurav aur Nik hi the.

Gaurav ne Suhana par vijay praapt kar li thi. Usne Globerays ko praapt kiya. CEO bana. Par, uska asli maqsad?

DATA.

Gaurav apni company ki madad se data ikhatta karta, aur information sell karta tha. Chaahe wo phir dark web par hi kyu na ho.

Jiske badle me use itna paisa milta ki uska career aur Globerays skyrocket ho chuke the.

Akhirkar, slides dheeme padi. Ek financial dashboard khula.

Globerays ke internal access logs. Server routes. Encrypted transfers.

Bheed me fusfusaahat shuru ho gayi. Screen par ek highlight ki gayi line :

Client Data Extraction - Batch 47

Transferred to offshore wallet. Amounts follow. Crores.

Phir, dusri slide. Batch 61.

“Ye toh- ye toh data hai. Private information. Ise kaha sell kiya gaya hai?”

“Ek minute! Ye toh- ye toh internal audit ki footage hai.”

Slide phir palti.

Backend servers ka record ek recorded screen video me nazar aaya. Kaise user ke data ko real time me churaaya jaa raha tha. Biometric logs. Government contracts.

Phir, ek aur slide palti. Dark web ki chat windows. Kuchh anonymous buyers. Crypto confirmations.

Logo ki hairaani badhti jaa rahi thi.

“Ye toh- classified infrastructure data hai…”

Ek aur slide palti.

Shell companies. Receipts. Foreign Transfers. Tax evasion charts. ‘Consultation fee’ ke naam par li gayi rishwatein.

Gaurav ki peeth par abhi bhi Rohan ke revolver ki thandi nok tiki hui thi. Gaurav hila nahi. Ekdum seedha khada raha. Par, maathe par paseena zaroor chhaaya hua tha.

Slide ek baar phir badli. Iss baar hall me maujood logo ki saansein atak gayi. Chhipe hue cameras ki kuchh tasveerein aur footages.

Bedroom. Hallways. Kuchh zoom ki gayi tasveerein. Aur, tasveeron me-

Sonia.

Zaahir taur se Sonia ki image rakhne ke liye woh pictures blur kar di gayi thi, Erica ke dwaara.

Tasveerein dhundhli thi. Koi aur pehchaane ya na pehchaane, Sonia ki aankhein kabhi dhoka nahi kha sakti thi. Woh jaanti thi unn kapdo ke rango ko. Unn dhundhle hallways ko.

Suhana ke ghar par. Kapde badalte hue. Towel me lipti hui. Nange kandhe liye. Ye wahi thi. Log itna toh samajh gaye the ki tasveer kisi ladki ki thi par kaun thi? Ye wo nahi jaante the. Siwaaye Sonia ke.

Namrita ka haath apne muh par chala gaya. Kahi na kahi woh pehchaan chuki thi. Sonia bhauchakki si khadi hui thi. Uski aankhon ki putliyaan feli hui thi. Jo dekh rahi thi use theek se samajh nahi paa rahi thi.

Ek aur slide. Gaurav ke private archive folders. Assets. Encrypted backups. Aur, phir-

Woh khud.

Hotel ke kamro me. Alag-alag mahilaaye. Kuchh female employees. Explicit blurred images. Ekdum hi ashleel nahi, magar samajhne ke liye kaafi.

Hasi mazaak ki footage. Hookah. Alcohol. Transactions ki receipts.

Pushkar ka naam. Payment. Documents. Accident report. Nik aur uske dwaara kiye gaye kaale karnaamo ke saboot.

Suhana ki saansein jaise tham gayi. Pushkar. Jiski wajah se woh aaj iss daldal me fasi hui thi. Woh toh- swayam Gaurav aur Nik ke jaal ka shikaar tha.

Suhana ka badan buri tarah kaanp utha.

“N-Nahi-!” Woh fusfusaayi. Jis satya par woh itne varsho se vishvas kar rahi thi woh toh satya tha hi nahi.

Kamre me gehra sannaata chhaa gaya. Suhana ladkhadaayi. Ashita daud kar uske paas aayi aur uski kohni ko pakad li.

Suhana : I-Itne saalo se- *shivers* M-Mein-

Uske honth kaanpe. Aasu behte chale gaye. Ashita ne use sambhaala.

Suhana : IT WAS YOU!!!

Woh zor se chillaayi aur neeche baith gayi. Gaurav ki ungliyaan phadki aur peechhe se Rohan ne apna revolver par zor diya.

Rohan : Hilna nahi, Mister Gaurav. You are now officially… under arrest.

Gaurav : Aapko lagta hai iss se kuchh saabit ho gaya, Sir? Ye sab kisi ki chaal hai. Mujhe fasaaya jaa raha hai. Sab mann-gadhant hai. Fabricated. Edited hai sab. Koi bhi ise bana ke-

Rohan ne bandook ki nok ko aur zor se uski peeth par dabaaya.

Rohan : Ab jo kehna, woh police station me kehna, Mister Gaurav. Aapki saari baaton ko wahi suna jaayega.

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

Kisi ke taali bajaane ki awaaz waha goonj uthi. Entrance ki orr sabhi ki nigaahein phiri.

Koi andar aa raha tha.

Veer.

Muskuraate hue. Uski nazar Gaurav par tiki hui thi. Antatah, Suhana ne apni roti hui dhundhli aankhon se dekha. Aur, use paaya.

Jiska woh sabse zyada intezar kar rahi thi. Woh akhirkar aa chuka tha. Woh bhoola nahi tha. Aur, abki baar uske aansu bekqaabu hokar behne lage. Veer ki nigaahein pal bhar ke liye Suhana par tiki, uski aankhein narm pad gayi.

Woh wapas Gaurav ki orr muda.

Gaurav (growls) : VEEEERRR!!!

Veer : Tch tch tch!

Veer ne apni jeebh chatkaate hue projector par lage sabooto ko dekha. Phir, Gaurav ki orr. Phir, aas-paas khade logon ki taraf. Aur, phir woh wapas se Gaurav ki orr aaya. Uske nazdeek.

Gaurav (mutters) : Haram khor! Ye sab teri kartoot hai na? Tu bachega nahi! Tu ne galat aadmi se panga le liya Veer. Tu ne galat aadmi ke saath daav khela hai. Mein shantranj ka woh raja hu jo aaj tak nahi haara. Aaj tu bhale hi jeet gaya, lekin ye end nahi hai. Ye bas shuruaat hai.

Veer uske kaan ke qareeb aaya.

Veer : Oh, but you already lost…!

Gaurav (mutters) : Bhosdike, agar ye DGP yaha nahi hota na toh mein-

Veer : Do you know why you lost?

Gaurav : !!?

Veer ne ek jhalak neeche baithi Suhana ko dekha aur phir Gaurav ko.

Veer (whispers) : Because you underestimated your queen!!!

Gaurav : !!!!?
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This was part 1. Part 2 will finish the consequences of all of this. Socha toh ek part me hi karne ka tha but wo almost impossible hai kyunki itna sab dikhaana padta hai. Past ko maine yaha alag dhang se dikhaaya hai, let me know ye speed up flashback kaisa tha. Update consists of around 10.3k words. Ab mein lengths ghataane waala hu. Maine ye dekh liya hai ki readers ka attention span kitna hai. Toh length ab itni hi rahegi. It will never go to 12k and all. Iss se kam bhi ho sakti hai. 8k is what I have decided ideally. Baaki, target remains the same. Ab tum logo ke upar hai kab poora karte ho. Milenge agle bhaag me.
Dhanyavad.

Tremendous brilliant

 

[ayush01111]

Tar

Update - 211 ~ The Night the mirror cracked​

Ab tak...

Erica dheere se hasi.

Erica : Yes boss! Don't worry hehe. Mein sab sambhaal lungi.

Veer : Yeah. Kyunki, hum dono hi hai. Media aur company ke saamne sab kuchh reveal karne ke baad Ava busy hai. Aur, Garofano business clients se deal kar rahi hai. It's just you and me.

Erica : Kuchh bhi gadbad nahi hogi. You just have to believe in me. *winks*

Veer (smiles) : Alright! Let's go!

Erica : Yesss boss~

Aur, dono hi andar ki orr chal pade.

Ab aage...

26th January,
Suhana’s house,
Evening - 7:15 ~

Janmdin ki shaam Suhana ka aiyyaash bunglow raushni se jagmaga raha tha. Baahar, sandhya aaj chahal-pahal se bhari thi. Jaisa ki aam taur par shaadi partiyo me hota hai, ek ke baad ek luxury gaadiyo ka kaafila parking me daakhil ho raha tha.

Security waale furti se kaam kar rahe the, hired cameramen photos kheechne me vyast the, aur hasi-mazaak ki awaaz poore vatavaran me goonj rahi thi.

Vishaal bunglow ke andar jhoomaro ki sunehri raushni chaaro orr feli hui thi. Kuchh jaane-maane, toh kuchh naye gaayak halki awaaz me geet gunguna rahe the, jo baat-cheet ke shor me dheere se ghul raha tha. Kuchh dancers apna getup theek karne me lagi hui thi. Waiters tray lekar idhar-udhar ghoom rahe the.

Ye paise ka dikhawa, jashn ka nasha, taaqat aur satta ka namoona adhik prateet ho raha tha bajaaye kisi janmdin ke kaaryakram ke. Dekhne me toh yeh raat ekdum paripoorn lag rahi thi.

Kintu, bungalow ke andar, Suhana ke kamre ke band darwazo ke peechhe ki hawa kuchh alag thi. Bhaari. Ekdum ghutan bhari.

Gaurav sheeshe ke saamne khada hua tha, poornta behatreen dhang se taiyaar. Silwaya gaya ek kaala suit. Beige color ki shirt. Usne apne cologne ki bottle uthaayi aur apne galey, kaan ke peechhe aur seene par chhidka.

Uske peechhe Suhana bistar par baithi hui thi. Behad khubsurat. Aaj usne ek sundar si kaali dress pehni hui thi. Black uske pasandeeda rango me se ek jo tha. Uski nigaahein zameen par tiki hui thi. Ek haath me phone tha aur ungliyaan thodi kaanp rahi thi.




Screen par ek message type kiya hua tha : “Aaj mera birthday hai. Please, aana! Mein tumhara intezar karungi.”

Aur, chat me upar Veer ka naam tha. Usne aaj poora din intezar kiya tha.

Subah. Dopahar. Shaam. Lekin, Veer ka koi call nahi aaya. Koi sandesh nahi. Koi post nahi. Koi shubhkamnaye tak nahi.

Shayad… Shayad woh bhool gaya hoga.

Suhana ne apne aap me hi socha. Akhir, kaamo me itna vyast bhi toh rehta hai woh. Par, ab jaise-jaise samay beet raha tha, raat qareeb aa rahi thi, uski wo subah ki aaturta ab ek dard me badal gayi. Usne Veer ko nimantran nahi diya tha. Abhi tak toh nahi.

Kyunki, uske dil ke kisi nadaan hisse ko yeh ummeed thi ki Veer ka call zaroor aayega. Use Veer ko bulaane ki zaroorat hi nahi padegi. Use uska janmdin yaad hoga.

Magar-

Sannaata achanak toota.

Gaurav : Tumne uss Veer ko toh nahi invite kiya, hai na!?

Uski awaaz kamre me goonji, woh abhi bhi sheeshe ki orr hi dekh raha tha. Aur, yeh sawaal kam, aadesh zyada lag raha tha. Suhana ki maano saans atak gayi.

Uska angootha screen ke upar hi send button par mandra raha tha. Usne Gaurav ki orr dekha. Uski peeth uski orr thi, lekin Suhana uss lehze ko achhi tarah se jaanti thi.

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh keh paati, Gaurav muda, woh uski orr badhne laga. Aur, Suhana thitak ke reh gayi.

Usne jhatpat backspace button dabaayi aur dhadalle se saare type kiye gaye shabd mitate chale gaye. Usne screen ko upar ki orr swipe kiya aur home screen par wapas aa gayi. Gaurav theek uske saamne aa kar khada hua.

Iske pehle ki woh button press kar phone lock karti, Gaurav ne uske haath se phone kheench liya.

Suhana (yelps) : Gaurav-!!!

Kintu, tab tak derr ho chuki thi. Gaurav ki nazrein screen par ghoomi aur phir usne recent apps ki screen kholi, jaha use whatsapp dikhaayi diya. Use kholte hi use Veer ki chat screen par nazar aayi.

Bas itna kaafi tha.

Usne Suhana ki taraf dekha. Phir, phone ki taraf. Phir, dobara uski taraf. Usne phone ko bistar par iss qadar feka jaise maano wo koi ghinauni cheez ho. Uska haath tezi se badha aur usne Suhana ka jabda kasskar pakad liya.

Suhana (shrieks) : Ahhh-!

Gaurav : Tum jaanti ho ki mujhe woh Veer bilkul bhi pasand nahi, hai na?

Suhana ne muh khola, par shabd baahar na nikle. Gaurav ki pakad bahut mazboot thi.

Gaurav : Kya karne jaa rahi thi tum, haan? Uski chat khol ke kya karne ka iraada tha tumhara?

Suhana : G-Gaurav chhoro! Maine Veer ko invite nahi kiya hai. What are you implying? Leave me!

Ladkhadaate shabdo me Suhana ne jawaab diya, aur Gaurav ki aankhein gusse se laal ho gayi.

Gaurav (leans in) : Toh phir phone me uski chat kyu khuli hui thi?

Suhana : Mein-

Gaurav (yells) : TUMHE LAGTA HAI MEIN BEWAKOOF HU? TUMHE LAGTA HAI MUJHE PATA NAHI CHALEGA, HAAN?

Uski pakad aur adhik kass gayi.

Gaurav : TUM APNE AAP KO MUJHSE ZYADA SMART SAMAJHTI HO, HAAN???

Woh toh achha hua jo Suhana ne disappearing messages ka option on kar ke rakha hua tha jis wajah se Gaurav ko unki puraani koi bhi chats nazar nahi aayi. Warna shayad anjaam aur bhi bura ho sakta tha.

Suhana ki saans sisakte hue baahar aayi.

Gaurav : TUM USE BULAANE HI JAA RAHI THI, HAI NA!??

Uska haath achanak utha. Sehej hi Suhana ne apni aankhein band kar li aur apna chehra dusri taraf mod liya, apne haatho ko khud ko bachaane ki vyarth koshish me upar uthaaya. Woh thappad ka intezar kar rahi thi lekin-

*CRASH*

Kaanch ke tootne ki ek zordaar awaaz aayi, jo neeche mach rahe shor me kamre ke baahar na jaa paayi. Suhana ne dekha. Sheesha toot chuka tha. Woh itni zor se kaanp rahi thi ki uska poora shareer hil raha tha.

Gaurav ke cologne ki bottle farsh par tukdo me bikhri padi thi. Cologne zameen par fela hua tha. Aayina toot chuka tha. Gaurav ne ek baar phir uska jabda pakda.

Gaurav : Shukr manao jo aaj tumhara birthday hai. Yaad rakhna, Suhana. Agar, Veer aaj raat yaha aaya, toh uske liye anjaam achha nahi hoga.

Suhana ki nigaahein uss se mili.

Gaurav : Aur, na hi tumhare liye achha hoga… You got that? I hate that motherfucker. Woh tumhare aas-paas bhi bhatakta hua mujhe nazar nahi aana chaahiye.

Suhana ne zor se uska haath jhatak diya, awaaz kaanp rahi thi magar teekhi thi.

Suhana : Don’t act so obsessive!

Ab uski aankhon se aasu beh rahe the.

Suhana : Kya mein jaanti nahi-!? Mujhe pata hai tumhare baare me. Office me apni secretary ke saath, employees ke saath… mere peeth peechhe- aur ab tum mujhe ye obsession yaha dikha rahe ho?

Usne Gaurav ko ghor tiraskaar bhari aankhon se ghoora. Ek pal ke liye Gaurav bhi bas dekhta reh gaya. Phir, woh muskuraaya. Dheere se, aur shayad thode vyang me.

Gaurav (grins) : Oh? Toh tumhe bhi mehsoos hua akhir, hai na?

Usne komalta se haath badhaaya aur uske baalo ko aise sehlaaya jaise kisi bacche ko dilaasa de raha ho. Lekin, Suhana ne sehamte hue uska haath jhatak diya aur yeh Gaurav ko raas na aaya.

Uske haath ne Suhana ke baalo ko jakda. Woh cheenkhi. Gaurav ne uska sarr peechhe ki orr jhatka, use zabardasti apni orr dekhne ke liye majboor kiya.

Gaurav : Dekha? Dard hua na? Tumhe bhi chidh hoti hai na jab tum ye sochti ho ki mein kisi aur ke saath-? Theek aise hi mujhe bhi mehsoos hota hai jab mein uss nikamme Veer ko tumhare aas-paas dekhta hu. Samjhi?

Usne achanak uske baal chhore aur Suhana haafte hue peechhe ho gayi, khud ko sambhaalne ki koshish me usne bistar ke kinaare ko kasskar pakad liya. Gaurav ne apna blazer vyavasthit kiya.

Gaurav : You are a smart woman. Right? Tumhe pata hona chaahiye ki kya karna hai, aur kya nahi. Hai na?

Uska haath apne jeb me gaya. Blazer sarka aur uski kamar me khusi hui gun Suhana ko nazar aayi. Suhana ki aankhein khauf se chaudi ho gayi.

Gaurav ne jaane se pehle uske gaalo ko jakda aur uske maathe ko choomne ka prayaas kiya. Suhana ke haath virodh me chalte rahe par mard ke bal ke aage use majboor hona pada. Gaurav ne uske maathe ko chooma aur naatkeeya pyaar dikhaate hue uske sarr ko sehla ke mud ke waha se nikal gaya. Jaise maano kuchh hua hi na ho.

Suhana kaanpti hui wahi baithi rahi, uska make-up bigad chuka tha, aur seena khamosh siskiyo se ab dard karne laga tha. Dheere se usne apna sirr ghumaaya, sheeshe ki orr.

Usne toote hue aaine me khud ko dekha. Darpan me uski chhavi khandit dikhaayi de rahi thi. Tukdo me bikhri hui.

Shayad… Sheesha nahi toota tha. Woh swayam hi-

---

Jaise hi Gaurav seedhiyon se neeche utra, poora hall taaliyon ki gadgadahat se goonj utha. Jaam aapas me takra rahe the, koi seeti baja raha tha, koi banavti muskaan sajaaye hue tha aur cameras uski photo utaarne me jut gaye.

Woh muskuraaya, vinamrata se sirr hilaaya, utarte hue apni baahein felaate hue logon se mila. Raaste me parichit chehro ko galey lagaate hue aage badha.

Kuchh puraane investors. Politicians. Business partners.

“Ah! My friend haha~” Usne kisi vyakti ko milte hue use galey se lagaaya. “Long time, haan?”

Tabhi, ek jaani-pehchaani awaaz shorgul ke beech sunaayi di.

“Oi oi Gaurav my dude!”

Gaurav ne awaaz sunn mudkar dekha toh Nik baahein felaaye, tedhi-medhi ajeeb si muskaan liye uske paas aa raha tha. Dono ek-dusre ke zor se galey mile, lag raha tha jaise dono dost nahi bhai the.

Nik : Where’s Sonny, eh?

Gaurav : She hates that name, you know that mate.

Nik : Hahaha! I know! I know!

Gaurav : She’s getting ready. You know women. Time moves differently for them.

Nik hasa. Phir, thoda qareeb aaya aur uski muskaan gaayab ho gayi. Aur, dheemi awaaz me usne Gaurav ke kaan me poochha.

Nik : She invited Divya?

Gaurav (nods) : She did. Whether she shows up or not is another story.

Nik ka jabda yeh sunn kass gaya.

Nik (growls) : That bitch is hiding somewhere in Mumbai only. I know it.

Gaurav : Relax! Once tonight’s over, I’ll look into it. Someone’s helping her stay hidden. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have lasted this long.

Nik : It’s that motherfucker Veer. I’m 100% sure of it dude.

Veer ke baare me sochke hi Nik ki aankhein gusse se laal ho uthi.

Nik : We should erase him. I want to do it myself. I’ll kill him.

Gaurav ki muskaan nahi badli. Lekin, uski awaaz me sakhti zaroor thi abki baar.

Gaurav : Our target is the same. But… Not here. Not tonight.

Usne drinks section ki orr ishaara kiya.

Gaurav (smiles) : Enjoy the drinks. Tomorrow, I’ll set things in motion. And don’t get reckless like last time.

Nik : What do you mean?

Gaurav : Last time, you revealed that you were tracking her phone. She’s alert now. That trick won’t work again. We’ll lure her out in some other way.

Nik ne haami bhari. Uske andar jhunjhlaahat bhari hui thi. Gaurav ne uske kandhe par ek baar thap-thapaaya aur bheed me gaayab ho gaya.

Nik seedhe bar ki orr badha, apne liye ek kadak drink order ki aur bhookhi nigaaho se aati-jaati aurton ko taadne laga.

---

Baahar driveway ki raushni me Erica lamppost se tik kar, baahein modi khadi hui thi. Woh Veer ko hi besabri se dekh rahi thi.




Erica : Hum kab andar jaayenge??

Usne shabdo ko kheechte hue poochha.

Veer : Bas kuchh hi derr me.

Erica (pouts) : Muuuu~ tumne 10 minute pehle bhi yahi kaha tha.



Veer (smiles) : I know!

Erica (huffs) : Hum bas andar jaane hi waale the ki tum bewajah ruk gaye. Kyun???

Veer : Kyunki, unke saath andar jaana behtar hoga.

Erica : Kinke saath?

Veer bas muskuraaya, jiske chalte Erica ka muh aur bhi phool gaya. Par, tabhi-

Gaadiyo ke pahiyo ki awaaz Erica ke kaano me padi. Usne ek jhatke me apne muh par mask pehen liya. 3-4 gaadiya aakar Veer ke theek saamne ruki.

Darwaza khula aur andar se kayi log baahar nikle. Erica unhe dekhte hi chaunk gayi aur usne-

‘Check’

*Ding*

[Name : Rohan
Bio : ….]

*Ding*

[Name : Trisha
Bio : ….]

Rohan. Trisha, baaki police officers ke saath businessmen ke getup me khade hue the.

Veer ko saamne dekhte hi Rohan ki bauhe kass gayi. Trisha hairat aur thodi ghabrahat me Veer ko dekhi. Phir, apne pati ko aur phir wapas se Veer ko.

Veer apne jebo me haath daale nidar hoke unke saamne khada hua tha. Balki… uske hontho par ek muskaan bhi thi.

---

Hall ke andar shorgul chaalu tha.




Sonia aa chuki thi. Janmdin bhale hi Suhana ka tha par woh khud aaj kisi actress se kam nahi lag rahi thi. Photographers uske peechhe pad gaye. Woh vinamrata se muskuraayi, aur apne mata-pita ke nazdeek jaa kar khadi ho gayi.

Shailendra aur Namrita ICONGLOBE ki deal ke baad se hi charcha me bane hue the, dono hi apni beti ke upar garv kar rahe the.

Sonia ke aagman ke baad aur bhi mehmaan padhaarne lage. Casa Belle ka Aadesh Jaisinghani, Kaera ka chhota bhai - Karan, Tanishq, jo Autoshield jaisi company ka maalik tha, sabhi iss birthday party ka hissa the. Kayi vyapaari, celebrities aur social media influencers bhi aaye hue the.

Gaurav ki aankhein turant hi Sonia par jaa kar ruki. Uski aankhon me Sonia ki khubsurti dekhte hi chamak aa gayi. Woh baahein fela kar Shailendra aur Namrita ki orr badha.

Gaurav : Mummi ji! Papa ji! So good to have you here..!

Sonia ke mata-pita ne badi hi garmjoshi se Gaurav ko apne galey se lagaaya, iss baat se bilkul anjaan ki unka damaad kis kism ka neech insaan tha.

Gaurav Sonia ki orr muda, uski muskaan aur bhi chaudi ho gayi.

Gaurav : My dear-

Usne apni baahein kholi. Sonia thoda hichkichaayi. Shayad hi kisi ko kuchh samajh aaya ho, magar Sonia ko yeh mehsoos hua, woh jaani-pehchaani bechaini jo Gaurav ke nazdeek aakar woh humesha mehsoos karti thi.

Usne ek taraf se Gaurav ko apne galey se lagne diya, phir jaldi se peechhe hat gayi.

Sonia : Dii kaha hai?

Gaurav (shrugs) : Ready ho rahi hogi. Tum toh jaanti hi ho apni behan ko haha.

Sonia ne haami bhari, lekin uski bechaini kam nahi hui thi. ICONGLOBE deal waali raat me Suhana dwara kahi gayi baat woh bhooli nahi thi. Uss baat ka matlab aaj woh jaanana chaahti thi.

Kuchh toh gadbad thi. Filhaal ke liye, baat-cheet aur jashn me magn hone ke chalte usne iss baat ko apne andar daba liya.

---

Phir, sangeet dheema hua. Hall ka shorgul kam hua. Suhana seedhiyo ke upar dikhaayi di. Spotlight me woh behad sundar lag rahi thi.




Woh neeche utarne ke liye badhi, har qadam napa-tula aur niyantrit, maano koi raani apne singhaasan se utar kar aa rahi ho. Poora hall sannaate me doob gaya. Sabki nigaahein uss par tiki thi, chaaro orr prashansa ka bhaav vyaapt tha.

Sonia ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Usne Suhana ko gaur se dekha. Muskaan waisi hi thi har baar ki tarah, saleeke se saji hui. Kuchh zyada hi saleeke se saji hui.

Neeche utarte hue Suhana ki nazar bheed me ghoom gayi. Alag-alag chehre, muskaane, jaane-pehchaane log.

Lekin, ek kami baaki sab se kahi zyada chubh rahi thi.

Veer.

Uski ungliyaan railing par halke se gharshan khaayi. Seene me ek ajeeb sa dard jo saans lene me bhi ab dikkat de raha tha. Usne apne nichle honth ko daato taley dabaaya, maano jaise chehre ke bhaavo ko chhipaane ki koshish kar rahi ho.

‘Kya woh bhool gaya?’

Yeh vichaar uski ummeed se kahi zyada kashtdaayak tha. Nahi. Woh yaha nahi ro sakti thi. Abhi kuchh derr pehle hi toh woh upar royi thi. Fatafat apne umadte hue aasuon ko pochhi thi. Apna makeup theek ki thi. Toote hue aaine me usne khud ko sawaara tha. Ab dobaara inn sab ke saamne nahi.

Magar, phir bhi-

Andar se uska haal yahi tha.

Kya use message karna chaahiye? Sirf ek baar?

Nahi.

Woh aisa nahi kar sakti thi. Woh apne akelepann aur khushi ke liye use mushqil me nahi daal sakti thi. Aaj raat nahi.

Parantu… aaj uska janmdin tha.

Aur, aaj hi pehli baar use aisa laga jaise uska janmdin nahi bhi tha.

Seedhiyon ke neeche pahuchte hi taaliyon ki gadgadahat gehri ho gayi. Woh naatkeeya roop se muskuraayi. Logo ko dhanyavad di. Galey se lagi.

Uski therapist Ashita bhi aayi hui thi, taali baja rahi thi, muskura rahi thi. Family ke advisor Prakash Uncle bhi the.

Sab log aaye the. Sab log siwaaye… uske.

Uski nigaahein phir se entrance ki orr mudi. Kya woh aayega?

Sawaal uske mann me baar-baar goonj raha tha. Aisa pehle kabhi nahi hua tha. Bhala woh kab se iss qadar kisi ke liye itna-!?

Magar, aaj hua tha. Aur, yeh itna gehra tha ki iska bodh use aur bhi adhik dara raha tha.

---

Suhana sab ke beecho beech khadi hui thi. Phir bhi aisa lag raha tha jaise akeli khadi hui ho.

Shailendra : Happy birthday my dear daughter~

Kehte hue unhone Suhana ko galey se laga liya. Suhana lipte hue aankhein band kar li. Namrita ne pyaar se uska chehra apne haatho me liya.

Namrita (smiles) : Aaj bahut sundar lag rahi hai meri bacchi. Happy birthday beta~

Suhana : Thank you mom~

Bagal se Sonia aage badhi aur use kass kar galey laga li.

Sonia : Happy birthday to the most beautiful dii in the world~

Suhana : Thank you Sonu~

Sonia (smiles) : Look at you. You didn’t tell me you were planning to outshine the entire city tonight, huh?

Suhana (smiles) : I have competition in this family you know. I have to try.

Sonia ne muskuraate hue thoda peechhe hatkar uski aankhon me dekha.

Sonia (whispers) : Theek ho na?

Suhana (smiles) : Ekdum!

Usne bina jhijak ke jawaab diya. Sonia ke aur kuchh poochhne se pehle hi Gaurav Suhana ke bagal se aake khada ho gaya aur apne ek haath se adhikaar jataate hue uski kamar ko thaam liya.

Gaurav : My queen~ Akhirkar, aa hi gayi tum.

Suhana halka sa sehmi. Thoda akdi. Gaurav ka haath dheere se kamar par daba. Ek sanket ki muskurao. Aur, woh muskuraayi bhi.

Nik thodi derr baad haath me glass liye paas aaya.

Nik : Ah, happy birthday, Sonny! Hahahaha!

Aaya toh woh galey milne tha par Suhana ne haath aage badha kar wahi se unke beech rekha kheench di.

Suhana : Thank you.

Hall ke dusri orr se Ashita dhyaan se saari baat-cheet ko dekh rahi thi. Mann me vichaar kuchh aur hi chal rahe the. Aadesh bar ke paas Tanishq ke saath gehri baat-cheet me mashgool tha. Karan kuchh businessmen se baato me laga hua tha. Sonia apne mata-pita ke paas hi thi, lekin Suhana ko ghoor rahi thi.

Aur, Suhana-




Uski nigaahein baar-baar entrance ki orr bhaag rahi thi. Har baar jab entrance se koi andar aata toh woh ummeed karti ki kaash Veer aaya ho.

Gaurav : Entrance ki taraf baar-baar kya dekh rahi ho?

Suhana : K-Kuchh nahi-!

Gaurav (murmurs) : Jhooth mat kaho. Tum baar-baar wahi dekhe jaa rahi ho. Kahi tumne uss Veer ko-

Suhana : N-Nahi! Maine nahi bulaaya hai.

Gaurav : Good!

Janmdin ka geet goonja, cake cutting ceremony chaalu hui, hall taaliyon se chehek utha.

Gaurav ne Suhana ko cake ka pehla tukda khilaaya, Suhana ne nakli muskaan bikherte hue badle me use ek tukda khilaaya.

Magar, Suhana ke liye yeh mithaas kadwaahat se kam nahi thi. Woh rone hi waali thi ki itne me-

Entrance se saleeke se kapde pehne purusho ka ek samooh andar aaya. Aur, unke peechhe-

Rohan.

Bina wardi ke bhi, uski maujoodagi ka wazan kaafi bhaari tha. Uske bagal se thi uski patni, Trisha.

Ekdum shaant. Satark. Aur, chaukas.

Kuchh aur aadmi bhi unke peechhe-peechhe daakhil hue. Par, jaise hi pravesh ke dauran wo jis tarah se aapas me feley, paarkhi nazar waale logo ne unhe kuchh hadd tak pehchaan liya.

Gaurav ki hasi beech me hi ruk gayi. Uski muskaan gaayab ho gayi. Sirf, ek pal ke liye. Phir, wo laut aayi.

Woh bewakoof nahi tha. Aur, na hi ignorant. Bina wardi ke bhi woh Rohan ko pehchaanane me galti nahi kar sakta tha.

Gaurav : DGP Sir…!

Usne apne haath khole aur Suhana ki orr dheere se muda.

Gaurav : Excuse me babe~

Suhana ne uski nazar ka peechha kiya. Uski dhadkane tez ho gayi. DGP? Ye log kyun aaye the bhala yaha? Kya Gaurav ne unhe nyota diya tha?

Police officers ki aadh me Erica apne saath ek bag liye andar pravesh ki. Woh kab andar aayi, kaise andar pahuchi, logo ka dhyaan uss par gaya hi nahi. Jaise maano woh pehle se hi waha maujood thi.




Kamaal tha uski [Chameleon] aur [Dead Silence] skills ka.

Uski nazar chaaro orr ghoomi aur phir logo ko ‘Check’ karte hi nigaahein event manager par tik gayi. Woh bina kisi jhijhak ke uske paas pahuchi.

---

Hall ke uss paar, Gaurav khule haatho se Rohan ke paas pahucha.

Gaurav : Sir! What a surprise hahahaha! Aap yaha? Aapko mujhe bataana chaahiye tha na!? Agar, mujhe maalum hota ki aap aa rahe hai toh mein aapka swaagat acchhe se karta.

Rohan ne bina muskuraaye uska haath thaama.

Rohan : Kabhi-kabhi mein bina bataaye hi jaana pasand karta hu, Mister Gaurav.

Gaurav : Oh!? *smiles* Toh, kya mein jaan sakta hu ki aapka aaj yaha aana kaise hua? Surely, aap meri wife ka birthday celebrate karne toh nahi hi aaye honge yaha?

Usne chalaaki se poochha. Rohan ne jawaab dene se pehle Trisha ki taraf dekha.

Rohan : Hum kisi ko dhoondh rahe hai.

Gaurav : Oh? Aur, yeh ‘kisi’ bhala kaun ho sakta hai?

Rohan ki aankhein sikudi. Woh yaha ek nahi, kayi maqsad ke liye tha. Jaise hi Gaurav ne prashn kiya, Rohan ka mann kuchh ghante peechhe chala gaya.

Woh apne ghar par hi maujood tha, jab phone ki ghanti baji. Koi unknown number.

Rohan ne jawaab dene se pehle ek pal ke liye screen ko ghoora. Uske baad-

Rohan : Hello?

Kshan bhar ka virhaam aur phir-

"Good evening, DGP Sir."

Rohan jamm gaya.

Rohan : Kaun?

"Mujhe nahi pehchaana? Abhi uss raat aap hi ne toh mujhe surveillance me rakhne ki baat kahi thi na?"

Sunte hi Rohan ki aankhein phel gayi. Ab woh uss awaaz ko jaanta tha. Isliye, nahi ki awaaz usne kayi dafa sunn rakhi thi. Balki, isliye ki... Woh isi awaaz ki talaash me tha.

Rohan (frowns) : Veer...!!!

Sofe ke dusri orr baithi Trisha ne turant upar dekha. Aur, Rohan ne idhar call ko speaker par daal diya.

Rohan : Hmph! Mujhe nahi pata tha tum jail me jaane ke liye itne utaawle ho?

Speaker se ek halki si hasi sunaayi di.

"Jail? Cut the bullshit, Sir. Bina saboot ke aap jail me mujhe nahi daal sakte. Besides... Mein jaanta hu aap kis cheez ke liye betaab ho."

Rohan : !!?

"Mere interrogation ke liye. Hai na?"

Rohan ka jabda kass gaya.

Rohan : Underground incident aur Prestige incident ke baad se tum kisi bhi poochh-taachh me shaamil nahi hue ho. Tumhe lagta hai ki police iss baat ko nazar-andaaz kar degi?

Halka sa sannaata chhaa gaya. Aur, phir Veer ki awaaz gambheer ho gayi.

"I'm ready!"

Rohan aur Trisha dono stabdh reh gaye.

Rohan : Ready? Kis liye?

"Aapko uss raat ki dastaan sunaane ke liye. Yes. That night. The night your daughter got abducted. I'm ready for the interrogation you are seeking."

Rohan aur Trisha ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Woh raat. Unki beti, Pihu ka laapata hona. Underground lair. Serial killer.

Rohan ki ungliyaan desk ke kinaare par kass gayi.

"Aap ye toh jaante hi hai ki Pihu aur Juhi ko bacha kar laane waala kaun tha. Lekin, zameen ke neeche uss underground lair me kya hua? Kya ye aap jaanana nahi chaahoge?"

Trisha ki nazrein Rohan se mili. Dono hi bhauchakke the. Rohan ka lehza thoda sakht ho gaya.

Rohan : Aur, achanak tum bhala itne generous kaise ho gaye, Mister Veer?

"Generous nahi, Sir. Strategic."

Rohan ko Veer ka lehza raas na aaya.

"Aaj raat ek aur crime par se parda uthne waala hai. Ek aisa crime jisey achhi tarah se daba diya gaya tha. Aap toh kanoon ko haath me rakhte hai. Agar, kanoon ki itni hi parvaah hai, toh aa jaaiyega."

Rohan : K-Kya matlab? Kaun sa crime? Kaha?

Veer ne use phir ek pata bataaya. Suhana ke ghar ka pata.

Rohan : T-Tum? Tum pagal ho kya? Ye toh- Ye toh Globerays ke CEO Gaurav ke ghar ka address hai.

"Sahi farmaya aapne. Wahi aana hai. Apne baaki officers ko saath laana mat bhooliyega. Lekin, dhyaan rahe- wardi me nahi. Aise aaiyega jaise undercover operation ke liye jaa rahe ho. Party ka scene hai. Uss hisaab se kapde daal lijiyega. Baad me kehna mat ki bataaya nahi."

Rohan naatkeeya roop se hasa.

Rohan : Aur, tum ye ummeed karte ho ki mein tumhare inn bachkaane instructions ko follow karunga? Tumhe pata bhi hai ki tum kis se baat kar rahe ho?

"Meri ummeed bas itni hai ki agar aapko mauqa diya jaaye, toh aap uss mauqe ko haath se jaane nahi doge."

Rohan (mutters) : Tumne abhi-abhi phone par ye accept kar liya ki uss raat tum underground lair me the.

"Nahi toh? Bhala kya hi saboot hai aapke paas?"

Rohan (grins) : Tumhari call record ho rahi hai. Ab tak jo kuchh bhi tumne kaha sab record ho chuka hai. Zyada hoshiyar mat bano, Veer. Tumne ye qubool kar liya hai ki underground lair me tum hi the. Police ka poora haq hai tumhe interrogate karne ka. Mein abhi aa raha hu. Aur, khabardar agar kahi bhaagne ki koshish ki toh-

Ek gehra sannaata chhaa gaya. Phir, Veer ke hassne ki awaaz aayi.

"Toh zara... Apni patni ji se ye bhi poochh lijiye ki mere khilaaf call recording ko istemal karna sahi rahega ya nahi?"

Rohan ne jab yeh suna toh uske maathe par silvatein chhaa gayi. Usne Trisha ko dekha jiski aankhein bhay me chaudi ho rakhi thi.

Woh envelope... Woh tasveer... Jab Trisha ne Ranjeet ko maara tha. Use yaad aaya. Usne Rohan ko dekh fauran hi naa me sirr hilaaya. Aur, Rohan apni patni ko aise dekh achambhav me reh gaya.

Rohan (grits) : T-Tum... Kya chhipa rahe ho tum mujhse?

"Chhipa toh aapki patni ji rahi hai aapse, DGP Sir. Anyways, mujhe vishvas hai ki aap mauqe ko nahi gawaenge. Aur, na hi mere khilaaf aisi ghatiya tactic apnaenge. Khaaskar tab jab maine aapki beti ko maut ke muh se baahar nikaala ho."

Yeh baat na chaahte hue bhi chubhi. Kyunki, baat satya thi. Trisha jaanti thi.

"Aaj raat time par pahuchiyega. Kanoon jo kehta hai aap uss hisaab se hi aaj chaliyega. Uske baad... Mein khud interrogation ke liye aapke paas aaunga."

Rohan ke dimaag me tarah-tarah ke sawaal uthne lage. Bhala Trisha uss se aisa kya chhipa rahi thi jo Veer jaanta tha?

Rohan : Aur, agar mein nahi aaya toh?

"Toh aap ek aisa mauqa kho denge jo aapko dobaara nahi milega. Aur... Woh crime ek baar phir dab ke reh jaayega."

Veer ki halki si dabi hui hasi Rohan ko sunaayi di.

"Isliye, soch samajhkar faisla lijiyega, DGP Sir. Oh! Aur, ek antim baat. Waha par Globerays ke CEO Mister Gaurav agar poochhe aapse ki aap waha kyu aaye hai? Toh bas itna kahiyega ki-"

Veer ki antim baat sunn, Rohan ne jaise hi kuchh kehne ke liye muh khola toh itne me phone kat gaya. Woh bas khamosh phone ko dekhta raha. Uske maathe par paseene ke boonde saji hui thi.

Trisha : H-Humein chalna hoga, Rohan.

Rohan : Tumhare aur uske beech ki koi baat hai, hai na? Kya chhipa rahi ho tum mujhse Trisha?

Trisha ne uski jaangh par haath rakha.

Trisha : Sab bata dungi. Par, iske baad. Humaara aaj udhar jaana bahut zaroori hai, trust me. Uske baad mein tumhe sab kuchh sach-sach bata dungi. Please!

Rohan ne bas haami bhar di.

"DGP Sir?"

Gaurav ki awaaz use wapas se hosh me laayi. Woh ateet se baahar aaya. Usne Gaurav ko sthir nigaahon se dekha.

Gaurav : Maine poochha ki kiski talaash me aaye hai aap? Kya mein jaan sakta hu? *smiles*

Rohan (breathes) : Hum 'Nik' naamak vyakti ki talaash me hai.

Gaurav ki reedh me ek sihran daud gayi.

Gaurav : Nik? Kaun Nik? Haha. Aapko shayad koi galat-fehmi hui hai, Sir. Aaj toh meri wife ki b'day party hai.

Rohan : Wahi Nik jo aapka param mitr hai, Mister Gaurav. Wahi mitr jiske sang aapki photos social media par dali hui hai. Humein jankaari mili hai ki woh yahi hai.

Gaurav ki bauhe phadki. Saboot toh mita diye gaye the. Nik ke dwaara le jaayi gayi cars ko toh secure kar liya gaya tha. Phir, akhir kaise? Uske mann me bas ek hi naam aaya.

Veer!

Usne apne daant meese.

Gaurav (laughs) : Hahaha! Achha! Achha! Nik? Mera friend? Lekin, wo toh yaha nahi hai, Sir. Mein yakeen ke saath keh sakta hu. Woh toh India me hi nahi hai. Aur, bhala woh kaise aapki nigraani me aa gaya, Sir?

Rohan : Kuchh classified baatein hai. Abhi nahi bata sakta.

Pillar ke peechhe chhip ke Nik sab kuchh dhyaan se dekh raha tha. Usne Gaurav ka ek ishaara dekha.

Niklo yaha se. Abhi.

Aur, Nik ne ishaara padhte hi apna glass neeche rakha aur bheed me aur andar ghuste hue peechhe ke galiyaare se nikalne ke liye bhaaga.

Gaurav (smiles) : Kya mein jaan sakta hu ki aapko ye information kisne di ki Nik yaha par hai?

Rohan (smirks) : I’m afraid not, Mister Gaurav. Humaare bhi kuchh usool hote hai. Now, if you don’t mind, we’d like to just check the place.

Gaurav : Aap wardi me nahi hai, Sir.

Rohan : Hum undercover operation ke tehet aaye hai. *smiles*

Aur, uske utna kehte hi Rohan ke aadmi hall me titar-bitar ho gaye. Sab kuchh shaanti me ho raha tha. Trisha ki nazrein bhi baaj ki tarah hall me chaaro orr ghoomne lagi.

Phir-

Lights off ho gayi.

“Ohh!? Power cut?”

“Generator laga hoga.”

Log aapas me baat karne lage. Achanak se halki si raushni aayi. Dur ki deewar par ek bada sa safed kapda fela hua tha. Erica apna mask pehne ek chhoti table ke paas khadi thi, laptop khula hua tha aur projector ne safed kapde par apni kirane bikheri.

Projector chaalu hua.

Ek puraani tasveer.

Suhana aur Gaurav ki kayi saal pehle ki tasveer. Slide palti. Suhana ke bachpan ki ek tasveer. Sacchi muskaan ke saath.

“Oh wow~”

“So cute!”

Suhana swayam aashcharyachakit thi. Par, uss se bhi zyada koi hairat me tha toh khud Gaurav. Lekin, yeh chinta ek raahat me badal gayi.

Usne mann hi mann event manager ki tareef ke pul baandhe. Usne toh iske paise hi nahi diye the. Ye toh plan me hi nahi tha. Lagta hai event manager ne koi surprise plan kiya tha.

Iske baad aur tasveerein aayi. Unki shaadi ki, kuchh business launches ki, trips ki, functions ki, aur Gaurav ne thaan liya ki party ke baad woh event manager ko baksheesh zaroor dega.

Idhar Gaurav use paise dene ki soch raha tha, toh udhar event manager yeh soch raha tha ki ye sab taam-jhaam shayad Gaurav ne swayam taiyaar kiya hua tha.

Ek achhe vaivaahik jeevan ki kahani chal rahi thi projector pe. Suhana ne Gaurav ko ajeeb nigaahon se dekha. Gaurav uske qareeb aaya aur uske haath ko thaama.

Gaurav : Dekha? Maine tumhare liye kya kuchh plan kiya hua tha aaj? Kitna sochta hu mein tumhare baare me!

Suhana ne koi jawab nahi diya. Use ye sab ajeeb sa lag raha tha. Slides ke transition kaafi dheeme the. Ajeeb dhang se. Aur, woh sahi thi.

Erica ke chehre par mask ke peechhe muskaan gehri ho gayi. Achanak, slides ke saath-saath ek voice over bhi chaalu ho gaya.

Jaise hi voice over chaalu hua, Rohan Gaurav ke peechhe aake khada hua aur usne peechhe se hi uske kaan me kaha.

Rohan : Ab jo kuchh bhi hoga, tass se mass bhi nahi hona, Mister Gaurav.

Gaurav ko apni peeth par ek revolver feel hua.

Rohan : You are under surveillance for now. Aur, shayad- soon under arrest bhi ho sakte ho. Depend karta hai projector kya dikhaane waala hai.

Gaurav : Huh-!?

Gaurav ki reedh ki haddi kaanp uthi. Uski nazrein projector screen par hi jami hui thi jab-

Projector ka scene chaalu hua.

Kuchh saal pehle,
Boston, Hallowell Hall, MIT ~

Duniya ke kone-kone se aaye hue chhaatr sard kapdo me lipte aur aatmavishvas se lathpath yaha apne sapne sakaar karne ke liye aaye hue the. Har kisi ko kuchh na kuchh saabit karna tha.

Mumbai se aaya Engineering me dhurandhar Gaurav bhi iss bheed ka hissa tha. Apne kamre ke number 211 ke pravesh dwaar par khada, ek haath me duffle bag aur dusre haath me ‘The art of systems architecting’ ka naya-naya edition tha.

Usne kamre ke darwaaze ko dhakka dekar khola. Aur, dhue ka ek jhoka uske muh par aakar laga. Cigarettes. Aur, thodi chamde ki mehek bhi.

Kamra pehle se hi aadha bhara hua tha. Ek suitcase. Farsh par kaale joote. Mej par whiskey ka glass, aadha khaali. Aur, ek achhi kad-kaathi ka chaude kandho waala ladka jo khidki ke paas hi khada use hi ghoor raha tha.

Nicholas.

Nicholas : So… You’re the roommate they assigned me? *grins* Let’s see how long you last dude.

Gaurav : Just stay out of my business. And, we’ll be good.

Nicholas (smiles) : I like the sound of that…!

Pehle hafte toh dono ke beech baat-cheet lagbhag ne ke barabar hi rahi. Phir, ek raat, Gaurav gusse me lab se lauta. Usne ghuste hi apna bag de pheka.

Gaurav : Fuckkkk! The entire project got delayed because some idiot leaked our dataset to the rival group. Fucking bastards. Can’t even keep the data secured enough. Fucking losers.

Nicholas ne apni kitaab se nazrein utha kar upar uski orr dekha aur pehli baar kuchh poochha.

Nicholas : And? Do you want revenge or results?

Gaurav : Both. I want leverage.

Nicholas ne apni crimes studies se sambandhit kitaab neeche rakhi.

Nicholas (smiles) : Now you are talking in my language. Let’s sit and talk.

Uss raat, unn dono ke beech kuchh badal gaya. Dono ne baatein saajha ki, Gaurav ne use ‘Nik’ kehkar bulaana shuru kar diya. Aur, Nik ne use bataaya ki kaise woh casino players ki manovaigyanik profiling karke, unki bhavnao ki nakal karke aur unki kamzoriyon ka faayda uthakar bade daanv waale poker games me hera-pheri karta tha.

Toh wahi Gaurav ne use bataya ki kaise usne ek baar Mumbai me apne school server ko iss tarah se hack kiya tha ki kayi saari files uske haath lag sake aur bhrashtachaar ke maamlo ko woh unhe saamne dikha sake.

Raat se lekar subah tak, dono ke beech baatein chalti rahi, kisse saajha hote chale gaye aur dono ke beech ka rishta pehle se gehra ho gaya. Dekhte hi dekhte ve dono pakke dost bann chuke the.

Derr raat ki meetings lambi rann-neeti baithako me badal gayi. Ek logo ko padhne me maahir tha aur dusra logo ke data ko hadapne me. Ve dono logo ko shikaar ki tarah dekhne lage, aur aapas me jankaari saajha karne lage.

Kaun sa student dabaav me jhooth bolega? Kaun chupke se dhoka de raha hai? Kisko khareeda jaa sakta hai? Kiska patta saaf karna hai? Sab kuchh.

Nik : You know dude…! Everyone has a pressure point. You just have to know where to press. Or how long to wait before they push it themselves. Haha.

Gaurav (drunk) : *hic* I agree! *hic* People are like codes, Nik. I just need a system. You… *hic* provide the vulnerabilities and- and- *hic*

Nik (smiles) : And you’ll create the algorithm to exploit them. Hahahahaha!

Gaurav : Hahahaha! Yesssss. *hic*

Unn dono ne ek dusre ki taaqat ko samajhkar ek dusre ke liye istemaal karna seekh liya tha. Unki shuruaat chhote-chhote tests se hui.

Jaise ki farzi aaropo me fasa kar kuchh professors ko college se nikalwana. Foreign students ko pass karwaane ke liye grading invigilators ko blackmail karna. Campus ke elections me herr-ferr karna.

Koi bhi kabhi bhi unke baare me kuchh bhi pata nahi laga paaya. Wo humesha do qadam aage rehte the. Aur, inn sab ke dauraan unhe ehsaas hua ki-

Unhe ‘zindagi’ naam ke game ko khelne ki zaroorat hi nahi thi. Bas niyamo ko samajhne ki zaroorat thi.

Ek baar jab ek guest lecture ke dauraan Information Warfare aur Behavioral Economics ko lekar charcha ho rahi thi, tab ek FBI ke analyst unhe samjha rahe the ki aajkal ki sarkaare kis baat se joojh rahi thi.

“Students, you know what’s the problem? Data is not the problem anymore. Emotionally weighted intelligence is.”

Nik aur Gaurav ne ek dusre ko dekha. Ek khamosh si sehmati.

Gaurav : They don’t know what to do with people’s secrets, Nik hehe~

Nik (smirks) : But we do.

Dekhte hi dekhte ek saal guzar gaya. Nik aur Gaurav ke beech ki dosti bas gehri hoti chali gayi. Aur, phir woh aayi-

Suhana.

Sunehra din tha jab usne usi MIT me apne qadam rakhe. Gaurav khidki ke paas baithe code type kar raha tha jab uski nazar Suhana par padi.

Aur, maano jaise sab kuchh dhundhla pad gaya. Suhana? Suhana ko toh woh school se hi jaanta tha. Bhagwan ne kis qadar kismat likhi thi uski? Jiske liye woh school se pada hua tha, aaj woh swayam chalke yaha videsh tak uske paas aa gayi.

Uss raat usne Nik se kayi baatein saajha ki-

Gaurav : She’s my childhood crush dude. The eldest daughter of Shailendra, that guy owns Elite Motors and what not.

Nik (smiles) : Oh!?

Gaurav : She’s smart. Untouched. Powerful. Lonely. And… very submissive as well. *licks* I want her dude.

Nik (smiles) : You want her because… of the Elite Motors. Am I right? Or do you like her docile nature?

Gaurav : Both. Hahahaha~

Nik (smiles) : You son of a-

Gaurav ke liye Suhana baaki ladkiyo se ekdum hi alag thi. Woh na toh bigdi hui waaris thi aur na hi bewakoof, bholi-bhaali ameer ladki. Woh hoshiyaar thi, lekin thoda shaant, aur namr-vinamr swabhaav ki bhi.

Woh har baat par sawaal uthaati thi, professors ko challenge karti thi, aur ek baar toh usne publicly kisi teacher se behas karke unhe sharminda bhi kar diya tha. Lekin, woh zor se nahi bolti thi. Sateek rehti thi. Aur, sabse badi baat- woh swabhaav me submissive thi. Khaaskar mardo ke prati. Aur, yahi Gaurav ko lubhaata tha.

Gaurav sharing classes me uske theek peechhe baithne laga. Jab Suhana derr tak library me rehti, woh bhi wahi rehta. Pehle se jaan-pehchaan hone ki wajah se baat-cheet unn dono me bade hi araam se shuru ho chuki thi.

Suhana : Tumhara iraada apne dad ki tarah job karne ka nahi hai kya?

Gaurav : Ji haan! Mera aisa koi iraada nahi hai. Mein apne naam se kuchh banaunga. Mera khud ka empire.

Suhana : Bade-bade sapne huh-!?

Gaurav ne har tarqeeb apnaayi Suhana ko paane ke liye. Suhana ne badle me suhanubhuti dikhaayi. Dosti nibhaayi. Lekin, uss se zyada kuchh nahi. Usne kabhi bhi dosti ki seema ko paar nahi hone diya.

Gaurav : Suhana, I love you! Tum mujhe school se pasand ho.

Suhana : Gaurav maine tumse kaha na!? Mein tumhe bas ek dost ki tarah hi maanti hu. Mere andar tumhare liye waisi feelings nahi hai.

Gaurav : Feelings develop ho jaayengi. Tum ek baar-

Suhana : Maine kaha na nahi, Gaurav! I’m sorry but iss mamle me mein ye bilkul bhi force nahi karna chaahti. Relationship mere liye bahut maayne rakhta hai.

Magar, Gaurav mehez dosti se zyada chaahta tha. Usne Suhana ko kaise bhi paane ke liye rann-neeti banaani shuru kar di thi. Kintu, har paitra uska nakaam saabit hua.

Graduation ke baad uska Mumbai wapas jaana tay hua. Nik Las Vegas ki taraf nikal chuka tha. Suhana Boston me abhi bhi apne akhiri saal me thi.

Jab Gaurav Mumbai wapas laut ke aaya toh usne apni kuchh nayi tarqeebein lagaani shuru ki. Jinme se ek thi-

Suhana ke gharwalo se pehchaan banaana. Aur, jaha uski pehchaan hui-

Sonia se.

Sonia : Dii aur aap ek saath the college me? Wow~ Toh kaisa tha MIT? Maza aaya?

Gaurav : Bahut yaar! Sab badhiya tha. Bas ek aashiq ki kami thi. Haha.

Sonia : Oh hooo! Koi mili nahi kya waha?

Gaurav : Pyaar itna asaan kaha hai, Sonia.

Sonia : Hmm! I hope aapko aapki chaahne waali jald hi mil jaaye.

Gaurav : Yahi toh mein bhi chaahta hu!

Kehte hue uski nigaahein Sonia par phiri. Gaurav ko dono behne raas aa gayi thi. Magar, woh jaanta tha ki agar Suhana mutthi me aa jaaye toh Sonia ko hathiyaana kaafi asaan ho jaana tha.

Par tabhi, uske saleeke se soche gaye plan me ek adanga aa gaya.

Sonia : Ahh! Pushkar! Aao na!

Ek naujavan ladka sharmaate hue Sonia ke ghar ke gate ke paas aake khada hua tha. Andar qadam rakhne se sharma raha tha. Sonia use dekhte hi chehek uthi, woh uthi aur daudate hue uske paas gayi, uske haath ko pakadte hue use kheench kar andar le aayi.

Gaurav : Y-Ye kaun hai?

Sonia : Ye Pushkar! Mera achha dost. Pushkar, yeh Gaurav bhaiya hai. Dii Boston gayi hai na? Toh unke senior the ye waha pe. Ab graduate ho gaye hai.

Pushkar (nods) : H-Hello!

Gaurav ne bade hi achhe se uske saath haath milaaya. Par, sacchaayi toh yeh thi ki woh Pushkar ko abhi hi kaccha chaba jaana chaahta tha.

Jis tarah se Sonia uske paas chipak rahi thi, dono ke beech jis tarah se taal-mel tha, kahi na kahi use darr tha ki-

Gaurav : Waise, kya karte hai aapke papa, Pushkar?

Ek gehra sannaata chhaa gaya.

Pushkar sarr jhuka ke khada raha. Sonia bhi thodi chintit nazar aane lagi. Gaurav ko laga jaise usne kuchh galat poochh liya ho.

Sonia : Wo- Gaurav bhaiya, Pushkar ki jo family hai na wo humare ghar me work karte hai. Unki achhi si job hai. Hai na, Pushkar?

Sonia ne apne mitr ki baat ko dhak kar use bachaana chaaha parantu, yeh daya aur humdardi jaise Pushkar ke liye marham nahi, balki jaley par namak chhidakne ke samaan thi.

Pushkar : Mera parivar…? Hum gareeb hai. Sonia… Sonia ke papa ji ke liye hi kaam karte hai. Hum… hum servants quarter me rehte hai, peechhe hi.

Sonia ki bauhe chinta me sikud gayi. Ek yahi baat thi jiske liye woh humesha ghabraati thi. Woh kabhi nahi chaahti thi ki uska dost, Pushkar kabhi bhi uske rutbe, paise aur aiyyaash zindagi se darey aur bhaagne ki koshish kare.

Jaha woh vyakul thi, toh wahi idhar Gaurav ke hontho par ek kapti muskaan saj gayi. Jis darr ka woh intezaar kar raha tha woh toh kuchh aur hi nikla-

Par, kehte hai na, lohe pe hathoda tabhi maarna chaahiye jab woh garam ho. Aur, Gaurav yeh baat bakhoobi jaanta tha.

*Ring* *Ring*

Ek din, screen par naam dekhte hi Nik ne muskuraate hue call ko uthaaya.

Nik : What’s going on dude? *smiles* How’s your love life going? Any good news?

Gaurav : There is… but a bad one. And, I need your help.

Nik : Oh? Go on!

Gaurav : Someone unwanted has entered into the field. I want him eliminated.

Nik : Hmm? Eliminate? Do you-

Gaurav : No! Not the killing. Just gone.

Nik : Oh!? Who’s the lad?

Gaurav : A young guy. Somewhat pretty face. Tall. Slim. Poor. His family works for Suhana’s house. Lives in servant quarters behind her house. He’s a threat…!

Nik : Suhana and him-!?

Gaurav : No! Him and Sonia. Sonia is… the younger sister of Suhana.

Nik (grins) : You son of a-! So, you want the sister-in-law too, huh!?

Gaurav (smiles) : Just help me dude! And, to let you get started, he’s very afraid of his own status. He has that inferiority complex of being poor.

Nik : Hahahaha! Your half job is already done, dude! I’ll prepare a plan for him. Stay in touch.

Gaurav (grins) : That’s like my pal!

Nik logo ko padhne me maahir tha. Kaise unki kamzoriyon ka faayda utha ke unhe fasaana hai, yeh woh bakhoobi jaanta tha.

Nik ke kahe anusaar, Gaurav ne apni dosti Pushkar se bhi gehri kar li. Woh use apne sang parties me le jaata. Bars me le jaata. Use baahar ki duniya dikhaata. Beer, whiskey, alcohol se lekar cigarettes tak, woh sab kuchh use pilaata. Aur, ye sab Sonia ke peeth peechhe ho raha tha.

Dheere-dheere Pushkar baahri duniya se waaqif ho chuka tha. Aur, ek din-

Jab Sonia kisi party se laut kar aayi, jab Pushkar apne dil ki baat uss se kehne jaa hi raha tha ki woh uss se bahut pyaar karta hai, tabhi Gaurav ne use rok liya.

Gaurav : Arey arey! Kaha jaa rahe ho bandhu?

Pushkar : G-Gaurav bhaiya? *blushes* Woh mein-

Gaurav ne uske haatho me ek phool ka guldasta dekha aur uski muskaan aur adhik fel gayi.

Gaurav : Oh? Toh majnu laila ke pyaar me pad hi gaya, haan?

Pushkar (shyly) : Kya Gaurav bhaiya! A-Aisa kuchh bhi nahi hai. Mein toh bas Sonia ko ye-

Gaurav : Par, dukh ki baat hai bahut yaar. Jao jao! Mere samjhaane se kya hi hota hai.

Pushkar : M-Matlab?

Gaurav : Ni ni kuchh nahi yaar. Mujhe pyaar nahi mila toh mujhe tumhe nahi rokna chaahiye. Sacchaayi ki thokar sabhi ko lagni hi chaahiye.

Kehte hue woh palat ke jaane laga toh Pushkar ne uska haath thaam use roka.

Pushkar : Bhaiya bataiye na. Kya baat hai? A-Aap aur dara rahe ho. Seedhe-seedhe bol do. Ab toh hum dost hai na?

Gaurav (sighs) : Chal achha theek hai. Tujhe apna chhota bhai maanta hu toh jeevan ki sacchaayi aaj tu sunn hi le.

Usne Pushkar ke kandhe me haath daala aur use thoda dur le gaya.

Gaurav : Achha, ek baat bata. Tu Sonia se pyaar karta hai, hai na?

Pushkar (fumbles) : E-Eh-!

Gaurav : Arey bol na!

Pushkar (shyly) : H-Haan!

Gaurav : Kya Sonia tum se pyaar karti hai?

Pushkar : P-Pata nahi bhaiya.

Gaurav : Arey karti hi hogi, paagal hahaha!

Usne uske kandhe ko jhanjhora. Pushkar bechaara sharma ke reh gaya.

Gaurav : Pyaar-vyaar toh chalo ho gaya. Par, dikkat kaha par hai?

Pushkar : K-Kaha par?

Gaurav ne palatate hue Pushkar ko moda aur dur Sonia ki orr ishaara kiya jo apni chamchamaati gaadi se utar kar apni kuchh college friends se baat kar rahi thi.

Gaurav : Dekh udhar zara. Kya nazar aaya tujhe?

Pushkar : Huh? S-Sonia hai. Apni dosto se baat kar rahi hai.

Gaurav ne uske sarr par ek tapli maari.

Gaurav : Abey dhyaan se dekh. Uske haath me dekh. Kya hai? LV ka bag. Kya lagta hai kitne ka hoga? Lakho ka hai wo, samjha? Uski heels dekh. Qareeban 20-30 hazaar se kam ki nahi hongi. Dress? Araam se 50 hazaar ke qareeb. Gaadi? Karodo me keemat hai uski. Kuchh samajh aaya?

Pushkar, jo yeh sab sunn raha tha use achanak hi kuchh bodh hua. Jo 50-100 rupaye ka guldasta usne apne seene se laga ke rakha hua tha, woh haath me ab neeche jhool gaya. Uska sarr neeche ho gaya.

Gaurav : Kal maine tujhe wo beer pilaayi thi!? Kaisi thi?

Pushkar : A-Achhi thi!

Gaurav : Sach-sach bol! Darr mat!

Pushkar : Kh-Kharaab!

Gaurav : Bilkul sahi! Aur, aaj jo pilaayi thi woh?

Pushkar : Bahut achhi!

Gaurav : Tujhe kaaran pata hai uska?

Pushkar : N-Nahi!

Gaurav : Kyunki, aaj waali bahut mehngi thi, chhote! Ab jeevan ka kadwa sach sunn le. Ek raees baap ki beti jo hoti hai na… Use bhi aise hi inn sab cheezon ki aadat pad chuki hoti hai. Toh bhala woh ye sab araam chhor ke kisi aise ke paas kyu jaayegi jo uss se auhde me kam ho? Samjha?

Pushkar ki aankhein namm pad gayi. Gaurav ki baatein kadwi zaroor thi, magar unme kahi na kahi gehri sacchaayi bhi chhipi hui thi.

Pushkar : P-Par- Par, Sonia aisi nahi hai. Woh kehti hai ki-

Gaurav : Kyunki, abhi use bodh nahi hua hai, chhote. ‘Paisa’ uske liye haatho ka mel hai. Isliye, uski qadr nahi hai abhi. Par, use tum abhi bina paise ke chhor do. Phir, dekho-

Pushkar : …!? Aap nahi chaahte kya ki mein aur Sonia-

Gaurav : Arey paagal hai kya?

Usne kass ke Pushkar ko apne galey se lagaaya.

Gaurav : Tu toh bhai jaisa hai pagle. Mein kyu tera bura chaahunga? Mein bas tujhe sacchaayi bata raha hu ki-

Pushkar : Ki?

Gaurav : -ki ladkiyon ko sirf ek hi cheez chaahiye hoti hai.

Pushkar : !!?

Gaurav (smiles) : Paisa!

Pushkar : Huh?

Gaurav : Haan! Paisa! Tu khud soch. Agar, abhi tere paas dher saara paisa hota, toh aaj tu kaha hota? Tu Sonia ke bagal se khada hota, unki friends ke saath. Woh tere se chipak ki apni dosto ke saamne show-off kar rahi hoti.

Pushkar : …


Gaurav : Mujhe dekh le. Mere paas bhi thoda bahut paisa hai. Lekin, abhi tak single hu. Kyu? Kyunki, mujhe jo ladki chaahiye, use paane ke liye mujhe aur paisa kamaana padega.

Pushkar : A-Aapko kaun si ladki chaahiye?

Gaurav ne bas muskura diya. Maagr, uski baat Pushkar ke dil me baith chuki thi. Aaj ke jeevan me paisa bahut aavashyak tha. Jiske paas paisa hai, wahi taqatvar hai.

Pushkar : M-Mujhe bhi paisa kamaana hai. Bhaiya aap meri naukri kahi lagwa sakte ho? Mein paisa kamaunga! Mein ye ghar ke kaam karta raha toh kuchh bhi jod nahi paunga.

Gaurav : Abe chhote! Tu agar saari zindagi bhi naukri karega na, toh bhi tu itna paisa nahi jod paayega.

Pushkar : T-Toh kya karu? Mein Sonia ko har woh khushi dena chaahta hu jo use chaahiye. Mein uske liye dher saara paisa kamaana chaahta hu.

Gaurav : Dhandha!

Pushkar : Huh?

Gaurav : Paisa do dhandho se kamaaya jaa sakta hai, chhote. Ek safed dhandha. Aur, ek… *grins* kaala dhandha.

Pushkar : Par ye toh galat hai-

Gaurav : Aaj ke yug me kuchh bhi galat nahi pagle. Sonia ko dekh. Tujhe lagta hai ki har ek paayi-paayi uske pita ji ne imaandari karke kamaayi hai? Hargiz nahi!

Uss raat Pushkar ko samajh aa chuka tha ki paisa akhir kitna taqatvar tha. Dheere-dheere na chaahte hue bhi woh Gaurav ke bataaye gaye kaamo me uska saath dene laga.

Gaurav use kayi logo se milwaata, uss se gerr-kanooni kaam karwaata aur badle me use dher saara paisa deta.

Jab jebo me paisa bharne laga toh Pushkar ka aatmavishvas aur badhta chala gaya, woh Sonia ke liye paise jodne laga.

Magar, ant me Gaurav ne apni asli chaal bhi chal di. Pushkar ke badalte ravaiyye se uske gharwaale bhi pareshan ho chuke the. Woh jaan chuke the ki unke ghar ka chiraag ab raaste se bhatak raha hai. Aur, isliye-

Aaye din ghar par tu-tu mein-mein hoti. Jhagde hote. Jaha Pushkar aksar rooth ke ghar se nikal jaaya karta.

Pushkar : Aapne ekdum sahi kaha tha bhaiya. Ye gareeb ki kaum saali hoti hai gareeb rehne ke liye hai. Ye kabhi upar uth kar jeena nahi chaahte.

Gaurav (grins) : Par, tu toh alag hai na chhote!?

Pushkar : Haan! Sirf aapki wajah se. Mere kaaran hi gharwaale aaj kam se kam dhang ki dal roti kha paa rahe hai, hum upar uth rahe hai par nahi. Kaha se ye paisa? Imaandar raho. Kya rakha hai imaandari me? Koi kisi ki qadr nahi karta.

Gaurav : Ab tum jeevan ki sacchaayi ko jaan rahe ho.

Pushkar : Haan! Mujhe aur paisa kamaana hai. Lekin, ye gharwaale. Mere peechhe pade hue hai. Mann toh karta hai ki kisi din-

Gaurav : Agar kisi din zyaada tang aa jao, aur ghar se nikalne ka mann kare *smiles* Toh mein tumhari madad kar sakta hu.

Pushkar : Kaise?

Gaurav : Mera ek dost hai. Las Vegas me. Waha dollar chalta hai chhote. Woh tujhe dollar kamaane me madad karega. Tu aaj agar Sonia ke liye gaadi khareed sakta hai na, toh udhar jaa ke kuchh saal me hi tu use se shaadi karne ke liye yogya bhi ho jaayega.

Pushkar : Itna paisa hai udhar?

Gaurav : Teri soch se bhi zyada. Ye le. Rakh ise. Mere dost ka number hai. Jab tera mann kare, baat kar lena. Lekin, dhyaan rahe, uss se hindi nahi aati. Tu bas ek baar mujhe phone kar dena. Mein use sab samjha dunga.

Pushkar : Aap hi sabse sacche insaan ho bhaiya. Mere asli supporter. Lekin, mein Sonia ko yaha aise akele-

Gaurav : Mein kisliye hu? Kisi bhi ladke ko aas-paas bhi bhatakne nahi dunga uske.

Pushkar : S-Sach?

Gaurav : Aur nahi toh kya-

Pushkar : Bhaiya! Bolo kya karu aapke liye?

Ummeed toh Pushkar ne yahi kari thi ki kabhi use Nik tak jaane ke liye majboor na hona pade. Par, samay jaise-jaise aage badhta gaya, uske rishte apne gharwalo ke saath kamzor hote chale gaye.

Maar-peet, ladaayi, shorgul uske ghar me ab samaanya ho chuka tha. Aur, yahi kaaran tha jab Pushkar akhirkar apna ghar chhor ke bhaag nikla.

Yahi kaaran tha ki woh kyun Las Vegas gaya. Saara ka saara pratibandh Gaurav ne karwaya tha. Aur, udhar Las Vegas me Nik use kathputli ki tarah nachaate hue uss se kaale karnaame karwaane laga.

Yahi kaaran tha ki kyun woh Las Vegas me itne waqt tak rehne ke baad bhi pakda nahi gaya. Nik ki chhatr-chhaaya me jo har kaam ho raha tha.

Yahi kaaran tha ki kyun uska ravaiyya itne saalo me badal chuka tha. Yahi kaaran tha ki kyun woh udhar rehkar Sonia se bhi ghrina karne laga. Kyunki, Sonia ko Mumbai me vyast rakhne ka kaam Gaurav sambhaal raha tha aur udhar Pushkar ko bigaadne ka kaam, Nik.

Jab Gaurav yaha Sonia se rishte bana raha tha, tab Nik ki mulaqat udhar Divya se ho chuki thi. Nik ne use sab kuchh sikhaana shuru kar diya. Usne Gaurav ko bataaya ki Divya uske saath hai, jaha se dono ko pata laga ki Divya Suhana ki achhi dost hai.

Aur, aise hi ek din jab Pushkar Nik ke dwaara hi kisi gerr-kanooni kaam ko anjaam de raha tha, tab uske raaste me Suhana aur Divya aa gayi.

Yahi woh pal tha jab Suhana beech me Divya ke paas uss se milne gayi hui thi. Yahi woh pal tha jab Divya ne Suhana ko Nik se milwaaya tha. Yahi woh pal tha jab Pushkar aur Divya, Suhana ke beech ladaayi chhidi, aur yahi woh pal tha jab Divya ne Suhana ko bachaane ke liye-

*Bang*

Pushkar ka qatl kar diya.

Ek anhoni.

Lekin, saath hi ek sochi-samjhi gayi vardaat.

Aur, isi saboot ke saath dono Divya aur Suhana ki zindagiyo ki taqdeer bhi tay kar di gayi. Nik aur Gaurav ka wo phone call. Gaurav ka Suhana ko bachaana. Nik ka Divya ko bachaana.

Jabki… Pushkar ke uss sthiti me jaane ka kaaran yahi dono, Gaurav aur Nik hi the.

Gaurav ne Suhana par vijay praapt kar li thi. Usne Globerays ko praapt kiya. CEO bana. Par, uska asli maqsad?

DATA.

Gaurav apni company ki madad se data ikhatta karta, aur information sell karta tha. Chaahe wo phir dark web par hi kyu na ho.

Jiske badle me use itna paisa milta ki uska career aur Globerays skyrocket ho chuke the.

Akhirkar, slides dheeme padi. Ek financial dashboard khula.

Globerays ke internal access logs. Server routes. Encrypted transfers.

Bheed me fusfusaahat shuru ho gayi. Screen par ek highlight ki gayi line :

Client Data Extraction - Batch 47

Transferred to offshore wallet. Amounts follow. Crores.

Phir, dusri slide. Batch 61.

“Ye toh- ye toh data hai. Private information. Ise kaha sell kiya gaya hai?”

“Ek minute! Ye toh- ye toh internal audit ki footage hai.”

Slide phir palti.

Backend servers ka record ek recorded screen video me nazar aaya. Kaise user ke data ko real time me churaaya jaa raha tha. Biometric logs. Government contracts.

Phir, ek aur slide palti. Dark web ki chat windows. Kuchh anonymous buyers. Crypto confirmations.

Logo ki hairaani badhti jaa rahi thi.

“Ye toh- classified infrastructure data hai…”

Ek aur slide palti.

Shell companies. Receipts. Foreign Transfers. Tax evasion charts. ‘Consultation fee’ ke naam par li gayi rishwatein.

Gaurav ki peeth par abhi bhi Rohan ke revolver ki thandi nok tiki hui thi. Gaurav hila nahi. Ekdum seedha khada raha. Par, maathe par paseena zaroor chhaaya hua tha.

Slide ek baar phir badli. Iss baar hall me maujood logo ki saansein atak gayi. Chhipe hue cameras ki kuchh tasveerein aur footages.

Bedroom. Hallways. Kuchh zoom ki gayi tasveerein. Aur, tasveeron me-

Sonia.

Zaahir taur se Sonia ki image rakhne ke liye woh pictures blur kar di gayi thi, Erica ke dwaara.

Tasveerein dhundhli thi. Koi aur pehchaane ya na pehchaane, Sonia ki aankhein kabhi dhoka nahi kha sakti thi. Woh jaanti thi unn kapdo ke rango ko. Unn dhundhle hallways ko.

Suhana ke ghar par. Kapde badalte hue. Towel me lipti hui. Nange kandhe liye. Ye wahi thi. Log itna toh samajh gaye the ki tasveer kisi ladki ki thi par kaun thi? Ye wo nahi jaante the. Siwaaye Sonia ke.

Namrita ka haath apne muh par chala gaya. Kahi na kahi woh pehchaan chuki thi. Sonia bhauchakki si khadi hui thi. Uski aankhon ki putliyaan feli hui thi. Jo dekh rahi thi use theek se samajh nahi paa rahi thi.

Ek aur slide. Gaurav ke private archive folders. Assets. Encrypted backups. Aur, phir-

Woh khud.

Hotel ke kamro me. Alag-alag mahilaaye. Kuchh female employees. Explicit blurred images. Ekdum hi ashleel nahi, magar samajhne ke liye kaafi.

Hasi mazaak ki footage. Hookah. Alcohol. Transactions ki receipts.

Pushkar ka naam. Payment. Documents. Accident report. Nik aur uske dwaara kiye gaye kaale karnaamo ke saboot.

Suhana ki saansein jaise tham gayi. Pushkar. Jiski wajah se woh aaj iss daldal me fasi hui thi. Woh toh- swayam Gaurav aur Nik ke jaal ka shikaar tha.

Suhana ka badan buri tarah kaanp utha.

“N-Nahi-!” Woh fusfusaayi. Jis satya par woh itne varsho se vishvas kar rahi thi woh toh satya tha hi nahi.

Kamre me gehra sannaata chhaa gaya. Suhana ladkhadaayi. Ashita daud kar uske paas aayi aur uski kohni ko pakad li.

Suhana : I-Itne saalo se- *shivers* M-Mein-

Uske honth kaanpe. Aasu behte chale gaye. Ashita ne use sambhaala.

Suhana : IT WAS YOU!!!

Woh zor se chillaayi aur neeche baith gayi. Gaurav ki ungliyaan phadki aur peechhe se Rohan ne apna revolver par zor diya.

Rohan : Hilna nahi, Mister Gaurav. You are now officially… under arrest.

Gaurav : Aapko lagta hai iss se kuchh saabit ho gaya, Sir? Ye sab kisi ki chaal hai. Mujhe fasaaya jaa raha hai. Sab mann-gadhant hai. Fabricated. Edited hai sab. Koi bhi ise bana ke-

Rohan ne bandook ki nok ko aur zor se uski peeth par dabaaya.

Rohan : Ab jo kehna, woh police station me kehna, Mister Gaurav. Aapki saari baaton ko wahi suna jaayega.

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

Kisi ke taali bajaane ki awaaz waha goonj uthi. Entrance ki orr sabhi ki nigaahein phiri.

Koi andar aa raha tha.

Veer.

Muskuraate hue. Uski nazar Gaurav par tiki hui thi. Antatah, Suhana ne apni roti hui dhundhli aankhon se dekha. Aur, use paaya.

Jiska woh sabse zyada intezar kar rahi thi. Woh akhirkar aa chuka tha. Woh bhoola nahi tha. Aur, abki baar uske aansu bekqaabu hokar behne lage. Veer ki nigaahein pal bhar ke liye Suhana par tiki, uski aankhein narm pad gayi.

Woh wapas Gaurav ki orr muda.

Gaurav (growls) : VEEEERRR!!!

Veer : Tch tch tch!

Veer ne apni jeebh chatkaate hue projector par lage sabooto ko dekha. Phir, Gaurav ki orr. Phir, aas-paas khade logon ki taraf. Aur, phir woh wapas se Gaurav ki orr aaya. Uske nazdeek.

Gaurav (mutters) : Haram khor! Ye sab teri kartoot hai na? Tu bachega nahi! Tu ne galat aadmi se panga le liya Veer. Tu ne galat aadmi ke saath daav khela hai. Mein shantranj ka woh raja hu jo aaj tak nahi haara. Aaj tu bhale hi jeet gaya, lekin ye end nahi hai. Ye bas shuruaat hai.

Veer uske kaan ke qareeb aaya.

Veer : Oh, but you already lost…!

Gaurav (mutters) : Bhosdike, agar ye DGP yaha nahi hota na toh mein-

Veer : Do you know why you lost?

Gaurav : !!?

Veer ne ek jhalak neeche baithi Suhana ko dekha aur phir Gaurav ko.

Veer (whispers) : Because you underestimated your queen!!!

Gaurav : !!!!?
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This was part 1. Part 2 will finish the consequences of all of this. Socha toh ek part me hi karne ka tha but wo almost impossible hai kyunki itna sab dikhaana padta hai. Past ko maine yaha alag dhang se dikhaaya hai, let me know ye speed up flashback kaisa tha. Update consists of around 10.3k words. Ab mein lengths ghataane waala hu. Maine ye dekh liya hai ki readers ka attention span kitna hai. Toh length ab itni hi rahegi. It will never go to 12k and all. Iss se kam bhi ho sakti hai. 8k is what I have decided ideally. Baaki, target remains the same. Ab tum logo ke upar hai kab poora karte ho. Milenge agle bhaag me.
Dhanyavad.

YPeee target done its fone writer please help

 

[wytrobss]

Waiting for next

 

[Fateeh]

You write well keep it up

 

[Sidd19]

Waiting for the next update

 

[ooo12smit]

Update - 209 ~ The Corporate Gala — ICONGLOBE (2)​

Ab tak...

‘Haan haan! Bolo!’

[Mein bas ye bataane ke liye aayi thi ki-]

‘??’

[Ava ne bhi Kaera aur Sonia ki tarah red dress pehni hai. Good luck.]

*Ding*

[The system has gone into sleep mode.]

‘Fuuuuuucccckkkkkkk!!’

Ab aage...

Kya kabhi socha hai ki agar kisi vyakti ko ek se adhik chaahne waali streeyaan ek hi jagah par ekatrit ho jaaye, toh kya hoga?

Shaanti ke alaawa sab kuchh.

Ava, Garofano aur Erica ka Hotel Casa Belle me chal rahe iss Corporate Gala me pravesh karna kisi yuddh ki ghoshna se kam nahi tha. Veer ki haalat kisi junglee sher ke pinjre me feke gaye lakadbaghhe ki tarah thi, jo bhaagna toh chaahta tha, magar bhaag nahi sakta tha.

Erica, Veer ko dekh aise muskura rahi thi jaise koi teenager school fest me apne crush ko dekh kar muskurati hai. Yeh toh Kaera ne bhi swayam dekha tha.



Kaera : Hey! Tumne bataya nahi? That girl… Woh tumhe aise kyu ghoor rahi hai? Tum dono ek dusre ko jaante ho?

Veer ne muh khola, lekin koi awaaz nahi nikli. Aur, bhala bolta bhi kya? Shukr ho, ICONGLOBE ka, jinke Mr. Ward turant hi bol pade.

Mr. Ward : Miss Kaera! Shall we proceed?

Kaera ne Veer ki taraf se muh fera, maano Erica se jude sawaal ko baad me poochhne ke liye rakh diya ho.

Kaera (nods) : Of course!

Mr. Ward : The commotion was… unexpected haha.

Kaera (smiles) : It’s India, Mr. Ward! Here, the unexpected is normal.

Mr. Ward : Sure thing hahaha!

Normal? Agar, Veer se iss paristhiti ke baare me poochha jaaye toh uske muh se shayad yahi niklega ki - lawde ka normal hai. Yaha normal jaisa kuchh bhi nahi tha. Woh toh bas apni kursi par dhasta jaa raha tha. Aur, Erica? Erica poora lutf utha rahi thi.

Woh aate-jaate starters ko khaati, agal-bagal baithe logo se baatein karti, har thodi derr me Veer ko dekh muskurati, haath hilaati aur logo ka dhyaan uss par kendrit kar deti.

‘Damn it!’

Veer mann hi mann kheej utha. Iss waali Pari ki speciality hi uski intelligence thi, magar Pari khud hi sleep mode me jaa chuki thi, jaise kehna chaah rahi ho ki iss musibat se tum khud hi nipto.

Mr. Ward : We have already discussed with Miss Sonia, let’s be very clear Miss Kaera, what are you offering? Because ICONGLOBE will only partner with those who give us not only the best deal but best results along with a secured innovative vision.

Kaera (leans in) : I agree, Mr. Ward. Nexacom doesn’t plan to enter the automotive sector as a follower. If we step in, we step in with technology that changes the manufacturing curve entirely.

Mr. Ward : Such as?

Ruchika, jo abhi bhi thoda ghabrayi hui thi, woh mauka dekh apna tab dikhaate hue aage aayi.

Ruchika : Nexacom has the best tech all over India, Sir. You can see the numbers here. With our collaboration, we can shake the whole automobile sector. ICONGLOBE will provide the internal parts, and we will assemble them with our tech. Imagine the vehicles we can design…! We are also very actively working on AI.

Mr. Ward : Oh? I mean, it’s for sure that Nexacom is better in tech when compared to ELITE Motors. But what about the functioning? Factories? Manufacturing? Staff? Workers? ELITE motors have all of that…! How will you tackle that?

Kaera : We will establish!

Mr. Ward (smiles) : And, it will take time.

Kaera : Yes!

Ek thehraav. Mr. Ward Kaera ko dekhte rahe aur Kaera bina jhijak ke aatmavishvas ke saath baithi uttar de rahi thi.

Mr. Ward : And, you are serious about this?

Kaera : I wouldn’t have been here otherwise, right Mr. Ward!? *smiles*

ICONGLOBE ko chahiye thi ek aisi company jo turant ke turant unhe market me utaar sake. Aur, yeh kaam ELITE Motors se behatreen aur koi nahi kar sakta tha, kyunki ve khud hi market me top position par the.

Wahi Nexacom iss industry me abhi qadam rakh rahi thi. Unke paas factories, employees, jaisi cheezein abhi nahi thi jo ek automobile sector me lagti thi. Inhe set karne me samay lagne waala tha.

Lekin, Kaera ki best bet yahi thi. Woh iss se adhik aur kuchh bhi offer nahi kar sakti thi. Bas, intezar hi kar sakti thi ki kaash ICONGLOBE uske vision aur uski legacy ko dekh yeh deal use dede.

Idhar Kaera aur Mr. Ward aapas me baat karne me lage hue the aur udhar se Erica Veer ke mazey le rahi thi. Garofano bhi kuchh guests ke sang vartalaap me lag gayi. Bhala use kaun nahi jaanta tha? Uski maujoodgi yaha baaki companies ke liye ek sunehre awsar me badal chuki thi.

Aur, Ava? Woh apna mask pehni, shaant, ek kone me murti ki tarah khadi hui thi. Uski nigaahein Sonia aur Kaera par fir rahi thi.

Kabhi inhi dono ke sang wo bachpan me khela karti thi, aaj wahi dono aapas me ek deal ko lekar ladd rahi thi. Kya hoga jab unhe pata chalega ki trinity ka ek hissa unke sang yahi maujood tha?

Uski nazrein fir Veer par tik gayi. Veer ne bhi jaise use abhaas hote hi dekha. Uske mann me bas yahi vichaar chal raha tha ki bhala ye sab yaha kyu aayi hui thi?

Ava ki nazrein narm pad gayi, uski aankhein thodi namm ho chali. Veer ko toh woh baad me samjha sakti hai, lekin Kaera aur Sonia ka kya? Kya ve dono use ab bhi apna dost maanti hai?

‘What are they planning?’

Veer ne mann hi mann socha.

‘Erica ko dekh ke lagta hai jaise use kisi ne behka ke yaha aane ke liye manaaya ho. She looks happy. She’s fucking enjoying it. Ava…! Kyu??’




Uski nigaahein Ava par tiki.

‘Kya tum yaha kahi… Sonia aur Kaera ke liye toh nahi-!?’

Usne ek-ek jhalak Kaera aur Sonia ki orr bhi dekha.

‘But then… Violet…!’

Aur, ant me usne Garofano ko dekha jo kuchh companies ke owners ke sang baat kar rahi thi.

‘No wonder…! Ye plan zaroor tumhara hi hoga. But why here? Looking for a collaboration with other companies?’

Veer haule se muskuraaya.

‘Right! Akhirkar, sabki sab businesswomen hai. Ye opportunity bhala kaise chhor sakti hai? *sighs*I hope ye bas koi problem na create kar de. Mein already koi achhi situation me nahi hu.’

Dur se Suhana bhi Veer ki table ki orr hi nazrein gadaaye baithi hui thi. Woh soch rahi thi ki akhir Veer bhala kya karega? Kaise ye deal Sonia ko dilwaane me madad karega? Agar, Veer naqamyab bhi hota hai toh bhi woh hairaan nahi hone waali thi. Kyunki, uski ye demand hi vichitr thi.

Idhar Kaera aur Mr. Ward aapas me baat kar rahe the ki tabhi, Mr. Ward ka secretary kisi parchhaayi ki tarah peechhe se aaya, thoda jhuka aur unke kaan me kuchh fusfusaana shuru kar diya.

Mr. Ward ne Kaera par se nazrein nahi hataayi. Unhone suna. Aur, jaise-jaise woh sab kuchh sunn rahe the, unki nazrein Veer par sthit hoti chali gayi. Veer ne ye turant hi bhaanp liya.

Uska posture akad kar seedha ho gaya. Na chaahte hue bhi uske senses apne kaam par lag gaye. Jo Mr. Ward ke alaawa kisi ko bhi nahi sunaayi de raha tha, woh Veer ne sunn liya. Aur, utna kaafi tha yeh jaanane ke liye ki aage kya hone waala tha.

“So, that’s it! I see!”

Mr. Ward haami bharte hue sirr hilaaye aur apni ungliyon ke halke ishaare se apne secretary ko jaane ka ishaara kiya. Woh akad kar seedhe baithe aur apne dono haath saamne table par rakhte hue Kaera ko dekhe. Kuchh derr pehle ka dostaana corporate andaaz ab unke andar se gaayab ho chuka tha.

Mr. Ward : Ms. Kaera! I’d like to ask a few questions. I expect honest answers.

Kaera ki bauhe pal bhar ke liye tann gayi.

Kaera : Proceed!

Mr. Ward ki nazrein phir se Veer par gayi, aur phir wapas se Kaera par.

Mr. Ward : Care to explain who this gentleman is, Ms. Kaera?

Unhone Veer ke baare me poochha. Veer ne ek gehri saans li. Sawaal aa chuka tha. Usne jawaab dene ke liye apna muh khola ki tabhi-

Kaera : He’s... Veer Singh! Mister Veer Singh!

Parantu, Kaera ne uss se pehle hi uttar de diya. Uski awaaz shaant thi.

Kaera : A young entrepreneur.

Mr. Ward (nods) : And, what business does Mr. Veer run?

Kaera ne ek jhalak Veer ki orr dekha. Veer se uski nazrein mili. Woh kuchh soch rahi thi. Phir, wapas se woh Mr. Ward ki orr mudi.

Kaera : I think this is disrespectful, Mr. Ward, you know… to ask about him from me when he’s sitting right here. Your questions should be directed to him. Am I right!?

Dekha jaaye toh Kaera ka virodh ekdum sahi tha. Jab Veer ke baare me hi poochhna hai, toh seedhe-seedhe uss se hi kyu nahi poochh lete jab woh yahi baitha hua hai? Ye toh beizzati karne waali baat ho gayi.

Lekin, Mr. Ward ne apna sarr naa me hila diya.

Mr. Ward : No! ICONGLOBE is here to negotiate with either Nexacom or Elite Motors, Ms. Kaera. You are Nexacom’s owner. And, I’m asking you. It’s your responsibility to answer. We are not here to deal with Mister, Veer. What business does Mister Veer run?

Mahaul tanavpoorn ho gaya.

Kaera ne phir se Veer ko dekha, woh kuchh nahi bola. Usne bas halka-sa sirr hilaaya, jaise kehna chaah raha ho ki wo jawab de dega, magar-

Kaera wapas se Mr. Ward ki orr mudi.

Kaera : He owns a luxury hotel. He also runs other food businesses. Several food trucks. Hospitality. Various investments. Operations are stable.

Kaera ne Veer ke businesses ke baare me batlaaya, siwaaye ek cheez ke : Yarnia! Usne Yarnia ka zikr nahi kiya. Koi bhi zikr nahi. Na Yarnia ke clothing brand ki charcha, na koi launch event, na Hotel Prestige ka zikr, aur na hi waha khoon se saney farsh ka koi ullekh.

Woh jaanti thi. Yarnia ke baare me bataana matlab khud ke perr par kulhadi maarna. Saath hi… woh Veer ki image bhi bachaana chaahti thi.

Mr. Ward kuchh na bole. Bas chupchap sab sunte rahe. Phir, unhone aage kehna jaari kiya.

Mr. Ward : -And, if it’s not too personal, may I know what your relationship with Mister Veer is?

Veer swabhavik roop se aage jhuka. Yahi woh pal tha, jo iske rukh ko dusri disha me mod sakta tha. Agar, woh bas ye keh de ki woh aur Kaera ek dusre ko nahi jaante toh-

Veer : Mr. Ward, I-

Iske pehle ki woh samjha paata-

‘???’

Kaera ka haath achanak hi uske haath ke upar aa gaya. Garm. Mazboot. Adhikaar jataane waala. Shabd Veer ke galey me hi atke reh gaye. Usne hairanagi me Kaera ko dekha.

Kaera : Veer is my close friend. A partner. Perhaps… what do people call it… *pauses* right… Buddies!?

Mr. Ward ki nazrein table ke upar tiki. Kaera ke haath par, jo Veer ke haath ke upar rakha hua tha. Phir, wapas se Kaera ke chehre par.

Hall ke uss orr, Sonia akad ke reh gayi. Yeh sab kya ho raha tha? Kaera bhala sabke saamne Veer ke haath ko iss tarah se-!? Kaera toh kisi bhi mard ko apne nazdeek bhi nahi bhatakne deti thi. Phir, bhala Veer ke saath woh aise kyu-?




Toh wahi, yeh nazaara dekh Suhana ki ungliyaan glass ke chaaro orr kass ke jakad gayi. Uski saansein atak gayi. Aankhein unn dono ke haatho par jami hui. Table par.

Kaera ke bagal se baitha Karan bhi ek pal ke liye jamm gaya. Usne unke haatho ko dekha. Phir, Kaera ko aur phir Veer ko. Phir, wapas haatho ko.

Uske chehre ke haav-bhaav bina kuchh kahe hi chillaa rahe the ki : Bhai, wtf??? Tum aur di…!? Kab se???

Uske honth fadfadaaye, jaise maano woh koi aisa vaakya na bolne ke liye khud ko rok raha ho, jisey bolne par uski behan pakka use jaan se maar sakti thi.

Uski aankhein keh rahi thi : Maine tumhe 10 minute ke liye akela kya chhora, tum meri behan, Nexacom ki owner ka hi haath le gaye?

‘Fuckin’ hell, Veer-!!! Tumhare aur dii ke beech..!? The fuck is going on?’

Lekin, ye saari baatein uske mann me hi chal rahi thi. Woh samajhdar tha jo chup raha.

Mr. Ward thoda peechhe jhuke.

Mr. Ward : I see! So, Mister Veer isn’t a part of Nexacom. Then, why is he seated here?

Kaera ne Veer ke haath ko zorr se dabaaya. Na gusse me aur na hi darr me. Ek pakke iraade se… woh Mr. Ward ki aankhon me dekhi.

Kaera : Because… he’s important to me. And, I feel… better… when he’s beside me. Does that answer your question?

Veer (mutters) : Kaera…

Kaera ne dheere se Mr. Ward se kaha. Koi leepa-poti waala jawaab nahi. Na hi pehle se socha gaya jawaab. Bas… dil ko jaisa mehsoos hua, woh usne keh diya.

Veer ki aankhein narm pad gayi. Kaha woh yaha Kaera se deal chhinwa ke Sonia ko deal dilwaane aaya tha aur yaha Kaera use apne paas bula kar tohfa dete hue sabke saamne uski izzat ka maan rakh rahi thi. Yeh jaante hue ki agar woh Veer ko iss waqt dur kar deti hai, toh yeh deal milne ke chances badh jayenge.

Lekin, usne aisa nahi kiya. Ek taraf Sonia thi, jo emotions hone ke bawajood Veer ko chhor deal ko chuni thi, aur ek taraf Kaera thi, jo theek se emotions na hone ke bawajood bhi itni badi deal ke saamne, Veer ko nahi chhorna chaahti thi.

Aur, uska yu Veer ka haath thaamna… Yeh ek statement tha. Statement of ownership.

Hall ke uss paar-

Ava ki chhaati kass ke reh gayi. Uski ungliyaan mutthi me bhinch ke reh gayi. Yeh nazara uski ummeed se bhi zyada use peeda de gaya. Thodi jalan, thodi niraasha aur thoda dard.

Erica ki muskaan pehli baar feeki pad gayi. Uski aankhein aashcharya me badi ho gayi. Woh toh samajh rahi thi ki keval Ava aur Garofano hi uska competition thi par yaha toh yeh Kaera-!? Veer aur uske beech kya chal raha tha?

Garofano ki bhi paini nazrein unn par tiki hui thi. Woh halka-sa muskuraayi. Lekin, uski muskaan ke peechhe kuchh soojh-boojh thi.

Toh, wahi Veer shaant baitha hua tha. Kaera ka haath abhi bhi uske haath me tha. Hall ka atmosphere bhi badal chuka tha. Lagbhag sabhi unki taraf dekh rahe the, lekin kisi ne bhi shor karne ki himmat nahi ki.

Mr. Ward ne kaafi derr tak Kaera ko dekha.

Mr. Ward : Well, that answers more than I asked.

Woh turant hi khade ho gaye. Farsh par unki kursi ke khisakne ki awaaz ne sabhi ka dhyaan uss orr kheench liya.

Mr. Ward : Alright then! It’s decided! ICONGLOBE will not be proceeding with any business with Nexacom.

Shabd bhaari the. Kaera ki aankhein hairat me fel gayi.

Veer bhi turant khada ho gaya. Kursiyaan khisakne lagi. Table ke aas-paas baithe sabhi log khade ho gaye. Mr. Ward ke shabd kisi bade se patthar ki tarah the jo seedha aa kar unn par gir pade.

Mr. Ward Kaera ki orr mudey, unka lehza professional tha, lekin ab kahi na kahi thodi sakhti jhalak rahi thi.

Mr. Ward : Miss Kaera, you deliberately omitted a crucial detail that Mister Veer… is the owner of Hotel Prestige!

Ek gehra sannaata chhaa gaya.

Mr. Ward : The same hotel that was destroyed a few weeks ago. A targeted attack. A shootout. Blood. Fire. Casualties. The launch of a new brand. Destroyed on day one.

Logo ke beech fusfusaahat shuru ho gayi, jo chingaari ki tarah felti chali gayi. Jo Veer ko nahi bhi jaante the, ab woh bhi jaanane waale the.

Mr. Ward : Associating with someone surrounded by this level of instability poses unacceptable risk. ICONGLOBE will not entangle itself with businesses that attract… trouble.

Unhone kaha, bina apni awaaz oonchi kiye, kyunki uski zaroorat hi nahi thi.

Nazrein ghoom gayi, sirr mudey, fusfusaahat jaari…

“Achha, ye toh wahi Veer hai… Wahi jo news me aaya tha!”

“Hotel Prestige? Wahi na jis par hamla hua tha??”

“No wonder… Kyu ICONGLOBE ab Nexacom ke saath deal nahi kar rahi.”

“Miss Kaera akhir soch kya rahi thi? Veer jaise failed small businessman ke saath uthna-baithna-!?"

"Businessman? Arey bhai businessman hai hi kaha woh!? Hotel khol lene se koi businessman thodi bann jaata hai."

“She’s far above someone like him. He doesn’t even deserve to even stand next to her!”

“Ye toh Miss Kaera ki modesty hai jo use friend ki tarah treat kar rahi hai. Warna koi aur hota toh-”

Logo ki baatein khus-pusaate hue aapas me hone lagi. Aur, Veer ne sab kuchh suna. Har shabd uske ek kaan se guzarta hua dusre kaan se nikal gaya. Kintu, uske chehre par koi bhaav nahi the, aankhein adh-khuli.

Aur, akhirkar Kaera ko ab jaake samajh aaya.

Mr. Ward ke secretary ka beech me aake unke kaan ke paas jhukna. Phir, Mr. Ward ka uss se ye saare sawaal karna.

Mr. Ward ka secretary figures bataane nahi aaya tha, woh Veer ki sacchaayi sunaane aaya tha. Ek secretary hone ke naate yeh uski zimmedari thi ki woh saari research karke baithe. Aur, shayad itni derr me usne Veer ke baare me kaafi kuchh dhoondh liya tha.

Koi bhi company bhala uss company ke saath kyu deal karegi jiske owner ka uthna-baithna ek aise shaks ke saath ho jiske business par kuchh din pehle hi ek targeted attack hua ho!? Aur, yaha toh Kaera Veer ko apna close friend ghoshit kar chuki thi. Upar se uska haath thaamna… ye bahut tha anumaan lagaane ke liye.

Yahi kaaran tha ki kyu Mr. Ward sawaal par sawaal kar rahe the. Aur, Kaera imaandari ke saath saare jawaab deti chali gayi. Kuchh zyaada hi imaandaari se.

Nateeja?

ICONGLOBE ka Nexacom se deal cancel karna.

Veer ko mehsoos hua, uske seene me ek ajeeb-sa bharipann aaya. Kuchh chubh raha tha. Usne toh thaan liya tha ki woh iss matter me apne qadam nahi rakhega, lekin phir bhi-

Sirf uski maujoodagi hi kahi na kahi Kaera ke loss ka kaaran bann gayi.

Woh Kaera ki orr muda.

Veer : I… I shouldn’t have been here, right? I’m sorry… Miss Kaera! Meri maujoodagi ki wajah se… ye sab hua.

Kehte hue woh peechhe hata, jaane ke liye muda ki tabhi-

Kaera ki ungliyaan uske haath par kass gayi.

Kaera : Kya kaha tha maine abhi-abhi?

Usne sthir dheemi awaaz me poochha. Veer wahi jamm ke reh gaya. Kuchh derr pehle Kaera ke shabd bina bulaaye hi uske mastishk me goonj gaye.

“Because… he’s important to me. And, I feel… better… when he’s beside me.”

Yahi toh shabd the Kaera ke, jo usne Mr. Ward se kahe the. Veer ki dhadkane tez ho gayi.

*Badump*

Kaera ne apna sarr uthaaya. Mr. Ward pehle hi mud chuke the, jaane ki taiyaari kar rahe the. Kaera ne unki peeth ki taraf dekhte hue hi kaha.

Kaera : I stand by my words! If ICONGLOBE refuses a partnership because my friend is seated beside me, then so be it!!! From today onward, there will be no future partnerships between Nexacom and ICONGLOBE . Ever.

Poora ka poora hall shaant pad gaya. Kaera ke bol udhar goonj ke reh gaye. Mr. Ward pal bhar ke liye ruke. Bas ek kshan ke liye, phir wo waha se guzre aur Sonia ki table ki orr chal diye.

Mr. Ward : My congratulations! *smiles* ICONGLOBE has decided to proceed with Elite Motors, Miss Sonia!

Aur, taaliyo ki gad-gadahat waha goonj uthi. Sab agle hi kshan Kaera ke diye hue statement ko bhool gaye kyunki, 10 billion dollar ki deal ka mehatva hi itna zyada tha.

Sonia apni seat se khadi ho gayi, uske chehre par pehle hairanagi nazar aayi, phir jeet ki bhavna umad aayi. Usne Mr. Ward se turant hi haath milaaya, use yakeen nahi ho raha tha ki woh Kaera ko hara kar ye deal jeet rahi thi.

Suchika mask ke peechhe muskura rahi thi, par uss muskaan ke peechhe kahi na kahi ek dard bhi chhipa tha. Uski nigaahein dur hataash khadi Ruchika par pal bhar ke liye tik gayi.

Peechhe baithi Suhana ka haath uski goad par tha, kaanp raha tha. Usne Veer ko dekha, jo abhi bhi Kaera ke bagal se khada hua tha, aur abhi bhi chup tha. Raahat, hairat aur dard sab saath me mil gaye. Jab tabhi uske bagal se baithe uske pati, Gaurav ne ek tippani ki-

Gaurav : Hmph! Ye jagah waise bhi pickpockets ke liye nahi hai. Akhir, soch kya rahi thi Kaera? Veer jaiso ke saath uthne-baithne ka nateeja yahi hota hai!

Uski aankhein Veer par tiki, gusse me uski mutthi kasi hui thi. Kaaran aur bhi kuchh tha. Prestige ke tabaah hone waali raat ko Veer ne Nik aur uske chamcho ki kutaayi jo ki thi. Aur, Nik thehra Gaurav ka param mitr. Bhala Gaurav iss baat ko kaise jaane de sakta tha. Usi ki security me Nik ab tak Mumbai me thehra hua tha.

‘Bas do-teen din aur mazey kar le bhosdike! Phir, mein tujhe bataunga ki Gaurav se panga lena kitna bhaari padta hai. Tu jaanta nahi mujhe, Veer!’

Apne pati ke ghatiya bol sunn, Suhana ne apni dress ke kapde ko itni zorr se bheencha ki usme silvatein pad gayi. Ek pal ke liye toh aisa laga jaise woh wahi use thappad maar degi.

Lekin, woh aisa nahi kar sakti thi. Chaah ke bhi nahi.

Gaurav : Dekh rahi ho na tum? Veer jaiso ke saath rehne ka kya anjaam hota hai? He’s fucking cursed. Khud ki hotel bhi dubwa liya aur dusro ki deals bhi bigadwa di. Aas-paas dikhna nahi chahiye woh mujhe tumhaare!

Suhana : Shut up, Gaurav! Veer ki isme koi galti na- ahh-!

Iske pehle ki woh poori tarah se keh paati, Gaurav ka haath uski kalaayi par kass ke jakad gaya, Suhana ke haath ka bangle use itni zorr se chubha ki uske muh se ek halki siski nikal gayi. Woh dehshat me agal-bagal dekhi, par sabhi ka dhyaan Sonia ki table ki orr kendrit tha.

Gaurav : Tumhari himmat kaise hui mere bolne ke baad bhi uska favor karne ki, huh? Tum kya mujhe bewakoof samajhti ho?

Woh achanak hi uske kaan ki orr jhuka.

Gaurav (mutters) : Agar, tum uski aur apni bhalaayi chaahti ho na? Toh, aaj se uss se dur rehna. Warna-

Suhana ghabraate hue Gaurav ko mud ke dekhi-

Gaurav (smiles) : Warna kahi aisa na ho ki Veer kisi din akhbhar me ek khabar bann kar reh jaaye.

Suhana (darrte hue) : Y-You won’t-!

Gaurav (smirks) : Of course, I won’t! But Nik can-!

Suhana : H-Huh-!??

Suhana ki samajh nahi aaya. Bhala Nik kaha se beech me aa gaya?

Gaurav : Oh? Tumhe nahi pata?

Wo dheere se naa me sarr hilaayi aur Gaurav ki muskaan chaudi ho gayi. Woh phir uske kaan ki orr jhuka aur ahista se bola.

Gaurav : Tumhari dear friend, Divya yaha kayi hafto pehle Mumbai aayi thi, apne husband, Nik se jhooth bol kar, bina bataaye. Veer ke sang rang reliya mana rahi thi. Aur, Nik ne unn dono ko raat me ek saath car me pakda. Kya lagta hai? Kya hua hoga unke beech?

Ek bada jhatka Suhana ko laga. Woh thitak ke reh gayi. Divya Mumbai aayi thi? Toh, bhala usne use bataaya kyu nahi? Aur, Veer ke saath-!? Uska dimaag kaam karna band ho chuka tha.

Gaurav : Aur, Veer mister ne kya kiya? Nik aur uske aadmiyo ko peeta. *smiles* Ab Nik gusse me hai. Maine use shaant kara rakha hai. Lekin, kab tak meri baat maanega, iski bhala kya guarantee, right?

Suhana ka sarr soch-vichaar aur darr me neeche jhuk gaya. Usne fatafat Divya ko messages daalne shuru kar diye. Toh, wahi Gaurav muskuraate hue uth kar Sonia ki table ki orr chal diya.

---

Taaliyo ki gadgadahat abhi bhi sunaayi de rahi thi, magar tabhi-

*Click* *Click* *Click*

Cameras ki shutters ki awaaz goonj uthi, hall me halchal ki ek aur leher fel gayi. Sabke sirr ghoom gaye. Hall ke darwaaze se ek aadmi andar aise aaya jaise maano yeh uski hi hotel ho.

Shailendra. Sonia aur Suhana ke pita. Aur, saath me unn dono ki maa — Namrita.

Bodyguards aur security ke kadey ghere ke beech, unka secretary unse do qadam peechhe chalte hue, sab ke sab andar aane lage.

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

Shailendra taali bajaate hue, khulkar hasste hue aage aaye, unki hassi dumdar aur befiqr thi. Veh aadmi jisne Elite Group ko asal taur par Elite banaaya tha.

“Adhbhut!” Shailendra zorr se bole, unki aankhein apni beti Sonia par tiki. “Bahut khoob meri bacchi!”

Sonia ka chehra turant hi khil utha. “Dad!?”

Woh sab kuchh bhulkar unki taraf badhi. Shailendra ne apni baahein kholi aur hall me maujood vyaktiyo ki parvah kiye bagerr apni beti ko galey se laga liya. Aur, agle hi kshan unke peechhe se Namrita saamne aayi.

Sonia murti ki tarah jamm gayi. “Mom aap-!?”

Namrita dheere-se muskuraayi aur apni beti ko kass kar galey se laga li. Sonia ki aankhein khushi ke maare namm ho gayi. Usne iski kabhi bhi ummeed nahi ki thi. Aaj nahi. Yaha toh bilkul hi nahi.

Prakash Uncle bhi uth khade hue, ve aage badhe aur Suhana ke paas pahuche.

Prakash Uncle : Miss Suhana? Aaiye! Chaliye!

Suhana (gazes) : U-Uncle-!?

Prakash Uncle : Yeh roz-roz nahi hota ki aapke mummy papa kisi corporate deal me hissa le. Aaiye!

Suhana khadi hui, aur Prakash Uncle ke sang woh bhi apne mata-pita se jaa kar mili, unke galey se lagi.

Sonia chupchap khadi rahi, sabko galey milte dekh rahi thi. Hall me abhi bhi taaliyo ki goonj thi. Cameras ke flashes abhi bhi chamak rahe the. Log abhi bhi tareef ke saath Elite group ki charcha kar rahe the. Lekin, ek pal ke liye yeh sab ek dheeme-se shor me badal gaya.

Uske pita ka haath uske kandhe par tha. Mazboot. Garv se bharpoor. Jaise kehna chaah rahe ho ki ‘tumne kar dikhaaya meri bacchi.’

Kaera. Humesha academics me first. Sports me first. Business me first. Lagbhag har cheez me woh humesha se hi uss se aage rehti thi. Aur, Sonia? Humesha uske peechhe. Saari zindagi woh bas Kaera ki ek parchhaayi bann kar reh gayi, jo hazaar koshisho ke baad bhi kabhi aage na nikal saki.

“Tum humesha second par hi kyu rehti ho, Sonia?”

“Tum kadi mehnat karti ho, uske bawajood woh tumse… aage hai.”

“Tumhe uss se seekhna chaahiye, beta!”

“Kaera ko dekho. Usne kaise kar liya? Jab woh kar sakti hai toh tum kyu nahi?”

“Kabhi toh apne maa-baap ka naam raushan karo beta! Kab tak Kaera se humesha maat khaati rahogi?”

Yahi sunn sunn ke woh pali badhi thi. Second. Humesha second number par. Comparison ka shikaar. Parantu, aaj raat-!?

Woh shabd jaise mit gaya. Aaj raat woh akeli nahi thi. Uske mata-pita uske saath the. Nuksaan ki bharpaayi karne ke liye nahi, saantvna dene ke liye nahi, formality ke liye nahi.

Ve muskuraate hue, taali bajaate hue, use galey lagaane aaye the, uski qamyabi par. Uski maa ki aankhein bhi namm thi. Aur, pita ki awaaz me toh bina kisi rok-tok ke garv jhalak raha tha.

Iss se pehle ki woh aasuon ko rok paati, wo aankhon ko bhigote hue umad aaye. Usne tezi se palkein jhapkaayi, hontho ko dabaaya aur khud ko sambhaalne ki koshish ki.

Phir, nigaahein kahi aur chali gayi. Hall ke uss paar. Kaera, jo apni table ke paas khadi hui thi, ungliyaan bagal me bhinchi hui. Dono ki nazrein aapas me takraayi. Bas khamoshi.

Aaj pehli baar Sonia ko Kaera… badi hi chhoti prateet ho rahi thi.

Tabhi, Kaera ke hontho par ek badi hi bareek-si muskaan ubhri, jisey dekh Sonia ki aankhein phelti chali gayi.

‘Huh???’

Lekin, wo muskaan ek kshan me hi kahi gaayab bhi ho gayi. Sonia ki chhaati zorr se garv me upar hui. Lagbhag ek taane ke samaan. Neecha dikhaane ke liye nahi. Bas… thoda raub zaahir karne ke liye.

Mann me ek vichaar ki…

Toh tum bhi aakhir haar sakti ho. Koi namumkin nahi ye. Tumhe giraana bhi sambhav hai.

Uski nazar phir Veer par gayi aur use kuchh samajh aaya. Kaera isliye nahi haari thi kyunki usme ya uski approach me koi kami thi. Woh isliye haari thi kyunki, Veer uske saath tha. Kyunki, woh uske bagal se khada hua tha.

Yeh ehsaas dheere-dheere uske andar badhne laga.

Use woh raat yaad thi. Woh nirnay jo usne liya tha. Veer ke badle woh deal jo usne Casa Belle me pichhli baar ki thi. Usne Veer ki dosti ki jagah deal ko ahamiyat di thi.

Uske baad se hi, Veer ka swabhav uske prati thanda ho chuka tha. Woh kayi raato ko yeh socha karti thi kya usne kuchh galat kiya tha?

Aaj raat use uska jawab mil chuka tha.

Nahi! Hargiz nahi!

Uske kandhe araam me dheele pad gaye, ek ajeeb azaadi dene waala sukoon uss par chhaa gaya. Yeh… Yeh hoti hai safalta. Aisi dikhaayi deti hai qamyaabi.

Uske mata-pita ko uss par garv tha. Uski apni company jeet chuki thi. Raat ki sabse badi deal par uska naam tha.

Use Veer ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Use uski manzoori ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Use aise kisi ke saath khade hone ki zaroorat nahi thi jo jaha bhi jaata tha waha musibatein khadi kar deta tha.

Uske hontho par ek chhoti par santushti bhari muskaan saj gayi.

Hall ke dusri taraf, Kaera shaant thi. Sonia use dekh mudi. Pehli baar, woh aaj second number par nahi thi. Aaj raat woh wahi khadi thi, jaha use lagta tha ki use hona chaahiye tha.

Idhar ICONGLOBE ka staff Shailendra ke aate hi apne aap seedha khada ho gaya. Bhala use kaun nahi jaanta tha. Yahi woh vyakti tha. The man behind the ELITE GROUP.

Haath milaaye gaye. Badhaayi baanti gayi. Jab Shailendra ne Mr. Ward ka haath thaama toh unki hasi phir goonj gayi.

“You chose well haha,” unhone Mr. Ward se kaha. “Elite Motors won’t disappoint you.”

Sonia ki table ke ird-gird ka mahaul behad joshila tha. Jeet ka mahaul tha. Jashn ka mahaul tha.

Aur, phir thi uss paar… Kaera ki table, jaha thi bas-

Khamoshi.

Kaera bina hiley khadi rahi. Nazrein neeche, chehre par koi bhaav nahi. Koi shabd nahi. Koi reaction nahi. Bagal se Veer tha, hall me ghat rahe poore scene ko dhyaan se dekh raha tha, uski aankhein kayi baar Kaera par phirti.

Udhar ki table ke mahaul me aur idhar ki table ke mahaul me… farq bahut zyada tha.

Phir, achanak hi-

“Let’s not get too excited, shall we!?”

Ek awaaz peechhe se aayi. Buland. Teekhi. Aur, tez.

Hall me sannaata chhaa gaya. Cameramen phirse apne cameras liye dhadadad photos click karne lage, iss baar aur bhi zyaada maatra me.

Kyunki, andar aane waala shaks tha — Kishore. Nexacom ko sahi taur se NEXACOM banaane waala aadmi. Bharat ka sabse bada business group.

Ek haath jeb me, aur dusra dheele tareeke se phone ko pakde hue. Koi faaltu ki dress nahi. Grey suit me woh iss umr me bhi proper gentleman lag raha tha.

Shailendra muda. Kishore kuchh qadam dur ruk gaya. Ek pal ke liye dono diggaj bas ek-dusre ko dekhte rahe. Phir, Kishore halke-se muskuraaya.

Kishore : Congrats! *smiles* Well played.

Shailendra hasa, halanki aankhon me kahi na kahi savdhani jhalak rahi thi.

Shailendra : Thank you! It’s been a good night!

Kishore : Indeed! Lekin, yeh mat bhool jaana Shailendra ki… maidaan me aur bhi khilaadi abhi bhi hai.

Woh muskuraate hue palta. Shailendra ko uska message saaf-saaf samajh aa chuka tha. Kishore ka dhyaan dusri taraf gaya. Uski nazrein Shailendra se hatkar seedhe Kaera par gayi. Woh uski table ki orr badha.

Karan akad ke reh gaya. “D-Dad-!?”

Woh apne aap hi ek taraf hatt gaya, aur apne pita ko jagah di. Kishore Kaera ke saamne ruka. Akhirkar, Kaera ne apna sirr upar kar use dekha.

Aankhon me hairaani thi. Kabhi bhi uske pita iss tarah se corporate meetings me beech me nahi aate the. Aur, aaj na sirf Sonia, balki uske khud ke pita bhi aaye hue the, jo iss deal ki mahatvata ko aur bhi badha chuke the.

Kaera : F-Father…!

Kishore ne bas ek shabd kaha. Bas ek sawaal poochha.

Kishore : Kaise?

Aur, poora hall dhyaan se sunane laga. Kaise? Uska prashn tha. Kaise ye deal haath se nikli?

Kaera : M-Mujhe… Mujhe nahi pata.

Kishore : Aisi koi situation aaj tak paida nahi hui jaha meri beti ko yeh na pata ho ki usne billion dollars ki deal kaise gawa di.

Woh ek qadam aur qareeb aaya.

Kishore : Jawab do!

Kaera ki ungliyaan bagal me mud gayi.

Kaera : Maine kaha na mujhe nahi pata. I need time. Then, I’ll analyse. Fir, samajh aayega ki kaha galti hui.

Kaera ne jhooth kaha. Woh Veer ko bachaana chaahti thi. Kishore ki bauhe ye sunn halki-si sikudi.

Kishore : Tumhari pareshani mein kam kar deta hu!

Woh achanak hi muda aur seedhe Veer ki taraf dekha. Uski ungli Veer par uthi.

Kishore : Ye hai woh galti… jo tumse hui.

Kaera (gasps) : Father-!!!

Kaera ki aankhein chaudi ho gayi. Bhala uske pita ko yeh sab kaise pata chala? Par, tabhi-

Uski nazar turant Ruchika par padi jo apne aap ko chhipaane ki koshish kar rahi thi.

‘Huh?’

Kaera se nazrein milaate hi Ruchika ka chehra peela pad gaya. Woh apni miss se aankhein na mila saki. Aur, yeh bodh Kaera ko kisi khanjar ki tarah laga.

Kaera : R-Ruchika… you-!??

Ruchika sharm aur glaani ke maare apna sirr jhuka li.

Ruchika : I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry, miss! L-Lekin… Jab sir ka message mujhe aaya aur unhone mujhse poochha, toh mujhe sab kuchh sach-sach bataana pada.

Aaj raat pehli baar Kaera ko laga ki kuchh uske andar toot gaya. Bharose ki neev!? Shayad!?

Kishore dheere-dheere, soch-samajhkar chalne laga, Veer ke chaaro orr aise chakkar laga raha tha jaise koi shikaari duri ka andaaza laga raha ho.

Kishore : Kaera! Tumne Nexacom ka naam ek aise insaan ke saath joda jiska khud ka hotel ek crime scene bann ke reh gaya. A total massacre. Ek nakaam brand launch. Ek failure.

Phir se logo me fusfusahat shuru ho gayi. Veer chupchap khada raha. Kishore ab bhi jaari tha.

Kishore : Mein tumhare deal haath se nikalne se naraaz nahi. 10 billion dollars koi badi baat nahi. Aisi deals aati rahengi. Par… tumne company ko khatre me daala, ek aise insaan ke saath associate hokar jo tumhare aas-paas bhatakna bhi deserve nahi karta.

Kaera : N-No! Father!

Hall ke dusri taraf, Suhana ki mutthiyaan kass gayi. Jab usne Veer ko waha khade bina kisi bachaav ke har taane ko sunte dekha, toh uska jabda kass gaya. Gusse me. Glaani me. Gaurav uska haath zorr se thaame hue tha.

‘Stop,’ woh mann hi mann guhaar lagaayi. ‘Just stop.’

Paas hi Ava ka naqabposh chehra jhuka hua tha. Uski aankhein krodh me jal rahi thi, mutthi itni zorr se bhichi ki table me crack pad gaya. Kishore ka har shabd aisa lag raha tha jaise uske apne seene par ukera jaa raha ho. Woh abhi jaa ke Veer ke saamne uska kavach bann kar khadi ho jaati lekin-

Use ek darr tha ki kahi woh Veer ke matter me koi khalal na daal de.

Kaera ka badan kaanpa.

Kaera : He’s not-! Father stop it! Mein-

Kishore : ENOUGH!!!

*Silence*

Shabd ki goonj abhi khatam bhi nahi hui thi ki ek dusri awaaz ne tanaav ko cheer ke rakh diya.

“That’s right! Enough of this bullshit!”

Halki, mazakiya awaaz.

“Is that all you can do??”

Koi chalte hue aaya. Sabke sirr punaah ghoom gaye.

Garofano!!!

Woh aage aayi, chehre par koi dushmani nahi, koi darr nahi. Sirf confidence.

Kishore ahista se muda. Baaki sab bhi wahi kiye. Erica apni kursi se itni tezi se uthi ki uske peechhe ki kursi hi neeche gir gayi. Uth ke toh woh usi waqt jaana chaahti thi jab Kishore Veer ko suna raha tha, magar woh kuchh bhi gadbad nahi khadi karna chaahti thi. Uski aankhein Garofano, Kishore aur Veer ke beech ghoomne lagi.

‘Eh? Ehh? Ehhhhhhhhh???’

Uska dimaag chakra gaya. Yeh sab kya chal raha tha? Yeh toh script me nahi tha. Script me toh yeh tha ki Casa Belle me jaa kar ghusenge jaha Veer gaya hua hai aur corporate gala enjoy karenge. Phir, ye sab kya ho raha tha?

Usne tirchhi nazar se Ava ko dekha, jo khud confused magar alert khadi hui thi. Tabhi, ek awaaz Erica ko mann me sunaayi di.

[Just observe, Erica. Don’t interfere.]

‘G-Genie!?’

Erica ne haami bhari aur khud ko shaant kiya.

Garofano aage badhi. Uski high heels marble ke farsh par tuck-tuck ki awaaz kar rahi thi, har qadam sateek aur bina jadbaazi ke. Aisi chaal jis se lag raha tha ki use pata tha ki woh kya kar rahi hai, aur iska kya asar hoga.

Woh Kishore ke paas se guzri. Usne Kishore ki taraf balki dekha bhi nahi. Aur, uski itni himmat se hi bheed me halchal mach gayi.

Jab woh Veer ke saamne ruki, toh sabki nazrein uss par thi. Kuchh kshan ke liye usne Veer ko dekha, halki muskaan ke saath, jaise aas-paas ke log uske liye astitva me hi na ho.

Phir, woh mudi. aur , Kishore ko dekhi.

Garofano : You know, for someone who runs the biggest conglomerate in the country, your decision making is… quite questionable. *smiles*

Kishore ki bauhe dheere-dheere upar uthi. Uske chehre ke bhaav aise the jaise keh rahe ho ki-

Tumhe andaaza bhi hai tum kis se baat kar rahi ho?

Magar, Garofano ko koi farq na pada. Iski bajaaye woh wapas Veer ki orr mudi, aur apne haath mod ke khadi ho gayi.

Garofano (smiles) : Mister Veer, I saw your Yarnia collection. Before everything went… you know… explosive.

Veer : !!?

Garofano : That French designer. What was his name? Louis, right? Brilliant man. Very creative. Sharp cuts. Great designs.

Veer ne use ghoora.

‘Ab ye kya tumhari nayi chaal hai, Violet?’

Garofano : I liked the collection. A lot. *grins* Enough to remember it weeks later.

Veer (dheere se) : Get to the point, Violet.

Garofano (smiles) : So… if you don’t mind, I’d like to collaborate.

Hall me sabhi ki saansein atak gayi.

Garofano ne ek haath aage badhaaya.

Garofano : Ten million dollars. How’s that for a starter deal? *smiles*

Khamoshi. Sonia ki muskaan poori tarah se gaayab ho gayi. Uski aankhein phel gayi, hairanagi saaf jhalak rahi thi. Suhana ka bhi yahi haal tha.

Kaera bhi dhadalle se mudi, aankhein Garofano par sthit. Uske aam taur par bina bhaav waale chehre par bhi aashcharya saaf dikhayi diya.

Kishore ki teekhi nazrein bhi Veer aur Garofano par tik gayi. Woh hisaab laga raha tha, akhir ye sab chal kya raha tha? Kya ye videshi Garofano apna sarr kahi khambe me de maari thi kya? Yeh jaante hue bhi ki abhi-abhi ICONGLOBE ne uss vyakti ki wajah se deal cancel kari hai aur yeh usi vyakti se deal karna chaahti hai?

Ava aur Erica ko ab jaake samajh aaya ki yaha aane ka maqsad kya tha.

Garofano : What do you say, Mister Veer? Shall we make something beautiful together? *winks*

Cameras ke flashes phir se tezi se chamakne lage. Aur, inn sab ke beech, Veer khada tha.

Garofano ne haath aage badhaaya, Veer use zaroorat se zyada derr tak dekhta raha. Phir, muskuraaya. Aur, use akhir kar sab samajh aa gaya.

Jis raat woh China se laut raha tha, tab Garofano se Veer ne kuchh maanga tha. Uss raat-

"Aur, mera kya? Kya mujhse kuchh nahi maangna Veer? Akhir, tumne hi mera case solve karwaya tha. *grins*"

"Mein, jald hi apni clothing brand ko market me utaarne jaa raha hu. So... Will you collab with me?"

"Ek guest ki tarah request kar rahe ho ya ek dost ki tarah haq se order de rahe ho?"

"Ek dost ki tarah haq se poochh raha hu."

"Then... *smiles* consider it done!"

Yahi woh sanvaad tha. Aur, aaj woh uske saamne thi. Apni baat ko poora karte hue. Veer ne uska haath thaama.

Veer : Are you sure? *smiles* you want to do business with someone like me?

Poochhte waqt uski aankhein Kishore par ghoomi, ek prakaar ka taana.

Veer : Not exactly the most successful name in this hall, right?

Garofano ne Kishore ki taraf dekha bhi nahi. Woh muskuraayi.

Garofano : I don’t do business with only successful people. I do it with people having the potential to become successful.

Uska angutha ek kshan ke liye Veer ke haath me phira, ek tarah ka ishaara, jo kisi aur ko dikhaayi na diya.

Garofano : -And, you… are already full of it. *winks*

Veer ki muskaan aur gehri ho gayi.

Veer : Then we’re aligned.

Dono ne haath milaaya aur tabhi-

“Then, are you ready for some other deals as well, Mister… Veer!?”

Ek behad madhur awaaz hall ke shor ko cheerte hue goonji. Punaah sabhi ke sirr awaaz ki orr mud gaye. Ek khubsurat ladki aage badhte hue aayi aur usne apna haath apne chehre tak uthaate hue apna mask alag kar diya.

Aadhe second ke liye, logo ko samajh nahi aaya ki kya hua, ve sab kya dekh rahe the. Par, phir-

Poore hall me hairani ki awaazein phel gayi. Phone upar uthe, cameras ke flashes chamakne lage.

Natalia Martin urf Ava…!




Woh gaayab awaaz. Woh laapata singer aur celebrity jo achanak hi fame par aate hue media se gaayab ho gayi thi. Jiski gerr-maujoodagi ne charts, headlines, aur laakho fans ko pareshan kar rakha tha.

Woh… saamne khadi hui thi.

Jo use nahi jaante the, woh sabhi uski khubsurti se dang the, aur jo jaante the, unke liye toh saans theek se lena hi mushqil ho raha tha.

Ava, seedhe Veer ki orr badhi. Veer khud hairaan tha. Ava ne jaan-boojh kar apni identity chhipaayi thi, magar aaj usne yaha aise me-!? Use kuchh samajh nahi aa raha tha ki bhala inn ladkiyo ne milkar aur kya-kya plans bana rakhe the?

Kintu, hairaan hone waalo me se sabse zyada dang thi do streeyaan — Kaera aur Sonia.

Kaera jaha apni jagah par jami hui thi toh wahi Sonia ki saansein bhi atak ke reh gayi.

Ava?

Yaha?

Abhi?

Kaise?

Kyun?

Tamaam sawaal unke mann me umad aaye. Ava aise chal rahi thi jaise woh humesha se hi cameras me rehne ke liye bani ho. Har qadam napa-tula. Nazar sateek. Kamra apne aap uske liye raasta bana raha tha, jaise paani ki dhaar waali chhuri se ho kar guzar raha ho.

Woh Veer ke bagal me aa kar ruki.



Ava : Music videos need brands that speak without words. *smiles* My music label… tunecrafts… collaborates often. Lead artists. Background performers. Sabhi ko ek achhe clothing brand se selected garments hi pehnaaye jaate hai.

Veer : !!?

Ava : Maine Yarnia ko dekha hai. Mein yahi thi tab…! The designs. Textures. Fabrics. Everything seemed good. So… I want to collaborate.

Ava ne casually ek amount bataaya. Aur, khamoshi phir hall me chhaa gayi.

Ava : So? What do you say, Mister Veer?

Usne haath aage badhaaya. Veer ne ek gehri saans chhori, apna sirr hilaaya aur use dekh muskuraaya.

Do khubsurat ladies. Powerful. Rich. Use chun rahi thi. Sabke saamne. Use, jisey dekh kar ICONGLOBE ne Kaera se deal cancel kar di thi. Veer ne turant hi uska haath bhi thaam ke mila liya.

Kaera aur Sonia ke bhaavo ka varnan karna iss samay asambhav tha. ‘Hairani’ unke bhaav ki vyatha ko bataane ke liye ek behad hi chhota shabd tha.

Aur, aaj itne varsho ke baad, akhirkar-

Trinity… ek hi jagah par ek saath maujood thi. Kaera. Sonia. Aur… Ava.

“Ava…!?” Sonia ke muh se dheere-se nikla. Use yakeen nahi ho raha tha. Ava bhi jaise kuchh mehsoos kar uski orr mudi. Dono ki nazrein takraayi aur dono ke badan me sihran daud gayi.

Mann toh kar raha tha ki woh abhi jaa ke Ava ke galey se lag jaaye. Lekin, nahi! Ab ve bacchiyaan nahi thi. Kayi varsho ka antar aa chuka tha unke beech.

Ava ne phir Kaera ko dekha. Dono ki chhaati gehri saans lete hue upar uthi. Magar, tabhi-

Kaera mudi aur waha se jaane lagi.

“Kaera-!!!”

Uske pita ne use awaaz di, magar woh nahi ruki. Kishore ki aankhein achambhav me badi ho gayi.

“Dii…” Karan bebas bas apni didi ko jaata hua dekhta raha. Kishore ke khade rehte, uski waha se hilne ki himmat hi nahi hui.

Aur, use iss tarah se jaata dekh, Veer ke qadam apne aap chal padey. Veer ko Kaera ka peechha karta dekh, Ava ke dil me bhi dard utha, magar woh apni jagah se nahi hili.

Kishore (yells) : Veeeeeeer!!! Khabardaar agar-

Magar, Kishore ki chetaavni ansuni hi reh gayi, kyunki Veer ne peechhe mudkar nahi dekha, woh aage nikal chuka tha.

Kishore (yells) : Raghu!!! Jassi!!

Uske chillaate hi dono hi Raghu aur Jassi saamne aa gaye. “Ji Sir!”

Jawaab dete hi ve turant hi aage badhe. Kuchh poochhne ki zaroorat hi nahi thi. Ve jaante the ki unhe kya karna tha. Unki aankhon ne pehle hi Kaera ko hall ki entrance se baahar nikalte dekh liya tha. Dono bodyguards mudey aur baahar nikalne ke liye badhe, lambe-lambe qadam, chehre par koi bhaav nahi.

Kaera chalti rahi, hall se baahar aayi, lobby me aur lobby se hote hue woh baahar nikal gayi. Uski chaal abhi bhi tez thi. Aur, usne mudkar peechhe tak nahi dekha.

“Shit-!!!” Veer chinta me dauda, uske qareeb pahuch hi raha tha jab achanak hi-

*Grasp*

“Huh?”

Uski kalaayi hawa me hi kisi ne pakad li. Veer ruka. Use pakda hua aadmi uske bilkul nazdeek khada tha, lagbhag kandhe se kandha milaakar, ekdum bagal se. Dono ka munh alag-alag dishaon me tha, jaise ve ajnabi ho jo galti se ek-dusre se takra gaye ho.

Woh aadmi haule se aage jhuka aur dheere se bola.

"Uss raat... Hotel Prestige me attack ke dauraan, ek aur incident hua tha. Abduction ka. Wo underground lair... Zameen ke neeche... Do masoom nanhi bacchiyaan... Jinhe bacha kar koi police ko saunpa tha. Ek naujavan. Woh... Tum hi the. Hai na?"

Veer ki reedh me thandi sihran daud gayi. Uski nazrein apne bagal me ghoomi aur usne dekha-

Rohan!!!

'Shit-!!'

State ka DGP. Aankhon me tej. Istree ki hui wardi. Use bataane ki bhi zaroorat nahi thi ki woh kis authority par baitha hua tha.

Veer ke chehre ke haav-bhaav nahi badle. Usne apne aap ko qaabu me rakha. Usne dheere se apni kalaayi peechhe kheenchne ki koshish ki.

"Lagta hai aapko koi galat-fehmi hui hai, Sir." Veer ne shaant awaaz me kaha. "Koi bhala kyu bina credit ke hero ka kaam karega?"

Woh muskuraaya. Lekin, Rohan ki ungliyaan aur adhik kass gayi. Itni zorr se nahi ki dard ho, magar chetaavni dene ke liye kaafi.

"Galtiyaan unn logo se hoti hai jo teh tak nahi jaate. Aur, mein... aisa nahi hu. Khaaskar tab jab meri apni beti isme shaamil ho."

---

Kuchh din pehle...

Rohan ne ek police officer ko uski collar se pakad ke deewar se sata rakha tha.

"Mein tumhe ek aur mauka deta hu." Woh gusse se gurraaya, uski aankhein jal rahi thi. "Aur, iss baar jhooth bolne ki galti mat karna."

"S-Sir-!" Police waala haklaaya, uske maathe se paseena beh raha tha, "W-Woh-!"

Rohan ne vinamrata se pehle iss mudde par baat-cheet karna chaaha tha. Magar, jab seedhi ungli se ghee na nikle, toh ungli tedhi karni hi padti hai.

Trisha ke sang ke police officers jab muh nahi khol rahe the toh Rohan ko akhirkar yeh tareeka apnaana pada. Aur, jab baat apni wardi par aa jaaye toh koi bhi police waala nahi chaahega ki woh apni wardi khoye.

Rohan ne uss police karmi ko aur zorr se dhakka diya.

"Jhooth bolne se tumhari wardi nahi bachegi officer. Iss se pehle ki mein official karyavaahi karu, sach sach batao sab. Kaun tha uss raat? Kitne log the?"

Police waala darrte hue haami bhara. "K-Koi team nahi thi, Sir. Koi unit nahi. B-Bas... Bas ek ladka."

"Sirf ek!?"

"H-Haan, Sir! Sirf ek. Dono bacchiyo ko usne utha rakha tha. A-Aapki beti Pihu ko usne madam Trisha ke haatho me saunpa aur phir-"

"Aur, phir???"

"Hum sabhi ne use jaane se rokna chaaha lekin... Lekin madam Trisha ne humein mana kar diya."

Rohan ne uski collar ki pakad thodi dheeli ki. "Kaun!? Kaun tha woh?"

"Woh... Woh-"

"Jawaab do!"

"Veer Singh!"

Sunte hi Rohan ki aankhein chaudi ho gayi.

"Ek naujavan ladka. Wahi Veer Singh jiske hotel par usi raat attack hua tha, Sir. Uske pehle bhi woh charcha me tha. France se jab woh sahi salamat laut ke aaya tha, tab news me chhaaya hua tha. Wahi hai woh-!"

Rohan ne uss police karmi ko chhora aur seedhe apni beti ke paas gaya. Use kuchh confirm karna tha.

Woh apni beti, Pihu ke saamne baitha, uski awaaz ekdum narm thi. "Pihu, beta-! Beta papa ko ek baat bataana zara. Uss raat aapko wo ganda badmaash utha ke le gaya tha na!? Uss raat aapko kaun bacha ke laaya tha?"

Yeh sawaal Rohan apni bitiya se kayi baar poochh chuka tha, parantu har baar Pihu aise dikhaati jaise use kuchh pata hi na ho. Woh humesha naa me sirr hila diya karti thi. Rohan jaanta tha ki Trisha ne Pihu ko kuchh bhi bataane ke liye mana kiya hua tha.

Lekin, ab uske paas ek clue tha.

Pihu abhi bhi khamosh thi. Dheere se woh naa me sirr hila di. Tabhi, Rohan ne apna paitra aazmaaya.

"Beta! Agar aap mujhe bataogi na ki woh kaun tha toh mein aapko aapki new friend Juhi aur unse milwaane le chalunga."

Pihu hairaan reh gayi. Woh apni jagah par uchhal padi. Uski aankhon me chamak aa gayi. "S-Sacchi papa?"

"Haan beta! Zaroor!"

"Wo... Wo... Wo Veer bhaiya the, papa. Juhi ke papa hai wo." Aur, usne ek baar me sab ugal diya.

Sunte hi Rohan ki saans atak gayi. Iska matlab... police officer sahi tha.

"Veer Singh...!" Woh budbudaya.

---

Aur, aaj wahi Veer Singh uske bagal se khada tha.

Veer ne bina palkein jhapkaaye mud ke Rohan ki aankhon me dekha.

"Aur, agar... woh mein hi tha toh-!?? Toh kya?" Veer ne dheere se poochha. Ek ajeeb sa aura uske ird-gird fel gaya jisey Rohan ne bhi mehsoos kiya. Uski paini nazar Rohan ki rooh me ghus ke ghoor rahi thi.

Rohan ne ek kshan ke liye use dekha aur phir, kalaayi chhor di. Uska haath Veer ke kandhe par aaya aur dheere se thap-thapaaya.

"Toh badhayi ho, Mister Veer!" Woh bola. "You are officially under surveillance."

Aur, itna bol Rohan waha se aage badh gaya. Veer ne use jaate hue dekha. Tabhi, use dhyaan aaya ki woh Kaera ka peechha kar raha tha.

'Shit!'

Woh bhaaga, apni tez raftaar me. Kaera hotel ke baahar nikal chuki thi. Woh parking lot ki orr badh rahi thi. Raghu aur Jassi bhi lobby se daud kar baahar nikal kar aaye.

Kaera bina ruke aage badhti jaa rahi thi.

"Kaeraaaaaa-!!!"

Jab ek tez awaaz uss tak pahuchi. Aur, Kaera wahi ruk gayi. Isliye nahi ki kisi ne bhi awaaz di.

Isliye kyunki, Veer ne awaaz di.

Isliye, kyunki usne use uske naam se bulaaya.

Miss nahi. Ma'am nahi. Sirf... Kaera.

Woh dheere-se saans chhori aur mudi. Woh muskuraayi par kahi na kahi uss muskaan ke peechhe kuchh aur bhi chhipa tha.




Kaera : Toh... Akhirkar tumne mujhe bina honorifics ke bulaana seekh hi liya, hmm!?

Veer ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh khada raha, kandhe taney hue, mutthiyaan bhinchi hui.

Veer : I... I'm so sorry!

Kaera : ...!?

Veer : Yeh sab kuchh... Meri wajah se hua. Mujhe waha nahi hona chaahiye tha. Aur, iss wajah se tumhe... *glances* Tumhe apne pita se rishte kharaab karne ki zaroorat nahi. Meri wajah se toh bilkul bhi nahi. Mein-

Kaera ne apna haath uthaaya, aur use chup rehne ka ishaara kiya. Veer turant hi shaant ho gaya. Woh aur qareeb aayi. Aur, phir Veer ne dekha. Kaera ki aankhein... namm thi.

'Huh??'

Nahi. Yeh namumkin tha. Kaera ki aankhein namm!? Veer ne kabhi use rote hue nahi dekha tha. Ek akhiri baar jab usne Kaera ko aise dekha tha toh woh Mirror Gallery ke waqt tha. Jab uski haalat dekh Kaera poori tarah se darr gayi thi.

Parking lot se lagi jhaadiyo ke peechhe do parchhaaiyaan jhuki hui thi.

Raghu aage jhuka, nazara dekh uski aankhein fati ki fati reh gayi. Woh uthne ke liye khada hua.

Raghu : Oi, oi, oi... Ye Veer aur miss ke beech akhir chal kya raha hai!?

Jassi ne uski collar ke peechhe se pakda aur use kheench kar wapas peechhe jhaadiyo me kheench liya.

Jassi : Pagla gaya hai kya? Kya kar raha hai?

Raghu : Mein kya kar raha hu? Abey tu kya kar raha hai? Bhale hi hum use jaante hai par uska miss ke itna paas rehna aur- agar uske iraade kuchh aur ho toh?

Jassi : Usne miss ko Slogan ke changul se bachaaya tha. Bhool gaya saale? Club waali raat bhool gaya?

Raghu : Abey mein jaanta hu. Par... Insaan ke iraade badal bhi toh sakte hai na? Aur, tu hi toh kehta hai na humesha ki humein kisi par bhi aankh band kar ke bharosa nahi karna chaahiye.

Jassi ne apni jacket thodi-si upar uthaayi taaki uski kamar ke andar khusa tranquilizer use dikhayi de.

Jassi : Agar, uske iraade zara se bhi badle toh ye hai mere paas. Ab khush?

Raghu ne use bemann se aur gusse se dekha.

Raghu : Hmph! Mujhe abhi bhi woh kuchh khaas pasand nahi.

Jassi (smiles) : Par, miss ko shayad hai.

Raghu : Sapne me. Hmph!

Jassi : Bas chupchap dekh.

Kaera ne Veer ko beech me hi rok use dekha. Aaj woh behad kamzor lag rahi thi.

Kaera : Shayad aaj mujhe samajh aaya thoda bahut, Veer.

Veer : !!?

Kaera : -ki sabse zyada taqleef kab hoti hai.

Usne dheemi awaaz me kaha, control karne ke bawajood uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.

Kaera : Deal ka haath se nikal jaana... Yes... Unfortunate tha. Lekin, Ruchika ka mere hone ke baad bhi... Father ko sab kuchh bata dena, mujhe uss se bhi zyada bura laga.

Veer : !!

Kaera : Anyways. I get it now. Lekin... Mujhe tumse kuchh jaanana hai.

Veer : Huh?

Kaera : Tell me... Tum aaj raat yaha kya kar rahe the?

Veer thitak ke reh gaya.

Kaera : I'm not stupid, Veer. Without invitation, yaha aise gala me aana next to impossible hai. Unless... agar kisi ki backing ho. Aur, tumhari Aadesh Jaisinghani se purani history rahi hai. Bina support ke andar aana, lagbhag namumkin hai.

Woh uske aur qareeb aayi.

Kaera : So, tell me... Who backed you?

Veer ka muh khula. Par, kuchh nahi nikla. Woh bhala kaise Suhana ka naam le sakta tha?

Kaera Veer ki aankhon me hi jhaank rahi thi jab achanak hi uski aankhein Veer ke peechhe driveway ke paas deewar ke peechhe ek hilti hui aakriti par dhoke se chali gayi.

Ek aurat deewar ke peechhe chhipi hui thi. Dekh rahi thi. Aur, tabhi-

Dono ki aankhein ek dusri se takraayi. Woh aurat ghabraayi aur ek jhatke me wapas deewar ke peechhe chhup gayi.

Kaera ki aankhein achambhav me fel gayi.

Kaera (mutters) : Su..ha...na...!?

Aur, Veer kaanp utha. Bhala kaise? Kaera ko kaise-? Woh peechhe muda. Uske sense alert ho gaye. Aur, use abhaas hua ki waqai deewar ke peechhe koi chhipa hua tha.

'Shit!'

Yaha tak ki use Raghu aur Jassi ki presence bhi feel ho gayi.

Jab woh wapas se Kaera ki orr muda toh ek aur jhatka use laga. Woh murti ki tarah wahi jamm gaya.

Kaera ki aankhon se... jhar-jhar kar aasu beh rahe the. Usne apne nichle honth ko itni zorr se kaata ki khoon nikal aaya. Ve thar-thara uthe.

Kaera : I get it now! Toh isliye-

Veer : Kaera...!

Kaera aise hi nahi itni shreshtha thi. Bas, Suhana ki ek jhalak... aur use samajh aa chuka tha ki Veer ko back karne waala insaan kaun tha.

Kyu Veer yaha aaya tha. Kyu Veer uske saath baithne ko raazi hua. Kyu yeh deal uske haatho se nikli. Kyu yeh deal Sonia ko mili. Aur, kyu Suhana... waha deewar ke peechhe chhup ke ye sab dekh rahi thi.

Kaera : KYU?

Bas ek sawaal. Uski awaaz poochhte hue kaanp rahi thi. Kyu? Kyu kiya akhir Veer ne uske saath aisa? Kya Suhana ke liye? Ya Sonia ke liye?

Veer ne jawaab dene ki koshish ki, magar uska gala roondh gaya. Peechhe jhaadiyo me chhipe Raghu aur Jassi bhi hairaan the. Unhe yakeen nahi ho raha tha ki unki miss aasu baha rahi thi.

Raghu : M-Miss ro rahi hai? Ye... Ye namumkin hai. Mein iss Veer ko chhorunga nahi. Isne miss ko-

Jassi : Shhh!

Aur, tabhi Kaera haule se hassne lagi. Par, ye hassi ruwasi waali hi thi. Na hi naram, na hi khushmijaaz. Tooti hui hassi.

Kaera ko hassta dekh Raghu aur Jassi baukhla gaye. Yeh unki miss hi thi ya koi aur?

Raghu : Behanchod chal kya raha hai?

Jassi : Halla nahi. Shh!

Kaera Veer ke paas aayi. Bahut zyada qareeb.

Usne upar haath badhaaya, Veer ki tie pakdi, aur use halka-sa neeche kheencha. Gusse aur dukh se kaanpti awaaz me usne poochha.

Kaera : TELL ME, VEEEER!!! HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REPAY THIS... LOSS!?

Veer ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Saans atak ke reh gayi. Kaera ki nazdeeki ne jaise uske fefdo se hawa chheen li thi. Uske badan ki khushbu, uske jism ki garmahat, uski garm saansein aur aankhein laal, aasuon se bhari hui.

Unn aankhon me toofaan tha. Kaise iski bharpaayi karega? Veer ke paas iske liye koi shabd nahi the.

Kaera ne uski tie ko apni kalaayi me ek baar lapeta.

Veer : !!?

Veer ka chehra uske qareeb aaya. Phir, Kaera ne ek aur baar tie ko apni kalaayi par lapeta. Teesri baar. Chauthi baar. Aur, har baar woh aisa karte hue Veer ko apni orr kheechte chali gayi.

Veer ki aankhein achraj me felti chali gayi.

Kaera : Agar, tumhare paas jawaab nahi... Then, I'll decide.

Woh fusfusayi. Aur, phir-

Usne tie kheench di. Zorr se.

Veer ke honth... uske hontho se takra baithe. Aur, duniya jaise uske liye wahi tham gayi.

*Badump*

Raghu : Iski maa ki ch-

Raghu baukhla gaya. Jassi ne turant hi uske muh par haath rakha.

Raghu : Mmm! Nnn! Mmll!!

Jassi : Kuchh nahi dekha tumne. Kuchh nahi!

Usne kehte hue apne dusre haath se uski aankhein bhi band kar di. Raghu Jassi ke haath me hi cheenkh maarta reh gaya.

Jassi : Bhosdike hilna band kar warna tranquilizer teri hi gaand me pel dunga. Shhh!

Jassi ne keh toh diya par uski khud ki haalat kharaab thi. Yeh pehli baar tha jab uski miss ne kisi ladke ko-

Jassi : Maine bhi kuchh nahi dekha.

Kehte hue usne aankhein band kar li.

Magar, udhar deewaar ke peechhe-

Suhana ko jaise saanp soongh gaya. Uska muh khula ka khula reh gaya. Uski chhaati andar dhasti chali gayi. Achanak itna tez dard uske dil me utha jaise maano kisi ne sui buri tarah se chubho di ho.

Uski ungliyaan uski dress me gadd gayi, mutthi seene par aise bhinchi jaise maano koi uska jee chura ke le jaa raha ho.

Uski aankhein aasuon se bhar gayi. Usne apne honth zorr se kaate aur waha se bhaag uthi.

Kaera ne kass ke Veer ko kheencha hua tha. Hontho ke beech ka yuddh kuchh kshan tak chalta gaya.

Ek pal ke liye awaazein gaayab ho gayi. Raushni maddham pad gayi. Aur, vartmaan paani me kisi syaahi ki tarah ghul gaya.

---

Kuchh din pehle...

Kaera apne sheeshe ke saamne kursi par baithi hui thi. Julia uske theek peechhe khadi hokar, apne haatho se uske baal bana rahi thi.

Kaera : Julia!?

Usne achanak hi pukaara. Julia beech me ruki.

Julia : Yes, miss?

Par, phir wapas se brush se uske baal banaane lagi. Kaera abhi bhi sheeshe me hi dekh rahi thi.

Kaera : Kya tumne kabhi... Kabhi kisi ko kiss kiya hai?

Aur, Julia ka brush wahi ruk gaya. Usne palkein jhapkaayi, phir dheere-se hassi.

Julia : Kiss? Ye toh bada hi unexpected question tha, miss fufu~

Kaera : Toh, iska matlab haan hai, hai na?

Julia (smiles) : Yes, miss. I have. Bas, kuchh hi baar.

Kaera : Oh!? Who???

Julia ki nazrein mazakiya andaaz me sheeshe par phiri.

Julia : You are terrible at respecting people's privacy, miss fufu~

Kaera : Mein sirf poochh rahi thi. Force nahi kiya.

Julia : Aapka poochhna bhi kisi order ki tarah lagta hai, miss.

Usne haar maante hue ek aah bhari.

Julia : Fine. I'll tell you, miss. Jab mein Russia me thi, tab maine kuchh ladko ko date kiya tha.

Kaera : Kiya tha!? Past tense. Matlab abhi tum single ho, right? Kyu? Kya hua?

Julia (smiles) : Right! Kyunki, unme se koi bhi husband material nahi tha, miss. And, that's why... I'm here. With you. And, yes. Single.

Kaera ne uski baat ko samajhte hue haami bhari.

Kaera : Toh... Toh kaisa tha?

Julia : Hmm? Kaisa kya tha?

Kaera : Wahi... Kisi ko... Kisi ko kiss karna. How did it feel?

Aaeene me, uski nazrein apne hontho par chali gayi. Julia muskurayi, jaise usa sab pata ho, woh aur qareeb aayi, awaaz narm aur saansein garm thi.

Julia (whispers) : It's a very beautiful feeling, miss.

Kaera ki ungliyaan apni dress ke kinaare me kass gayi.

Kaera : J-Jaise-!?

Julia aur qareeb aayi, uske honth Kaera ke kaan ke paas the.

Julia : Aap khud hi try kar ke kyun nahi dekhti, miss? Aapko pata lag jaayega.

Kaera shaant ho gayi.

Kaera : Try...!? Mein khud-!?

Julia (smiles) : Yes!

Kaera : Par... Mujhe nahi pata ki kaise-

Julia hassi.

Julia : Fufufu~ It's very simple.

Kaera : Simple?

Julia (whispers) : Just seal your lips with your partner.

Kaera : S-Seal the lips... Aur, phir?

Julia : Fir, baaki sab *smiles* Apne aap ho jaata hai.

Woh kehte hue seedhi hui aur wapas se Kaera ke baal banaane me lag gayi.

Kaera (budbudate hue) : A-Apne aap..!?

Julia : When you do kiss someone... Don't forget to tell me how it felt, miss.

Kaera ne bas dheere se apna sirr hila diya.

---

Kaera ne apni kiss todi. Woh achanak peechhe hatt gayi. Uski saansein tez thi. Usne apni kaanpti hui ungliyon se apne hontho ko chhua, jaise mehsoos kar rahi ho ki ve abhi bhi wahi hai ya nahi.

Uski nazrein Veer ke hontho par gayi. Phir, uski aankhon par. Uske chehre par ek aisa bhaav aaya jisey padhna mushqil tha.

Kaera (smirks) : Pata chal gaya...!

Veer : Huh?

Kaera (mutters) : Magnetic!!!

Iss se pehle ki woh rok paati, shabd uske muh se nikal gaya.

Veer ne apni ukhdi saans chhori, khud ko sambhaalne ki koshish karte hue. Uska dil itni zorr se dhadak raha tha jaise maano dil apni lay hi bhool gaya ho.

Veer : K-Kya matlab?

Usne hairaani me poochha. Kya magnetic?

Kaera bas muskuraayi. Kuchh alag hi khatarnak dhang se. Usne apna haath uske seene par rakha, aur use dheere se peechhe dhakel diya.

Veer : Wh-What!? K-Kaera...?

Kaera : You owe me one tonight, Veer. And, you have to tell me. Who was that girl. Mein tumse baad me poochhungi. Yaad rakhna. *smirks*

Veer avaak reh gaya. Kaera ko abhi tak Erica ko lekar woh baat yaad thi?

Aur, bas itna bol, woh palat gayi. Woh apni car ki taraf chal padi. Awaaz reh gayi toh bas uski heels ki jo zameen par takraate hue shor karti chali gayi.

Use jaata dekh, Raghu aur Jassi turant hi dusre raaste se uski orr bhaage.

Aur, sab kuchh shaant pad gaya. Reh gaya toh sirf Veer.

Hairaan.

Bhramit.

Aur-

Aakarshit.

'Goddamn!'

---

Hotel ki lobby ke andar, Suhana ladkhadaate hue aage badhi, uski saans phool rahi thi, aasuon ke chalte uski nazar dhundhli ho chuki thi.

Tabhi-

"Dii...??"

Sonia uski taraf bhaagte hue aayi. Apne haatho se uske kandho ko usne thaama.

Sonia : Dii??? Aap yaha kya kar rahi ho?

Sonia ki khud ki aankhon me bhi aasu the. Suhana ka rota chehra dekh use laga ki shayad uski behan bhi uski qamyaabi par khush thi. Aur, isliye woh use pakad zorr zorr se hilaate hue chehek uthi.

Sonia : Dii... I won. Mein jeet gayi. I finally won dii!! I can't believe it. I finally won. I got the biggest deal of my life.

Suhana ne uski taraf dekha. Ab aasu aur tezi se behne lage. Usne dheere se apna sirr hilaaya.

Suhana : N-No... Sonu... *sniff* You didn't win.

Sonia : Huh!?

Sonia ki muskaan feeki pad gayi.

Sonia : D-Dii? Y-Ye aap kya keh rahi ho?

Suhana : You lost, Sonu! *sniff* YOU LOST THE BIGGEST DEAL OF YOUR LIFE.

Kehte hue woh peechhe hatt gayi.

Suhana (sobs) : AND SO DID I-!! *sniff*

Iske pehle ki Sonia kuchh samajh paati, bol paati, Suhana mudi aur rote-rote hi bhaagti chali gayi, apni chhoti behan ko waha hairaan, pareshaan khada chhorte hue.

Sonia ke kaano me jashn ka shor achanak hi gaayab ho gaya. Woh, apni jagah par jami reh gayi.

Vismay me. Bhay me.

***

Iss orr corporate gala ki vilasita se koso dur Veer ke ghar me ek alag hi mahaul bana hua tha.

Ghar par ek aadmi, uski patni, uska beta aur bahu sofe par virajman the.

Aur, unn sab ke saamne Bhavna, Shweta, Bhumika aur Tej maujood thi. Unn sabke chehre ka rang uda hua tha, khaas kar Tej ka.

Tej : K-Kya kaha aapne? Aap kisliye aaye hai?

Aadmi : Beta, hum apni beti ka rishta leke aaye hai aapke bhai, Veer ke liye. Humaari beti... Shreya bitiya ka rishta.
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This update consists of 11.2k words. This marks the end of the whole corporate gala scene. Next update se focus Suhana ke b'day par rahega. I'll finish that in 2 updates as well. Ya agar ho paaya toh, ek me hi nipta dunga. Sab kuchh samet dunga (If possible.)
Iss update me kaafi jhanjhat hui mujhe kyunki, illness bhi thi aur phir itne characters waala update. I hope I did justice to it. Sabhi ke reactions hopefully maine qaid kiye honge. Btw, Veer's Aura farming has just begun (A hint.) After changing his way of approaching, Veer was surprisingly very calm here. The reasons : Kaera and Suhana.
Sirf kuchh hi updates baaki hai. I mentioned that by the end of this arc Veer's relationship will be established. (I think you guys can take the hint now.) Baaki, aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
Dhanyavad.

Yaha par mystic touch applied nahi hota kya ?

 

[Werewolf]

Yaha par mystic touch applied nahi hota kya ?

Mystic touch apne aap activate hota hai. Self activating scroll hai woh.

 

[adonisthor]

Maza aa gaya... Next update ke baad lamba wala review dena chahta hun... Sonia ka reaction dekhna hai mujhe...
Ek wahi hai jo deal ke chakkar me veer ko ignore Kiya tha...

Love triangle ta behtareen hone wala hai sayad...

 

[Bhatakta Rahi 1234]

Gaurav itni aasaani se haar nahin maanega. Kuchh to haath per wo marega hi.

Dekhte hain... Kya hota hai...

Waiting for next.