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Incest Baadshah ~ The Tales of Debauchery
- Thread starter Werewolf
- Start date
- 20,734,811
Target done writer sir.
Update - 212 ~ The Night the masks burned
Ab tak...
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 : !!!!?
Ab aage...
*Clink*
Hall me hathkadi ki awaaz sabhi ko sunaayi di. Gaurav ne koi sangharsh nahi kiya. Maano jaise use iss baat se farq hi nahi pad raha tha ki use arrest kar liya gaya hai.
Par, zaahir taur se uske chehre ke haav-bhaav badle hue the. Jabda kasa hua, maathe par gusse se fadakti hui maanspeshi. Lekin, woh dara nahi. Reedh abhi bhi seedhi. Ahankaar abhi bhi adig. Guroor jo tha use apne aap par.
Jaise hi Rohan aur Trisha uske dono orr khade hue, usne hall me ek baar chaaro orr dekha. Kaise log use ghoor rahe the. Suhana. Sonia. Unke mata-pita. Aur, phir-
Nigaahein Veer ke upar jaa tiki. Bas kuchh kshan ke liye. Dono ke beech ek maun yuddh.
Veer chup-chap waha khada raha, haath abhi bhi jebo me, koi ghamand nahi aur na hi koi muskaan. Bas maun maujoodagi, jo aur bhi adhik bhaari thi.
Rohan ne Gaurav ke haatho ko thaam use moda, le jaane ke liye woh palta. Shailendra, jo ki ye sab hote hue dekh chuka tha, uska mann nahi maan raha tha ki aisa kuchh ho sakta tha.
Ek prakaar se ye uski beizzati thi itne logo ke saamne. Agar, woh kisi tarah DGP ko mana ke ye sab-
Sochte hi woh aage badha. Elite Group koi chhota-mota samooh nahi tha. Ghar me hi ghus ke ghar ke maalik ko iss qadar se hathkadi pehna ke le jaana…
Ye sirf aam vyaktiyo par laagu hota tha. Raees, oonchi pehchaan waalo ke liye nahi. Waha toh paisa khila ke, status dikha ke, wazandaari ke chalte maamla rafa-dafa kar diya jaata tha.
Yahi soch Shailendra apne damaad ko bachaane ke liye bade hi rutbe me aage badha, magar-
Rohan : Wahi theher jaaiye, Sir! Jo kuchh bhi sunwaayi hogi, ab police station me hogi.
Usne ek jhatke me Shailendra ko haath dikhakar wahi rok diya. Shailendra ki bauhe phadki. Ye DGP sirf ek raajya ka hi toh DGP tha. Elite Group ka varchasv toh poore desh me fela hua tha.
Magar, kanoon ke maamle me Rohan sakht tha. Aur, uski sakhti ke charche poore raajya me mashoor the. Isliye, Shailendra ne aage kuchh na kaha. Bas Gaurav ko haath dikhaate hue aashvaashan diya.
Rohan jaane se pehle Veer ki orr muda. Use yaad dila raha tha ki usne ‘Interrogation’ ka vaada kiya tha. Veer ne dheere se apna sarr hilaaya. Ek shaant sweekriti. Aur, ab toh waise bhi use jaana hi tha. Gaurav ke khilaaf usne saboot jo pesh kiye the.
Shailendra ne Veer ko ghoora. Yeh ladka uss raat ICONGLOBE ki deal ke dauraan bhi Kaera ke bagal se baitha tha. Mann me Veer ko lekar usne ek vichaar baithaaya.
Trisha ki nigaahein bhi Veer par thi. Aaj unn nazro me sandeh kam tha, soch-vichaar zyaada. Usne yeh ab pukhta maan liya tha ki Veer hi inn sab ke peechhe tha.
Jab Rohan exit se nikalne ke liye hua toh Erica uske paas ek file lekar aayi.
Erica : Transaction trails, server backups, logs, call reports, chats, images, everything is in hardcopy. *smiles* Aur, ye rahi pendrive, Sir. For more details.
Rohan ne file aur pendrive jab Erica ke haatho se li toh uski aankhein sikudi.
Rohan : Aur, tum kaun-!?
Erica (smiles) : Bas ek hired manager.
Rohan use saath lekar jaana chaahta tha, magar yeh sunane ke baad ki wo bas ek hired person thi, chaahte hue bhi usne iss baat par zor nahi diya. Lekin, Erica ke masked chehre ko woh apne dimaag me baithaana nahi bhoola. Aur, na hi Trisha.
Akhirkar, woh dono Gaurav ko lekar baahar nikle. Mukhya dwar se ve ravaana hue, phir baahar dur se siren ke goonjne ki awaaz ne spasht kar diya ki ve jaa chuke the.
Suhana wahi neeche baithi reh gayi. Kuchh derr pehle hi woh cake kaat rahi thi aur ab-
Itne saalo se woh uske changul me fasi thi. Gaurav ke mijaaz ke anusaar usne khud ko dhaalne ki koshish bhi ki thi. Khud dab-dab kar uske neeche rahi. Yeh yakeen dilaane ke liye ki shaayad ek na ek din sab sahi ho jaayega.
Kintu, aaj usne dekh liya ki sacchaayi toh ekdum hi vipreet thi. Aur, uske bheetar kuchh toot gaya.
Suhana : Aaj tak... Aaj tak mein- *shivers*
Usne fusfusate hue kaha, uski awaaz mushqil se hi bagal me jhuki Ashita ko sunaayi de rahi thi.
Suhana : M-Mujhe kabhi pata hi nahi chala... Ashita... Mein-
Ashita (tenderly) : Suhana...
Uski nazrein Suhana par tiki. Uska therapist dimaag pehle se hi trauma responses, emotional collapse ke patterns ko padhne ke liye jut chuka tha.
Phir, usne Veer ko dekha. Na jaane kab se woh Suhana jaisi split personality waali aurat ko badalne waale ladke se milne ke liye betaab thi. Aaj woh shaks uske saamne tha.
Beshaq. Veer ko dekhte hi usne ek gehri saans li. Use bas yeh jaanana tha ki iss ladke me aisa kya tha ki uski patient ki saansein uska naam lete hi tez ho jaati thi.
Filhaal ke liye charcha na sahi, lekin usne itna jaan liya tha ki Veer kaun tha.
Karan, jo ki wahi khada tha, sab kuchh ghatit hota dekh Veer ke nazdeek aaya. Maathe par shikan. Veer aur uske beech bina bol ke ishaaro me hi baat ho gayi.
Suhana ki maa ne jhukte hue use apne galey se lagaaya.
Toh wahi pita Shailendra ka chehra sharmindagi se laal tha. Woh swabhimaani vyakti jisne apne damaad ki na jaane kitni deenge haaki thi, jis par wo kabhi garv mehsoos karta tha, jisne use aadhe se zyaada vyapaar jagat se milwaaya tha aaj sharminda aur stabdh khada hua tha.
Udhar Sonia bina koi harqat kiye vismay aur bhay me khadi thi. Apni jagah se tass se mass na hui. Pushkar ka naam uske dimaag me ghoom raha tha. Yakeen nahi ho raha tha ki yeh sab-
Planned tha. Chhal se racha gaya tha. Aur, use humesha-humesha ke liye chup kara diya gaya. Itne saalo tak woh apne mann me uski maut ko baar-baar dohraati rahi, aur bas bhaagya ko dosh deti rahi. Lekin, iss ghatna me toh bhaagya ka haath kam, Gaurav ka zyaada tha.
Par, uss se bhi badi baat-
Jiska use darr tha. Jiska use bhay tha ki Gaurav uske liye kahi koi ghinauni soch toh nahi rakhta? Woh sach saabit ho gayi.
Ab jo kuchh bhi hua wo media me saamne tha. Iss se bacha nahi jaa sakta tha. Abhi ke liye Elite Group ki izzat par ek zordaar thokar lagi thi. Uss se ubharne ke liye-
Shailendra seedha khada hua aur mehmaano ki orr mudkar usne haath jode.
Shailendra : I apologise!
Usne tanaav bhari magar dhridh awaaz me kaha.
Shailendra : Aaj ki raat meri beti ke janmdin ke liye jashn manaane ke liye thi. Iske bajaaye… kuchh aisa ho gaya jo nahi hona chaahiye tha. Jis situation me abhi Suhana hai, mein chaahunga ki aap sabhi please move on kariye. Ek baar firse, kshama chaahta hu.
Log bhi samajhdaar the. Ve jaante the ki aisi sthiti me koi kaise hi apna janmdin mana sakta tha? Unhone Shailendra ko aashvaashan diya aur jaate-jaate use saantvna bhi de gaye.
Bheed chhatne lagi. Kuchh asahajta ke kaaran, kuchh darr ke maare, aur kuchh isliye ki ab tamasha khatam ho chuka tha.
Suhana jo iss waqt mehsoos kar rahi thi woh koi bhi nahi samajh sakta tha. Woh apni maa ke sparsh se peechhe hati.
Namrita : Suhana-!
Woh achanak hi khadi hui. Sonia ne iss baar use dekha. Pehle toh Suhana khadi hone ke baad dheere-dheere saiyyam se chali. Har qadam napa-tula, maano uska shareer bina uski ichha ke chal raha ho.
Phir, achanak na jaane kya hua, woh daud padi. Darwaaze ki orr. Baahar driveway ki taraf jaha security waale asmanjas me use dekhte hue alag ho gaye.
Namrita (yells) : Suhanaaaaa-! Ruko!
Peechhe se uski maa ki ruwaasi pukaar sunaayi padi. Uske pita ne bhi use awaaz lagaayi. Sonia ka dil ghabra kar zor se dhadka, usne apna haath utha kar use rokne ki koshish ki, magar muh se shabd hi baahar nahi nikle.
Suhana nahi ruki. Bhaag kar woh apni car tak pahuchi. Kaanpte haatho se usne gaadi unlock ki, andar baithi aur darwaaza zor se band kiya jis se baahar ki awaaz sunaayi na de.
Ek pal ke liye woh bas steering wheel ko kasskar pakde baithi rahi. Phir-
*Rumble*
Engine garja. Aur, usne apni gaadi aage dauda di. Kuchh zyada hi tez. Raat me sadko ke aas-paas khambo par, lampposts par jagah-jagah 26 january ke posters aur jhande lage hue the. Dur kahi aatishbaazi ho rahi thi, swatantrata ke chhote-chhote utsav ho rahe the.
Par, uski azaadi ka kya? Kya use khush hona chaahiye? Ya dukhi? Use samajh nahi aa raha tha.
Woh bina soche-samjhe idhar-udhar mod leti jaa rahi thi. Baaye, daaye, phir daaye. Sheher uski namm aankhon ke saamne dhundhla sa pad gaya. Aasuon ke chalte use theek se traffic bhi nazar nahi aa raha tha. Uska dil-dimaag shaant hone ka naam hi nahi le rahe the.
Pushkar. Hidden cameras. Photographs. Footage. Transactions.
Akhir kitne jhootho ke saath woh har ek din guzaar rahi thi Gaurav ke saath? Uski saansein phool rahi thi. Kayi minute tak disha-heen gaadi chalaane ke baad, usne ek flyover ke paas gaadi ko kinaare roka.
Car band ki. Dur se traffic ka shor use ab sunaayi diya. Uske haath steering wheel se hatey. Aur, kandhe kaanpne lage. Woh aage jhuki aur apne chehre ko usne apni hatheliyo me chhipa liya.
Aur, phir-
*Sniff*
“Haaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
Woh zor se royi. Dil khol ke. Itne saalo se jo bhadaas andar thi, woh baahar aa gayi. Jo dabey hue emotions the woh baahar umad aaye.
Woh bilakh-bilakh kar royi. Siskiyon aur subakne ki awaaz car me goonj gayi. Woh aise royi ki agar koi sunn le toh uska dil dahal jaaye.
Kyunki, koi use sunane waala nahi tha. Kyunki, woh akeli thi. Aisa use yakeen tha jab peechhe se ek shaant awaaz aayi-
“Aapko pata hai na iss tarah se gaadi chalaana kitna khatarnak hota hai?”
Suhana ka badan kaanp utha. Woh haafte hue tezi se mudi, sihran uske poore jism me fel gayi. Aur, phir usne use dekha.
Veer.
Peechhe ki seat par baitha hua. Ek pal ke liye woh bas dekhti reh gayi, samajh nahi paa rahi thi ki Veer yaha kaise ho sakta tha.
“2 signals miss kiye. Divider se lagbhag gaadi bhid hi gayi thi.”
Usne narmi se kaha. Phir, ek virhaam.
“Aap toh iss tarah se drive nahi karti kabhi. Kis se bhaag rahi thi? Jo pehle hi sab khatam ho chuka hai uss cheez se? Ya phir apne aap se?”
Uske bol zor se Suhana ko lage. Woh daant nahi raha tha. Na hi mazaak uda raha tha. Bas… parvaah ko bade hi seedhepann se pesh kar raha tha. Woh utha, usne darwaaza khola aur car ke baahar utra.
“Haath kaanp rahe hai, phir bhi gaadi chalaani hai? Pata hai na ye kitna risky tha?”
Usne aage aate hue uski driver seat ka darwaaza khola.
“Aage se aisa mat karna. Samajh gayi na?”
Aur, bas-
Suhana ki rulaayi ek baar phir chhooth padi. Jab Veer ne use dheere se haath pakad baahar ko nikaala toh usne koi virodh nahi kiya. Jaise hi uske perr zameen par pade, uski saari taaqat jaise gaayab ho gayi. Woh zor se bilakh ke royi aur seedhe Veer ki baahon me simat gayi. Uski mutthiyon ne Veer ki shirt ko kasskar jakad liya.
“Waaaaaaa-!”
Aur, woh bas roti rahi. Subak-subak ke. Uske galey se lage hue. Kasskar chipke hue. Woh cold, arrogant, rich aur haughty Suhana gaayab ho chuki thi.
Suhana : M-Mein *sobs* Mein jhooth ki duniya me jee rahi thi, Veer! *sniff* H-Har din- *hic* He... He lied to me. *sob* Every day! Sonu ke liye bhi uske mann me- *sniff*
Veer ne apni baahon me use zor se jakad ke rakha. Ek haath uski peeth par mazbooti se tika hua tha. Dusra, uske kandhe ko sahaara de raha tha.
Veer : Shh! You were surviving. And, you did.
Suhana ne apna sirr uske seene par tikaaya.
Suhana : S-Sach mere saamne tha- *sniff* Par, mein hi andhi thi. *sob* M-Mujhe lagta tha mein… mein hi zaroorat se zyaada soch rahi hu. He kept lying to me. Every time. *sob* M-Mujhe yakeen nahi hota ki woh iss tarah ki ghinauni- *hic*
Veer : Shh! It’s alright!
Uska haath dheere-dheere Suhana ke baalo par phira, maano jaise woh koi chhoti bacchi ho. Dekha jaaye toh sahi maayno me aaj Suhana ek chhoti bacchi ke hi samaan thi. Shareerik taur se nahi, lekin uska chanchal mann, dil-dimaag ki sthiti abhi kisi ek dukhi, chot pahuchi baalika ke jaisi hi thi.
Veer : Aapne uss par bharosa karna chaaha jo khud na toh aap par kabhi bharosa kiya aur na hi khud bharose ke laayak bann paaya.
Suhana : …
Veer : Lekin, ye aapki kamzori nahi hai.
Suhana : M-Mujhe nahi pata ki ab mein kaun hu. *sob* Kuchh samajh nahi aa raha. *hic* I hate it, Veer. I hate it.
Veer thoda peechhe hua taaki uske aasuon se bheege chehre ko dekh sake.
Veer : Aap wahi Suhana ho jisne meri madad ki, jisne mere liye goli khaayi, jo apni chhoti behan ke liye har waqt khadi rahi, jisne apne aise pati ka bhi saath diya taaki apne maa-baap ka sarr sharm se na jhuke. Woh Suhana ho aap.
Suhana bas uss se lipti rahi. Kaafi derr tak. Akhirkar, uski saansein sthir hui. Poori tarah se nahi, lekin itna zaroor ki woh bina roye uski chhaati se sirr ko utha sake. Ungliyaan toh ab bhi Veer ki shirt ko jakde hue thi.
Suhana : K-Kaise-!? T-Tum car me- Maine toh tumhe dekha tak nahi.
Veer (smiles) : Jab aap bhaagi thi. Toh, mein bhi aapke peechhe hi tha.
Suhana : !!?
Veer : Jab aap car me andar baithi, tab uss waqt mein bhi peechhe andar baitha tha. Par, tab aap aisi haalat me nahi thi ki inn sab cheezon ko notice kar sako.
Suhana : T-Toh, tum shaant kyun the? K-Kuchh bole kyun nahi?
Veer (smiles) : Aapke mom dad ne aapko awaaz lagaayi thi. Kya aapne suni? Toh uss waqt mere bolne se kya hi farq padta?
Suhana (mutters) : Tumhari baat alag hai…!
Veer : Hmm?
Suhana : K-Kuchh nahi. Mein bas-
Usne apne kaanpte hue haatho ko dekha jo Veer ki shirt ko nichode hue the. Usne dheere se shirt ko chhora. Par, haath hatey nahi. Abhi bhi uske seene par hi tike hue the.
Tabhi, Veer ko kuchh yaad aaya.
Veer : Oh!?
Suhana : Huh?
Veer uss se alag hua, peechhe ki seat ke darwaaze ko usne khola aur ek rectangular sa kuchh baahar nikaala jo rang-birange decorative paper me lipta hua tha. Usne woh tauhfa Suhana ki orr badhaaya.
Veer : Mein lagbhag bhool hi gaya tha.
Suhana (curiously) : K-Kya hai ye?
Veer (smiles) : Khol ke dekh lijiye!
Suhana ki ungliyaan savdhani se lipte hue kaagaz ko kholne ke liye chalne lagi. Usne dheere se use faada aur tauhfe ko khola.
Jaise hi usne kaagaz alag kar ke dekha, uski aankhein hairat me fel gayi.
Veer (smiles) : Happy birthday~
Tauhfe me andar ek framed oil painting thi. Kaafi puraani. Canvas bhi khurdura sa tha.
Kayi dino pehle jab Veer Divya aur Ava ke saath serial killer ki investigation ke liye nikla tha tab Divya ne car me ek baat kahi thi uss se...
Veer : Toh, Divya! Miss Suhana ko kya pasand hai?
Divya : Suhana? Kyu? Tum kyu poochh rahe ho ye?
Veer : Unka birthday next month aa raha hai. Mein iss baar unhe kuchh khaas gift karna chaahta hu. Tum unki closest friend ho. Toh, laga ki tum sabse behtar jaanti hogi.
Divya (curiously) : Hmm? Tum kab se logo ke birthdays ki parvah karne lage, Veer? Mere liye toh kabhi aise gifts nahi laaye.
Veer : Ahem! *smiles* Waise- Rahi baat birthdays ki toh mein aam taur par aisa nahi karta. I'm not a 'celebration' type, you know. Lekin, Miss Suhana... Unhone mere liye bahut kuchh kiya hai. I want her to feel appreciated, that's all!
Divya : Appreciated, huh? What exactly are you planning, Mr. Thoughtful?
Veer (smiles) : Kuchh nahi, seriously. Isliye, toh tumse poochh raha hu. Any ideas?
Divya (thoughtfully) : Suhana ko art pasand hai, Veer. Woh rare paintings ikhatta karti hai — mostly abstract. Aur, woh classical music instruments ki deewani hai, khaas kar live orchestra ki. Lekin... *pauses, looks at him* Tum kuchh bada karne ke baare me soch rahe ho, hai na?
Veer (smiles) : Ho sakta hai!
Idhar Suhana ki dhadkane tez thi.
Painting me ek mahila toofan ke khatam hone ke dauraan apni balcony me kinaare khadi hui bagal se ek jalti laalten ki orr badh rahi thi, aur peechhe akaash baadalo aur bijli se ghira hua tha. Toofan ke jaate hue aas-paas ke kshetro me haani. Neeche sheher ast-vyast, tez hawaaein aur keechad.
Dekha jaaye toh yeh painting Suhana ki vyatha ko bakhoobi darsha rahi thi.
Neeche peetal ki plate par sheershak khud hi likha hua tha : The lantern that survived, Arvind Mirajkar, 1938.
Frame ko chhoote hue Suhana ka haath thar-thara utha.
Suhana (shivers) : N-Nahi! Y-Ye kaise ho sakta hai?
Woh har ek bareeki ko gaur se dekh rahi thi. Kone ke paas varnish me aayi daraare, neeche painter ke signature ka halka sa ghumavdaar nishaan, frame me thodi si khaami, har ek cheez. Suhana ka gala ye dekh ke hi sookh gaya.
Suhana : Y-Ye toh-
Usne fauran hi painting ko palat kar kuchh jaanch ki. Ek seal. Original collector ki ek stamp. Kayi varsho ki puraani lakdi.
Yeh asli thi.
Yeh wahi painting thi.
Saalo pehle, Delhi ki ek painting auction me usne iss painting ko dekha tha. Dekhte hi usne mann bana liya tha ki woh ye painting leke hi rahegi. Isliye, nahi ki ye painting kaafi durlabh thi, puraani thi. Balki, toofan me tiki laalten aur aurat ki wajah se-
Jo bhaari vipda ke baad bhi, apne khud ke liye khadi hui thi aur traasdi se ladkar bhi jeevit thi. Sahi salamat thi.
Parantu, uss painting ko paana lagbhag asambhav tha. Kyunki, woh painting-
Kaera ke paas thi.
Usne pehle hi uski bidding laga ke use khareed liya tha. Mehnge daam par. Baad me, Suhana uss se akele me mili. Khareedi hui keemat se doguni keemat dene taiyaar thi woh. Aur, Kaera apna bhaav-heen chehra liye uss se bas itna hi boli ki-
"It's mine now, Suhana. And... It's not for sale."
Suhana ne Veer ko dekha.
Suhana : Ye... K-Kaise? Ye Kaera ke paas thi. Mujhe yaad hai. Tumhare paas kaise-?
Veer (smiles) : Haan. Maine unse maang li.
Suhana (shocked) : M-Maang li?
Veer : Haan! Maine request ki. Aur, unhone de di.
Veer ka jawab hadd se zyada hi seedha-saada tha. Aur, isliye Suhana ko uss par yakeen nahi hua.
Kaera cheezein yuhi nahi deti thi. Paiso ke liye bhi nahi. Ehsaan ke liye bhi nahi.
Suhana ke dimaag me woh pal phirse aaya. ICONGLOBE deal ke baad uss raat Kaera ka Veer ko kiss karna. Uski bauhe fadki.
Woh bewakoof nahi thi. Kisi bhi tarah ki 'request' Kaera ko ye painting dene ke liye raazi nahi kar sakti thi.
Jab tak ki badle me use kuchh aur na diya jaaye. Koi utni hi ya uss se zyada moolya ki vastu.
Kuchh aisa jo Kaera ko chahiye ho. Usne Veer ko phirse dekha.
Suhana (mutters) : T-Tumne sirf poochha hi nahi... Tumne-
Veer ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Uski chuppi ne sab kuchh pukhta kar diya tha. Suhana ki chhaati dard se jakad gayi.
Suhana : You promised her something, didn't you???
Uski awaaz kaanp gayi. Woh aarop nahi laga rahi thi, lekin awaaz me dard saaf jhalak raha tha.
Suhana : Iske liye!??
Usne painting aage karte hue poochha.
Veer : Ab ye aapki hai. It's my gift. For you.
Veer ne uski aankhon me dekhte hue kaha. Uska mann kuchh derr pehle ki mulaqaat ki orr kaundh gaya.
---
Din ke dauran uski car ruki, woh Kaera ke ghar pahuch chuka tha. Jassi aur Raghu use dekhte hi aage badhe. Aam taur par wo dono use rokte aur poochhte, magar unhone bas sirr hila diya.
Bas ek mamooli sa security check aur unn dono ne hi use andar jaane de diya. Koi sawaal nahi. Koi baat nahi.
Veer ne andar ghar me pravesh kiya. Saubhagyavash aaj Kishore ghar par nahi tha. Usne mushqil se abhi teen-chaar qadam hi badhaaye the ki Julia hall me prakat hui. Veer ko dekhte hi uski aankhein chaudi ho gayi.
Julia : Oh? *smiles* Young Master Veer.
Veer : It’s just Veer.
Julia : Please, allow me to call you ‘Young Master.’ In this house, names carry weight. *smiles*
Uski awaaz me kuchh chanchalta thi, kuchh sharaarat.
Julia : Aisa aksar nahi hota ki mujhe aapko dekhne ka mauka mile. Aap yaha Young Miss ke liye aaye ho na? Follow me please.
Veer : Hindi huh!? Nice. Tumhe kaise pata chala ki mein Miss Kaera se-
Julia (smiles) : Isme pata karne ki zaroorat nahi hai, young master. It was obvious.
Woh aage badhi. Veer uske peechhe-peechhe aaya. Lift ke andar dono daakhil hue. Aur, lift upar ki orr jaane lagi.
Julia : You look serious today. Business or heart?
Veer : Huh? Does it matter?
Julia : To me? No. For her? *smiles* Always.
Veer ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Julia darasal use pasand karti thi. Romantically nahi. Bas apni miss ke liye. Woh jaanti thi ki uski miss ke liye Veer kitna maayne rakhta hai. Aur, kyun Veer baaki mardo se alag tha.
[She likes you.]
'Huh? Oh come on, Pari. Har koi mujhse-'
*Ding*
[Julia's favorability : 68]
[See?]
'Kya? 68 hi hai. Nothing much.'
[It's more than enough. Itna bataane ke liye kaafi hai ki wo aapko pasand toh zaroor karti hai, Master. Of course, not in a romantic way. But she likes you.]
Pari aur uske beech ye sanvaad kuchh aur chal paata ki itne me-
*Ting*
Lift ruki. Julia bina kisi jhijhak ke corridor se guzri. Kaera ke kamre se hote hue woh uske bedroom ke baahar aa kar khadi hui.
Usne ek baar darwaaza khat-khataaya aur phir dobaara me bina anumati liye hi usne darwaaze ko dhakel kar khol diya. Woh aur Veer andar aaye aur andar qadam rakhte hi Veer maano saans lena hi bhool gaya.
Kaera apne bistar par paalthi maare baithi hui thi, jism par bas ek dheeli-dhaali safed striped shirt thi. Perr aur jaangh poori tarah se nagn.
Usne apne haatho me pakdi ek kitaab se nazrein upar uthaayi. Jab usne Veer ko dekha toh chehre par halki si muskaan apne aap aa gayi.
Kaera : Oh?
Usne apni kitaab ko takiye ke neeche sarkaaya.
Uski nigaahein Julia par tiki.
Kaera : Tumhe pata hai na ki mere bedroom me aane ki permission kisi ko bhi nahi hai? Father ko bhi nahi. Even Karan.
Julia (smiles) : Jaanti hu, miss. But I also know that today you might make an exception.
Kehte hue usne Veer ki orr dekha, phir wapas se Kaera ki taraf.
Kaera (smiles) : I hate that you’re right about that part.
Julia muskuraayi aur jhukte hue abhivaadan ki.
Julia : I will leave you two alone then.
Jaate-jaate woh darwaaze par ruki, uski nigaahein ek pal ke liye Veer se phirse mili. Aankhon me ek ajeeb tarah ki chamak thi. Phir, woh darwaza band karke baahar nikal gayi. Aur, kamre me sannaata chhaa gaya.
Kaera ne thoda sa hilte hue apne perr modey.
Kaera : Mujhe nahi pata tha ki tum surprises dena bhi enjoy karte ho, Veer. So? What brings you here?
Kehte hue usne aalas me saamne ki chair ki orr ishaara kiya.
Kaera : Have a seat.
Veer baitha. Usne Kaera ko dekha. Kuchh toh gadbad thi. ICONGLOBE ki deal ki uss raat Kaera ne bina kisi jhijhak ke use kiss kiya tha. Uss par apna adhikaar jataaya tha.
Aur ab? Woh ekdum shaant thi. Beparwah si. Maano woh raat bas ek bhooli-bisri yaad bann chuki ho.
[Don’t worry. Aisa kuchh nahi hai, Master.]
‘Tumne mere mann ko padha?’
[Nahi. Bas jaan gayi ki aap kya soch rahe hoge.]
*Ding*
[Kaera’s favorability : 99]
Favorability badhi hui thi. Phir, Kaera bhala iss tarah se kyun pesh aa rahi thi? Yeh uske aam vyaktitva se alag tha. Veer ne iss baare me sochna band kiya aur usne apne phone par nazar daali. Divya ka ek message screen par dikhaayi de raha tha.
“Agar tum Suhana ko waqai ek achha gift dena chaahte ho toh Arvind Mirajkar ki ‘The lantern that survived’ painting use de sakte ho. Agar, tum use arrange karwa sakte ho toh… Kyunki, jaha tak mujhe yaad hai, woh Kaera ke paas hai. Suhana ke paas Arvind ke kaafi famous works hai, lagbhag sabhi siwaaye uss ek ke…”
Veer ne screen band ki aur seedha mudde pe aaya.
Veer : Kya aapke paas-
Kaera (smiles) : Aapke?
Veer (smiles) : I mean- Kya tumhare paas ‘The lantern that survived’ painting hai?
Sunte hi Kaera ke kaan khade hue aur uske haav-bhaav turant hi badal gaye. Woh seedhi ho kar baithi aur muskuraayi.
Kaera : Ah! *smirks* Toh tum Suhana ko gift dene ka plan kar rahe ho.
Veer maun raha. Use jawaab dene ki zaroorat bhi nahi thi. Uski khamoshi hi pushti thi. Kaera ne ek gehri saans li.
Kaera : Tumhe kisne bataaya ki woh painting mere paas hai?
Veer : Divya.
Kaera : I see!
Usne ek haami bhari.
Kaera (grins) : Of course. Wo dono best friends hai. Sab share karti hai. No wonder.
Usne phir paini nazron se Veer ko ghoora.
Kaera : Everything has a price, Veer.
Veer (nods) : Aur, mein pay karne ke liye taiyaar hu.
Kaera ki muskaan aur chaudi ho gayi jaise maano Veer uske saamne koi mazaak kar raha ho.
Kaera : Hundred thousand billion dollars. Can you pay it?
Veer (shocked) : Mein-
Kaera : See? *smiles* Agar, mujhe paise hi chaahiye hote, toh mein use khareedti hi kyun, Veer?
Woh dheere se khadi hui.
Kaera : Come.
Veer uske peechhe-peechhe bedroom se baahar nikla, uske main room se hote hue ek gallery waale room me pahucha jaha chuninda kalakritiyaan pradarshit ho rakhi thi. Kaera ek khaas canvas ke saamne ruki. Woh painting-
The lantern that survived.
Kaera ne uss painting ko showcase par se nikaala aur uski ungliyaan frame par phir gayi.
Kaera : Kya de sakte ho Veer… Iske badle me…?
Usne bina uski orr dekhe poochha. Veer chup raha. Kaera ne painting ko uski orr kar use dikhaaya.
Kaera : You see this woman? Toofan ke baad lantern ki taraf jo haath badha rahi hai?
Veer : ..!?
Kaera : Iss ladki me mein khud apne aap ko dekhti hu. Aur, pata hai iss lantern me kisko dekhti hu?
Kehte hue uski nigaahein Veer par phiri, unn nazron me kuchh ankaha chhipa hua tha. Veer ke honth halke se khule-
Veer : I-
Kaera : Anyways… I don’t need money. I have plenty of it. What I want is… A promise.
Veer : Promise? K-Kaisa promise?
Kaera : I don’t know. Par, jab time aayega, tab tumhe mere liye kuchh karna hoga. Jo mein maangungi woh.
Veer ne turant uttar nahi diya.
Veer : What is it that you want?
Kaera (smiles) : I don’t know yet.
*Silence*
Kaera : I will ask when the time comes.
Yahi sabse khatarnak pehlu tha. Ek undefined debt. Veer ne uss par vichaar kiya. Par, akhir Kaera uss se kya hi maangengi bhavishya me? Akhir uske paas toh sab kuchh tha jo insaan aam taur par paane ki chaah rakhta hai.
Suhana ka chehra ek kshan ke liye uske mann me mandraaya. Woh khamosh gham jo kabhi Suhana ne zaahir nahi kiya tha. Veer ne akhirkar sarr hilaaya.
Veer : I accept it. Jab samay aayega, tum jo kahogi, mein woh karunga.
Kaera ne kuchh pal tak use nihaara. Phir, usne woh painting use thama di.
Kaera : Take it. It’s yours now.
Veer ne saavdhani se uss painting ko apne haatho me liya. Aur, ab Kaera ke chehre par aisa bhaav tha jise samajhna lagbhag asambhav tha. Na hi kisi jeet ka aur na hi kisi haar ka.
Veer : Miss Suhana ne aapko invite nahi kiya?
Invited toh Veer khud bhi nahi tha par woh jaanta tha ki Suhana ne use kyun invite nahi kiya tha. Kaaran tha - Gaurav.
Kaera : Iss painting ko woh na jaane kitne saalo tak mujhse maangti rahi aur maine use ye aaj tak nahi di. Kya tumhe lagta hai woh mujhe invite karegi?
Veer : I see. So… aapas me koi berr nahi. Hai na?
Kaera : No. We’re on neutral terms. Woh mujhe zyada pasand nahi karti. Aur, mein use blame nahi karti.
Kehte hue usne neeche ki floor ki taraf ishaara kiya.
Kaera : But my little brother received an invitation, though. See? Kaise Suhana mujhe taunt karti hai!? Woh aise ready ho raha hai jaise uski girlfriend ne date par bulaaya ho.
Veer muskuraaya.
Veer : Thank you! It means a lot.
Kehte hue woh baahar nikalne ki orr chal pada. Tabhi, peechhe se use Kaera ki awaaz sunaayi di.
Kaera : Remember what you promised, Veer. Now you owe me twice.
Woh muskuraayi. Usne ICONGLOBE ki raat waali baat bhi use yaad dilaayi ki kaise Veer ab uska karzdaar tha. Ek baar nahi. Do baar.
Veer ruka. Aur, bina mudey hi bola.
Veer : I will.
Aur, phir woh baahar nikal gaya. Kaera wapas se apne bedroom me lauti, takiye ke neeche se usne apni wahi kitaab baahar nikaali jiska sheershak tha-
The Art of Loving without Losing.
Aur, usme pehle hi chapter ki seekh thi - Never show full interest. Let them come toward you.
‘Ugh! This is hard. I cannot do this.’
Usne pehle page ko faad ke dustbin me fek diya. Aur, woh dusre chapter par kood gayi.
---
Suhana ki aankhon me phirse aasu bhar aaye. Iss baar kisi aur dard ke chalte. Usne painting ko car ke andar rakha aur phir woh aage badhi aur usne Veer ko kasskar jakad liya. Kuchh zyaada hi zor se.
Usi waqt ek cab unse kuchh doorie par aakar ruki aur andar se ek aurat baahar nikli ~ Divya.
Veer ne use location apni pehle hi bhej di thi. Jaise hi woh unki taraf aage badhi, uske qadam saamne ke drishya ko dekh wahi jamm gaye.
Suhana ne Veer ke sarr ko neeche kheencha aur iss baar bina kisi sharm ke-
Usne Veer ke hontho ko apne muh me bhar liya.
*Kiss*
Uski aankhein band thi. Uske haath kass ke Veer ke baalo ko jakde hue the. Seena uski chhaati me dhasa hua tha. Aur, bina aate-jaate traffic ki parvaah kiye, woh Veer ke hontho ko choosne lagi. Ek baar. Do baar. Baar-baar. Bina ruke. Maano jaise ye jeevan ka antim lamha tha.
[See? I told you Suhana loves you.]
Pari ki awaaz uske mann me goonji. Magar, Veer ka dhyaan iss waqt Suhana par tha. Dono alag hue. Suhana ne use dekha. Veer ki aankhon me aashcharya tha.
Veer : Suhana…!?
Suhana : Shhhh-! Bas mere sawaalo ka jawaab do.
Veer : ???
Suhana : K-Kyun? Mere liye itna sab kyun?
Veer : Kyunki… Kyunki, aapko woh painting kayi saalo se chaahiye thi.
Suhana : Chaahiye toh mujhe aur bhi bahut kuchh hai. Doge mujhe?
Usne Veer ke hontho ko dekh bola.
*badumps*
Aur, iss baar Veer ki dhadkane tez ho gayi.
Veer : Su-
Bolne se pehle hi ek baar phir Suhana ne uske hontho par vaar kar diya. Uski saans phool rahi thi par uske bawajood woh Veer ko choomne se peechhe nahi hatna chaahti thi.
Aaj use samajh aa raha tha ki uss raat Kaera ko kaisa mehsoos hua hoga. Kahi na kahi use gussa aa raha tha ki Kaera ne ye ehsaas uss se pehle paa liya. Aur, woh wahi ki wahi bas khadi hoti dekhti rahi. Uss yaad ko woh aaj mitaana chaahti thi.
Jab dono alag hue toh dono ki hi saansein tez thi.
Suhana : Y-Ye sab tumhara plan tha na? *huff*
Veer (nods) : H-Haan! Sorry, meri wajah se aapka birthday-
Suhana : Nahi! It’s the best birthday gift I have ever got. Tumne mujhe azaad kiya hai. *glances* Aur, ye pal mein kabhi bhi nahi bhoolungi, Veer. Thank you~
“Tum dono ka ho gaya ho toh koi mujhe notice karega ab?”
Divya ki awaaz unke kaano me padi. Suhana ne jaisi hi use paaya, uske gaal sharm se laal ho gaye aur woh jhatse Veer se alag ho gayi.
Suhana : Divya? Tum yaha?
Divya : Haan mein yaha-
Suhana : T-Tum y-yaha kaise-!?
Divya : Veer ki location mere phone me update ho rahi thi. *walks forward* Happy birthday jaaneman!
Aur, usne kass ke Suhana ko apni baahon me bhar liya.
Suhana : Divya-!
Divya : Shh! I know kya hua hai. Veer ne mujhe sab pehle hi bata diya tha ki kya hone waala hai.
Suhana : Matlab tumhe pata tha?
Divya (nods) : Hmm! Happy birthday darling~ You deserved it. You deserve this happiness. This freedom. Every good thing in this world.
Veer : Ladies! Ab samay aa gaya hai mein niklu-
Suhana : Kyaaaa? N-Nahi!
Usne Veer ka haath kasskar thaama.
Suhana : You are not going anywhere. P-Please~ I beg you! Kahi mat jao. I want you to be with me. Tum dono… meri life me sabse important ho. *sob* Please~ Aaj mein bahut khush hu. I want to spend the rest of the night with you two. Please~
Veer ne uske gaalo ko apne haatho me liya aur uske chehre ki orr halka sa jhuka.
Veer : I know! Lekin… aapke husband ke khilaaf wo sab saboot jo maine pesh kiye. Uske liye… Mujhe police station jaana hi hoga. DGP se milna hoga. You know it too ki ye kitna serious matter hai, right? Mein aapse milne phirse aaunga baad me. Don’t worry.
Suhana : P-Par-
Veer ne uske maathe ko haule se chooma. Suhana ka badan kaanp gaya.
Veer : Maine kaha hai na ki mein aaunga. Now… Go. Aap apni best friend se itne time baad mil rahi ho. Aur, aap poochhna nahi chaahti Divya se ki woh itne din Mumbai me rahi toh mili kyu nahi aapse? *smiles* Spend some time with her.
Suhana : I-
Veer ne iss baar uski thuddi ko pakad uska chehra upar uthaaya aur Divya ke saamne hi-
*Kiss*
Uske hontho ko ek baar phirse choom liya. Suhana ka dil gadgad ho chuka tha. Woh kuchh derr pehle ka gham bhool chuki thi kyunki uske sabse pasandeeda vyakti uske paas the.
Suhana : P-Promise?
Veer : Haan promise.
Suhana : Aur, Kaera ko tumne kya diya badle me?
Veer : Kuchh bhi nahi.
Suhana : Jhooth mat bolo, mein jaanti hu ki woh yuhi tumhe painting nahi de sakti chaahe tum uske kitne hi achhe dost hi kyun na ho.
Veer : Bas ek vaada. Jiske baare me unhone nahi bataaya. Samay aane par woh mujhse kuchh maangengi.
Suhana ki bauhe kisi chinta me sikudi.
Veer : Ab mujhe jaana hoga. Enjoy your night now, okay? Leave the rest to me.
Kehte hue woh muda aur Divya ke bagal se jaane ke liye hue toh Divya ne uska haath pakad use rok liya. Uski peeth abhi bhi Veer ki taraf hi thi. Lekin, haath peechhe ki orr uski kalaayi ko thaame hue tha.
Divya (mutters) : Thank you.
Veer : Don’t mention it.
Divya : Nahi. Like, really… Thank you. Thank you so much. Tumhari wajah se hi aaj mein aur Suhana-
Veer (smiles) : Thank me some other time then. I need to go now.
Divya : Huh? Oh! *blushes* As you wish… *smiles*
Aur, Veer dono sakhiyo ko aapas me chhor waha se nikal gaya.
***
Raat abhi poori tarah se chhat bhi nahi paayi thi aur Mumbai me Gaurav ke bangley me mache hungaame se abhi tak log uss ghatna se prabhavit the.
Jab Suhana ghar se bhaagi thi, theek uske kuchh kshan pehle hi koi aur bhi waha se jaldbaazi me nikla tha. Uss waqt-
Ek black sedan car tez raftaar me bhaagte hue driveway se nikli, uske tyres ki cheenkh sadak par goonj uthi. Car ke andar Nik ke haath kaanp rahe the. Usne steering wheel ko kasskar jakad rakha tha. Jaise hi usne car ko sadak par moda, aur estate se dur tezi se bhagaaya, uske maathe par gusse se nassein ubhar aayi.
“Shit… shit… shit…”
Saansein tez thi. Kuchh hi palon me sab kuchh bikhar gaya tha. Projector. Gaurav ki sacchaayi ka saamne aana. Police ka aana. Woh files. Kisi ne sab kuchh plan kar rakha tha.
Aur, Nik ko iska matlab achhi tarah pata tha. Uss haramkhor Veer ko sab kuchh gyaat tha. Uski car sadak par tezi se bhaagti gayi. Lekin, tabhi kareeban uske 100 metre peechhe hi-
Ek aur car andhere se baahar nikli. Phir, ek aur. Aur, phir ek aur. Teen kaali gaadiyaan raat me sadak par aise utri jaise shikaari shikaar ke liye utarte hai.
Pehli SUV ke andar ek aadmi, driver seat ke bagal waali seat par jhuka hua tha aur windshield se baahar jhaak raha tha.
Surya. Wahi Sarabhai gang member ka ek mehatvpoorn member. Wahi gang jisko Aadesh ne hire kiya tha Veer ki hekdi nikaalne ke liye lekin, baad me Balhaar ke saamne use hi muh ki khaani padi thi. Uss din ke baad se hi Sarabhai aur uski gang Balhaar ke saamne natmastak ho gaye the.
Surya (smirks) : Kya hi kehne boss ke-!
Usne car ke baahar darwaaze ko haath se do baar thap-thapaaya aur driver ki orr jhuka.
Surya : Woh raha angrez ka choda, kameena. Tez chala bey!
Driver : K-Kaha? K-Kaun sa kameena, Surya bhai?
Surya : Wahi videshi chooha jiske baare me kal Veer boss ne bataaya tha.
Driver : P-Pakka wahi hai na? Koi aur nikla toh-?
Surya ne apna mobile nikaalte hue tasveerein check ki.
Surya : Wahi car number. Car ka wahi color. Sab same hai. Tu nahi tha na kal adde pe? Tujhe nahi pata. Bhaga! Bhaga! Aage le!
Driver (nods) : H-Haan, bhai!
SUV ka engine zor se garja.
Surya : Aur, tez!!!
Car tezi se aage badhi aur unke peechhe unke saath ki do cars bina kisi nirdesh ke hi unka peechha karne lagi. Chase shuru ho chuki thi.
---
Pichhli raat…
Docks se lage ek warehouse me, bade se hall me log samooh me khade the. Kuchh cigarette pee rahe the, kuchh bakso par tike hue the, kuchh aapas me fusfusa rahe the aur kuchh naye-naye aaye maal ko rakhwa rahe the.
Ye aam aadmi nahi the. Ye wo log the jo logo ko gaayab karne me maahir the. Sarabhai ek jagah khade kisi se baat-cheet kar raha tha. Surya uske bagal me khade tambakhu khaa raha tha aur beecho-beech Balhaar baitha hua tha. Lekin, aaj raat-
Balhaar kamre ka mukhiya nahi tha. Warehouse ke farsh par kisi ke aane ki aahat goonji. Koi andar aaya. Haath jebo me. Pehnaawa ekdum mehnga. Saaf-suthra. Aur, hontho par halki si muskaan.
Veer hall me aise daakhil hua jaise maano woh uss warehouse ka maalik ho. Baat-cheet tham gayi. Sarabhai turant hi seedha khada ho gaya. Surya ne apne tambakhu ko jeb me rakh liya. Aur, Balhaar bhi swayam khada ho gaya.
Veer unse kuchh hi doorie par ruka. Uski nigaahein waha jamey hue logo par dheere-dheere ghoomi. Phir, usne Balhaar ki orr dekha.
Veer : Kal raat ek ‘Nik’ naam ka ek videshi aadmi Globerays ke CEO, Gaurav ke ghar se faraar hoyega.
Sab ne use hairaani bhari aankhein liye dekha. Kaun Nik? Bhaagega? Kaha? Veer ne aage kehna jaari rakha.
Veer : Ek middle aged aadmi hai. Dikhne me thoda sa hatta-katta hai. Theek-thaak height hai. Kal woh waha se bhaagega. Ek black SUV me.
Samooh ke ek naye sadasya, jise Veer ke baare me kuchh bhi nahi pata tha, usne apni bauhe chadhaayi aur bola.
Ladka : Toh, hum kya kare? Tum kaun ho? Aur, humaara uss se kya lena-dena?
Warehouse me sannaata chhaa gaya. Sarabhai ne uss ladke ko dekha. Iske pehle ki woh moorkh kuchh aur keh paata-
*Chataak*
Surya aage badha aur use itni zor se thappad maara ki uski awaaz poore hall me goonj uthi. Woh ladka sadme me apna gaal pakadte hue peechhe ki orr ladkhada gaya.
Surya (yells) : Bhosdike, jab bolne ko kaha jaaye tabhi apna muh khola kar, samjha na?
Woh zor se gurraaya, uski aankhein gusse se laal thi. Usne uss ladke ki collor pakdi aur use peechhe dhakela.
Surya : Aur, agar Veer boss ne kaha hai ki aisa hoga… toh waisa hi hoga. Samajh gaya lawde???
Ladka (shivers) : J-Ji bhai! Sorry!
Kamra ekdum shaant ho gaya. Veer ne uss orr dekha bhi nahi. Woh bas bolta raha.
Veer : Jaise hi woh bhaagega, tum uska peechha karoge.
Balhaar aage badha.
Balhaar : Pakadna hai?
Veer : Haan!
Balhaar : Pakad ke kya karna hai?
Veer : Kuchh nahi. Bas pakadna hai. Zinda.
Balhaar (nods) : Ho jaayega.
Usne apne ladko par ek nazar daali. Surya aur kuchh aur ladko ki taraf.
Balhaar : Ladke log sambhaal lenge.
Veer ne apna phone uski orr feka toh Balhaar ne use pakad liya.
Veer : Uski pictures aur car ki details hai. Apne phone me leke ladko ko bhej do. Koi galti na hone paaye.
Balhaar ne haami bhar theek waisa hi kiya, phir uska chehra thoda narm pad gaya.
Balhaar : Shukriya.
Veer : Hmm?
Balhaar : Police ko vyast rakhne ke liye. Har jagah bhaag-daud me lagi hai wo. Prestige ka lafda. Serial killer ki khoj. Underground lair ki jaanch. Humaara woh Aadesh jaisinghani ke private suite me video bana ke viral karne ka idea. Sheher ke aadhe adhikari kaagazi kaaryavahi aur chhaapo ke bojh taley dabe hue hai.
Veer (grins) : Oh!?
Balhaar : Iss se mujhe kaafi samay mila hai. Warna, underground hue bahut waqt ho raha tha.
Veer jaanta tha ki uski wajah se Balhaar ko yeh sunehra avsar mila tha. Aage badhne ka samay. Phirse, nirmaan karne ka samay. Vikaas karne ka samay. Taaqat badhaane ka samay.
Balhaar : Mere liye maidaan kaafi saaf ho gaya. Iss se kaafi madad mili hai.
Veer (smiles) : Bas Nik ko pakad lena.
Usne iss baat par charcha nahi ki. Woh muda aur darwaaze ke paas ruka.
Veer : Use bhaagne mat dena.
Aur, bas itna bol woh waha se nikal gaya.
---
Nik ki sedan itni tezi se mod se guzri ki lagbhag bhidte-bhidte bach hi gayi. Uski saansein ab ladkhadaayi hui thi. Usne sheeshe me peechhe ka drishya dekha. Pehle toh kuchh nahi tha. Bas khaali sadak. Phir, do second ke baad hi-
Ek jodi headlights dikhaayi padi. Phir, ek aur. Aur, phir ek aur. Nik ki aankhein chaudi ho gayi.
“What the hell…?”
Raushni aur qareeb aane lagi. Behad qareeb. Uska dil zoro se dhadka.
“Shit!”
Usne accelerator par perr dabaaya. Engine zor se dahaada. Sedan kisi rocket ki tarah tezi se aage bhaagi. Aur, uske theek peechhe Surya, apni seat par aage ki orr jhuk gaya.
Surya : Wo raha madarchod! Pakad behanchod ko!
Usne dashboard par zor se haath maara.
Surya : Bhaga bhosdike!! Bhaga! Saala bach ke jaane na paaye.
Driver : Ji bhai! Nahi bhaag paayega!
SUV tez raftaar se aage badhi. Baaki gaadiyaan bhi unke peechhe kataar lagaaye bhaagti gayi. Ek gaadi daahine lane me ghus gayi toh wahi dusri baayi taraf waali lane me, Nik ko pakadne ke liye.
Nik ne sheeshe me dekha. Teen gaadiyon me se ab ek hi gaadi bachi thi. Lekin, woh jaanta tha ki baaki do kisi aur route se uss tak aane ki koshish kar rahi hongi. Uska gala sookh gaya.
“Fuck! Who the hell are these people?”
Uska dimaag har jagah daud raha tha. Tabhi, achanak usne apna phone uthaaya aur Gaurav ko call bhidaaya. Iss aas me ki usne ab tak matter sambhaal liya hoga. Ghanti baji, magar-
---
Idhar police station me Gaurav ko hathkadiyo me baandhe galiyaare me ghaseeta jaa raha tha. Gusse se uska poora chehra laal tha.
Gaurav : DGP!! Tumhe maalum nahi hai tum kise chhu rahe ho. Tumhe lagta hai ye khel yahi khatam ho jaayega?
Ek adhikari ne use aage dhakela. “Aage badho!”
Gaurav : Mein tumhara woh hashr karunga ki tum mere paas aake gidgidaoge, DGP! Yaad rakhna! Tum sab ke sab!
Rohan paas khada chup-chap sab dekhta raha, jab tak ki Gaurav ko andar jail me nahi daal diya gaya. Ab aage ki baat tabhi honi thi jab uski koi bail karwaane aaye. Tab tak ke liye, Gaurav ek gunehgaar hi tha.
Rohan : Iss file me jitne bhi saboot hai unhe cross check karo. Sab authentic hai ya nahi. Pendrive ke data ki ek report bana kar mujhe pesh karo. Sab cross check karo. Samajh gaye? Koi bhi maayi ka laal inn raeeso ko begunaah saabit karwaane ke liye aayega, toh unhe mein khud dekhunga.
Adhikari : Ji sir!
Tabhi, Rohan ki jeb me Gaurav ka phone baj utha jo usne zabt kiya tha. Usne screen par nazar daali.
Caller ID : Nik
Uski bauhe kass uthi. ‘Iska matlab Veer sahi tha…!’
Usne Gaurav ka bajta phone turant hi ek officer ki orr pheka.
Rohan : Call uthao. Trace karo iski location. Aur, ek unit taiyaar rakho turant bhejne ke liye.
Officer : Ji sir!
Rohan ne aadesh dete hue kaha. Uske peechhe Gaurav lagataar gaaliyaan bak raha tha.
Gaurav (yells) : Tum sab gaye kaam se behanchodo! Baahar bas nikalne do mujhe. Baahar nikalte hi mein tum sabko dafna dunga.
Rohan (smiles) : Jitna ganda bol sakte ho bolo, Mister Gaurav. Ye humaare liye aur bhi beneficial hai. Agar, kisi tarah tum riha ho bhi gaye, toh ek DGP ke saath badtameezi karne ke jurm me tumhe phir se andar toh daal sakta hu.
Gaurav (smirks) : Hmph! I’m drunk, DGP Sir. You know… nashe me bole gaye shabdo ko seriously maan ke saza nahi suna sakte.
Rohan : Dekha jaayega, Mister Gaurav. Dekha jaayega.
Tabhi, koi waha par aaya. Veer police station ki entrance par khada hua tha, haath jebo me, Suhana ki party me pehne gaye wahi kapde uske badan par the.
Trisha ne use sabse pehle dekha. Phir, Rohan ne. Aur, phir dono Rohan Trisha ne ek-dusre ko dekha.
Rohan : Toh, akhirkar aa hi gaye tum.
Veer (smiles) : Kisi ko interrogation jo chaahiye tha.
Rohan ne paas ek cabin ki orr ishaara kiya.
Rohan : Andar!
Kuchh minute baad, darwaaza band hua. Rohan Veer ke saamne mej ke dusri orr baitha hua tha. Trisha recording device taiyaar kar ke deewar ke paas khadi hui thi. Veer baitha aur apni kursi par thoda peechhe jhuk gaya. Araam se. Rohan ne use dhyaan se dekha.
Rohan : Toh… Aaj raat. Ye sab tumhara kiya dhara tha, hai na?
Veer (bluntly) : Bilkul!
Rohan ki bauhe tann gayi.
Rohan : Kaise?
Veer : Mere paas mere jasoos hai.
Rohan (leans forward) : Kaun?
Veer (smiles) : Ek jasoos jasoos hota hai, Sir. Hai na?
Rohan ne dheere se saans chhori. Ek pal ke liye kuchh derr pehle ka Erica ka naqaab-posh chehra uske mann me aaya.
Rohan : Theek hai! Mat batao. Toh, aaj ke iss khel se kya samjhu mein Veer? Kya yahi ki tumhe apraadhiyo ko be-naqaab karne me maza aata hai?
Veer : Aapko toh meri uplabdhi se khush hona chaahiye na? Hai ki nahi?
Rohan : Haan! *pauses* Aur, na. Tumne ek criminal ko expose kiya hai. Achhi baat hai. Lekin, tumne logo ki privacy ko invade bhi kiya hai, data hack kiya, security ko breach kiya aur illegally ye sab praapt kiya. *frowns* Ye apne aap me ek crime hai.
Veer : …
Rohan : Tumne kanoon ko apne haath me liya hai.
Veer (leans forward) : Aur, agar nahi leta toh?
Rohan : …
Veer (mutters) : Aap sab ko ghanta koi khabar lagni thi ki Gaurav peeth peechhe kya kuchh kar raha tha.
Baat sach thi. Rohan ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Veer punah peechhe jhuk gaya.
Veer : Jis asal mudde ke liye aapne mujhe yaha bulaaya hai. Kyun na hum uss par aaye ab?
Rohan : Tum underground lair ke andar the?
Veer : Haan.
Rohan : Kya dekha tumne udhar?
Veer : Serial killer ko.
Recording karte hue Trisha ka haath ek pal ke liye ruk gaya. Rohan ki nazrein paini hui.
Rohan : Meri beti ne bataaya ki tumne uss killer ke saath haathapaayi bhi ki thi. Kya ye sach hai?
Veer (chuckles) : Haan. Yeh sach hai.
Rohan : Aur, tum sahi-salaamat do bacchiyo ko lekar bach kar bhi baahar nikal aaye?
Veer : Hey! Mein kaafi injured tha. Kyun, hai na Miss Trisha? *smiles*
Trisha ka badan thitura. Woh asahaj sa mehsoos karne lagi. Rohan ne uski taraf dekha. Trisha ne phir haami bhari.
Trisha : Woh… *nods* Woh ghaayal tha.
Rohan (glances) : Serial killer ke baare me aur kuchh jaante ho?
Veer : Hmm! Jo sketch police ne jaari kiya tha, woh ekdum accurate hai. Ek aged man. Safed baal. Kandhe tak. Woh tez tha. Taqatvar. Aur… ek psycho.
Rohan (frowns) : Kya uske muh se aur kuchh anjaane me nikla tha? Koi maqsad?
Veer : Nahi! Par, itna zaroor bata sakta hu ki woh paiso ke liye nahi maar raha. Na hi badle ke liye. Na hi kisi ideology ki wajah se. Woh ek unhinged serial killer hai. Jo mazey ke liye maarta hai. Use pleasure milta hai. He’s a bloody psycho.
Kamre ka taapmaan thanda pad gaya. Trisha ki ungliyaan Pihu ko yaad kar recorder par kass gayi.
Rohan : Tumne abhi-abhi kaha ki woh ek aged man hai. Agar, woh itna hi aged hai, toh bhala itna khatarnak kaise hai?
Veer ki nazrein uthi. Aur, kamre me andar ghusne ke baad, pehli baar uske hontho par se muskaan gaayab thi.
Veer : Kyunki, woh trained hai. Aur, unpredictable.
Rohan : !?
Veer (leans forward) : Agli baar agar unfortunately aapka saamna uss se ho jaaye toh- *pauses* toh apne saath jitne bhi armed officers le jaa sakte ho, leke jaaiyega.
Rohan : !!!?
Veer : Jitne bhi weapons hai. Sab. Jitni bhi unit forces hai. Sab.
Rohan (frowns) : Kyun? Ek aged aadmi ke liye itna sab bhala kyun?
Veer : Kyunki, yeh wahi aged aadmi hai jise aapki poori police force abhi tak nahi pakad paayi, aur wo din dahaade murders par murders karta chala gaya. Yaha tak ki, aapki beti ko bhi utha ke le gaya tha.
*Silence*
Kuchh der tak bas sannaata chhaaya raha. Rohan ne ek gehri saans li.
Rohan : Ab do sabse important sawaal. Pehla. Tumne Pihu aur Juhi ko uss serial killer se kaise bachaaya?
Veer : Mein lucky tha. Juhi aur Pihu mujhe kismat ke chalte mil gayi thi. Uske baad bhaagte waqt hi meri haathapaayi uss se hui thi. Meri kismat isliye achhi thi kyunki, woh pehle se hi shaayad injured tha.
Rohan : Huh?
Veer : Haan! Isliye, ladte waqt mujhe chot zaroor aayi par mein bhaag nikalne me qamyaab tha.
Rohan : Injured hone ke bawajood woh police se bach kar bhaag nikla? *frowns* Dusra sawaal. Tumhe kaise pata chala ki Pihu aur Juhi underground lair me hai?
Veer (smiles) : Maine abhi aapse kaha tha ki mere paas mere jasoos hai.
Rohan : Bakwaas mat karo, Veer. Mujhe sirf sach chaahiye.
Veer (shrugs) : Theek hai. Raahgeero se pata chala tha.
Rohan (frowns) : Par police ko toh ye saboot nahi mil paaye the.
Veer : Toh mujhe kaise mil gaye?
Rohan (frowns) : Tum-!!!
Veer : Aur, isliye maine kaha. *smiles* Ki agli baar agar uss se saamna ho, toh satark rahiyega. Otherwise-
Rohan : …?
Veer : You’ll regret it!!!
---
Idhar, Nik ki gaadi kisi bike waale ko takkar maarte-maarte bachi. Uska chehra paseene se lath-path tha.
“Come on… come on… pick the damn call, Gaurav!”
Call akhirkar utha.
“Hello! Hello? Gaurav?”
Lekin, dusre chhor se koi awaaz nahi aayi. Bas khamoshi. Nik ka dimaag tezi se ghooma. Ek bura ehsaas. Usne mirror me dekha. Headlights. Abhi bhi thi. Aur, qareeb.
Gaurav. Police? Kahi woh use le toh nahi gaye? Agar, aisa tha toh uska phone-
“Shit!!”
Uski saans ek pal ke liye ruk gayi. Survival instincts trigger hue aur bina kisi jhijhak ke usne phone kaan se hataaya aur call cut karte hue khidki ke baahar fek diya.
Nik ne accelerator ko aur zor se dabaaya. Sedan bhaagi aur traffic ko cheerte hue nikalne lagi. Usne dobaara sheeshe me dekha. Gaadiyaan abhi bhi aa rahi thi.
“Who the hell are they? Fuck!”
Woh gurraaya. Uska dimag har jagah daudne laga. Police? Nahi. Police iss tarah se peechha nahi karti. Ye koi aur log the. Kuchh planned tha. Usne gaadi ko ek sakre mod me moda.
Peechhe , Surya ne zor se dashboard par maara.
Surya : Haraam-zaada gaadi chalaane me expert lagta hai. Aage bhagaate raho.
Uski SUV Nik ki car ke peechhe bhaagi.
Surya (shouts) : Aur, tez! Aur, tez! Tez chala gaandu!
Driver ne acceleration badhaaya. Surya iss baar khidki se baahar jhuka. Usne apni handgun uthaayi, aim lagaaya, ek gehri saans aur-
*Bang*
Goli ki awaaz traffic sadak par goonj uthi aur goli Nik ki sedan ke peechhe ke sheeshe se takraayi.
*Crack*
Sheesha kisi makdi ke jaale ke samaan chakna-choor ho gaya. Car ke andar Nik buri tarah chaunk gaya.
“FUCK!”
Uski seat ke peechhe kaanch ke tukde khad-khadaane lage. Jaan halak me thi.
“Motherfuckers are now shooting-!?”
Car par niyantran banaaye rakhne ke liye uske haath paseene se tarr ho chuke the. Usne khud ko shaant karne ki koshish ki. Socho. Socho Nik.
Woh Mumbai ke raasto se achhi tarah waaqif nahi tha. Lekin, kuchh jagaho ko jaanta tha. Aisi jagaahe jaha Gaurav aur usne niji mulaqaatein ki hui thi. Unme se ek jagah yaha se dur nahi thi.
Usne steering wheel ghumaaya aur dusri sadak par mud gaya. Tezi se uss disha ki orr badha. Uske peechhe-
Surya ki muskaan dheere-dheere chaudi ho gayi.
Surya : Oh ho… Dekho toh zara. Haha!
Driver : K-Kya hua bhai?
Surya : Bilkul wahi hua jaisa ki Veer boss ne kaha tha. Bhosdiwaale ne bilkul wahi mod liya hai.
Driver : Huh? Hum uss angrez ko pakad hi kyun rahe hai?
Surya ne uske sarr par ek thappad maara.
Surya : Tu bas gaadi chala, bewakoof. Jitna kaha gaya utna kar. Veer boss ne kaha hai usko zinda pakadna hai matlab pakadna hai.
Driver : J-Ji bhai!
Aage, Nik ki car ek shaant industrialist lane ke paas pahuchi. Uski aankhon me halki si chamak aa gayi.
“This is it!”
Gaurav ke shelters me se ek. Unhone iss shelter ka istemal aksar tab-tab kiya tha jab-jab unhe ekaant me baat karne ki zaroorat hoti thi.
Agar, woh bas kisi tarah se andar pahuch jaaye toh-
‘Huh?’
Uske chehre par se achanak hi rang udd gaya. Shelter ke paas do cars khadi hui thi. Pehle se. Chupke se. Aadhh me. Lekin, Nik ne dekh liya.
“N-Nooo-!!”
Cars ke engine achanak chaalu ho gaye. Nik ki aankhein bhay ke maare fel gayi.
“Fuckkkk! They were waiting for me!?”
Usne steering wheel ko zor se moda aur shelter pahuchne se pehle hi dusri sadak par mud gaya. Uske peechhe-
Dono khadi cars turant chal padi. Wo peechha karne lagi. Nik ko choohe ki tarah bhaagta dekh Surya zor se hasa.
Surya : Kaha bhaagega, bhosdike! Veer boss ne ekdum sahi kaha tha. Ye angrez ka tatta iss taraf bachne ke liye zaroor aayega. Aur, woh sahi the.
Kintu, Nik ko iska koi andaaza nahi tha. Ghera pehle hi kasa jaa chuka tha. Nik ki car ke peechhe, daaye-baaye, har taraf se aadmi uski taraf badh rahe the.
“How the hell do they know those places?”
Uske dimaag me tarah-tarah ke vichaar daud rahe the, tabhi wahi naam uske dimaag me punah aaya.
Veer.
Uska jabda kass gaya.
“That bastard…. VEEEEER!!!”
Wahi tha. Uske alawa aur koi ho hi nahi sakta tha. Par, akhir kaise? Usne accelerator par phir perr dabaaya. Car ek aur highway par tezi se daud padi. Agar, zameen surakshit nahi thi toh-
Keval ek hi vikalp bacha tha. Mumbai harbour. Port Area.
Gaurav ke paas waha ek private yacht thi. Agar, woh waha tak pahuch gaya toh woh bach jaayega.
---
Wapas police station me cabin ke andar sannaata tha. Rohan aur Trisha Veer ko ghoor rahe the. Usne abhi-abhi jo chetaavni di thi, uska gehra asar unn dono par pada tha.
Rohan : Regret? Kya matlab?
Veer : Bilkul wahi jo maine kaha. Aur, jo aapne suna. Serial killer ko aap uski umr ki wajah se kam mat samajhiye. Woh aapki poori police force ko bhi khatam kar sakta hai.
Rohan : Kya bakwaas kar rahe ho!
Veer : Mera kaam tha aapko bataana. Jo maine kar diya hai. Agar, aap yakeen nahi karna chaahte *shrugs* toh aapki marzi.
Woh dheere se khada hua.
Veer : Lekin, baad me mujhse ye mat kehna ki maine aapko warn nahi kiya.
Rohan : We’ll see. Prestige ke haadse waali raat tum kaha the?
Veer : Out of city tha. Late aaya tha.
Rohan : Phirse jhooth. Tumne uss haadse ke baad koi bhi jaankaari nahi di. Koi bhi interrogation nahi. Sab family members hi handle kar rahe the. Kyun?
Veer : Aap mazaak kar rahe ho, right? Maine apne dada ji ko kho diya. Mere ghar ke ek chaheete sadasya ko goli lag gayi, unhone apni chalne ki kshamta kho di. Mera startup tabaah ho gaya. Hotel khoon se rang gaya. Security guards maare gaye. Aur, uss afra-tafri ke beech-
Rohan : …
Veer : Aap mujhse ye expect kar rahe ho ki mein interviews deta?
Rohan ne dheere se saans chhori. Uske paas iska koi jawaab nahi tha. Veer ne shaant bhaav se apni aasteen theek ki.
Veer : I believe maine aapke important questions ke answers de diye hai.
Woh muda aur darwaaze ki orr chal pada, jab-
“YOU ARE NOT LEAVING!”
Rohan ne mej par haath patka aur achanak khada ho gaya. Uski awaaz kamre me goonj uthi.
Rohan : Jab tak mein na kahu, tum yaha se nahi jaaoge.
Veer ruka. Aur, dheere se peechhe muda.
Veer : Oh!? *smiles*
Rohan uske qareeb aaya. Aur, tabhi ek officer ne baahar se awaaz lagaayi.
“Phone ki stable location mil gayi hai, Sir!”
Rohan : Unit leke pahucho turant.
“Ji Sir!”
Rohan phirse Veer ki orr muda.
Rohan : Tum bahut saari cheezo me involved ho, Veer. Itne saare coincidences nahi ho sakte. Tum itni asaani se bachkar nahi nikal paaoge.
Veer (smiles) : Trust me. DGP Sir. Mujhe ek partner ke roop me lene me zyada samjhdari hogi bajaaye iske ki-
Rohan : SHUT UP! Tum yaha baithoge. Aur, mere har sawaal ka jawaab doge.
Veer ne kuchh nahi kaha. Woh bas use dekhta raha. Shaant.
Rohan : Kya tum Dhananjay, Ranjeet ke case me shaamil the?
Veer : Huh? Kaun Dhananjay Ranjeet?
[Hehe~]
Rohan ne apne daant zor se meese. Trisha ghabraayi. Kya Rohan samajh gaya? Rohan ki nazar ek pal ke liye Trisha par padi.
Rohan : Mere saath game mat khelo, Veer. Mujhe pata hai tum kayi maamlo me shaamil ho. Yaha tak ki mujhe yeh bhi yakeen hai ki tumhara connection underworld mafia se bhi hai.
Veer (smiles) : Aap bahut bada aarop laga rahe hai, Sir. Khaaskar mere jaise ek college student par.
Woh aalas se kursi par baith peechhe jhuk gaya.
Rohan (shouts) : SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Rohan : Mujhe pata hai ki tum kitne din college gaye ho, kitne din jaate ho, kitne business run karte ho, kaha tumhara uthna-baithna hai, kaha jaate ho, kis se milte ho, tumhare parivar me kaun-kaun hai.
Veer ki muskaan gaayab ho gayi.
Veer (frowns) : Aap mere parivar ki jasoosi kar rahe ho?
Rohan (smirks) : Abhi tak toh nahi. *pauses* Lekin, agar zaroorat padi, toh woh bhi ki jaayegi. Mere paas tumhare baare me kaafi jankaari hai, Veer. Tum dusro ko bewakoof bana sakte ho. Mujhe nahi.
Veer : …
Rohan : Sawal ka jawab do. Kya tum Dhananjay aur Ranjeet ke maamle me shaamil ho?
Trisha ke shareer me phir sihran daud gayi. Uski ungliyaan kass gayi. Agar, Rohan chhaan-been karta raha toh aise me toh-
Veer : Nahi! Mein kuchh bhi nahi jaanta.
Rohan bhadak utha.
Rohan : Tumhari himmat kaise hui mere saamne jhooth bolne ki-?
Usne gusse se mej par haath patke.
Rohan : Mein tumhe abhi jail me daal sakta hu, Veer. Samjhe? Ek third-degree ka treatment aur tum mujhse rukne ki bheekh maangne lagoge. Aur, koi bhi iss par sawaal nahi uthaayega. Ye authority hai mere paas. Mein ye kar sakta hu.
Veer (smiles) : Par, aap nahi karoge.
Usne seedha Trisha ki orr dekha.
Veer (smirks) : Hai na? Miss Trisha?
Trisha jamm ke reh gayi. Uske mann me phirse wahi drishya kaundh gaye. Ranjeet ka marna. Uske haath me bandook. Slaughterhouse. Tasveer. Uska dil zor se dhadka. Usne Rohan ko dekha aur apna sarr ‘naa’ me hilaaya. Nahi. Use itna push mat karo. Aur, Rohan ka gussa aur bhi badh gaya.
Rohan : Tch!
Veer : Jaisa ki maine kaha, mujhe ek partner ke roop me lena aapke liye hi behtar hoga.
Rohan : Shut up!
Veer : Aap wardi pehen kar apraadhiyo ka peechha karte ho. Maine wahi kaam bina wardi ke kiya hai. Aapki aur meri… manzil ek hi hai.
Rohan (yells) : Tumhe iska right nahi hai.
Veer (stands up) : Sahi kaha. Mere paas right nahi hai. Lekin, kabhi-kabhi rights se zyaada… results matter karte hai, Sir.
---
Nik ki gaadi sunsaan road pe zor se bhaagi. Uski saansein bhaari thi.
"Fuck... fuck..." Usne mirror check kiya. Headlights. Abhi bhi peeche. Woh haraamzade use jaane hi nahi de rahe the.
Surya, peechhe apni car ki window se aadha bahar jhuka.
Surya : Bhaga bhaga bhaga! Pakdo uss harami ko!
Nik apne aap me hi badbadaaya. “Shit-!”
Harbour aage tha. Agar woh Gaurav ki yacht tak pahunch gaya toh… Woh samundar ke zariye unse dur bhaag paane me qamyaab ho jaayega.
Bas thoda aur.
Bas-
Uski aankhein phail gayi. Harbour use dikhaayi diya. Aur, yacht bhi. Lekin, kuchh toh gadbad thi.
Log. Dher saare log. Yacht ke neeche aas-paas khade the. Road ko dekh rahe the. Intezar kar rahe the. Nik ke badan me jhurjhuri daud gayi.
"Shit." Uski steering wheel pe pakad mazboot ho gayi. “They’re here too…?”
Usne jaldi se apni kamar thap-thapaayi. Uski ungliyon ko apni handgun feel hui. "Tch."
Aur, uske peechhe-
"RUK MADARCHOD!"
*BANG*
Zor se gunshot ki aawaz aayi. Nik ne turant hi duck kiya, kyunki bullet ne peechhe waale sheeshe ko ab tod kar use poori tarah dhwast kar diya tha.
"Damn it! Damn it! Fuccckkk!" Usne steering wheel ko jhatke se ghumaaya aur car ko tezi se moda. Gaadi harbour se dur chali gayi.
---
Veer darwaaze tak pahucha. Rohan ki aawaz phir aayi.
Rohan : Maine kaha na ki tum mere sawaalo ke jawaab diye bina nahi jaoge?
Veer ruka. Dheere-dheere… Woh peechhe muda. Phir, woh Rohan ki taraf wapas chal pada. Ahista-ahista. Ve dono ab lagbhag aamne-saamne khade the. Veer thoda sa aage jhuka.
Veer : Ek samajhdar officer… jaanta hai kab kaunse sawaal poochhne hai. Aur, kab nahi, Sir.
Rohan ki aankhein jal rahi thi.
Rohan : Gaurav hi sirf jail me nahi rahega… Balki, tum bhi salaakhon ke peechhe jaaoge. Aur woh Nik- hum use bhi jald hi daboch lenge.
Veer : Oh?
Bilkul usi waqt-
Uska phone vibrate hua. Dheemi si ghanti baji. Veer ne neeche dekha. Unknown number. Ek message aaya hua tha.
“Pakad liya boss.”
Uske chehre pe dheere se ek muskaan phail gayi. Rohan jhijhka.
Rohan : K-Kya?
Veer nazdeek aaya. Rohan ke kandhe par haath rakha. Phir, uske kaan ke paas jhuka.
Veer (smirks) : Pata hai sabse taaza khabar kya hai, sir?
Rohan ke badan me sihran daud gayi. Veer ke honth aur adhik phail gaye.
Veer (whispers) : NIK MERE PAAS HAI!
Rohan ke badan me raungte khade ho gaye. Bina koi use samay diye, Veer muda aur exit ki taraf chal diya.
Veer : Dobaara baat karni hai agar, toh kal shaam ghar aa jaaiyega. *pauses* Aur, bina wardi ke hi aaiyega. Aur, agar nahi-
Rohan : !!?
Veer (smiles) : Toh, Nik ko jaise aap dabochne waale the, daboch lijiyega.
Rohan (yells) : VEEEEER!!! Mein tumhe jail me daal dunga. Tumhe lagta hai ki tum bach jaaoge?
Veer (smiles) : Bilkul!
Kehte hue woh waha se nikal gaya. Kamre me gehra sannaata chhaa gaya. Rohan wahi khada raha, gehri saansein le raha tha. Uski aankhein krodh se laal thi.
Veer bina peechhe dekhe police station se baahar nikal gaya. Rohan dheere se Trisha ki orr muda. Uski nigaahein teekhi thi. Jawaab maang rahi thi.
Trisha ne uss se nazrein churaayi. Uska gala sookh raha tha. Woh ghabraate hue aage badhi. “R-Rohan-!”
***
Veer baahar aaya aur tabhi uske saamne uski apni car aa kar ruki. Driver seat ki khidki neeche sarki, Erica halki muskaan ke saath baahar jhuki.
Erica (smiles) : Kaafi derr laga di!
Veer ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Usne darwaaza khola. Erica baahar aayi aur ghoom kar passenger ki seat par baithi. Veer driver seat par baitha. Engine chaalu hote hi gaadi police station ke gate se nikal padi. Aur, peechhe ki seat par-
Garofano ek perr ko dusre par rakhe baithi hui thi, uske bagal se Ava thi.
Garofano : Toh?
Veer : Done and dusted. Filhaal abhi ke liye.
Garofano (sighs) : Finally!
Usne apne baalo par haath phera.
Garofano : Sorry! Mein khud nahi aa saki. Clients se badi mushqil se jaan chhooti hai aaj.
Veer : It’s okay! Tum pehle hi bahut kuchh kar chuki ho.
Garofano (smiles) : Oh!?
Veer : Trisha ko phone par guide karna aur Raman tak precisely pahuchaana asaan kaam nahi tha.
Garofano : Well… Looks like system yahi chaahta tha ki mujhe ye mission mile. *grins* Kaafi badhiya skill mili hai reward me.
Veer : Kaun si?
Garofano (smirks) : If I reveal everything now, what will I tease you with later?
Veer ke jawaab dene se pehle hi Erica chehek uthi.
Erica : Mujhe bhi toh badhiya skill mili hai, hehe~
Veer (nods) : Yeah! Part vision!
[Skill : Part Vision
Description : Allows the host to join the parts of the past from the available clues and understand what transpired. Accuracy of the past will depend on the number of clues the host can get.]
Veer : Uss skill ne sab kuchh badal diya. Pushkar ke past ke bina… Gaurav aur Nik ki kartooto ke baare me nahi jaan paate.
Erica garv se muskuraayi.
Erica (smiles) : So, basically I saved the day. Yay~
Garofano : Relax little girl. You didn’t save the world. Your skill just came handy, that’s all. Itna exaggerate karne ki zaroorat nahi.
Erica (pouts) : Hmph~
Veer ke mann me-
*Ding*
[Mission : ‘Deal Breaker (1)’ has been completed.]
[You have gained 10,000 points.]
[Suhana’s favorability has increased by : 25.]
[Divya’s favorability has increased by : 10.]
*Ding*
[Perk Selection Available.]
[Select one of three random perks.]
[Perk 1] [Perk 2] [Perk 3]
‘Later Pari!’
[As you wish, Master!]
*Ding*
[Perk selection is post-poned.]
Veer : Waqai. Erica. Uss skill ki wajah se hi aaj mera mission poora hua hai. Thank you~
Erica (blushes) : It’s okay! Mujhe bhi ek skill mil gayi.
Garofano (chuckles) : Isliye, tumhare daddy Renshu yaha se gaayab ho gaye. Missions jo nahi mil rahe the use haha. Imagine losing to your own daughter in missions lol.
Erica : Hmph~ Toh kya hua? My dad would still crush you in a 1 v 1 fight.
Garofano : Oh please! Maana ki Renshu strong hai, lekin itna bhi nahi jis hisaab se tum apne daddy ke liye biased rehti ho.
Erica : Oh achha? Toh lagao bet. Hai himmat dad ke saath-
“I couldn’t do anything!”
Ava ki komal awaaz ne unki behas ko kaat diya. Erica aur Garofano, dono turant ruk gayi. Ava apne haatho ko ghoor rahi thi.
Ava : I… I barely helped.
Uski awaaz thodi kaanp rahi thi.
Veer : Nahi!
Ava : Huh?
Veer : Tumne apni identity reveal ki. Mere liye. Uss se poori situation change ho gayi thi.
Ava : But… But that is exactly why I hate it, Veer! I don’t want to appear only when things are already happening. I want to be there… when it begins. For you.
Aur, phir use ehsaas hua ki woh jaldbaazi me kya keh gayi. Usne haya me sarr neeche jhuka liya. Garofano aur Erica ne chup-chap use dekha. Dono shaant thi.
Veer : Tumne Teju di ko bachaaya, Ava. You took the bullet for my family. Aur, tumhe lagta hai tumne madad nahi ki?
Ava ke honth khule, lekin koi shabd nahi nikla.
Veer : I think it’s about time I- *pauses* I introduce you to my family. Tomorrow.
Ava (shivers) : Huh?
Usne aayeene me Veer ko dekha. Phir, dheere-dheere uske chehre par ek sharmeeli muskaan aa gayi.
Ava : O-Okay…! Tomorrow then…!
Baaki ka safar shaant baat-cheet me beeta. Plans. Precautions. Aage ki strategies.
Jab tak Veer ghar lauta, kaafi raat ho chuki thi. Ghar me andhera aur sannaata chhaaya hua tha. Shayad sabhi so chuke the. Usne spare key se gate ko unlock kiya and andar pravesh kiya.
Jaise hi woh hallway se guzar ke muda, woh achanak ruk gaya.
Uski maa ke kamre ka darwaaza khula hua tha. Andar ek light bulb jal raha tha. Bhavna darwaaze ke paas hi khadi thi. Intezaar kar rahi thi. Uski shaant nigaahein Veer par tiki. Aur, boli-
“Andar aao!”
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This update consists of 12k words. Dena nahi chaahta tha itna bada update par ab likh diya hai. Let's see tum log phirse wahi kaand karte ho ya iss baar bhi last update ki tarah jaldi reactions poore karte ho. Next update se hum thode system ke lore, Veer's familial issues, relationship, aur kuchh baaki characters par focus karenge. Kuchh secrets bhi unveil hone waale hai jald hi. Target apna wahi hai. 250.
Dhanyavad.
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Pata hai bhai. Dikhta hai mujhe. Mujhe notification aata hai jab jab tum log like karte ho. Dikh jaata hai kitne hue hai.
Rajesh
Well-Known Member
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Superbly fantastic update bro maza aa gayaUpdate - 212 ~ The Night the masks burned
Ab tak...
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 : !!!!?
Ab aage...
*Clink*
Hall me hathkadi ki awaaz sabhi ko sunaayi di. Gaurav ne koi sangharsh nahi kiya. Maano jaise use iss baat se farq hi nahi pad raha tha ki use arrest kar liya gaya hai.
Par, zaahir taur se uske chehre ke haav-bhaav badle hue the. Jabda kasa hua, maathe par gusse se fadakti hui maanspeshi. Lekin, woh dara nahi. Reedh abhi bhi seedhi. Ahankaar abhi bhi adig. Guroor jo tha use apne aap par.
Jaise hi Rohan aur Trisha uske dono orr khade hue, usne hall me ek baar chaaro orr dekha. Kaise log use ghoor rahe the. Suhana. Sonia. Unke mata-pita. Aur, phir-
Nigaahein Veer ke upar jaa tiki. Bas kuchh kshan ke liye. Dono ke beech ek maun yuddh.
Veer chup-chap waha khada raha, haath abhi bhi jebo me, koi ghamand nahi aur na hi koi muskaan. Bas maun maujoodagi, jo aur bhi adhik bhaari thi.
Rohan ne Gaurav ke haatho ko thaam use moda, le jaane ke liye woh palta. Shailendra, jo ki ye sab hote hue dekh chuka tha, uska mann nahi maan raha tha ki aisa kuchh ho sakta tha.
Ek prakaar se ye uski beizzati thi itne logo ke saamne. Agar, woh kisi tarah DGP ko mana ke ye sab-
Sochte hi woh aage badha. Elite Group koi chhota-mota samooh nahi tha. Ghar me hi ghus ke ghar ke maalik ko iss qadar se hathkadi pehna ke le jaana…
Ye sirf aam vyaktiyo par laagu hota tha. Raees, oonchi pehchaan waalo ke liye nahi. Waha toh paisa khila ke, status dikha ke, wazandaari ke chalte maamla rafa-dafa kar diya jaata tha.
Yahi soch Shailendra apne damaad ko bachaane ke liye bade hi rutbe me aage badha, magar-
Rohan : Wahi theher jaaiye, Sir! Jo kuchh bhi sunwaayi hogi, ab police station me hogi.
Usne ek jhatke me Shailendra ko haath dikhakar wahi rok diya. Shailendra ki bauhe phadki. Ye DGP sirf ek raajya ka hi toh DGP tha. Elite Group ka varchasv toh poore desh me fela hua tha.
Magar, kanoon ke maamle me Rohan sakht tha. Aur, uski sakhti ke charche poore raajya me mashoor the. Isliye, Shailendra ne aage kuchh na kaha. Bas Gaurav ko haath dikhaate hue aashvaashan diya.
Rohan jaane se pehle Veer ki orr muda. Use yaad dila raha tha ki usne ‘Interrogation’ ka vaada kiya tha. Veer ne dheere se apna sarr hilaaya. Ek shaant sweekriti. Aur, ab toh waise bhi use jaana hi tha. Gaurav ke khilaaf usne saboot jo pesh kiye the.
Shailendra ne Veer ko ghoora. Yeh ladka uss raat ICONGLOBE ki deal ke dauraan bhi Kaera ke bagal se baitha tha. Mann me Veer ko lekar usne ek vichaar baithaaya.
Trisha ki nigaahein bhi Veer par thi. Aaj unn nazro me sandeh kam tha, soch-vichaar zyaada. Usne yeh ab pukhta maan liya tha ki Veer hi inn sab ke peechhe tha.
Jab Rohan exit se nikalne ke liye hua toh Erica uske paas ek file lekar aayi.
Erica : Transaction trails, server backups, logs, call reports, chats, images, everything is in hardcopy. *smiles* Aur, ye rahi pendrive, Sir. For more details.
Rohan ne file aur pendrive jab Erica ke haatho se li toh uski aankhein sikudi.
Rohan : Aur, tum kaun-!?
Erica (smiles) : Bas ek hired manager.
Rohan use saath lekar jaana chaahta tha, magar yeh sunane ke baad ki wo bas ek hired person thi, chaahte hue bhi usne iss baat par zor nahi diya. Lekin, Erica ke masked chehre ko woh apne dimaag me baithaana nahi bhoola. Aur, na hi Trisha.
Akhirkar, woh dono Gaurav ko lekar baahar nikle. Mukhya dwar se ve ravaana hue, phir baahar dur se siren ke goonjne ki awaaz ne spasht kar diya ki ve jaa chuke the.
Suhana wahi neeche baithi reh gayi. Kuchh derr pehle hi woh cake kaat rahi thi aur ab-
Itne saalo se woh uske changul me fasi thi. Gaurav ke mijaaz ke anusaar usne khud ko dhaalne ki koshish bhi ki thi. Khud dab-dab kar uske neeche rahi. Yeh yakeen dilaane ke liye ki shaayad ek na ek din sab sahi ho jaayega.
Kintu, aaj usne dekh liya ki sacchaayi toh ekdum hi vipreet thi. Aur, uske bheetar kuchh toot gaya.
Suhana : Aaj tak... Aaj tak mein- *shivers*
Usne fusfusate hue kaha, uski awaaz mushqil se hi bagal me jhuki Ashita ko sunaayi de rahi thi.
Suhana : M-Mujhe kabhi pata hi nahi chala... Ashita... Mein-
Ashita (tenderly) : Suhana...
Uski nazrein Suhana par tiki. Uska therapist dimaag pehle se hi trauma responses, emotional collapse ke patterns ko padhne ke liye jut chuka tha.
Phir, usne Veer ko dekha. Na jaane kab se woh Suhana jaisi split personality waali aurat ko badalne waale ladke se milne ke liye betaab thi. Aaj woh shaks uske saamne tha.
Beshaq. Veer ko dekhte hi usne ek gehri saans li. Use bas yeh jaanana tha ki iss ladke me aisa kya tha ki uski patient ki saansein uska naam lete hi tez ho jaati thi.
Filhaal ke liye charcha na sahi, lekin usne itna jaan liya tha ki Veer kaun tha.
Karan, jo ki wahi khada tha, sab kuchh ghatit hota dekh Veer ke nazdeek aaya. Maathe par shikan. Veer aur uske beech bina bol ke ishaaro me hi baat ho gayi.
Suhana ki maa ne jhukte hue use apne galey se lagaaya.
Toh wahi pita Shailendra ka chehra sharmindagi se laal tha. Woh swabhimaani vyakti jisne apne damaad ki na jaane kitni deenge haaki thi, jis par wo kabhi garv mehsoos karta tha, jisne use aadhe se zyaada vyapaar jagat se milwaaya tha aaj sharminda aur stabdh khada hua tha.
Udhar Sonia bina koi harqat kiye vismay aur bhay me khadi thi. Apni jagah se tass se mass na hui. Pushkar ka naam uske dimaag me ghoom raha tha. Yakeen nahi ho raha tha ki yeh sab-
Planned tha. Chhal se racha gaya tha. Aur, use humesha-humesha ke liye chup kara diya gaya. Itne saalo tak woh apne mann me uski maut ko baar-baar dohraati rahi, aur bas bhaagya ko dosh deti rahi. Lekin, iss ghatna me toh bhaagya ka haath kam, Gaurav ka zyaada tha.
Par, uss se bhi badi baat-
Jiska use darr tha. Jiska use bhay tha ki Gaurav uske liye kahi koi ghinauni soch toh nahi rakhta? Woh sach saabit ho gayi.
Ab jo kuchh bhi hua wo media me saamne tha. Iss se bacha nahi jaa sakta tha. Abhi ke liye Elite Group ki izzat par ek zordaar thokar lagi thi. Uss se ubharne ke liye-
Shailendra seedha khada hua aur mehmaano ki orr mudkar usne haath jode.
Shailendra : I apologise!
Usne tanaav bhari magar dhridh awaaz me kaha.
Shailendra : Aaj ki raat meri beti ke janmdin ke liye jashn manaane ke liye thi. Iske bajaaye… kuchh aisa ho gaya jo nahi hona chaahiye tha. Jis situation me abhi Suhana hai, mein chaahunga ki aap sabhi please move on kariye. Ek baar firse, kshama chaahta hu.
Log bhi samajhdaar the. Ve jaante the ki aisi sthiti me koi kaise hi apna janmdin mana sakta tha? Unhone Shailendra ko aashvaashan diya aur jaate-jaate use saantvna bhi de gaye.
Bheed chhatne lagi. Kuchh asahajta ke kaaran, kuchh darr ke maare, aur kuchh isliye ki ab tamasha khatam ho chuka tha.
Suhana jo iss waqt mehsoos kar rahi thi woh koi bhi nahi samajh sakta tha. Woh apni maa ke sparsh se peechhe hati.
Namrita : Suhana-!
Woh achanak hi khadi hui. Sonia ne iss baar use dekha. Pehle toh Suhana khadi hone ke baad dheere-dheere saiyyam se chali. Har qadam napa-tula, maano uska shareer bina uski ichha ke chal raha ho.
Phir, achanak na jaane kya hua, woh daud padi. Darwaaze ki orr. Baahar driveway ki taraf jaha security waale asmanjas me use dekhte hue alag ho gaye.
Namrita (yells) : Suhanaaaaa-! Ruko!
Peechhe se uski maa ki ruwaasi pukaar sunaayi padi. Uske pita ne bhi use awaaz lagaayi. Sonia ka dil ghabra kar zor se dhadka, usne apna haath utha kar use rokne ki koshish ki, magar muh se shabd hi baahar nahi nikle.
Suhana nahi ruki. Bhaag kar woh apni car tak pahuchi. Kaanpte haatho se usne gaadi unlock ki, andar baithi aur darwaaza zor se band kiya jis se baahar ki awaaz sunaayi na de.
Ek pal ke liye woh bas steering wheel ko kasskar pakde baithi rahi. Phir-
*Rumble*
Engine garja. Aur, usne apni gaadi aage dauda di. Kuchh zyada hi tez. Raat me sadko ke aas-paas khambo par, lampposts par jagah-jagah 26 january ke posters aur jhande lage hue the. Dur kahi aatishbaazi ho rahi thi, swatantrata ke chhote-chhote utsav ho rahe the.
Par, uski azaadi ka kya? Kya use khush hona chaahiye? Ya dukhi? Use samajh nahi aa raha tha.
Woh bina soche-samjhe idhar-udhar mod leti jaa rahi thi. Baaye, daaye, phir daaye. Sheher uski namm aankhon ke saamne dhundhla sa pad gaya. Aasuon ke chalte use theek se traffic bhi nazar nahi aa raha tha. Uska dil-dimaag shaant hone ka naam hi nahi le rahe the.
Pushkar. Hidden cameras. Photographs. Footage. Transactions.
Akhir kitne jhootho ke saath woh har ek din guzaar rahi thi Gaurav ke saath? Uski saansein phool rahi thi. Kayi minute tak disha-heen gaadi chalaane ke baad, usne ek flyover ke paas gaadi ko kinaare roka.
Car band ki. Dur se traffic ka shor use ab sunaayi diya. Uske haath steering wheel se hatey. Aur, kandhe kaanpne lage. Woh aage jhuki aur apne chehre ko usne apni hatheliyo me chhipa liya.
Aur, phir-
*Sniff*
“Haaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
Woh zor se royi. Dil khol ke. Itne saalo se jo bhadaas andar thi, woh baahar aa gayi. Jo dabey hue emotions the woh baahar umad aaye.
Woh bilakh-bilakh kar royi. Siskiyon aur subakne ki awaaz car me goonj gayi. Woh aise royi ki agar koi sunn le toh uska dil dahal jaaye.
Kyunki, koi use sunane waala nahi tha. Kyunki, woh akeli thi. Aisa use yakeen tha jab peechhe se ek shaant awaaz aayi-
“Aapko pata hai na iss tarah se gaadi chalaana kitna khatarnak hota hai?”
Suhana ka badan kaanp utha. Woh haafte hue tezi se mudi, sihran uske poore jism me fel gayi. Aur, phir usne use dekha.
Veer.
Peechhe ki seat par baitha hua. Ek pal ke liye woh bas dekhti reh gayi, samajh nahi paa rahi thi ki Veer yaha kaise ho sakta tha.
“2 signals miss kiye. Divider se lagbhag gaadi bhid hi gayi thi.”
Usne narmi se kaha. Phir, ek virhaam.
“Aap toh iss tarah se drive nahi karti kabhi. Kis se bhaag rahi thi? Jo pehle hi sab khatam ho chuka hai uss cheez se? Ya phir apne aap se?”
Uske bol zor se Suhana ko lage. Woh daant nahi raha tha. Na hi mazaak uda raha tha. Bas… parvaah ko bade hi seedhepann se pesh kar raha tha. Woh utha, usne darwaaza khola aur car ke baahar utra.
“Haath kaanp rahe hai, phir bhi gaadi chalaani hai? Pata hai na ye kitna risky tha?”
Usne aage aate hue uski driver seat ka darwaaza khola.
“Aage se aisa mat karna. Samajh gayi na?”
Aur, bas-
Suhana ki rulaayi ek baar phir chhooth padi. Jab Veer ne use dheere se haath pakad baahar ko nikaala toh usne koi virodh nahi kiya. Jaise hi uske perr zameen par pade, uski saari taaqat jaise gaayab ho gayi. Woh zor se bilakh ke royi aur seedhe Veer ki baahon me simat gayi. Uski mutthiyon ne Veer ki shirt ko kasskar jakad liya.
“Waaaaaaa-!”
Aur, woh bas roti rahi. Subak-subak ke. Uske galey se lage hue. Kasskar chipke hue. Woh cold, arrogant, rich aur haughty Suhana gaayab ho chuki thi.
Suhana : M-Mein *sobs* Mein jhooth ki duniya me jee rahi thi, Veer! *sniff* H-Har din- *hic* He... He lied to me. *sob* Every day! Sonu ke liye bhi uske mann me- *sniff*
Veer ne apni baahon me use zor se jakad ke rakha. Ek haath uski peeth par mazbooti se tika hua tha. Dusra, uske kandhe ko sahaara de raha tha.
Veer : Shh! You were surviving. And, you did.
Suhana ne apna sirr uske seene par tikaaya.
Suhana : S-Sach mere saamne tha- *sniff* Par, mein hi andhi thi. *sob* M-Mujhe lagta tha mein… mein hi zaroorat se zyaada soch rahi hu. He kept lying to me. Every time. *sob* M-Mujhe yakeen nahi hota ki woh iss tarah ki ghinauni- *hic*
Veer : Shh! It’s alright!
Uska haath dheere-dheere Suhana ke baalo par phira, maano jaise woh koi chhoti bacchi ho. Dekha jaaye toh sahi maayno me aaj Suhana ek chhoti bacchi ke hi samaan thi. Shareerik taur se nahi, lekin uska chanchal mann, dil-dimaag ki sthiti abhi kisi ek dukhi, chot pahuchi baalika ke jaisi hi thi.
Veer : Aapne uss par bharosa karna chaaha jo khud na toh aap par kabhi bharosa kiya aur na hi khud bharose ke laayak bann paaya.
Suhana : …
Veer : Lekin, ye aapki kamzori nahi hai.
Suhana : M-Mujhe nahi pata ki ab mein kaun hu. *sob* Kuchh samajh nahi aa raha. *hic* I hate it, Veer. I hate it.
Veer thoda peechhe hua taaki uske aasuon se bheege chehre ko dekh sake.
Veer : Aap wahi Suhana ho jisne meri madad ki, jisne mere liye goli khaayi, jo apni chhoti behan ke liye har waqt khadi rahi, jisne apne aise pati ka bhi saath diya taaki apne maa-baap ka sarr sharm se na jhuke. Woh Suhana ho aap.
Suhana bas uss se lipti rahi. Kaafi derr tak. Akhirkar, uski saansein sthir hui. Poori tarah se nahi, lekin itna zaroor ki woh bina roye uski chhaati se sirr ko utha sake. Ungliyaan toh ab bhi Veer ki shirt ko jakde hue thi.
Suhana : K-Kaise-!? T-Tum car me- Maine toh tumhe dekha tak nahi.
Veer (smiles) : Jab aap bhaagi thi. Toh, mein bhi aapke peechhe hi tha.
Suhana : !!?
Veer : Jab aap car me andar baithi, tab uss waqt mein bhi peechhe andar baitha tha. Par, tab aap aisi haalat me nahi thi ki inn sab cheezon ko notice kar sako.
Suhana : T-Toh, tum shaant kyun the? K-Kuchh bole kyun nahi?
Veer (smiles) : Aapke mom dad ne aapko awaaz lagaayi thi. Kya aapne suni? Toh uss waqt mere bolne se kya hi farq padta?
Suhana (mutters) : Tumhari baat alag hai…!
Veer : Hmm?
Suhana : K-Kuchh nahi. Mein bas-
Usne apne kaanpte hue haatho ko dekha jo Veer ki shirt ko nichode hue the. Usne dheere se shirt ko chhora. Par, haath hatey nahi. Abhi bhi uske seene par hi tike hue the.
Tabhi, Veer ko kuchh yaad aaya.
Veer : Oh!?
Suhana : Huh?
Veer uss se alag hua, peechhe ki seat ke darwaaze ko usne khola aur ek rectangular sa kuchh baahar nikaala jo rang-birange decorative paper me lipta hua tha. Usne woh tauhfa Suhana ki orr badhaaya.
Veer : Mein lagbhag bhool hi gaya tha.
Suhana (curiously) : K-Kya hai ye?
Veer (smiles) : Khol ke dekh lijiye!
Suhana ki ungliyaan savdhani se lipte hue kaagaz ko kholne ke liye chalne lagi. Usne dheere se use faada aur tauhfe ko khola.
Jaise hi usne kaagaz alag kar ke dekha, uski aankhein hairat me fel gayi.
Veer (smiles) : Happy birthday~
Tauhfe me andar ek framed oil painting thi. Kaafi puraani. Canvas bhi khurdura sa tha.
Kayi dino pehle jab Veer Divya aur Ava ke saath serial killer ki investigation ke liye nikla tha tab Divya ne car me ek baat kahi thi uss se...
Veer : Toh, Divya! Miss Suhana ko kya pasand hai?
Divya : Suhana? Kyu? Tum kyu poochh rahe ho ye?
Veer : Unka birthday next month aa raha hai. Mein iss baar unhe kuchh khaas gift karna chaahta hu. Tum unki closest friend ho. Toh, laga ki tum sabse behtar jaanti hogi.
Divya (curiously) : Hmm? Tum kab se logo ke birthdays ki parvah karne lage, Veer? Mere liye toh kabhi aise gifts nahi laaye.
Veer : Ahem! *smiles* Waise- Rahi baat birthdays ki toh mein aam taur par aisa nahi karta. I'm not a 'celebration' type, you know. Lekin, Miss Suhana... Unhone mere liye bahut kuchh kiya hai. I want her to feel appreciated, that's all!
Divya : Appreciated, huh? What exactly are you planning, Mr. Thoughtful?
Veer (smiles) : Kuchh nahi, seriously. Isliye, toh tumse poochh raha hu. Any ideas?
Divya (thoughtfully) : Suhana ko art pasand hai, Veer. Woh rare paintings ikhatta karti hai — mostly abstract. Aur, woh classical music instruments ki deewani hai, khaas kar live orchestra ki. Lekin... *pauses, looks at him* Tum kuchh bada karne ke baare me soch rahe ho, hai na?
Veer (smiles) : Ho sakta hai!
Idhar Suhana ki dhadkane tez thi.
Painting me ek mahila toofan ke khatam hone ke dauraan apni balcony me kinaare khadi hui bagal se ek jalti laalten ki orr badh rahi thi, aur peechhe akaash baadalo aur bijli se ghira hua tha. Toofan ke jaate hue aas-paas ke kshetro me haani. Neeche sheher ast-vyast, tez hawaaein aur keechad.
Dekha jaaye toh yeh painting Suhana ki vyatha ko bakhoobi darsha rahi thi.
Neeche peetal ki plate par sheershak khud hi likha hua tha : The lantern that survived, Arvind Mirajkar, 1938.
Frame ko chhoote hue Suhana ka haath thar-thara utha.
Suhana (shivers) : N-Nahi! Y-Ye kaise ho sakta hai?
Woh har ek bareeki ko gaur se dekh rahi thi. Kone ke paas varnish me aayi daraare, neeche painter ke signature ka halka sa ghumavdaar nishaan, frame me thodi si khaami, har ek cheez. Suhana ka gala ye dekh ke hi sookh gaya.
Suhana : Y-Ye toh-
Usne fauran hi painting ko palat kar kuchh jaanch ki. Ek seal. Original collector ki ek stamp. Kayi varsho ki puraani lakdi.
Yeh asli thi.
Yeh wahi painting thi.
Saalo pehle, Delhi ki ek painting auction me usne iss painting ko dekha tha. Dekhte hi usne mann bana liya tha ki woh ye painting leke hi rahegi. Isliye, nahi ki ye painting kaafi durlabh thi, puraani thi. Balki, toofan me tiki laalten aur aurat ki wajah se-
Jo bhaari vipda ke baad bhi, apne khud ke liye khadi hui thi aur traasdi se ladkar bhi jeevit thi. Sahi salamat thi.
Parantu, uss painting ko paana lagbhag asambhav tha. Kyunki, woh painting-
Kaera ke paas thi.
Usne pehle hi uski bidding laga ke use khareed liya tha. Mehnge daam par. Baad me, Suhana uss se akele me mili. Khareedi hui keemat se doguni keemat dene taiyaar thi woh. Aur, Kaera apna bhaav-heen chehra liye uss se bas itna hi boli ki-
"It's mine now, Suhana. And... It's not for sale."
Suhana ne Veer ko dekha.
Suhana : Ye... K-Kaise? Ye Kaera ke paas thi. Mujhe yaad hai. Tumhare paas kaise-?
Veer (smiles) : Haan. Maine unse maang li.
Suhana (shocked) : M-Maang li?
Veer : Haan! Maine request ki. Aur, unhone de di.
Veer ka jawab hadd se zyada hi seedha-saada tha. Aur, isliye Suhana ko uss par yakeen nahi hua.
Kaera cheezein yuhi nahi deti thi. Paiso ke liye bhi nahi. Ehsaan ke liye bhi nahi.
Suhana ke dimaag me woh pal phirse aaya. ICONGLOBE deal ke baad uss raat Kaera ka Veer ko kiss karna. Uski bauhe fadki.
Woh bewakoof nahi thi. Kisi bhi tarah ki 'request' Kaera ko ye painting dene ke liye raazi nahi kar sakti thi.
Jab tak ki badle me use kuchh aur na diya jaaye. Koi utni hi ya uss se zyada moolya ki vastu.
Kuchh aisa jo Kaera ko chahiye ho. Usne Veer ko phirse dekha.
Suhana (mutters) : T-Tumne sirf poochha hi nahi... Tumne-
Veer ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Uski chuppi ne sab kuchh pukhta kar diya tha. Suhana ki chhaati dard se jakad gayi.
Suhana : You promised her something, didn't you???
Uski awaaz kaanp gayi. Woh aarop nahi laga rahi thi, lekin awaaz me dard saaf jhalak raha tha.
Suhana : Iske liye!??
Usne painting aage karte hue poochha.
Veer : Ab ye aapki hai. It's my gift. For you.
Veer ne uski aankhon me dekhte hue kaha. Uska mann kuchh derr pehle ki mulaqaat ki orr kaundh gaya.
---
Din ke dauran uski car ruki, woh Kaera ke ghar pahuch chuka tha. Jassi aur Raghu use dekhte hi aage badhe. Aam taur par wo dono use rokte aur poochhte, magar unhone bas sirr hila diya.
Bas ek mamooli sa security check aur unn dono ne hi use andar jaane de diya. Koi sawaal nahi. Koi baat nahi.
Veer ne andar ghar me pravesh kiya. Saubhagyavash aaj Kishore ghar par nahi tha. Usne mushqil se abhi teen-chaar qadam hi badhaaye the ki Julia hall me prakat hui. Veer ko dekhte hi uski aankhein chaudi ho gayi.
Julia : Oh? *smiles* Young Master Veer.
Veer : It’s just Veer.
Julia : Please, allow me to call you ‘Young Master.’ In this house, names carry weight. *smiles*
Uski awaaz me kuchh chanchalta thi, kuchh sharaarat.
Julia : Aisa aksar nahi hota ki mujhe aapko dekhne ka mauka mile. Aap yaha Young Miss ke liye aaye ho na? Follow me please.
Veer : Hindi huh!? Nice. Tumhe kaise pata chala ki mein Miss Kaera se-
Julia (smiles) : Isme pata karne ki zaroorat nahi hai, young master. It was obvious.
Woh aage badhi. Veer uske peechhe-peechhe aaya. Lift ke andar dono daakhil hue. Aur, lift upar ki orr jaane lagi.
Julia : You look serious today. Business or heart?
Veer : Huh? Does it matter?
Julia : To me? No. For her? *smiles* Always.
Veer ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Julia darasal use pasand karti thi. Romantically nahi. Bas apni miss ke liye. Woh jaanti thi ki uski miss ke liye Veer kitna maayne rakhta hai. Aur, kyun Veer baaki mardo se alag tha.
[She likes you.]
'Huh? Oh come on, Pari. Har koi mujhse-'
*Ding*
[Julia's favorability : 68]
[See?]
'Kya? 68 hi hai. Nothing much.'
[It's more than enough. Itna bataane ke liye kaafi hai ki wo aapko pasand toh zaroor karti hai, Master. Of course, not in a romantic way. But she likes you.]
Pari aur uske beech ye sanvaad kuchh aur chal paata ki itne me-
*Ting*
Lift ruki. Julia bina kisi jhijhak ke corridor se guzri. Kaera ke kamre se hote hue woh uske bedroom ke baahar aa kar khadi hui.
Usne ek baar darwaaza khat-khataaya aur phir dobaara me bina anumati liye hi usne darwaaze ko dhakel kar khol diya. Woh aur Veer andar aaye aur andar qadam rakhte hi Veer maano saans lena hi bhool gaya.
Kaera apne bistar par paalthi maare baithi hui thi, jism par bas ek dheeli-dhaali safed striped shirt thi. Perr aur jaangh poori tarah se nagn.
Usne apne haatho me pakdi ek kitaab se nazrein upar uthaayi. Jab usne Veer ko dekha toh chehre par halki si muskaan apne aap aa gayi.
Kaera : Oh?
Usne apni kitaab ko takiye ke neeche sarkaaya.
Uski nigaahein Julia par tiki.
Kaera : Tumhe pata hai na ki mere bedroom me aane ki permission kisi ko bhi nahi hai? Father ko bhi nahi. Even Karan.
Julia (smiles) : Jaanti hu, miss. But I also know that today you might make an exception.
Kehte hue usne Veer ki orr dekha, phir wapas se Kaera ki taraf.
Kaera (smiles) : I hate that you’re right about that part.
Julia muskuraayi aur jhukte hue abhivaadan ki.
Julia : I will leave you two alone then.
Jaate-jaate woh darwaaze par ruki, uski nigaahein ek pal ke liye Veer se phirse mili. Aankhon me ek ajeeb tarah ki chamak thi. Phir, woh darwaza band karke baahar nikal gayi. Aur, kamre me sannaata chhaa gaya.
Kaera ne thoda sa hilte hue apne perr modey.
Kaera : Mujhe nahi pata tha ki tum surprises dena bhi enjoy karte ho, Veer. So? What brings you here?
Kehte hue usne aalas me saamne ki chair ki orr ishaara kiya.
Kaera : Have a seat.
Veer baitha. Usne Kaera ko dekha. Kuchh toh gadbad thi. ICONGLOBE ki deal ki uss raat Kaera ne bina kisi jhijhak ke use kiss kiya tha. Uss par apna adhikaar jataaya tha.
Aur ab? Woh ekdum shaant thi. Beparwah si. Maano woh raat bas ek bhooli-bisri yaad bann chuki ho.
[Don’t worry. Aisa kuchh nahi hai, Master.]
‘Tumne mere mann ko padha?’
[Nahi. Bas jaan gayi ki aap kya soch rahe hoge.]
*Ding*
[Kaera’s favorability : 99]
Favorability badhi hui thi. Phir, Kaera bhala iss tarah se kyun pesh aa rahi thi? Yeh uske aam vyaktitva se alag tha. Veer ne iss baare me sochna band kiya aur usne apne phone par nazar daali. Divya ka ek message screen par dikhaayi de raha tha.
“Agar tum Suhana ko waqai ek achha gift dena chaahte ho toh Arvind Mirajkar ki ‘The lantern that survived’ painting use de sakte ho. Agar, tum use arrange karwa sakte ho toh… Kyunki, jaha tak mujhe yaad hai, woh Kaera ke paas hai. Suhana ke paas Arvind ke kaafi famous works hai, lagbhag sabhi siwaaye uss ek ke…”
Veer ne screen band ki aur seedha mudde pe aaya.
Veer : Kya aapke paas-
Kaera (smiles) : Aapke?
Veer (smiles) : I mean- Kya tumhare paas ‘The lantern that survived’ painting hai?
Sunte hi Kaera ke kaan khade hue aur uske haav-bhaav turant hi badal gaye. Woh seedhi ho kar baithi aur muskuraayi.
Kaera : Ah! *smirks* Toh tum Suhana ko gift dene ka plan kar rahe ho.
Veer maun raha. Use jawaab dene ki zaroorat bhi nahi thi. Uski khamoshi hi pushti thi. Kaera ne ek gehri saans li.
Kaera : Tumhe kisne bataaya ki woh painting mere paas hai?
Veer : Divya.
Kaera : I see!
Usne ek haami bhari.
Kaera (grins) : Of course. Wo dono best friends hai. Sab share karti hai. No wonder.
Usne phir paini nazron se Veer ko ghoora.
Kaera : Everything has a price, Veer.
Veer (nods) : Aur, mein pay karne ke liye taiyaar hu.
Kaera ki muskaan aur chaudi ho gayi jaise maano Veer uske saamne koi mazaak kar raha ho.
Kaera : Hundred thousand billion dollars. Can you pay it?
Veer (shocked) : Mein-
Kaera : See? *smiles* Agar, mujhe paise hi chaahiye hote, toh mein use khareedti hi kyun, Veer?
Woh dheere se khadi hui.
Kaera : Come.
Veer uske peechhe-peechhe bedroom se baahar nikla, uske main room se hote hue ek gallery waale room me pahucha jaha chuninda kalakritiyaan pradarshit ho rakhi thi. Kaera ek khaas canvas ke saamne ruki. Woh painting-
The lantern that survived.
Kaera ne uss painting ko showcase par se nikaala aur uski ungliyaan frame par phir gayi.
Kaera : Kya de sakte ho Veer… Iske badle me…?
Usne bina uski orr dekhe poochha. Veer chup raha. Kaera ne painting ko uski orr kar use dikhaaya.
Kaera : You see this woman? Toofan ke baad lantern ki taraf jo haath badha rahi hai?
Veer : ..!?
Kaera : Iss ladki me mein khud apne aap ko dekhti hu. Aur, pata hai iss lantern me kisko dekhti hu?
Kehte hue uski nigaahein Veer par phiri, unn nazron me kuchh ankaha chhipa hua tha. Veer ke honth halke se khule-
Veer : I-
Kaera : Anyways… I don’t need money. I have plenty of it. What I want is… A promise.
Veer : Promise? K-Kaisa promise?
Kaera : I don’t know. Par, jab time aayega, tab tumhe mere liye kuchh karna hoga. Jo mein maangungi woh.
Veer ne turant uttar nahi diya.
Veer : What is it that you want?
Kaera (smiles) : I don’t know yet.
*Silence*
Kaera : I will ask when the time comes.
Yahi sabse khatarnak pehlu tha. Ek undefined debt. Veer ne uss par vichaar kiya. Par, akhir Kaera uss se kya hi maangengi bhavishya me? Akhir uske paas toh sab kuchh tha jo insaan aam taur par paane ki chaah rakhta hai.
Suhana ka chehra ek kshan ke liye uske mann me mandraaya. Woh khamosh gham jo kabhi Suhana ne zaahir nahi kiya tha. Veer ne akhirkar sarr hilaaya.
Veer : I accept it. Jab samay aayega, tum jo kahogi, mein woh karunga.
Kaera ne kuchh pal tak use nihaara. Phir, usne woh painting use thama di.
Kaera : Take it. It’s yours now.
Veer ne saavdhani se uss painting ko apne haatho me liya. Aur, ab Kaera ke chehre par aisa bhaav tha jise samajhna lagbhag asambhav tha. Na hi kisi jeet ka aur na hi kisi haar ka.
Veer : Miss Suhana ne aapko invite nahi kiya?
Invited toh Veer khud bhi nahi tha par woh jaanta tha ki Suhana ne use kyun invite nahi kiya tha. Kaaran tha - Gaurav.
Kaera : Iss painting ko woh na jaane kitne saalo tak mujhse maangti rahi aur maine use ye aaj tak nahi di. Kya tumhe lagta hai woh mujhe invite karegi?
Veer : I see. So… aapas me koi berr nahi. Hai na?
Kaera : No. We’re on neutral terms. Woh mujhe zyada pasand nahi karti. Aur, mein use blame nahi karti.
Kehte hue usne neeche ki floor ki taraf ishaara kiya.
Kaera : But my little brother received an invitation, though. See? Kaise Suhana mujhe taunt karti hai!? Woh aise ready ho raha hai jaise uski girlfriend ne date par bulaaya ho.
Veer muskuraaya.
Veer : Thank you! It means a lot.
Kehte hue woh baahar nikalne ki orr chal pada. Tabhi, peechhe se use Kaera ki awaaz sunaayi di.
Kaera : Remember what you promised, Veer. Now you owe me twice.
Woh muskuraayi. Usne ICONGLOBE ki raat waali baat bhi use yaad dilaayi ki kaise Veer ab uska karzdaar tha. Ek baar nahi. Do baar.
Veer ruka. Aur, bina mudey hi bola.
Veer : I will.
Aur, phir woh baahar nikal gaya. Kaera wapas se apne bedroom me lauti, takiye ke neeche se usne apni wahi kitaab baahar nikaali jiska sheershak tha-
The Art of Loving without Losing.
Aur, usme pehle hi chapter ki seekh thi - Never show full interest. Let them come toward you.
‘Ugh! This is hard. I cannot do this.’
Usne pehle page ko faad ke dustbin me fek diya. Aur, woh dusre chapter par kood gayi.
---
Suhana ki aankhon me phirse aasu bhar aaye. Iss baar kisi aur dard ke chalte. Usne painting ko car ke andar rakha aur phir woh aage badhi aur usne Veer ko kasskar jakad liya. Kuchh zyaada hi zor se.
Usi waqt ek cab unse kuchh doorie par aakar ruki aur andar se ek aurat baahar nikli ~ Divya.
Veer ne use location apni pehle hi bhej di thi. Jaise hi woh unki taraf aage badhi, uske qadam saamne ke drishya ko dekh wahi jamm gaye.
Suhana ne Veer ke sarr ko neeche kheencha aur iss baar bina kisi sharm ke-
Usne Veer ke hontho ko apne muh me bhar liya.
*Kiss*
Uski aankhein band thi. Uske haath kass ke Veer ke baalo ko jakde hue the. Seena uski chhaati me dhasa hua tha. Aur, bina aate-jaate traffic ki parvaah kiye, woh Veer ke hontho ko choosne lagi. Ek baar. Do baar. Baar-baar. Bina ruke. Maano jaise ye jeevan ka antim lamha tha.
[See? I told you Suhana loves you.]
Pari ki awaaz uske mann me goonji. Magar, Veer ka dhyaan iss waqt Suhana par tha. Dono alag hue. Suhana ne use dekha. Veer ki aankhon me aashcharya tha.
Veer : Suhana…!?
Suhana : Shhhh-! Bas mere sawaalo ka jawaab do.
Veer : ???
Suhana : K-Kyun? Mere liye itna sab kyun?
Veer : Kyunki… Kyunki, aapko woh painting kayi saalo se chaahiye thi.
Suhana : Chaahiye toh mujhe aur bhi bahut kuchh hai. Doge mujhe?
Usne Veer ke hontho ko dekh bola.
*badumps*
Aur, iss baar Veer ki dhadkane tez ho gayi.
Veer : Su-
Bolne se pehle hi ek baar phir Suhana ne uske hontho par vaar kar diya. Uski saans phool rahi thi par uske bawajood woh Veer ko choomne se peechhe nahi hatna chaahti thi.
Aaj use samajh aa raha tha ki uss raat Kaera ko kaisa mehsoos hua hoga. Kahi na kahi use gussa aa raha tha ki Kaera ne ye ehsaas uss se pehle paa liya. Aur, woh wahi ki wahi bas khadi hoti dekhti rahi. Uss yaad ko woh aaj mitaana chaahti thi.
Jab dono alag hue toh dono ki hi saansein tez thi.
Suhana : Y-Ye sab tumhara plan tha na? *huff*
Veer (nods) : H-Haan! Sorry, meri wajah se aapka birthday-
Suhana : Nahi! It’s the best birthday gift I have ever got. Tumne mujhe azaad kiya hai. *glances* Aur, ye pal mein kabhi bhi nahi bhoolungi, Veer. Thank you~
“Tum dono ka ho gaya ho toh koi mujhe notice karega ab?”
Divya ki awaaz unke kaano me padi. Suhana ne jaisi hi use paaya, uske gaal sharm se laal ho gaye aur woh jhatse Veer se alag ho gayi.
Suhana : Divya? Tum yaha?
Divya : Haan mein yaha-
Suhana : T-Tum y-yaha kaise-!?
Divya : Veer ki location mere phone me update ho rahi thi. *walks forward* Happy birthday jaaneman!
Aur, usne kass ke Suhana ko apni baahon me bhar liya.
Suhana : Divya-!
Divya : Shh! I know kya hua hai. Veer ne mujhe sab pehle hi bata diya tha ki kya hone waala hai.
Suhana : Matlab tumhe pata tha?
Divya (nods) : Hmm! Happy birthday darling~ You deserved it. You deserve this happiness. This freedom. Every good thing in this world.
Veer : Ladies! Ab samay aa gaya hai mein niklu-
Suhana : Kyaaaa? N-Nahi!
Usne Veer ka haath kasskar thaama.
Suhana : You are not going anywhere. P-Please~ I beg you! Kahi mat jao. I want you to be with me. Tum dono… meri life me sabse important ho. *sob* Please~ Aaj mein bahut khush hu. I want to spend the rest of the night with you two. Please~
Veer ne uske gaalo ko apne haatho me liya aur uske chehre ki orr halka sa jhuka.
Veer : I know! Lekin… aapke husband ke khilaaf wo sab saboot jo maine pesh kiye. Uske liye… Mujhe police station jaana hi hoga. DGP se milna hoga. You know it too ki ye kitna serious matter hai, right? Mein aapse milne phirse aaunga baad me. Don’t worry.
Suhana : P-Par-
Veer ne uske maathe ko haule se chooma. Suhana ka badan kaanp gaya.
Veer : Maine kaha hai na ki mein aaunga. Now… Go. Aap apni best friend se itne time baad mil rahi ho. Aur, aap poochhna nahi chaahti Divya se ki woh itne din Mumbai me rahi toh mili kyu nahi aapse? *smiles* Spend some time with her.
Suhana : I-
Veer ne iss baar uski thuddi ko pakad uska chehra upar uthaaya aur Divya ke saamne hi-
*Kiss*
Uske hontho ko ek baar phirse choom liya. Suhana ka dil gadgad ho chuka tha. Woh kuchh derr pehle ka gham bhool chuki thi kyunki uske sabse pasandeeda vyakti uske paas the.
Suhana : P-Promise?
Veer : Haan promise.
Suhana : Aur, Kaera ko tumne kya diya badle me?
Veer : Kuchh bhi nahi.
Suhana : Jhooth mat bolo, mein jaanti hu ki woh yuhi tumhe painting nahi de sakti chaahe tum uske kitne hi achhe dost hi kyun na ho.
Veer : Bas ek vaada. Jiske baare me unhone nahi bataaya. Samay aane par woh mujhse kuchh maangengi.
Suhana ki bauhe kisi chinta me sikudi.
Veer : Ab mujhe jaana hoga. Enjoy your night now, okay? Leave the rest to me.
Kehte hue woh muda aur Divya ke bagal se jaane ke liye hue toh Divya ne uska haath pakad use rok liya. Uski peeth abhi bhi Veer ki taraf hi thi. Lekin, haath peechhe ki orr uski kalaayi ko thaame hue tha.
Divya (mutters) : Thank you.
Veer : Don’t mention it.
Divya : Nahi. Like, really… Thank you. Thank you so much. Tumhari wajah se hi aaj mein aur Suhana-
Veer (smiles) : Thank me some other time then. I need to go now.
Divya : Huh? Oh! *blushes* As you wish… *smiles*
Aur, Veer dono sakhiyo ko aapas me chhor waha se nikal gaya.
***
Raat abhi poori tarah se chhat bhi nahi paayi thi aur Mumbai me Gaurav ke bangley me mache hungaame se abhi tak log uss ghatna se prabhavit the.
Jab Suhana ghar se bhaagi thi, theek uske kuchh kshan pehle hi koi aur bhi waha se jaldbaazi me nikla tha. Uss waqt-
Ek black sedan car tez raftaar me bhaagte hue driveway se nikli, uske tyres ki cheenkh sadak par goonj uthi. Car ke andar Nik ke haath kaanp rahe the. Usne steering wheel ko kasskar jakad rakha tha. Jaise hi usne car ko sadak par moda, aur estate se dur tezi se bhagaaya, uske maathe par gusse se nassein ubhar aayi.
“Shit… shit… shit…”
Saansein tez thi. Kuchh hi palon me sab kuchh bikhar gaya tha. Projector. Gaurav ki sacchaayi ka saamne aana. Police ka aana. Woh files. Kisi ne sab kuchh plan kar rakha tha.
Aur, Nik ko iska matlab achhi tarah pata tha. Uss haramkhor Veer ko sab kuchh gyaat tha. Uski car sadak par tezi se bhaagti gayi. Lekin, tabhi kareeban uske 100 metre peechhe hi-
Ek aur car andhere se baahar nikli. Phir, ek aur. Aur, phir ek aur. Teen kaali gaadiyaan raat me sadak par aise utri jaise shikaari shikaar ke liye utarte hai.
Pehli SUV ke andar ek aadmi, driver seat ke bagal waali seat par jhuka hua tha aur windshield se baahar jhaak raha tha.
Surya. Wahi Sarabhai gang member ka ek mehatvpoorn member. Wahi gang jisko Aadesh ne hire kiya tha Veer ki hekdi nikaalne ke liye lekin, baad me Balhaar ke saamne use hi muh ki khaani padi thi. Uss din ke baad se hi Sarabhai aur uski gang Balhaar ke saamne natmastak ho gaye the.
Surya (smirks) : Kya hi kehne boss ke-!
Usne car ke baahar darwaaze ko haath se do baar thap-thapaaya aur driver ki orr jhuka.
Surya : Woh raha angrez ka choda, kameena. Tez chala bey!
Driver : K-Kaha? K-Kaun sa kameena, Surya bhai?
Surya : Wahi videshi chooha jiske baare me kal Veer boss ne bataaya tha.
Driver : P-Pakka wahi hai na? Koi aur nikla toh-?
Surya ne apna mobile nikaalte hue tasveerein check ki.
Surya : Wahi car number. Car ka wahi color. Sab same hai. Tu nahi tha na kal adde pe? Tujhe nahi pata. Bhaga! Bhaga! Aage le!
Driver (nods) : H-Haan, bhai!
SUV ka engine zor se garja.
Surya : Aur, tez!!!
Car tezi se aage badhi aur unke peechhe unke saath ki do cars bina kisi nirdesh ke hi unka peechha karne lagi. Chase shuru ho chuki thi.
---
Pichhli raat…
Docks se lage ek warehouse me, bade se hall me log samooh me khade the. Kuchh cigarette pee rahe the, kuchh bakso par tike hue the, kuchh aapas me fusfusa rahe the aur kuchh naye-naye aaye maal ko rakhwa rahe the.
Ye aam aadmi nahi the. Ye wo log the jo logo ko gaayab karne me maahir the. Sarabhai ek jagah khade kisi se baat-cheet kar raha tha. Surya uske bagal me khade tambakhu khaa raha tha aur beecho-beech Balhaar baitha hua tha. Lekin, aaj raat-
Balhaar kamre ka mukhiya nahi tha. Warehouse ke farsh par kisi ke aane ki aahat goonji. Koi andar aaya. Haath jebo me. Pehnaawa ekdum mehnga. Saaf-suthra. Aur, hontho par halki si muskaan.
Veer hall me aise daakhil hua jaise maano woh uss warehouse ka maalik ho. Baat-cheet tham gayi. Sarabhai turant hi seedha khada ho gaya. Surya ne apne tambakhu ko jeb me rakh liya. Aur, Balhaar bhi swayam khada ho gaya.
Veer unse kuchh hi doorie par ruka. Uski nigaahein waha jamey hue logo par dheere-dheere ghoomi. Phir, usne Balhaar ki orr dekha.
Veer : Kal raat ek ‘Nik’ naam ka ek videshi aadmi Globerays ke CEO, Gaurav ke ghar se faraar hoyega.
Sab ne use hairaani bhari aankhein liye dekha. Kaun Nik? Bhaagega? Kaha? Veer ne aage kehna jaari rakha.
Veer : Ek middle aged aadmi hai. Dikhne me thoda sa hatta-katta hai. Theek-thaak height hai. Kal woh waha se bhaagega. Ek black SUV me.
Samooh ke ek naye sadasya, jise Veer ke baare me kuchh bhi nahi pata tha, usne apni bauhe chadhaayi aur bola.
Ladka : Toh, hum kya kare? Tum kaun ho? Aur, humaara uss se kya lena-dena?
Warehouse me sannaata chhaa gaya. Sarabhai ne uss ladke ko dekha. Iske pehle ki woh moorkh kuchh aur keh paata-
*Chataak*
Surya aage badha aur use itni zor se thappad maara ki uski awaaz poore hall me goonj uthi. Woh ladka sadme me apna gaal pakadte hue peechhe ki orr ladkhada gaya.
Surya (yells) : Bhosdike, jab bolne ko kaha jaaye tabhi apna muh khola kar, samjha na?
Woh zor se gurraaya, uski aankhein gusse se laal thi. Usne uss ladke ki collor pakdi aur use peechhe dhakela.
Surya : Aur, agar Veer boss ne kaha hai ki aisa hoga… toh waisa hi hoga. Samajh gaya lawde???
Ladka (shivers) : J-Ji bhai! Sorry!
Kamra ekdum shaant ho gaya. Veer ne uss orr dekha bhi nahi. Woh bas bolta raha.
Veer : Jaise hi woh bhaagega, tum uska peechha karoge.
Balhaar aage badha.
Balhaar : Pakadna hai?
Veer : Haan!
Balhaar : Pakad ke kya karna hai?
Veer : Kuchh nahi. Bas pakadna hai. Zinda.
Balhaar (nods) : Ho jaayega.
Usne apne ladko par ek nazar daali. Surya aur kuchh aur ladko ki taraf.
Balhaar : Ladke log sambhaal lenge.
Veer ne apna phone uski orr feka toh Balhaar ne use pakad liya.
Veer : Uski pictures aur car ki details hai. Apne phone me leke ladko ko bhej do. Koi galti na hone paaye.
Balhaar ne haami bhar theek waisa hi kiya, phir uska chehra thoda narm pad gaya.
Balhaar : Shukriya.
Veer : Hmm?
Balhaar : Police ko vyast rakhne ke liye. Har jagah bhaag-daud me lagi hai wo. Prestige ka lafda. Serial killer ki khoj. Underground lair ki jaanch. Humaara woh Aadesh jaisinghani ke private suite me video bana ke viral karne ka idea. Sheher ke aadhe adhikari kaagazi kaaryavahi aur chhaapo ke bojh taley dabe hue hai.
Veer (grins) : Oh!?
Balhaar : Iss se mujhe kaafi samay mila hai. Warna, underground hue bahut waqt ho raha tha.
Veer jaanta tha ki uski wajah se Balhaar ko yeh sunehra avsar mila tha. Aage badhne ka samay. Phirse, nirmaan karne ka samay. Vikaas karne ka samay. Taaqat badhaane ka samay.
Balhaar : Mere liye maidaan kaafi saaf ho gaya. Iss se kaafi madad mili hai.
Veer (smiles) : Bas Nik ko pakad lena.
Usne iss baat par charcha nahi ki. Woh muda aur darwaaze ke paas ruka.
Veer : Use bhaagne mat dena.
Aur, bas itna bol woh waha se nikal gaya.
---
Nik ki sedan itni tezi se mod se guzri ki lagbhag bhidte-bhidte bach hi gayi. Uski saansein ab ladkhadaayi hui thi. Usne sheeshe me peechhe ka drishya dekha. Pehle toh kuchh nahi tha. Bas khaali sadak. Phir, do second ke baad hi-
Ek jodi headlights dikhaayi padi. Phir, ek aur. Aur, phir ek aur. Nik ki aankhein chaudi ho gayi.
“What the hell…?”
Raushni aur qareeb aane lagi. Behad qareeb. Uska dil zoro se dhadka.
“Shit!”
Usne accelerator par perr dabaaya. Engine zor se dahaada. Sedan kisi rocket ki tarah tezi se aage bhaagi. Aur, uske theek peechhe Surya, apni seat par aage ki orr jhuk gaya.
Surya : Wo raha madarchod! Pakad behanchod ko!
Usne dashboard par zor se haath maara.
Surya : Bhaga bhosdike!! Bhaga! Saala bach ke jaane na paaye.
Driver : Ji bhai! Nahi bhaag paayega!
SUV tez raftaar se aage badhi. Baaki gaadiyaan bhi unke peechhe kataar lagaaye bhaagti gayi. Ek gaadi daahine lane me ghus gayi toh wahi dusri baayi taraf waali lane me, Nik ko pakadne ke liye.
Nik ne sheeshe me dekha. Teen gaadiyon me se ab ek hi gaadi bachi thi. Lekin, woh jaanta tha ki baaki do kisi aur route se uss tak aane ki koshish kar rahi hongi. Uska gala sookh gaya.
“Fuck! Who the hell are these people?”
Uska dimaag har jagah daud raha tha. Tabhi, achanak usne apna phone uthaaya aur Gaurav ko call bhidaaya. Iss aas me ki usne ab tak matter sambhaal liya hoga. Ghanti baji, magar-
---
Idhar police station me Gaurav ko hathkadiyo me baandhe galiyaare me ghaseeta jaa raha tha. Gusse se uska poora chehra laal tha.
Gaurav : DGP!! Tumhe maalum nahi hai tum kise chhu rahe ho. Tumhe lagta hai ye khel yahi khatam ho jaayega?
Ek adhikari ne use aage dhakela. “Aage badho!”
Gaurav : Mein tumhara woh hashr karunga ki tum mere paas aake gidgidaoge, DGP! Yaad rakhna! Tum sab ke sab!
Rohan paas khada chup-chap sab dekhta raha, jab tak ki Gaurav ko andar jail me nahi daal diya gaya. Ab aage ki baat tabhi honi thi jab uski koi bail karwaane aaye. Tab tak ke liye, Gaurav ek gunehgaar hi tha.
Rohan : Iss file me jitne bhi saboot hai unhe cross check karo. Sab authentic hai ya nahi. Pendrive ke data ki ek report bana kar mujhe pesh karo. Sab cross check karo. Samajh gaye? Koi bhi maayi ka laal inn raeeso ko begunaah saabit karwaane ke liye aayega, toh unhe mein khud dekhunga.
Adhikari : Ji sir!
Tabhi, Rohan ki jeb me Gaurav ka phone baj utha jo usne zabt kiya tha. Usne screen par nazar daali.
Caller ID : Nik
Uski bauhe kass uthi. ‘Iska matlab Veer sahi tha…!’
Usne Gaurav ka bajta phone turant hi ek officer ki orr pheka.
Rohan : Call uthao. Trace karo iski location. Aur, ek unit taiyaar rakho turant bhejne ke liye.
Officer : Ji sir!
Rohan ne aadesh dete hue kaha. Uske peechhe Gaurav lagataar gaaliyaan bak raha tha.
Gaurav (yells) : Tum sab gaye kaam se behanchodo! Baahar bas nikalne do mujhe. Baahar nikalte hi mein tum sabko dafna dunga.
Rohan (smiles) : Jitna ganda bol sakte ho bolo, Mister Gaurav. Ye humaare liye aur bhi beneficial hai. Agar, kisi tarah tum riha ho bhi gaye, toh ek DGP ke saath badtameezi karne ke jurm me tumhe phir se andar toh daal sakta hu.
Gaurav (smirks) : Hmph! I’m drunk, DGP Sir. You know… nashe me bole gaye shabdo ko seriously maan ke saza nahi suna sakte.
Rohan : Dekha jaayega, Mister Gaurav. Dekha jaayega.
Tabhi, koi waha par aaya. Veer police station ki entrance par khada hua tha, haath jebo me, Suhana ki party me pehne gaye wahi kapde uske badan par the.
Trisha ne use sabse pehle dekha. Phir, Rohan ne. Aur, phir dono Rohan Trisha ne ek-dusre ko dekha.
Rohan : Toh, akhirkar aa hi gaye tum.
Veer (smiles) : Kisi ko interrogation jo chaahiye tha.
Rohan ne paas ek cabin ki orr ishaara kiya.
Rohan : Andar!
Kuchh minute baad, darwaaza band hua. Rohan Veer ke saamne mej ke dusri orr baitha hua tha. Trisha recording device taiyaar kar ke deewar ke paas khadi hui thi. Veer baitha aur apni kursi par thoda peechhe jhuk gaya. Araam se. Rohan ne use dhyaan se dekha.
Rohan : Toh… Aaj raat. Ye sab tumhara kiya dhara tha, hai na?
Veer (bluntly) : Bilkul!
Rohan ki bauhe tann gayi.
Rohan : Kaise?
Veer : Mere paas mere jasoos hai.
Rohan (leans forward) : Kaun?
Veer (smiles) : Ek jasoos jasoos hota hai, Sir. Hai na?
Rohan ne dheere se saans chhori. Ek pal ke liye kuchh derr pehle ka Erica ka naqaab-posh chehra uske mann me aaya.
Rohan : Theek hai! Mat batao. Toh, aaj ke iss khel se kya samjhu mein Veer? Kya yahi ki tumhe apraadhiyo ko be-naqaab karne me maza aata hai?
Veer : Aapko toh meri uplabdhi se khush hona chaahiye na? Hai ki nahi?
Rohan : Haan! *pauses* Aur, na. Tumne ek criminal ko expose kiya hai. Achhi baat hai. Lekin, tumne logo ki privacy ko invade bhi kiya hai, data hack kiya, security ko breach kiya aur illegally ye sab praapt kiya. *frowns* Ye apne aap me ek crime hai.
Veer : …
Rohan : Tumne kanoon ko apne haath me liya hai.
Veer (leans forward) : Aur, agar nahi leta toh?
Rohan : …
Veer (mutters) : Aap sab ko ghanta koi khabar lagni thi ki Gaurav peeth peechhe kya kuchh kar raha tha.
Baat sach thi. Rohan ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Veer punah peechhe jhuk gaya.
Veer : Jis asal mudde ke liye aapne mujhe yaha bulaaya hai. Kyun na hum uss par aaye ab?
Rohan : Tum underground lair ke andar the?
Veer : Haan.
Rohan : Kya dekha tumne udhar?
Veer : Serial killer ko.
Recording karte hue Trisha ka haath ek pal ke liye ruk gaya. Rohan ki nazrein paini hui.
Rohan : Meri beti ne bataaya ki tumne uss killer ke saath haathapaayi bhi ki thi. Kya ye sach hai?
Veer (chuckles) : Haan. Yeh sach hai.
Rohan : Aur, tum sahi-salaamat do bacchiyo ko lekar bach kar bhi baahar nikal aaye?
Veer : Hey! Mein kaafi injured tha. Kyun, hai na Miss Trisha? *smiles*
Trisha ka badan thitura. Woh asahaj sa mehsoos karne lagi. Rohan ne uski taraf dekha. Trisha ne phir haami bhari.
Trisha : Woh… *nods* Woh ghaayal tha.
Rohan (glances) : Serial killer ke baare me aur kuchh jaante ho?
Veer : Hmm! Jo sketch police ne jaari kiya tha, woh ekdum accurate hai. Ek aged man. Safed baal. Kandhe tak. Woh tez tha. Taqatvar. Aur… ek psycho.
Rohan (frowns) : Kya uske muh se aur kuchh anjaane me nikla tha? Koi maqsad?
Veer : Nahi! Par, itna zaroor bata sakta hu ki woh paiso ke liye nahi maar raha. Na hi badle ke liye. Na hi kisi ideology ki wajah se. Woh ek unhinged serial killer hai. Jo mazey ke liye maarta hai. Use pleasure milta hai. He’s a bloody psycho.
Kamre ka taapmaan thanda pad gaya. Trisha ki ungliyaan Pihu ko yaad kar recorder par kass gayi.
Rohan : Tumne abhi-abhi kaha ki woh ek aged man hai. Agar, woh itna hi aged hai, toh bhala itna khatarnak kaise hai?
Veer ki nazrein uthi. Aur, kamre me andar ghusne ke baad, pehli baar uske hontho par se muskaan gaayab thi.
Veer : Kyunki, woh trained hai. Aur, unpredictable.
Rohan : !?
Veer (leans forward) : Agli baar agar unfortunately aapka saamna uss se ho jaaye toh- *pauses* toh apne saath jitne bhi armed officers le jaa sakte ho, leke jaaiyega.
Rohan : !!!?
Veer : Jitne bhi weapons hai. Sab. Jitni bhi unit forces hai. Sab.
Rohan (frowns) : Kyun? Ek aged aadmi ke liye itna sab bhala kyun?
Veer : Kyunki, yeh wahi aged aadmi hai jise aapki poori police force abhi tak nahi pakad paayi, aur wo din dahaade murders par murders karta chala gaya. Yaha tak ki, aapki beti ko bhi utha ke le gaya tha.
*Silence*
Kuchh der tak bas sannaata chhaaya raha. Rohan ne ek gehri saans li.
Rohan : Ab do sabse important sawaal. Pehla. Tumne Pihu aur Juhi ko uss serial killer se kaise bachaaya?
Veer : Mein lucky tha. Juhi aur Pihu mujhe kismat ke chalte mil gayi thi. Uske baad bhaagte waqt hi meri haathapaayi uss se hui thi. Meri kismat isliye achhi thi kyunki, woh pehle se hi shaayad injured tha.
Rohan : Huh?
Veer : Haan! Isliye, ladte waqt mujhe chot zaroor aayi par mein bhaag nikalne me qamyaab tha.
Rohan : Injured hone ke bawajood woh police se bach kar bhaag nikla? *frowns* Dusra sawaal. Tumhe kaise pata chala ki Pihu aur Juhi underground lair me hai?
Veer (smiles) : Maine abhi aapse kaha tha ki mere paas mere jasoos hai.
Rohan : Bakwaas mat karo, Veer. Mujhe sirf sach chaahiye.
Veer (shrugs) : Theek hai. Raahgeero se pata chala tha.
Rohan (frowns) : Par police ko toh ye saboot nahi mil paaye the.
Veer : Toh mujhe kaise mil gaye?
Rohan (frowns) : Tum-!!!
Veer : Aur, isliye maine kaha. *smiles* Ki agli baar agar uss se saamna ho, toh satark rahiyega. Otherwise-
Rohan : …?
Veer : You’ll regret it!!!
---
Idhar, Nik ki gaadi kisi bike waale ko takkar maarte-maarte bachi. Uska chehra paseene se lath-path tha.
“Come on… come on… pick the damn call, Gaurav!”
Call akhirkar utha.
“Hello! Hello? Gaurav?”
Lekin, dusre chhor se koi awaaz nahi aayi. Bas khamoshi. Nik ka dimaag tezi se ghooma. Ek bura ehsaas. Usne mirror me dekha. Headlights. Abhi bhi thi. Aur, qareeb.
Gaurav. Police? Kahi woh use le toh nahi gaye? Agar, aisa tha toh uska phone-
“Shit!!”
Uski saans ek pal ke liye ruk gayi. Survival instincts trigger hue aur bina kisi jhijhak ke usne phone kaan se hataaya aur call cut karte hue khidki ke baahar fek diya.
Nik ne accelerator ko aur zor se dabaaya. Sedan bhaagi aur traffic ko cheerte hue nikalne lagi. Usne dobaara sheeshe me dekha. Gaadiyaan abhi bhi aa rahi thi.
“Who the hell are they? Fuck!”
Woh gurraaya. Uska dimag har jagah daudne laga. Police? Nahi. Police iss tarah se peechha nahi karti. Ye koi aur log the. Kuchh planned tha. Usne gaadi ko ek sakre mod me moda.
Peechhe , Surya ne zor se dashboard par maara.
Surya : Haraam-zaada gaadi chalaane me expert lagta hai. Aage bhagaate raho.
Uski SUV Nik ki car ke peechhe bhaagi.
Surya (shouts) : Aur, tez! Aur, tez! Tez chala gaandu!
Driver ne acceleration badhaaya. Surya iss baar khidki se baahar jhuka. Usne apni handgun uthaayi, aim lagaaya, ek gehri saans aur-
*Bang*
Goli ki awaaz traffic sadak par goonj uthi aur goli Nik ki sedan ke peechhe ke sheeshe se takraayi.
*Crack*
Sheesha kisi makdi ke jaale ke samaan chakna-choor ho gaya. Car ke andar Nik buri tarah chaunk gaya.
“FUCK!”
Uski seat ke peechhe kaanch ke tukde khad-khadaane lage. Jaan halak me thi.
“Motherfuckers are now shooting-!?”
Car par niyantran banaaye rakhne ke liye uske haath paseene se tarr ho chuke the. Usne khud ko shaant karne ki koshish ki. Socho. Socho Nik.
Woh Mumbai ke raasto se achhi tarah waaqif nahi tha. Lekin, kuchh jagaho ko jaanta tha. Aisi jagaahe jaha Gaurav aur usne niji mulaqaatein ki hui thi. Unme se ek jagah yaha se dur nahi thi.
Usne steering wheel ghumaaya aur dusri sadak par mud gaya. Tezi se uss disha ki orr badha. Uske peechhe-
Surya ki muskaan dheere-dheere chaudi ho gayi.
Surya : Oh ho… Dekho toh zara. Haha!
Driver : K-Kya hua bhai?
Surya : Bilkul wahi hua jaisa ki Veer boss ne kaha tha. Bhosdiwaale ne bilkul wahi mod liya hai.
Driver : Huh? Hum uss angrez ko pakad hi kyun rahe hai?
Surya ne uske sarr par ek thappad maara.
Surya : Tu bas gaadi chala, bewakoof. Jitna kaha gaya utna kar. Veer boss ne kaha hai usko zinda pakadna hai matlab pakadna hai.
Driver : J-Ji bhai!
Aage, Nik ki car ek shaant industrialist lane ke paas pahuchi. Uski aankhon me halki si chamak aa gayi.
“This is it!”
Gaurav ke shelters me se ek. Unhone iss shelter ka istemal aksar tab-tab kiya tha jab-jab unhe ekaant me baat karne ki zaroorat hoti thi.
Agar, woh bas kisi tarah se andar pahuch jaaye toh-
‘Huh?’
Uske chehre par se achanak hi rang udd gaya. Shelter ke paas do cars khadi hui thi. Pehle se. Chupke se. Aadhh me. Lekin, Nik ne dekh liya.
“N-Nooo-!!”
Cars ke engine achanak chaalu ho gaye. Nik ki aankhein bhay ke maare fel gayi.
“Fuckkkk! They were waiting for me!?”
Usne steering wheel ko zor se moda aur shelter pahuchne se pehle hi dusri sadak par mud gaya. Uske peechhe-
Dono khadi cars turant chal padi. Wo peechha karne lagi. Nik ko choohe ki tarah bhaagta dekh Surya zor se hasa.
Surya : Kaha bhaagega, bhosdike! Veer boss ne ekdum sahi kaha tha. Ye angrez ka tatta iss taraf bachne ke liye zaroor aayega. Aur, woh sahi the.
Kintu, Nik ko iska koi andaaza nahi tha. Ghera pehle hi kasa jaa chuka tha. Nik ki car ke peechhe, daaye-baaye, har taraf se aadmi uski taraf badh rahe the.
“How the hell do they know those places?”
Uske dimaag me tarah-tarah ke vichaar daud rahe the, tabhi wahi naam uske dimaag me punah aaya.
Veer.
Uska jabda kass gaya.
“That bastard…. VEEEEER!!!”
Wahi tha. Uske alawa aur koi ho hi nahi sakta tha. Par, akhir kaise? Usne accelerator par phir perr dabaaya. Car ek aur highway par tezi se daud padi. Agar, zameen surakshit nahi thi toh-
Keval ek hi vikalp bacha tha. Mumbai harbour. Port Area.
Gaurav ke paas waha ek private yacht thi. Agar, woh waha tak pahuch gaya toh woh bach jaayega.
---
Wapas police station me cabin ke andar sannaata tha. Rohan aur Trisha Veer ko ghoor rahe the. Usne abhi-abhi jo chetaavni di thi, uska gehra asar unn dono par pada tha.
Rohan : Regret? Kya matlab?
Veer : Bilkul wahi jo maine kaha. Aur, jo aapne suna. Serial killer ko aap uski umr ki wajah se kam mat samajhiye. Woh aapki poori police force ko bhi khatam kar sakta hai.
Rohan : Kya bakwaas kar rahe ho!
Veer : Mera kaam tha aapko bataana. Jo maine kar diya hai. Agar, aap yakeen nahi karna chaahte *shrugs* toh aapki marzi.
Woh dheere se khada hua.
Veer : Lekin, baad me mujhse ye mat kehna ki maine aapko warn nahi kiya.
Rohan : We’ll see. Prestige ke haadse waali raat tum kaha the?
Veer : Out of city tha. Late aaya tha.
Rohan : Phirse jhooth. Tumne uss haadse ke baad koi bhi jaankaari nahi di. Koi bhi interrogation nahi. Sab family members hi handle kar rahe the. Kyun?
Veer : Aap mazaak kar rahe ho, right? Maine apne dada ji ko kho diya. Mere ghar ke ek chaheete sadasya ko goli lag gayi, unhone apni chalne ki kshamta kho di. Mera startup tabaah ho gaya. Hotel khoon se rang gaya. Security guards maare gaye. Aur, uss afra-tafri ke beech-
Rohan : …
Veer : Aap mujhse ye expect kar rahe ho ki mein interviews deta?
Rohan ne dheere se saans chhori. Uske paas iska koi jawaab nahi tha. Veer ne shaant bhaav se apni aasteen theek ki.
Veer : I believe maine aapke important questions ke answers de diye hai.
Woh muda aur darwaaze ki orr chal pada, jab-
“YOU ARE NOT LEAVING!”
Rohan ne mej par haath patka aur achanak khada ho gaya. Uski awaaz kamre me goonj uthi.
Rohan : Jab tak mein na kahu, tum yaha se nahi jaaoge.
Veer ruka. Aur, dheere se peechhe muda.
Veer : Oh!? *smiles*
Rohan uske qareeb aaya. Aur, tabhi ek officer ne baahar se awaaz lagaayi.
“Phone ki stable location mil gayi hai, Sir!”
Rohan : Unit leke pahucho turant.
“Ji Sir!”
Rohan phirse Veer ki orr muda.
Rohan : Tum bahut saari cheezo me involved ho, Veer. Itne saare coincidences nahi ho sakte. Tum itni asaani se bachkar nahi nikal paaoge.
Veer (smiles) : Trust me. DGP Sir. Mujhe ek partner ke roop me lene me zyada samjhdari hogi bajaaye iske ki-
Rohan : SHUT UP! Tum yaha baithoge. Aur, mere har sawaal ka jawaab doge.
Veer ne kuchh nahi kaha. Woh bas use dekhta raha. Shaant.
Rohan : Kya tum Dhananjay, Ranjeet ke case me shaamil the?
Veer : Huh? Kaun Dhananjay Ranjeet?
[Hehe~]
Rohan ne apne daant zor se meese. Trisha ghabraayi. Kya Rohan samajh gaya? Rohan ki nazar ek pal ke liye Trisha par padi.
Rohan : Mere saath game mat khelo, Veer. Mujhe pata hai tum kayi maamlo me shaamil ho. Yaha tak ki mujhe yeh bhi yakeen hai ki tumhara connection underworld mafia se bhi hai.
Veer (smiles) : Aap bahut bada aarop laga rahe hai, Sir. Khaaskar mere jaise ek college student par.
Woh aalas se kursi par baith peechhe jhuk gaya.
Rohan (shouts) : SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Rohan : Mujhe pata hai ki tum kitne din college gaye ho, kitne din jaate ho, kitne business run karte ho, kaha tumhara uthna-baithna hai, kaha jaate ho, kis se milte ho, tumhare parivar me kaun-kaun hai.
Veer ki muskaan gaayab ho gayi.
Veer (frowns) : Aap mere parivar ki jasoosi kar rahe ho?
Rohan (smirks) : Abhi tak toh nahi. *pauses* Lekin, agar zaroorat padi, toh woh bhi ki jaayegi. Mere paas tumhare baare me kaafi jankaari hai, Veer. Tum dusro ko bewakoof bana sakte ho. Mujhe nahi.
Veer : …
Rohan : Sawal ka jawab do. Kya tum Dhananjay aur Ranjeet ke maamle me shaamil ho?
Trisha ke shareer me phir sihran daud gayi. Uski ungliyaan kass gayi. Agar, Rohan chhaan-been karta raha toh aise me toh-
Veer : Nahi! Mein kuchh bhi nahi jaanta.
Rohan bhadak utha.
Rohan : Tumhari himmat kaise hui mere saamne jhooth bolne ki-?
Usne gusse se mej par haath patke.
Rohan : Mein tumhe abhi jail me daal sakta hu, Veer. Samjhe? Ek third-degree ka treatment aur tum mujhse rukne ki bheekh maangne lagoge. Aur, koi bhi iss par sawaal nahi uthaayega. Ye authority hai mere paas. Mein ye kar sakta hu.
Veer (smiles) : Par, aap nahi karoge.
Usne seedha Trisha ki orr dekha.
Veer (smirks) : Hai na? Miss Trisha?
Trisha jamm ke reh gayi. Uske mann me phirse wahi drishya kaundh gaye. Ranjeet ka marna. Uske haath me bandook. Slaughterhouse. Tasveer. Uska dil zor se dhadka. Usne Rohan ko dekha aur apna sarr ‘naa’ me hilaaya. Nahi. Use itna push mat karo. Aur, Rohan ka gussa aur bhi badh gaya.
Rohan : Tch!
Veer : Jaisa ki maine kaha, mujhe ek partner ke roop me lena aapke liye hi behtar hoga.
Rohan : Shut up!
Veer : Aap wardi pehen kar apraadhiyo ka peechha karte ho. Maine wahi kaam bina wardi ke kiya hai. Aapki aur meri… manzil ek hi hai.
Rohan (yells) : Tumhe iska right nahi hai.
Veer (stands up) : Sahi kaha. Mere paas right nahi hai. Lekin, kabhi-kabhi rights se zyaada… results matter karte hai, Sir.
---
Nik ki gaadi sunsaan road pe zor se bhaagi. Uski saansein bhaari thi.
"Fuck... fuck..." Usne mirror check kiya. Headlights. Abhi bhi peeche. Woh haraamzade use jaane hi nahi de rahe the.
Surya, peechhe apni car ki window se aadha bahar jhuka.
Surya : Bhaga bhaga bhaga! Pakdo uss harami ko!
Nik apne aap me hi badbadaaya. “Shit-!”
Harbour aage tha. Agar woh Gaurav ki yacht tak pahunch gaya toh… Woh samundar ke zariye unse dur bhaag paane me qamyaab ho jaayega.
Bas thoda aur.
Bas-
Uski aankhein phail gayi. Harbour use dikhaayi diya. Aur, yacht bhi. Lekin, kuchh toh gadbad thi.
Log. Dher saare log. Yacht ke neeche aas-paas khade the. Road ko dekh rahe the. Intezar kar rahe the. Nik ke badan me jhurjhuri daud gayi.
"Shit." Uski steering wheel pe pakad mazboot ho gayi. “They’re here too…?”
Usne jaldi se apni kamar thap-thapaayi. Uski ungliyon ko apni handgun feel hui. "Tch."
Aur, uske peechhe-
"RUK MADARCHOD!"
*BANG*
Zor se gunshot ki aawaz aayi. Nik ne turant hi duck kiya, kyunki bullet ne peechhe waale sheeshe ko ab tod kar use poori tarah dhwast kar diya tha.
"Damn it! Damn it! Fuccckkk!" Usne steering wheel ko jhatke se ghumaaya aur car ko tezi se moda. Gaadi harbour se dur chali gayi.
---
Veer darwaaze tak pahucha. Rohan ki aawaz phir aayi.
Rohan : Maine kaha na ki tum mere sawaalo ke jawaab diye bina nahi jaoge?
Veer ruka. Dheere-dheere… Woh peechhe muda. Phir, woh Rohan ki taraf wapas chal pada. Ahista-ahista. Ve dono ab lagbhag aamne-saamne khade the. Veer thoda sa aage jhuka.
Veer : Ek samajhdar officer… jaanta hai kab kaunse sawaal poochhne hai. Aur, kab nahi, Sir.
Rohan ki aankhein jal rahi thi.
Rohan : Gaurav hi sirf jail me nahi rahega… Balki, tum bhi salaakhon ke peechhe jaaoge. Aur woh Nik- hum use bhi jald hi daboch lenge.
Veer : Oh?
Bilkul usi waqt-
Uska phone vibrate hua. Dheemi si ghanti baji. Veer ne neeche dekha. Unknown number. Ek message aaya hua tha.
“Pakad liya boss.”
Uske chehre pe dheere se ek muskaan phail gayi. Rohan jhijhka.
Rohan : K-Kya?
Veer nazdeek aaya. Rohan ke kandhe par haath rakha. Phir, uske kaan ke paas jhuka.
Veer (smirks) : Pata hai sabse taaza khabar kya hai, sir?
Rohan ke badan me sihran daud gayi. Veer ke honth aur adhik phail gaye.
Veer (whispers) : NIK MERE PAAS HAI!
Rohan ke badan me raungte khade ho gaye. Bina koi use samay diye, Veer muda aur exit ki taraf chal diya.
Veer : Dobaara baat karni hai agar, toh kal shaam ghar aa jaaiyega. *pauses* Aur, bina wardi ke hi aaiyega. Aur, agar nahi-
Rohan : !!?
Veer (smiles) : Toh, Nik ko jaise aap dabochne waale the, daboch lijiyega.
Rohan (yells) : VEEEEER!!! Mein tumhe jail me daal dunga. Tumhe lagta hai ki tum bach jaaoge?
Veer (smiles) : Bilkul!
Kehte hue woh waha se nikal gaya. Kamre me gehra sannaata chhaa gaya. Rohan wahi khada raha, gehri saansein le raha tha. Uski aankhein krodh se laal thi.
Veer bina peechhe dekhe police station se baahar nikal gaya. Rohan dheere se Trisha ki orr muda. Uski nigaahein teekhi thi. Jawaab maang rahi thi.
Trisha ne uss se nazrein churaayi. Uska gala sookh raha tha. Woh ghabraate hue aage badhi. “R-Rohan-!”
***
Veer baahar aaya aur tabhi uske saamne uski apni car aa kar ruki. Driver seat ki khidki neeche sarki, Erica halki muskaan ke saath baahar jhuki.
Erica (smiles) : Kaafi derr laga di!
Veer ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Usne darwaaza khola. Erica baahar aayi aur ghoom kar passenger ki seat par baithi. Veer driver seat par baitha. Engine chaalu hote hi gaadi police station ke gate se nikal padi. Aur, peechhe ki seat par-
Garofano ek perr ko dusre par rakhe baithi hui thi, uske bagal se Ava thi.
Garofano : Toh?
Veer : Done and dusted. Filhaal abhi ke liye.
Garofano (sighs) : Finally!
Usne apne baalo par haath phera.
Garofano : Sorry! Mein khud nahi aa saki. Clients se badi mushqil se jaan chhooti hai aaj.
Veer : It’s okay! Tum pehle hi bahut kuchh kar chuki ho.
Garofano (smiles) : Oh!?
Veer : Trisha ko phone par guide karna aur Raman tak precisely pahuchaana asaan kaam nahi tha.
Garofano : Well… Looks like system yahi chaahta tha ki mujhe ye mission mile. *grins* Kaafi badhiya skill mili hai reward me.
Veer : Kaun si?
Garofano (smirks) : If I reveal everything now, what will I tease you with later?
Veer ke jawaab dene se pehle hi Erica chehek uthi.
Erica : Mujhe bhi toh badhiya skill mili hai, hehe~
Veer (nods) : Yeah! Part vision!
[Skill : Part Vision
Description : Allows the host to join the parts of the past from the available clues and understand what transpired. Accuracy of the past will depend on the number of clues the host can get.]
Veer : Uss skill ne sab kuchh badal diya. Pushkar ke past ke bina… Gaurav aur Nik ki kartooto ke baare me nahi jaan paate.
Erica garv se muskuraayi.
Erica (smiles) : So, basically I saved the day. Yay~
Garofano : Relax little girl. You didn’t save the world. Your skill just came handy, that’s all. Itna exaggerate karne ki zaroorat nahi.
Erica (pouts) : Hmph~
Veer ke mann me-
*Ding*
[Mission : ‘Deal Breaker (1)’ has been completed.]
[You have gained 10,000 points.]
[Suhana’s favorability has increased by : 25.]
[Divya’s favorability has increased by : 10.]
*Ding*
[Perk Selection Available.]
[Select one of three random perks.]
[Perk 1] [Perk 2] [Perk 3]
‘Later Pari!’
[As you wish, Master!]
*Ding*
[Perk selection is post-poned.]
Veer : Waqai. Erica. Uss skill ki wajah se hi aaj mera mission poora hua hai. Thank you~
Erica (blushes) : It’s okay! Mujhe bhi ek skill mil gayi.
Garofano (chuckles) : Isliye, tumhare daddy Renshu yaha se gaayab ho gaye. Missions jo nahi mil rahe the use haha. Imagine losing to your own daughter in missions lol.
Erica : Hmph~ Toh kya hua? My dad would still crush you in a 1 v 1 fight.
Garofano : Oh please! Maana ki Renshu strong hai, lekin itna bhi nahi jis hisaab se tum apne daddy ke liye biased rehti ho.
Erica : Oh achha? Toh lagao bet. Hai himmat dad ke saath-
“I couldn’t do anything!”
Ava ki komal awaaz ne unki behas ko kaat diya. Erica aur Garofano, dono turant ruk gayi. Ava apne haatho ko ghoor rahi thi.
Ava : I… I barely helped.
Uski awaaz thodi kaanp rahi thi.
Veer : Nahi!
Ava : Huh?
Veer : Tumne apni identity reveal ki. Mere liye. Uss se poori situation change ho gayi thi.
Ava : But… But that is exactly why I hate it, Veer! I don’t want to appear only when things are already happening. I want to be there… when it begins. For you.
Aur, phir use ehsaas hua ki woh jaldbaazi me kya keh gayi. Usne haya me sarr neeche jhuka liya. Garofano aur Erica ne chup-chap use dekha. Dono shaant thi.
Veer : Tumne Teju di ko bachaaya, Ava. You took the bullet for my family. Aur, tumhe lagta hai tumne madad nahi ki?
Ava ke honth khule, lekin koi shabd nahi nikla.
Veer : I think it’s about time I- *pauses* I introduce you to my family. Tomorrow.
Ava (shivers) : Huh?
Usne aayeene me Veer ko dekha. Phir, dheere-dheere uske chehre par ek sharmeeli muskaan aa gayi.
Ava : O-Okay…! Tomorrow then…!
Baaki ka safar shaant baat-cheet me beeta. Plans. Precautions. Aage ki strategies.
Jab tak Veer ghar lauta, kaafi raat ho chuki thi. Ghar me andhera aur sannaata chhaaya hua tha. Shayad sabhi so chuke the. Usne spare key se gate ko unlock kiya and andar pravesh kiya.
Jaise hi woh hallway se guzar ke muda, woh achanak ruk gaya.
Uski maa ke kamre ka darwaaza khula hua tha. Andar ek light bulb jal raha tha. Bhavna darwaaze ke paas hi khadi thi. Intezaar kar rahi thi. Uski shaant nigaahein Veer par tiki. Aur, boli-
“Andar aao!”
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This update consists of 12k words. Dena nahi chaahta tha itna bada update par ab likh diya hai. Let's see tum log phirse wahi kaand karte ho ya iss baar bhi last update ki tarah jaldi reactions poore karte ho. Next update se hum thode system ke lore, Veer's familial issues, relationship, aur kuchh baaki characters par focus karenge. Kuchh secrets bhi unveil hone waale hai jald hi. Target apna wahi hai. 250.
Dhanyavad.
shivpatil
Member
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Aisa nahi bolna thaPata hai bhai. Dikhta hai mujhe. Mujhe notification aata hai jab jab tum log like karte ho. Dikh jaata hai kitne hue hai.
Akshay Kumar wala dialog - Ha malum hai apne b**p ko mat sikha
Ya fir Animal movie wala - Dikhai de raha hai andha nahi hoon main
(Ayush just for kidding)
Target complete ho gya ab aap next update ke baare main sochiye broUpdate - 212 ~ The Night the masks burned
Ab tak...
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 : !!!!?
Ab aage...
*Clink*
Hall me hathkadi ki awaaz sabhi ko sunaayi di. Gaurav ne koi sangharsh nahi kiya. Maano jaise use iss baat se farq hi nahi pad raha tha ki use arrest kar liya gaya hai.
Par, zaahir taur se uske chehre ke haav-bhaav badle hue the. Jabda kasa hua, maathe par gusse se fadakti hui maanspeshi. Lekin, woh dara nahi. Reedh abhi bhi seedhi. Ahankaar abhi bhi adig. Guroor jo tha use apne aap par.
Jaise hi Rohan aur Trisha uske dono orr khade hue, usne hall me ek baar chaaro orr dekha. Kaise log use ghoor rahe the. Suhana. Sonia. Unke mata-pita. Aur, phir-
Nigaahein Veer ke upar jaa tiki. Bas kuchh kshan ke liye. Dono ke beech ek maun yuddh.
Veer chup-chap waha khada raha, haath abhi bhi jebo me, koi ghamand nahi aur na hi koi muskaan. Bas maun maujoodagi, jo aur bhi adhik bhaari thi.
Rohan ne Gaurav ke haatho ko thaam use moda, le jaane ke liye woh palta. Shailendra, jo ki ye sab hote hue dekh chuka tha, uska mann nahi maan raha tha ki aisa kuchh ho sakta tha.
Ek prakaar se ye uski beizzati thi itne logo ke saamne. Agar, woh kisi tarah DGP ko mana ke ye sab-
Sochte hi woh aage badha. Elite Group koi chhota-mota samooh nahi tha. Ghar me hi ghus ke ghar ke maalik ko iss qadar se hathkadi pehna ke le jaana…
Ye sirf aam vyaktiyo par laagu hota tha. Raees, oonchi pehchaan waalo ke liye nahi. Waha toh paisa khila ke, status dikha ke, wazandaari ke chalte maamla rafa-dafa kar diya jaata tha.
Yahi soch Shailendra apne damaad ko bachaane ke liye bade hi rutbe me aage badha, magar-
Rohan : Wahi theher jaaiye, Sir! Jo kuchh bhi sunwaayi hogi, ab police station me hogi.
Usne ek jhatke me Shailendra ko haath dikhakar wahi rok diya. Shailendra ki bauhe phadki. Ye DGP sirf ek raajya ka hi toh DGP tha. Elite Group ka varchasv toh poore desh me fela hua tha.
Magar, kanoon ke maamle me Rohan sakht tha. Aur, uski sakhti ke charche poore raajya me mashoor the. Isliye, Shailendra ne aage kuchh na kaha. Bas Gaurav ko haath dikhaate hue aashvaashan diya.
Rohan jaane se pehle Veer ki orr muda. Use yaad dila raha tha ki usne ‘Interrogation’ ka vaada kiya tha. Veer ne dheere se apna sarr hilaaya. Ek shaant sweekriti. Aur, ab toh waise bhi use jaana hi tha. Gaurav ke khilaaf usne saboot jo pesh kiye the.
Shailendra ne Veer ko ghoora. Yeh ladka uss raat ICONGLOBE ki deal ke dauraan bhi Kaera ke bagal se baitha tha. Mann me Veer ko lekar usne ek vichaar baithaaya.
Trisha ki nigaahein bhi Veer par thi. Aaj unn nazro me sandeh kam tha, soch-vichaar zyaada. Usne yeh ab pukhta maan liya tha ki Veer hi inn sab ke peechhe tha.
Jab Rohan exit se nikalne ke liye hua toh Erica uske paas ek file lekar aayi.
Erica : Transaction trails, server backups, logs, call reports, chats, images, everything is in hardcopy. *smiles* Aur, ye rahi pendrive, Sir. For more details.
Rohan ne file aur pendrive jab Erica ke haatho se li toh uski aankhein sikudi.
Rohan : Aur, tum kaun-!?
Erica (smiles) : Bas ek hired manager.
Rohan use saath lekar jaana chaahta tha, magar yeh sunane ke baad ki wo bas ek hired person thi, chaahte hue bhi usne iss baat par zor nahi diya. Lekin, Erica ke masked chehre ko woh apne dimaag me baithaana nahi bhoola. Aur, na hi Trisha.
Akhirkar, woh dono Gaurav ko lekar baahar nikle. Mukhya dwar se ve ravaana hue, phir baahar dur se siren ke goonjne ki awaaz ne spasht kar diya ki ve jaa chuke the.
Suhana wahi neeche baithi reh gayi. Kuchh derr pehle hi woh cake kaat rahi thi aur ab-
Itne saalo se woh uske changul me fasi thi. Gaurav ke mijaaz ke anusaar usne khud ko dhaalne ki koshish bhi ki thi. Khud dab-dab kar uske neeche rahi. Yeh yakeen dilaane ke liye ki shaayad ek na ek din sab sahi ho jaayega.
Kintu, aaj usne dekh liya ki sacchaayi toh ekdum hi vipreet thi. Aur, uske bheetar kuchh toot gaya.
Suhana : Aaj tak... Aaj tak mein- *shivers*
Usne fusfusate hue kaha, uski awaaz mushqil se hi bagal me jhuki Ashita ko sunaayi de rahi thi.
Suhana : M-Mujhe kabhi pata hi nahi chala... Ashita... Mein-
Ashita (tenderly) : Suhana...
Uski nazrein Suhana par tiki. Uska therapist dimaag pehle se hi trauma responses, emotional collapse ke patterns ko padhne ke liye jut chuka tha.
Phir, usne Veer ko dekha. Na jaane kab se woh Suhana jaisi split personality waali aurat ko badalne waale ladke se milne ke liye betaab thi. Aaj woh shaks uske saamne tha.
Beshaq. Veer ko dekhte hi usne ek gehri saans li. Use bas yeh jaanana tha ki iss ladke me aisa kya tha ki uski patient ki saansein uska naam lete hi tez ho jaati thi.
Filhaal ke liye charcha na sahi, lekin usne itna jaan liya tha ki Veer kaun tha.
Karan, jo ki wahi khada tha, sab kuchh ghatit hota dekh Veer ke nazdeek aaya. Maathe par shikan. Veer aur uske beech bina bol ke ishaaro me hi baat ho gayi.
Suhana ki maa ne jhukte hue use apne galey se lagaaya.
Toh wahi pita Shailendra ka chehra sharmindagi se laal tha. Woh swabhimaani vyakti jisne apne damaad ki na jaane kitni deenge haaki thi, jis par wo kabhi garv mehsoos karta tha, jisne use aadhe se zyaada vyapaar jagat se milwaaya tha aaj sharminda aur stabdh khada hua tha.
Udhar Sonia bina koi harqat kiye vismay aur bhay me khadi thi. Apni jagah se tass se mass na hui. Pushkar ka naam uske dimaag me ghoom raha tha. Yakeen nahi ho raha tha ki yeh sab-
Planned tha. Chhal se racha gaya tha. Aur, use humesha-humesha ke liye chup kara diya gaya. Itne saalo tak woh apne mann me uski maut ko baar-baar dohraati rahi, aur bas bhaagya ko dosh deti rahi. Lekin, iss ghatna me toh bhaagya ka haath kam, Gaurav ka zyaada tha.
Par, uss se bhi badi baat-
Jiska use darr tha. Jiska use bhay tha ki Gaurav uske liye kahi koi ghinauni soch toh nahi rakhta? Woh sach saabit ho gayi.
Ab jo kuchh bhi hua wo media me saamne tha. Iss se bacha nahi jaa sakta tha. Abhi ke liye Elite Group ki izzat par ek zordaar thokar lagi thi. Uss se ubharne ke liye-
Shailendra seedha khada hua aur mehmaano ki orr mudkar usne haath jode.
Shailendra : I apologise!
Usne tanaav bhari magar dhridh awaaz me kaha.
Shailendra : Aaj ki raat meri beti ke janmdin ke liye jashn manaane ke liye thi. Iske bajaaye… kuchh aisa ho gaya jo nahi hona chaahiye tha. Jis situation me abhi Suhana hai, mein chaahunga ki aap sabhi please move on kariye. Ek baar firse, kshama chaahta hu.
Log bhi samajhdaar the. Ve jaante the ki aisi sthiti me koi kaise hi apna janmdin mana sakta tha? Unhone Shailendra ko aashvaashan diya aur jaate-jaate use saantvna bhi de gaye.
Bheed chhatne lagi. Kuchh asahajta ke kaaran, kuchh darr ke maare, aur kuchh isliye ki ab tamasha khatam ho chuka tha.
Suhana jo iss waqt mehsoos kar rahi thi woh koi bhi nahi samajh sakta tha. Woh apni maa ke sparsh se peechhe hati.
Namrita : Suhana-!
Woh achanak hi khadi hui. Sonia ne iss baar use dekha. Pehle toh Suhana khadi hone ke baad dheere-dheere saiyyam se chali. Har qadam napa-tula, maano uska shareer bina uski ichha ke chal raha ho.
Phir, achanak na jaane kya hua, woh daud padi. Darwaaze ki orr. Baahar driveway ki taraf jaha security waale asmanjas me use dekhte hue alag ho gaye.
Namrita (yells) : Suhanaaaaa-! Ruko!
Peechhe se uski maa ki ruwaasi pukaar sunaayi padi. Uske pita ne bhi use awaaz lagaayi. Sonia ka dil ghabra kar zor se dhadka, usne apna haath utha kar use rokne ki koshish ki, magar muh se shabd hi baahar nahi nikle.
Suhana nahi ruki. Bhaag kar woh apni car tak pahuchi. Kaanpte haatho se usne gaadi unlock ki, andar baithi aur darwaaza zor se band kiya jis se baahar ki awaaz sunaayi na de.
Ek pal ke liye woh bas steering wheel ko kasskar pakde baithi rahi. Phir-
*Rumble*
Engine garja. Aur, usne apni gaadi aage dauda di. Kuchh zyada hi tez. Raat me sadko ke aas-paas khambo par, lampposts par jagah-jagah 26 january ke posters aur jhande lage hue the. Dur kahi aatishbaazi ho rahi thi, swatantrata ke chhote-chhote utsav ho rahe the.
Par, uski azaadi ka kya? Kya use khush hona chaahiye? Ya dukhi? Use samajh nahi aa raha tha.
Woh bina soche-samjhe idhar-udhar mod leti jaa rahi thi. Baaye, daaye, phir daaye. Sheher uski namm aankhon ke saamne dhundhla sa pad gaya. Aasuon ke chalte use theek se traffic bhi nazar nahi aa raha tha. Uska dil-dimaag shaant hone ka naam hi nahi le rahe the.
Pushkar. Hidden cameras. Photographs. Footage. Transactions.
Akhir kitne jhootho ke saath woh har ek din guzaar rahi thi Gaurav ke saath? Uski saansein phool rahi thi. Kayi minute tak disha-heen gaadi chalaane ke baad, usne ek flyover ke paas gaadi ko kinaare roka.
Car band ki. Dur se traffic ka shor use ab sunaayi diya. Uske haath steering wheel se hatey. Aur, kandhe kaanpne lage. Woh aage jhuki aur apne chehre ko usne apni hatheliyo me chhipa liya.
Aur, phir-
*Sniff*
“Haaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
Woh zor se royi. Dil khol ke. Itne saalo se jo bhadaas andar thi, woh baahar aa gayi. Jo dabey hue emotions the woh baahar umad aaye.
Woh bilakh-bilakh kar royi. Siskiyon aur subakne ki awaaz car me goonj gayi. Woh aise royi ki agar koi sunn le toh uska dil dahal jaaye.
Kyunki, koi use sunane waala nahi tha. Kyunki, woh akeli thi. Aisa use yakeen tha jab peechhe se ek shaant awaaz aayi-
“Aapko pata hai na iss tarah se gaadi chalaana kitna khatarnak hota hai?”
Suhana ka badan kaanp utha. Woh haafte hue tezi se mudi, sihran uske poore jism me fel gayi. Aur, phir usne use dekha.
Veer.
Peechhe ki seat par baitha hua. Ek pal ke liye woh bas dekhti reh gayi, samajh nahi paa rahi thi ki Veer yaha kaise ho sakta tha.
“2 signals miss kiye. Divider se lagbhag gaadi bhid hi gayi thi.”
Usne narmi se kaha. Phir, ek virhaam.
“Aap toh iss tarah se drive nahi karti kabhi. Kis se bhaag rahi thi? Jo pehle hi sab khatam ho chuka hai uss cheez se? Ya phir apne aap se?”
Uske bol zor se Suhana ko lage. Woh daant nahi raha tha. Na hi mazaak uda raha tha. Bas… parvaah ko bade hi seedhepann se pesh kar raha tha. Woh utha, usne darwaaza khola aur car ke baahar utra.
“Haath kaanp rahe hai, phir bhi gaadi chalaani hai? Pata hai na ye kitna risky tha?”
Usne aage aate hue uski driver seat ka darwaaza khola.
“Aage se aisa mat karna. Samajh gayi na?”
Aur, bas-
Suhana ki rulaayi ek baar phir chhooth padi. Jab Veer ne use dheere se haath pakad baahar ko nikaala toh usne koi virodh nahi kiya. Jaise hi uske perr zameen par pade, uski saari taaqat jaise gaayab ho gayi. Woh zor se bilakh ke royi aur seedhe Veer ki baahon me simat gayi. Uski mutthiyon ne Veer ki shirt ko kasskar jakad liya.
“Waaaaaaa-!”
Aur, woh bas roti rahi. Subak-subak ke. Uske galey se lage hue. Kasskar chipke hue. Woh cold, arrogant, rich aur haughty Suhana gaayab ho chuki thi.
Suhana : M-Mein *sobs* Mein jhooth ki duniya me jee rahi thi, Veer! *sniff* H-Har din- *hic* He... He lied to me. *sob* Every day! Sonu ke liye bhi uske mann me- *sniff*
Veer ne apni baahon me use zor se jakad ke rakha. Ek haath uski peeth par mazbooti se tika hua tha. Dusra, uske kandhe ko sahaara de raha tha.
Veer : Shh! You were surviving. And, you did.
Suhana ne apna sirr uske seene par tikaaya.
Suhana : S-Sach mere saamne tha- *sniff* Par, mein hi andhi thi. *sob* M-Mujhe lagta tha mein… mein hi zaroorat se zyaada soch rahi hu. He kept lying to me. Every time. *sob* M-Mujhe yakeen nahi hota ki woh iss tarah ki ghinauni- *hic*
Veer : Shh! It’s alright!
Uska haath dheere-dheere Suhana ke baalo par phira, maano jaise woh koi chhoti bacchi ho. Dekha jaaye toh sahi maayno me aaj Suhana ek chhoti bacchi ke hi samaan thi. Shareerik taur se nahi, lekin uska chanchal mann, dil-dimaag ki sthiti abhi kisi ek dukhi, chot pahuchi baalika ke jaisi hi thi.
Veer : Aapne uss par bharosa karna chaaha jo khud na toh aap par kabhi bharosa kiya aur na hi khud bharose ke laayak bann paaya.
Suhana : …
Veer : Lekin, ye aapki kamzori nahi hai.
Suhana : M-Mujhe nahi pata ki ab mein kaun hu. *sob* Kuchh samajh nahi aa raha. *hic* I hate it, Veer. I hate it.
Veer thoda peechhe hua taaki uske aasuon se bheege chehre ko dekh sake.
Veer : Aap wahi Suhana ho jisne meri madad ki, jisne mere liye goli khaayi, jo apni chhoti behan ke liye har waqt khadi rahi, jisne apne aise pati ka bhi saath diya taaki apne maa-baap ka sarr sharm se na jhuke. Woh Suhana ho aap.
Suhana bas uss se lipti rahi. Kaafi derr tak. Akhirkar, uski saansein sthir hui. Poori tarah se nahi, lekin itna zaroor ki woh bina roye uski chhaati se sirr ko utha sake. Ungliyaan toh ab bhi Veer ki shirt ko jakde hue thi.
Suhana : K-Kaise-!? T-Tum car me- Maine toh tumhe dekha tak nahi.
Veer (smiles) : Jab aap bhaagi thi. Toh, mein bhi aapke peechhe hi tha.
Suhana : !!?
Veer : Jab aap car me andar baithi, tab uss waqt mein bhi peechhe andar baitha tha. Par, tab aap aisi haalat me nahi thi ki inn sab cheezon ko notice kar sako.
Suhana : T-Toh, tum shaant kyun the? K-Kuchh bole kyun nahi?
Veer (smiles) : Aapke mom dad ne aapko awaaz lagaayi thi. Kya aapne suni? Toh uss waqt mere bolne se kya hi farq padta?
Suhana (mutters) : Tumhari baat alag hai…!
Veer : Hmm?
Suhana : K-Kuchh nahi. Mein bas-
Usne apne kaanpte hue haatho ko dekha jo Veer ki shirt ko nichode hue the. Usne dheere se shirt ko chhora. Par, haath hatey nahi. Abhi bhi uske seene par hi tike hue the.
Tabhi, Veer ko kuchh yaad aaya.
Veer : Oh!?
Suhana : Huh?
Veer uss se alag hua, peechhe ki seat ke darwaaze ko usne khola aur ek rectangular sa kuchh baahar nikaala jo rang-birange decorative paper me lipta hua tha. Usne woh tauhfa Suhana ki orr badhaaya.
Veer : Mein lagbhag bhool hi gaya tha.
Suhana (curiously) : K-Kya hai ye?
Veer (smiles) : Khol ke dekh lijiye!
Suhana ki ungliyaan savdhani se lipte hue kaagaz ko kholne ke liye chalne lagi. Usne dheere se use faada aur tauhfe ko khola.
Jaise hi usne kaagaz alag kar ke dekha, uski aankhein hairat me fel gayi.
Veer (smiles) : Happy birthday~
Tauhfe me andar ek framed oil painting thi. Kaafi puraani. Canvas bhi khurdura sa tha.
Kayi dino pehle jab Veer Divya aur Ava ke saath serial killer ki investigation ke liye nikla tha tab Divya ne car me ek baat kahi thi uss se...
Veer : Toh, Divya! Miss Suhana ko kya pasand hai?
Divya : Suhana? Kyu? Tum kyu poochh rahe ho ye?
Veer : Unka birthday next month aa raha hai. Mein iss baar unhe kuchh khaas gift karna chaahta hu. Tum unki closest friend ho. Toh, laga ki tum sabse behtar jaanti hogi.
Divya (curiously) : Hmm? Tum kab se logo ke birthdays ki parvah karne lage, Veer? Mere liye toh kabhi aise gifts nahi laaye.
Veer : Ahem! *smiles* Waise- Rahi baat birthdays ki toh mein aam taur par aisa nahi karta. I'm not a 'celebration' type, you know. Lekin, Miss Suhana... Unhone mere liye bahut kuchh kiya hai. I want her to feel appreciated, that's all!
Divya : Appreciated, huh? What exactly are you planning, Mr. Thoughtful?
Veer (smiles) : Kuchh nahi, seriously. Isliye, toh tumse poochh raha hu. Any ideas?
Divya (thoughtfully) : Suhana ko art pasand hai, Veer. Woh rare paintings ikhatta karti hai — mostly abstract. Aur, woh classical music instruments ki deewani hai, khaas kar live orchestra ki. Lekin... *pauses, looks at him* Tum kuchh bada karne ke baare me soch rahe ho, hai na?
Veer (smiles) : Ho sakta hai!
Idhar Suhana ki dhadkane tez thi.
Painting me ek mahila toofan ke khatam hone ke dauraan apni balcony me kinaare khadi hui bagal se ek jalti laalten ki orr badh rahi thi, aur peechhe akaash baadalo aur bijli se ghira hua tha. Toofan ke jaate hue aas-paas ke kshetro me haani. Neeche sheher ast-vyast, tez hawaaein aur keechad.
Dekha jaaye toh yeh painting Suhana ki vyatha ko bakhoobi darsha rahi thi.
Neeche peetal ki plate par sheershak khud hi likha hua tha : The lantern that survived, Arvind Mirajkar, 1938.
Frame ko chhoote hue Suhana ka haath thar-thara utha.
Suhana (shivers) : N-Nahi! Y-Ye kaise ho sakta hai?
Woh har ek bareeki ko gaur se dekh rahi thi. Kone ke paas varnish me aayi daraare, neeche painter ke signature ka halka sa ghumavdaar nishaan, frame me thodi si khaami, har ek cheez. Suhana ka gala ye dekh ke hi sookh gaya.
Suhana : Y-Ye toh-
Usne fauran hi painting ko palat kar kuchh jaanch ki. Ek seal. Original collector ki ek stamp. Kayi varsho ki puraani lakdi.
Yeh asli thi.
Yeh wahi painting thi.
Saalo pehle, Delhi ki ek painting auction me usne iss painting ko dekha tha. Dekhte hi usne mann bana liya tha ki woh ye painting leke hi rahegi. Isliye, nahi ki ye painting kaafi durlabh thi, puraani thi. Balki, toofan me tiki laalten aur aurat ki wajah se-
Jo bhaari vipda ke baad bhi, apne khud ke liye khadi hui thi aur traasdi se ladkar bhi jeevit thi. Sahi salamat thi.
Parantu, uss painting ko paana lagbhag asambhav tha. Kyunki, woh painting-
Kaera ke paas thi.
Usne pehle hi uski bidding laga ke use khareed liya tha. Mehnge daam par. Baad me, Suhana uss se akele me mili. Khareedi hui keemat se doguni keemat dene taiyaar thi woh. Aur, Kaera apna bhaav-heen chehra liye uss se bas itna hi boli ki-
"It's mine now, Suhana. And... It's not for sale."
Suhana ne Veer ko dekha.
Suhana : Ye... K-Kaise? Ye Kaera ke paas thi. Mujhe yaad hai. Tumhare paas kaise-?
Veer (smiles) : Haan. Maine unse maang li.
Suhana (shocked) : M-Maang li?
Veer : Haan! Maine request ki. Aur, unhone de di.
Veer ka jawab hadd se zyada hi seedha-saada tha. Aur, isliye Suhana ko uss par yakeen nahi hua.
Kaera cheezein yuhi nahi deti thi. Paiso ke liye bhi nahi. Ehsaan ke liye bhi nahi.
Suhana ke dimaag me woh pal phirse aaya. ICONGLOBE deal ke baad uss raat Kaera ka Veer ko kiss karna. Uski bauhe fadki.
Woh bewakoof nahi thi. Kisi bhi tarah ki 'request' Kaera ko ye painting dene ke liye raazi nahi kar sakti thi.
Jab tak ki badle me use kuchh aur na diya jaaye. Koi utni hi ya uss se zyada moolya ki vastu.
Kuchh aisa jo Kaera ko chahiye ho. Usne Veer ko phirse dekha.
Suhana (mutters) : T-Tumne sirf poochha hi nahi... Tumne-
Veer ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Uski chuppi ne sab kuchh pukhta kar diya tha. Suhana ki chhaati dard se jakad gayi.
Suhana : You promised her something, didn't you???
Uski awaaz kaanp gayi. Woh aarop nahi laga rahi thi, lekin awaaz me dard saaf jhalak raha tha.
Suhana : Iske liye!??
Usne painting aage karte hue poochha.
Veer : Ab ye aapki hai. It's my gift. For you.
Veer ne uski aankhon me dekhte hue kaha. Uska mann kuchh derr pehle ki mulaqaat ki orr kaundh gaya.
---
Din ke dauran uski car ruki, woh Kaera ke ghar pahuch chuka tha. Jassi aur Raghu use dekhte hi aage badhe. Aam taur par wo dono use rokte aur poochhte, magar unhone bas sirr hila diya.
Bas ek mamooli sa security check aur unn dono ne hi use andar jaane de diya. Koi sawaal nahi. Koi baat nahi.
Veer ne andar ghar me pravesh kiya. Saubhagyavash aaj Kishore ghar par nahi tha. Usne mushqil se abhi teen-chaar qadam hi badhaaye the ki Julia hall me prakat hui. Veer ko dekhte hi uski aankhein chaudi ho gayi.
Julia : Oh? *smiles* Young Master Veer.
Veer : It’s just Veer.
Julia : Please, allow me to call you ‘Young Master.’ In this house, names carry weight. *smiles*
Uski awaaz me kuchh chanchalta thi, kuchh sharaarat.
Julia : Aisa aksar nahi hota ki mujhe aapko dekhne ka mauka mile. Aap yaha Young Miss ke liye aaye ho na? Follow me please.
Veer : Hindi huh!? Nice. Tumhe kaise pata chala ki mein Miss Kaera se-
Julia (smiles) : Isme pata karne ki zaroorat nahi hai, young master. It was obvious.
Woh aage badhi. Veer uske peechhe-peechhe aaya. Lift ke andar dono daakhil hue. Aur, lift upar ki orr jaane lagi.
Julia : You look serious today. Business or heart?
Veer : Huh? Does it matter?
Julia : To me? No. For her? *smiles* Always.
Veer ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Julia darasal use pasand karti thi. Romantically nahi. Bas apni miss ke liye. Woh jaanti thi ki uski miss ke liye Veer kitna maayne rakhta hai. Aur, kyun Veer baaki mardo se alag tha.
[She likes you.]
'Huh? Oh come on, Pari. Har koi mujhse-'
*Ding*
[Julia's favorability : 68]
[See?]
'Kya? 68 hi hai. Nothing much.'
[It's more than enough. Itna bataane ke liye kaafi hai ki wo aapko pasand toh zaroor karti hai, Master. Of course, not in a romantic way. But she likes you.]
Pari aur uske beech ye sanvaad kuchh aur chal paata ki itne me-
*Ting*
Lift ruki. Julia bina kisi jhijhak ke corridor se guzri. Kaera ke kamre se hote hue woh uske bedroom ke baahar aa kar khadi hui.
Usne ek baar darwaaza khat-khataaya aur phir dobaara me bina anumati liye hi usne darwaaze ko dhakel kar khol diya. Woh aur Veer andar aaye aur andar qadam rakhte hi Veer maano saans lena hi bhool gaya.
Kaera apne bistar par paalthi maare baithi hui thi, jism par bas ek dheeli-dhaali safed striped shirt thi. Perr aur jaangh poori tarah se nagn.
Usne apne haatho me pakdi ek kitaab se nazrein upar uthaayi. Jab usne Veer ko dekha toh chehre par halki si muskaan apne aap aa gayi.
Kaera : Oh?
Usne apni kitaab ko takiye ke neeche sarkaaya.
Uski nigaahein Julia par tiki.
Kaera : Tumhe pata hai na ki mere bedroom me aane ki permission kisi ko bhi nahi hai? Father ko bhi nahi. Even Karan.
Julia (smiles) : Jaanti hu, miss. But I also know that today you might make an exception.
Kehte hue usne Veer ki orr dekha, phir wapas se Kaera ki taraf.
Kaera (smiles) : I hate that you’re right about that part.
Julia muskuraayi aur jhukte hue abhivaadan ki.
Julia : I will leave you two alone then.
Jaate-jaate woh darwaaze par ruki, uski nigaahein ek pal ke liye Veer se phirse mili. Aankhon me ek ajeeb tarah ki chamak thi. Phir, woh darwaza band karke baahar nikal gayi. Aur, kamre me sannaata chhaa gaya.
Kaera ne thoda sa hilte hue apne perr modey.
Kaera : Mujhe nahi pata tha ki tum surprises dena bhi enjoy karte ho, Veer. So? What brings you here?
Kehte hue usne aalas me saamne ki chair ki orr ishaara kiya.
Kaera : Have a seat.
Veer baitha. Usne Kaera ko dekha. Kuchh toh gadbad thi. ICONGLOBE ki deal ki uss raat Kaera ne bina kisi jhijhak ke use kiss kiya tha. Uss par apna adhikaar jataaya tha.
Aur ab? Woh ekdum shaant thi. Beparwah si. Maano woh raat bas ek bhooli-bisri yaad bann chuki ho.
[Don’t worry. Aisa kuchh nahi hai, Master.]
‘Tumne mere mann ko padha?’
[Nahi. Bas jaan gayi ki aap kya soch rahe hoge.]
*Ding*
[Kaera’s favorability : 99]
Favorability badhi hui thi. Phir, Kaera bhala iss tarah se kyun pesh aa rahi thi? Yeh uske aam vyaktitva se alag tha. Veer ne iss baare me sochna band kiya aur usne apne phone par nazar daali. Divya ka ek message screen par dikhaayi de raha tha.
“Agar tum Suhana ko waqai ek achha gift dena chaahte ho toh Arvind Mirajkar ki ‘The lantern that survived’ painting use de sakte ho. Agar, tum use arrange karwa sakte ho toh… Kyunki, jaha tak mujhe yaad hai, woh Kaera ke paas hai. Suhana ke paas Arvind ke kaafi famous works hai, lagbhag sabhi siwaaye uss ek ke…”
Veer ne screen band ki aur seedha mudde pe aaya.
Veer : Kya aapke paas-
Kaera (smiles) : Aapke?
Veer (smiles) : I mean- Kya tumhare paas ‘The lantern that survived’ painting hai?
Sunte hi Kaera ke kaan khade hue aur uske haav-bhaav turant hi badal gaye. Woh seedhi ho kar baithi aur muskuraayi.
Kaera : Ah! *smirks* Toh tum Suhana ko gift dene ka plan kar rahe ho.
Veer maun raha. Use jawaab dene ki zaroorat bhi nahi thi. Uski khamoshi hi pushti thi. Kaera ne ek gehri saans li.
Kaera : Tumhe kisne bataaya ki woh painting mere paas hai?
Veer : Divya.
Kaera : I see!
Usne ek haami bhari.
Kaera (grins) : Of course. Wo dono best friends hai. Sab share karti hai. No wonder.
Usne phir paini nazron se Veer ko ghoora.
Kaera : Everything has a price, Veer.
Veer (nods) : Aur, mein pay karne ke liye taiyaar hu.
Kaera ki muskaan aur chaudi ho gayi jaise maano Veer uske saamne koi mazaak kar raha ho.
Kaera : Hundred thousand billion dollars. Can you pay it?
Veer (shocked) : Mein-
Kaera : See? *smiles* Agar, mujhe paise hi chaahiye hote, toh mein use khareedti hi kyun, Veer?
Woh dheere se khadi hui.
Kaera : Come.
Veer uske peechhe-peechhe bedroom se baahar nikla, uske main room se hote hue ek gallery waale room me pahucha jaha chuninda kalakritiyaan pradarshit ho rakhi thi. Kaera ek khaas canvas ke saamne ruki. Woh painting-
The lantern that survived.
Kaera ne uss painting ko showcase par se nikaala aur uski ungliyaan frame par phir gayi.
Kaera : Kya de sakte ho Veer… Iske badle me…?
Usne bina uski orr dekhe poochha. Veer chup raha. Kaera ne painting ko uski orr kar use dikhaaya.
Kaera : You see this woman? Toofan ke baad lantern ki taraf jo haath badha rahi hai?
Veer : ..!?
Kaera : Iss ladki me mein khud apne aap ko dekhti hu. Aur, pata hai iss lantern me kisko dekhti hu?
Kehte hue uski nigaahein Veer par phiri, unn nazron me kuchh ankaha chhipa hua tha. Veer ke honth halke se khule-
Veer : I-
Kaera : Anyways… I don’t need money. I have plenty of it. What I want is… A promise.
Veer : Promise? K-Kaisa promise?
Kaera : I don’t know. Par, jab time aayega, tab tumhe mere liye kuchh karna hoga. Jo mein maangungi woh.
Veer ne turant uttar nahi diya.
Veer : What is it that you want?
Kaera (smiles) : I don’t know yet.
*Silence*
Kaera : I will ask when the time comes.
Yahi sabse khatarnak pehlu tha. Ek undefined debt. Veer ne uss par vichaar kiya. Par, akhir Kaera uss se kya hi maangengi bhavishya me? Akhir uske paas toh sab kuchh tha jo insaan aam taur par paane ki chaah rakhta hai.
Suhana ka chehra ek kshan ke liye uske mann me mandraaya. Woh khamosh gham jo kabhi Suhana ne zaahir nahi kiya tha. Veer ne akhirkar sarr hilaaya.
Veer : I accept it. Jab samay aayega, tum jo kahogi, mein woh karunga.
Kaera ne kuchh pal tak use nihaara. Phir, usne woh painting use thama di.
Kaera : Take it. It’s yours now.
Veer ne saavdhani se uss painting ko apne haatho me liya. Aur, ab Kaera ke chehre par aisa bhaav tha jise samajhna lagbhag asambhav tha. Na hi kisi jeet ka aur na hi kisi haar ka.
Veer : Miss Suhana ne aapko invite nahi kiya?
Invited toh Veer khud bhi nahi tha par woh jaanta tha ki Suhana ne use kyun invite nahi kiya tha. Kaaran tha - Gaurav.
Kaera : Iss painting ko woh na jaane kitne saalo tak mujhse maangti rahi aur maine use ye aaj tak nahi di. Kya tumhe lagta hai woh mujhe invite karegi?
Veer : I see. So… aapas me koi berr nahi. Hai na?
Kaera : No. We’re on neutral terms. Woh mujhe zyada pasand nahi karti. Aur, mein use blame nahi karti.
Kehte hue usne neeche ki floor ki taraf ishaara kiya.
Kaera : But my little brother received an invitation, though. See? Kaise Suhana mujhe taunt karti hai!? Woh aise ready ho raha hai jaise uski girlfriend ne date par bulaaya ho.
Veer muskuraaya.
Veer : Thank you! It means a lot.
Kehte hue woh baahar nikalne ki orr chal pada. Tabhi, peechhe se use Kaera ki awaaz sunaayi di.
Kaera : Remember what you promised, Veer. Now you owe me twice.
Woh muskuraayi. Usne ICONGLOBE ki raat waali baat bhi use yaad dilaayi ki kaise Veer ab uska karzdaar tha. Ek baar nahi. Do baar.
Veer ruka. Aur, bina mudey hi bola.
Veer : I will.
Aur, phir woh baahar nikal gaya. Kaera wapas se apne bedroom me lauti, takiye ke neeche se usne apni wahi kitaab baahar nikaali jiska sheershak tha-
The Art of Loving without Losing.
Aur, usme pehle hi chapter ki seekh thi - Never show full interest. Let them come toward you.
‘Ugh! This is hard. I cannot do this.’
Usne pehle page ko faad ke dustbin me fek diya. Aur, woh dusre chapter par kood gayi.
---
Suhana ki aankhon me phirse aasu bhar aaye. Iss baar kisi aur dard ke chalte. Usne painting ko car ke andar rakha aur phir woh aage badhi aur usne Veer ko kasskar jakad liya. Kuchh zyaada hi zor se.
Usi waqt ek cab unse kuchh doorie par aakar ruki aur andar se ek aurat baahar nikli ~ Divya.
Veer ne use location apni pehle hi bhej di thi. Jaise hi woh unki taraf aage badhi, uske qadam saamne ke drishya ko dekh wahi jamm gaye.
Suhana ne Veer ke sarr ko neeche kheencha aur iss baar bina kisi sharm ke-
Usne Veer ke hontho ko apne muh me bhar liya.
*Kiss*
Uski aankhein band thi. Uske haath kass ke Veer ke baalo ko jakde hue the. Seena uski chhaati me dhasa hua tha. Aur, bina aate-jaate traffic ki parvaah kiye, woh Veer ke hontho ko choosne lagi. Ek baar. Do baar. Baar-baar. Bina ruke. Maano jaise ye jeevan ka antim lamha tha.
[See? I told you Suhana loves you.]
Pari ki awaaz uske mann me goonji. Magar, Veer ka dhyaan iss waqt Suhana par tha. Dono alag hue. Suhana ne use dekha. Veer ki aankhon me aashcharya tha.
Veer : Suhana…!?
Suhana : Shhhh-! Bas mere sawaalo ka jawaab do.
Veer : ???
Suhana : K-Kyun? Mere liye itna sab kyun?
Veer : Kyunki… Kyunki, aapko woh painting kayi saalo se chaahiye thi.
Suhana : Chaahiye toh mujhe aur bhi bahut kuchh hai. Doge mujhe?
Usne Veer ke hontho ko dekh bola.
*badumps*
Aur, iss baar Veer ki dhadkane tez ho gayi.
Veer : Su-
Bolne se pehle hi ek baar phir Suhana ne uske hontho par vaar kar diya. Uski saans phool rahi thi par uske bawajood woh Veer ko choomne se peechhe nahi hatna chaahti thi.
Aaj use samajh aa raha tha ki uss raat Kaera ko kaisa mehsoos hua hoga. Kahi na kahi use gussa aa raha tha ki Kaera ne ye ehsaas uss se pehle paa liya. Aur, woh wahi ki wahi bas khadi hoti dekhti rahi. Uss yaad ko woh aaj mitaana chaahti thi.
Jab dono alag hue toh dono ki hi saansein tez thi.
Suhana : Y-Ye sab tumhara plan tha na? *huff*
Veer (nods) : H-Haan! Sorry, meri wajah se aapka birthday-
Suhana : Nahi! It’s the best birthday gift I have ever got. Tumne mujhe azaad kiya hai. *glances* Aur, ye pal mein kabhi bhi nahi bhoolungi, Veer. Thank you~
“Tum dono ka ho gaya ho toh koi mujhe notice karega ab?”
Divya ki awaaz unke kaano me padi. Suhana ne jaisi hi use paaya, uske gaal sharm se laal ho gaye aur woh jhatse Veer se alag ho gayi.
Suhana : Divya? Tum yaha?
Divya : Haan mein yaha-
Suhana : T-Tum y-yaha kaise-!?
Divya : Veer ki location mere phone me update ho rahi thi. *walks forward* Happy birthday jaaneman!
Aur, usne kass ke Suhana ko apni baahon me bhar liya.
Suhana : Divya-!
Divya : Shh! I know kya hua hai. Veer ne mujhe sab pehle hi bata diya tha ki kya hone waala hai.
Suhana : Matlab tumhe pata tha?
Divya (nods) : Hmm! Happy birthday darling~ You deserved it. You deserve this happiness. This freedom. Every good thing in this world.
Veer : Ladies! Ab samay aa gaya hai mein niklu-
Suhana : Kyaaaa? N-Nahi!
Usne Veer ka haath kasskar thaama.
Suhana : You are not going anywhere. P-Please~ I beg you! Kahi mat jao. I want you to be with me. Tum dono… meri life me sabse important ho. *sob* Please~ Aaj mein bahut khush hu. I want to spend the rest of the night with you two. Please~
Veer ne uske gaalo ko apne haatho me liya aur uske chehre ki orr halka sa jhuka.
Veer : I know! Lekin… aapke husband ke khilaaf wo sab saboot jo maine pesh kiye. Uske liye… Mujhe police station jaana hi hoga. DGP se milna hoga. You know it too ki ye kitna serious matter hai, right? Mein aapse milne phirse aaunga baad me. Don’t worry.
Suhana : P-Par-
Veer ne uske maathe ko haule se chooma. Suhana ka badan kaanp gaya.
Veer : Maine kaha hai na ki mein aaunga. Now… Go. Aap apni best friend se itne time baad mil rahi ho. Aur, aap poochhna nahi chaahti Divya se ki woh itne din Mumbai me rahi toh mili kyu nahi aapse? *smiles* Spend some time with her.
Suhana : I-
Veer ne iss baar uski thuddi ko pakad uska chehra upar uthaaya aur Divya ke saamne hi-
*Kiss*
Uske hontho ko ek baar phirse choom liya. Suhana ka dil gadgad ho chuka tha. Woh kuchh derr pehle ka gham bhool chuki thi kyunki uske sabse pasandeeda vyakti uske paas the.
Suhana : P-Promise?
Veer : Haan promise.
Suhana : Aur, Kaera ko tumne kya diya badle me?
Veer : Kuchh bhi nahi.
Suhana : Jhooth mat bolo, mein jaanti hu ki woh yuhi tumhe painting nahi de sakti chaahe tum uske kitne hi achhe dost hi kyun na ho.
Veer : Bas ek vaada. Jiske baare me unhone nahi bataaya. Samay aane par woh mujhse kuchh maangengi.
Suhana ki bauhe kisi chinta me sikudi.
Veer : Ab mujhe jaana hoga. Enjoy your night now, okay? Leave the rest to me.
Kehte hue woh muda aur Divya ke bagal se jaane ke liye hue toh Divya ne uska haath pakad use rok liya. Uski peeth abhi bhi Veer ki taraf hi thi. Lekin, haath peechhe ki orr uski kalaayi ko thaame hue tha.
Divya (mutters) : Thank you.
Veer : Don’t mention it.
Divya : Nahi. Like, really… Thank you. Thank you so much. Tumhari wajah se hi aaj mein aur Suhana-
Veer (smiles) : Thank me some other time then. I need to go now.
Divya : Huh? Oh! *blushes* As you wish… *smiles*
Aur, Veer dono sakhiyo ko aapas me chhor waha se nikal gaya.
***
Raat abhi poori tarah se chhat bhi nahi paayi thi aur Mumbai me Gaurav ke bangley me mache hungaame se abhi tak log uss ghatna se prabhavit the.
Jab Suhana ghar se bhaagi thi, theek uske kuchh kshan pehle hi koi aur bhi waha se jaldbaazi me nikla tha. Uss waqt-
Ek black sedan car tez raftaar me bhaagte hue driveway se nikli, uske tyres ki cheenkh sadak par goonj uthi. Car ke andar Nik ke haath kaanp rahe the. Usne steering wheel ko kasskar jakad rakha tha. Jaise hi usne car ko sadak par moda, aur estate se dur tezi se bhagaaya, uske maathe par gusse se nassein ubhar aayi.
“Shit… shit… shit…”
Saansein tez thi. Kuchh hi palon me sab kuchh bikhar gaya tha. Projector. Gaurav ki sacchaayi ka saamne aana. Police ka aana. Woh files. Kisi ne sab kuchh plan kar rakha tha.
Aur, Nik ko iska matlab achhi tarah pata tha. Uss haramkhor Veer ko sab kuchh gyaat tha. Uski car sadak par tezi se bhaagti gayi. Lekin, tabhi kareeban uske 100 metre peechhe hi-
Ek aur car andhere se baahar nikli. Phir, ek aur. Aur, phir ek aur. Teen kaali gaadiyaan raat me sadak par aise utri jaise shikaari shikaar ke liye utarte hai.
Pehli SUV ke andar ek aadmi, driver seat ke bagal waali seat par jhuka hua tha aur windshield se baahar jhaak raha tha.
Surya. Wahi Sarabhai gang member ka ek mehatvpoorn member. Wahi gang jisko Aadesh ne hire kiya tha Veer ki hekdi nikaalne ke liye lekin, baad me Balhaar ke saamne use hi muh ki khaani padi thi. Uss din ke baad se hi Sarabhai aur uski gang Balhaar ke saamne natmastak ho gaye the.
Surya (smirks) : Kya hi kehne boss ke-!
Usne car ke baahar darwaaze ko haath se do baar thap-thapaaya aur driver ki orr jhuka.
Surya : Woh raha angrez ka choda, kameena. Tez chala bey!
Driver : K-Kaha? K-Kaun sa kameena, Surya bhai?
Surya : Wahi videshi chooha jiske baare me kal Veer boss ne bataaya tha.
Driver : P-Pakka wahi hai na? Koi aur nikla toh-?
Surya ne apna mobile nikaalte hue tasveerein check ki.
Surya : Wahi car number. Car ka wahi color. Sab same hai. Tu nahi tha na kal adde pe? Tujhe nahi pata. Bhaga! Bhaga! Aage le!
Driver (nods) : H-Haan, bhai!
SUV ka engine zor se garja.
Surya : Aur, tez!!!
Car tezi se aage badhi aur unke peechhe unke saath ki do cars bina kisi nirdesh ke hi unka peechha karne lagi. Chase shuru ho chuki thi.
---
Pichhli raat…
Docks se lage ek warehouse me, bade se hall me log samooh me khade the. Kuchh cigarette pee rahe the, kuchh bakso par tike hue the, kuchh aapas me fusfusa rahe the aur kuchh naye-naye aaye maal ko rakhwa rahe the.
Ye aam aadmi nahi the. Ye wo log the jo logo ko gaayab karne me maahir the. Sarabhai ek jagah khade kisi se baat-cheet kar raha tha. Surya uske bagal me khade tambakhu khaa raha tha aur beecho-beech Balhaar baitha hua tha. Lekin, aaj raat-
Balhaar kamre ka mukhiya nahi tha. Warehouse ke farsh par kisi ke aane ki aahat goonji. Koi andar aaya. Haath jebo me. Pehnaawa ekdum mehnga. Saaf-suthra. Aur, hontho par halki si muskaan.
Veer hall me aise daakhil hua jaise maano woh uss warehouse ka maalik ho. Baat-cheet tham gayi. Sarabhai turant hi seedha khada ho gaya. Surya ne apne tambakhu ko jeb me rakh liya. Aur, Balhaar bhi swayam khada ho gaya.
Veer unse kuchh hi doorie par ruka. Uski nigaahein waha jamey hue logo par dheere-dheere ghoomi. Phir, usne Balhaar ki orr dekha.
Veer : Kal raat ek ‘Nik’ naam ka ek videshi aadmi Globerays ke CEO, Gaurav ke ghar se faraar hoyega.
Sab ne use hairaani bhari aankhein liye dekha. Kaun Nik? Bhaagega? Kaha? Veer ne aage kehna jaari rakha.
Veer : Ek middle aged aadmi hai. Dikhne me thoda sa hatta-katta hai. Theek-thaak height hai. Kal woh waha se bhaagega. Ek black SUV me.
Samooh ke ek naye sadasya, jise Veer ke baare me kuchh bhi nahi pata tha, usne apni bauhe chadhaayi aur bola.
Ladka : Toh, hum kya kare? Tum kaun ho? Aur, humaara uss se kya lena-dena?
Warehouse me sannaata chhaa gaya. Sarabhai ne uss ladke ko dekha. Iske pehle ki woh moorkh kuchh aur keh paata-
*Chataak*
Surya aage badha aur use itni zor se thappad maara ki uski awaaz poore hall me goonj uthi. Woh ladka sadme me apna gaal pakadte hue peechhe ki orr ladkhada gaya.
Surya (yells) : Bhosdike, jab bolne ko kaha jaaye tabhi apna muh khola kar, samjha na?
Woh zor se gurraaya, uski aankhein gusse se laal thi. Usne uss ladke ki collor pakdi aur use peechhe dhakela.
Surya : Aur, agar Veer boss ne kaha hai ki aisa hoga… toh waisa hi hoga. Samajh gaya lawde???
Ladka (shivers) : J-Ji bhai! Sorry!
Kamra ekdum shaant ho gaya. Veer ne uss orr dekha bhi nahi. Woh bas bolta raha.
Veer : Jaise hi woh bhaagega, tum uska peechha karoge.
Balhaar aage badha.
Balhaar : Pakadna hai?
Veer : Haan!
Balhaar : Pakad ke kya karna hai?
Veer : Kuchh nahi. Bas pakadna hai. Zinda.
Balhaar (nods) : Ho jaayega.
Usne apne ladko par ek nazar daali. Surya aur kuchh aur ladko ki taraf.
Balhaar : Ladke log sambhaal lenge.
Veer ne apna phone uski orr feka toh Balhaar ne use pakad liya.
Veer : Uski pictures aur car ki details hai. Apne phone me leke ladko ko bhej do. Koi galti na hone paaye.
Balhaar ne haami bhar theek waisa hi kiya, phir uska chehra thoda narm pad gaya.
Balhaar : Shukriya.
Veer : Hmm?
Balhaar : Police ko vyast rakhne ke liye. Har jagah bhaag-daud me lagi hai wo. Prestige ka lafda. Serial killer ki khoj. Underground lair ki jaanch. Humaara woh Aadesh jaisinghani ke private suite me video bana ke viral karne ka idea. Sheher ke aadhe adhikari kaagazi kaaryavahi aur chhaapo ke bojh taley dabe hue hai.
Veer (grins) : Oh!?
Balhaar : Iss se mujhe kaafi samay mila hai. Warna, underground hue bahut waqt ho raha tha.
Veer jaanta tha ki uski wajah se Balhaar ko yeh sunehra avsar mila tha. Aage badhne ka samay. Phirse, nirmaan karne ka samay. Vikaas karne ka samay. Taaqat badhaane ka samay.
Balhaar : Mere liye maidaan kaafi saaf ho gaya. Iss se kaafi madad mili hai.
Veer (smiles) : Bas Nik ko pakad lena.
Usne iss baat par charcha nahi ki. Woh muda aur darwaaze ke paas ruka.
Veer : Use bhaagne mat dena.
Aur, bas itna bol woh waha se nikal gaya.
---
Nik ki sedan itni tezi se mod se guzri ki lagbhag bhidte-bhidte bach hi gayi. Uski saansein ab ladkhadaayi hui thi. Usne sheeshe me peechhe ka drishya dekha. Pehle toh kuchh nahi tha. Bas khaali sadak. Phir, do second ke baad hi-
Ek jodi headlights dikhaayi padi. Phir, ek aur. Aur, phir ek aur. Nik ki aankhein chaudi ho gayi.
“What the hell…?”
Raushni aur qareeb aane lagi. Behad qareeb. Uska dil zoro se dhadka.
“Shit!”
Usne accelerator par perr dabaaya. Engine zor se dahaada. Sedan kisi rocket ki tarah tezi se aage bhaagi. Aur, uske theek peechhe Surya, apni seat par aage ki orr jhuk gaya.
Surya : Wo raha madarchod! Pakad behanchod ko!
Usne dashboard par zor se haath maara.
Surya : Bhaga bhosdike!! Bhaga! Saala bach ke jaane na paaye.
Driver : Ji bhai! Nahi bhaag paayega!
SUV tez raftaar se aage badhi. Baaki gaadiyaan bhi unke peechhe kataar lagaaye bhaagti gayi. Ek gaadi daahine lane me ghus gayi toh wahi dusri baayi taraf waali lane me, Nik ko pakadne ke liye.
Nik ne sheeshe me dekha. Teen gaadiyon me se ab ek hi gaadi bachi thi. Lekin, woh jaanta tha ki baaki do kisi aur route se uss tak aane ki koshish kar rahi hongi. Uska gala sookh gaya.
“Fuck! Who the hell are these people?”
Uska dimaag har jagah daud raha tha. Tabhi, achanak usne apna phone uthaaya aur Gaurav ko call bhidaaya. Iss aas me ki usne ab tak matter sambhaal liya hoga. Ghanti baji, magar-
---
Idhar police station me Gaurav ko hathkadiyo me baandhe galiyaare me ghaseeta jaa raha tha. Gusse se uska poora chehra laal tha.
Gaurav : DGP!! Tumhe maalum nahi hai tum kise chhu rahe ho. Tumhe lagta hai ye khel yahi khatam ho jaayega?
Ek adhikari ne use aage dhakela. “Aage badho!”
Gaurav : Mein tumhara woh hashr karunga ki tum mere paas aake gidgidaoge, DGP! Yaad rakhna! Tum sab ke sab!
Rohan paas khada chup-chap sab dekhta raha, jab tak ki Gaurav ko andar jail me nahi daal diya gaya. Ab aage ki baat tabhi honi thi jab uski koi bail karwaane aaye. Tab tak ke liye, Gaurav ek gunehgaar hi tha.
Rohan : Iss file me jitne bhi saboot hai unhe cross check karo. Sab authentic hai ya nahi. Pendrive ke data ki ek report bana kar mujhe pesh karo. Sab cross check karo. Samajh gaye? Koi bhi maayi ka laal inn raeeso ko begunaah saabit karwaane ke liye aayega, toh unhe mein khud dekhunga.
Adhikari : Ji sir!
Tabhi, Rohan ki jeb me Gaurav ka phone baj utha jo usne zabt kiya tha. Usne screen par nazar daali.
Caller ID : Nik
Uski bauhe kass uthi. ‘Iska matlab Veer sahi tha…!’
Usne Gaurav ka bajta phone turant hi ek officer ki orr pheka.
Rohan : Call uthao. Trace karo iski location. Aur, ek unit taiyaar rakho turant bhejne ke liye.
Officer : Ji sir!
Rohan ne aadesh dete hue kaha. Uske peechhe Gaurav lagataar gaaliyaan bak raha tha.
Gaurav (yells) : Tum sab gaye kaam se behanchodo! Baahar bas nikalne do mujhe. Baahar nikalte hi mein tum sabko dafna dunga.
Rohan (smiles) : Jitna ganda bol sakte ho bolo, Mister Gaurav. Ye humaare liye aur bhi beneficial hai. Agar, kisi tarah tum riha ho bhi gaye, toh ek DGP ke saath badtameezi karne ke jurm me tumhe phir se andar toh daal sakta hu.
Gaurav (smirks) : Hmph! I’m drunk, DGP Sir. You know… nashe me bole gaye shabdo ko seriously maan ke saza nahi suna sakte.
Rohan : Dekha jaayega, Mister Gaurav. Dekha jaayega.
Tabhi, koi waha par aaya. Veer police station ki entrance par khada hua tha, haath jebo me, Suhana ki party me pehne gaye wahi kapde uske badan par the.
Trisha ne use sabse pehle dekha. Phir, Rohan ne. Aur, phir dono Rohan Trisha ne ek-dusre ko dekha.
Rohan : Toh, akhirkar aa hi gaye tum.
Veer (smiles) : Kisi ko interrogation jo chaahiye tha.
Rohan ne paas ek cabin ki orr ishaara kiya.
Rohan : Andar!
Kuchh minute baad, darwaaza band hua. Rohan Veer ke saamne mej ke dusri orr baitha hua tha. Trisha recording device taiyaar kar ke deewar ke paas khadi hui thi. Veer baitha aur apni kursi par thoda peechhe jhuk gaya. Araam se. Rohan ne use dhyaan se dekha.
Rohan : Toh… Aaj raat. Ye sab tumhara kiya dhara tha, hai na?
Veer (bluntly) : Bilkul!
Rohan ki bauhe tann gayi.
Rohan : Kaise?
Veer : Mere paas mere jasoos hai.
Rohan (leans forward) : Kaun?
Veer (smiles) : Ek jasoos jasoos hota hai, Sir. Hai na?
Rohan ne dheere se saans chhori. Ek pal ke liye kuchh derr pehle ka Erica ka naqaab-posh chehra uske mann me aaya.
Rohan : Theek hai! Mat batao. Toh, aaj ke iss khel se kya samjhu mein Veer? Kya yahi ki tumhe apraadhiyo ko be-naqaab karne me maza aata hai?
Veer : Aapko toh meri uplabdhi se khush hona chaahiye na? Hai ki nahi?
Rohan : Haan! *pauses* Aur, na. Tumne ek criminal ko expose kiya hai. Achhi baat hai. Lekin, tumne logo ki privacy ko invade bhi kiya hai, data hack kiya, security ko breach kiya aur illegally ye sab praapt kiya. *frowns* Ye apne aap me ek crime hai.
Veer : …
Rohan : Tumne kanoon ko apne haath me liya hai.
Veer (leans forward) : Aur, agar nahi leta toh?
Rohan : …
Veer (mutters) : Aap sab ko ghanta koi khabar lagni thi ki Gaurav peeth peechhe kya kuchh kar raha tha.
Baat sach thi. Rohan ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Veer punah peechhe jhuk gaya.
Veer : Jis asal mudde ke liye aapne mujhe yaha bulaaya hai. Kyun na hum uss par aaye ab?
Rohan : Tum underground lair ke andar the?
Veer : Haan.
Rohan : Kya dekha tumne udhar?
Veer : Serial killer ko.
Recording karte hue Trisha ka haath ek pal ke liye ruk gaya. Rohan ki nazrein paini hui.
Rohan : Meri beti ne bataaya ki tumne uss killer ke saath haathapaayi bhi ki thi. Kya ye sach hai?
Veer (chuckles) : Haan. Yeh sach hai.
Rohan : Aur, tum sahi-salaamat do bacchiyo ko lekar bach kar bhi baahar nikal aaye?
Veer : Hey! Mein kaafi injured tha. Kyun, hai na Miss Trisha? *smiles*
Trisha ka badan thitura. Woh asahaj sa mehsoos karne lagi. Rohan ne uski taraf dekha. Trisha ne phir haami bhari.
Trisha : Woh… *nods* Woh ghaayal tha.
Rohan (glances) : Serial killer ke baare me aur kuchh jaante ho?
Veer : Hmm! Jo sketch police ne jaari kiya tha, woh ekdum accurate hai. Ek aged man. Safed baal. Kandhe tak. Woh tez tha. Taqatvar. Aur… ek psycho.
Rohan (frowns) : Kya uske muh se aur kuchh anjaane me nikla tha? Koi maqsad?
Veer : Nahi! Par, itna zaroor bata sakta hu ki woh paiso ke liye nahi maar raha. Na hi badle ke liye. Na hi kisi ideology ki wajah se. Woh ek unhinged serial killer hai. Jo mazey ke liye maarta hai. Use pleasure milta hai. He’s a bloody psycho.
Kamre ka taapmaan thanda pad gaya. Trisha ki ungliyaan Pihu ko yaad kar recorder par kass gayi.
Rohan : Tumne abhi-abhi kaha ki woh ek aged man hai. Agar, woh itna hi aged hai, toh bhala itna khatarnak kaise hai?
Veer ki nazrein uthi. Aur, kamre me andar ghusne ke baad, pehli baar uske hontho par se muskaan gaayab thi.
Veer : Kyunki, woh trained hai. Aur, unpredictable.
Rohan : !?
Veer (leans forward) : Agli baar agar unfortunately aapka saamna uss se ho jaaye toh- *pauses* toh apne saath jitne bhi armed officers le jaa sakte ho, leke jaaiyega.
Rohan : !!!?
Veer : Jitne bhi weapons hai. Sab. Jitni bhi unit forces hai. Sab.
Rohan (frowns) : Kyun? Ek aged aadmi ke liye itna sab bhala kyun?
Veer : Kyunki, yeh wahi aged aadmi hai jise aapki poori police force abhi tak nahi pakad paayi, aur wo din dahaade murders par murders karta chala gaya. Yaha tak ki, aapki beti ko bhi utha ke le gaya tha.
*Silence*
Kuchh der tak bas sannaata chhaaya raha. Rohan ne ek gehri saans li.
Rohan : Ab do sabse important sawaal. Pehla. Tumne Pihu aur Juhi ko uss serial killer se kaise bachaaya?
Veer : Mein lucky tha. Juhi aur Pihu mujhe kismat ke chalte mil gayi thi. Uske baad bhaagte waqt hi meri haathapaayi uss se hui thi. Meri kismat isliye achhi thi kyunki, woh pehle se hi shaayad injured tha.
Rohan : Huh?
Veer : Haan! Isliye, ladte waqt mujhe chot zaroor aayi par mein bhaag nikalne me qamyaab tha.
Rohan : Injured hone ke bawajood woh police se bach kar bhaag nikla? *frowns* Dusra sawaal. Tumhe kaise pata chala ki Pihu aur Juhi underground lair me hai?
Veer (smiles) : Maine abhi aapse kaha tha ki mere paas mere jasoos hai.
Rohan : Bakwaas mat karo, Veer. Mujhe sirf sach chaahiye.
Veer (shrugs) : Theek hai. Raahgeero se pata chala tha.
Rohan (frowns) : Par police ko toh ye saboot nahi mil paaye the.
Veer : Toh mujhe kaise mil gaye?
Rohan (frowns) : Tum-!!!
Veer : Aur, isliye maine kaha. *smiles* Ki agli baar agar uss se saamna ho, toh satark rahiyega. Otherwise-
Rohan : …?
Veer : You’ll regret it!!!
---
Idhar, Nik ki gaadi kisi bike waale ko takkar maarte-maarte bachi. Uska chehra paseene se lath-path tha.
“Come on… come on… pick the damn call, Gaurav!”
Call akhirkar utha.
“Hello! Hello? Gaurav?”
Lekin, dusre chhor se koi awaaz nahi aayi. Bas khamoshi. Nik ka dimaag tezi se ghooma. Ek bura ehsaas. Usne mirror me dekha. Headlights. Abhi bhi thi. Aur, qareeb.
Gaurav. Police? Kahi woh use le toh nahi gaye? Agar, aisa tha toh uska phone-
“Shit!!”
Uski saans ek pal ke liye ruk gayi. Survival instincts trigger hue aur bina kisi jhijhak ke usne phone kaan se hataaya aur call cut karte hue khidki ke baahar fek diya.
Nik ne accelerator ko aur zor se dabaaya. Sedan bhaagi aur traffic ko cheerte hue nikalne lagi. Usne dobaara sheeshe me dekha. Gaadiyaan abhi bhi aa rahi thi.
“Who the hell are they? Fuck!”
Woh gurraaya. Uska dimag har jagah daudne laga. Police? Nahi. Police iss tarah se peechha nahi karti. Ye koi aur log the. Kuchh planned tha. Usne gaadi ko ek sakre mod me moda.
Peechhe , Surya ne zor se dashboard par maara.
Surya : Haraam-zaada gaadi chalaane me expert lagta hai. Aage bhagaate raho.
Uski SUV Nik ki car ke peechhe bhaagi.
Surya (shouts) : Aur, tez! Aur, tez! Tez chala gaandu!
Driver ne acceleration badhaaya. Surya iss baar khidki se baahar jhuka. Usne apni handgun uthaayi, aim lagaaya, ek gehri saans aur-
*Bang*
Goli ki awaaz traffic sadak par goonj uthi aur goli Nik ki sedan ke peechhe ke sheeshe se takraayi.
*Crack*
Sheesha kisi makdi ke jaale ke samaan chakna-choor ho gaya. Car ke andar Nik buri tarah chaunk gaya.
“FUCK!”
Uski seat ke peechhe kaanch ke tukde khad-khadaane lage. Jaan halak me thi.
“Motherfuckers are now shooting-!?”
Car par niyantran banaaye rakhne ke liye uske haath paseene se tarr ho chuke the. Usne khud ko shaant karne ki koshish ki. Socho. Socho Nik.
Woh Mumbai ke raasto se achhi tarah waaqif nahi tha. Lekin, kuchh jagaho ko jaanta tha. Aisi jagaahe jaha Gaurav aur usne niji mulaqaatein ki hui thi. Unme se ek jagah yaha se dur nahi thi.
Usne steering wheel ghumaaya aur dusri sadak par mud gaya. Tezi se uss disha ki orr badha. Uske peechhe-
Surya ki muskaan dheere-dheere chaudi ho gayi.
Surya : Oh ho… Dekho toh zara. Haha!
Driver : K-Kya hua bhai?
Surya : Bilkul wahi hua jaisa ki Veer boss ne kaha tha. Bhosdiwaale ne bilkul wahi mod liya hai.
Driver : Huh? Hum uss angrez ko pakad hi kyun rahe hai?
Surya ne uske sarr par ek thappad maara.
Surya : Tu bas gaadi chala, bewakoof. Jitna kaha gaya utna kar. Veer boss ne kaha hai usko zinda pakadna hai matlab pakadna hai.
Driver : J-Ji bhai!
Aage, Nik ki car ek shaant industrialist lane ke paas pahuchi. Uski aankhon me halki si chamak aa gayi.
“This is it!”
Gaurav ke shelters me se ek. Unhone iss shelter ka istemal aksar tab-tab kiya tha jab-jab unhe ekaant me baat karne ki zaroorat hoti thi.
Agar, woh bas kisi tarah se andar pahuch jaaye toh-
‘Huh?’
Uske chehre par se achanak hi rang udd gaya. Shelter ke paas do cars khadi hui thi. Pehle se. Chupke se. Aadhh me. Lekin, Nik ne dekh liya.
“N-Nooo-!!”
Cars ke engine achanak chaalu ho gaye. Nik ki aankhein bhay ke maare fel gayi.
“Fuckkkk! They were waiting for me!?”
Usne steering wheel ko zor se moda aur shelter pahuchne se pehle hi dusri sadak par mud gaya. Uske peechhe-
Dono khadi cars turant chal padi. Wo peechha karne lagi. Nik ko choohe ki tarah bhaagta dekh Surya zor se hasa.
Surya : Kaha bhaagega, bhosdike! Veer boss ne ekdum sahi kaha tha. Ye angrez ka tatta iss taraf bachne ke liye zaroor aayega. Aur, woh sahi the.
Kintu, Nik ko iska koi andaaza nahi tha. Ghera pehle hi kasa jaa chuka tha. Nik ki car ke peechhe, daaye-baaye, har taraf se aadmi uski taraf badh rahe the.
“How the hell do they know those places?”
Uske dimaag me tarah-tarah ke vichaar daud rahe the, tabhi wahi naam uske dimaag me punah aaya.
Veer.
Uska jabda kass gaya.
“That bastard…. VEEEEER!!!”
Wahi tha. Uske alawa aur koi ho hi nahi sakta tha. Par, akhir kaise? Usne accelerator par phir perr dabaaya. Car ek aur highway par tezi se daud padi. Agar, zameen surakshit nahi thi toh-
Keval ek hi vikalp bacha tha. Mumbai harbour. Port Area.
Gaurav ke paas waha ek private yacht thi. Agar, woh waha tak pahuch gaya toh woh bach jaayega.
---
Wapas police station me cabin ke andar sannaata tha. Rohan aur Trisha Veer ko ghoor rahe the. Usne abhi-abhi jo chetaavni di thi, uska gehra asar unn dono par pada tha.
Rohan : Regret? Kya matlab?
Veer : Bilkul wahi jo maine kaha. Aur, jo aapne suna. Serial killer ko aap uski umr ki wajah se kam mat samajhiye. Woh aapki poori police force ko bhi khatam kar sakta hai.
Rohan : Kya bakwaas kar rahe ho!
Veer : Mera kaam tha aapko bataana. Jo maine kar diya hai. Agar, aap yakeen nahi karna chaahte *shrugs* toh aapki marzi.
Woh dheere se khada hua.
Veer : Lekin, baad me mujhse ye mat kehna ki maine aapko warn nahi kiya.
Rohan : We’ll see. Prestige ke haadse waali raat tum kaha the?
Veer : Out of city tha. Late aaya tha.
Rohan : Phirse jhooth. Tumne uss haadse ke baad koi bhi jaankaari nahi di. Koi bhi interrogation nahi. Sab family members hi handle kar rahe the. Kyun?
Veer : Aap mazaak kar rahe ho, right? Maine apne dada ji ko kho diya. Mere ghar ke ek chaheete sadasya ko goli lag gayi, unhone apni chalne ki kshamta kho di. Mera startup tabaah ho gaya. Hotel khoon se rang gaya. Security guards maare gaye. Aur, uss afra-tafri ke beech-
Rohan : …
Veer : Aap mujhse ye expect kar rahe ho ki mein interviews deta?
Rohan ne dheere se saans chhori. Uske paas iska koi jawaab nahi tha. Veer ne shaant bhaav se apni aasteen theek ki.
Veer : I believe maine aapke important questions ke answers de diye hai.
Woh muda aur darwaaze ki orr chal pada, jab-
“YOU ARE NOT LEAVING!”
Rohan ne mej par haath patka aur achanak khada ho gaya. Uski awaaz kamre me goonj uthi.
Rohan : Jab tak mein na kahu, tum yaha se nahi jaaoge.
Veer ruka. Aur, dheere se peechhe muda.
Veer : Oh!? *smiles*
Rohan uske qareeb aaya. Aur, tabhi ek officer ne baahar se awaaz lagaayi.
“Phone ki stable location mil gayi hai, Sir!”
Rohan : Unit leke pahucho turant.
“Ji Sir!”
Rohan phirse Veer ki orr muda.
Rohan : Tum bahut saari cheezo me involved ho, Veer. Itne saare coincidences nahi ho sakte. Tum itni asaani se bachkar nahi nikal paaoge.
Veer (smiles) : Trust me. DGP Sir. Mujhe ek partner ke roop me lene me zyada samjhdari hogi bajaaye iske ki-
Rohan : SHUT UP! Tum yaha baithoge. Aur, mere har sawaal ka jawaab doge.
Veer ne kuchh nahi kaha. Woh bas use dekhta raha. Shaant.
Rohan : Kya tum Dhananjay, Ranjeet ke case me shaamil the?
Veer : Huh? Kaun Dhananjay Ranjeet?
[Hehe~]
Rohan ne apne daant zor se meese. Trisha ghabraayi. Kya Rohan samajh gaya? Rohan ki nazar ek pal ke liye Trisha par padi.
Rohan : Mere saath game mat khelo, Veer. Mujhe pata hai tum kayi maamlo me shaamil ho. Yaha tak ki mujhe yeh bhi yakeen hai ki tumhara connection underworld mafia se bhi hai.
Veer (smiles) : Aap bahut bada aarop laga rahe hai, Sir. Khaaskar mere jaise ek college student par.
Woh aalas se kursi par baith peechhe jhuk gaya.
Rohan (shouts) : SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Rohan : Mujhe pata hai ki tum kitne din college gaye ho, kitne din jaate ho, kitne business run karte ho, kaha tumhara uthna-baithna hai, kaha jaate ho, kis se milte ho, tumhare parivar me kaun-kaun hai.
Veer ki muskaan gaayab ho gayi.
Veer (frowns) : Aap mere parivar ki jasoosi kar rahe ho?
Rohan (smirks) : Abhi tak toh nahi. *pauses* Lekin, agar zaroorat padi, toh woh bhi ki jaayegi. Mere paas tumhare baare me kaafi jankaari hai, Veer. Tum dusro ko bewakoof bana sakte ho. Mujhe nahi.
Veer : …
Rohan : Sawal ka jawab do. Kya tum Dhananjay aur Ranjeet ke maamle me shaamil ho?
Trisha ke shareer me phir sihran daud gayi. Uski ungliyaan kass gayi. Agar, Rohan chhaan-been karta raha toh aise me toh-
Veer : Nahi! Mein kuchh bhi nahi jaanta.
Rohan bhadak utha.
Rohan : Tumhari himmat kaise hui mere saamne jhooth bolne ki-?
Usne gusse se mej par haath patke.
Rohan : Mein tumhe abhi jail me daal sakta hu, Veer. Samjhe? Ek third-degree ka treatment aur tum mujhse rukne ki bheekh maangne lagoge. Aur, koi bhi iss par sawaal nahi uthaayega. Ye authority hai mere paas. Mein ye kar sakta hu.
Veer (smiles) : Par, aap nahi karoge.
Usne seedha Trisha ki orr dekha.
Veer (smirks) : Hai na? Miss Trisha?
Trisha jamm ke reh gayi. Uske mann me phirse wahi drishya kaundh gaye. Ranjeet ka marna. Uske haath me bandook. Slaughterhouse. Tasveer. Uska dil zor se dhadka. Usne Rohan ko dekha aur apna sarr ‘naa’ me hilaaya. Nahi. Use itna push mat karo. Aur, Rohan ka gussa aur bhi badh gaya.
Rohan : Tch!
Veer : Jaisa ki maine kaha, mujhe ek partner ke roop me lena aapke liye hi behtar hoga.
Rohan : Shut up!
Veer : Aap wardi pehen kar apraadhiyo ka peechha karte ho. Maine wahi kaam bina wardi ke kiya hai. Aapki aur meri… manzil ek hi hai.
Rohan (yells) : Tumhe iska right nahi hai.
Veer (stands up) : Sahi kaha. Mere paas right nahi hai. Lekin, kabhi-kabhi rights se zyaada… results matter karte hai, Sir.
---
Nik ki gaadi sunsaan road pe zor se bhaagi. Uski saansein bhaari thi.
"Fuck... fuck..." Usne mirror check kiya. Headlights. Abhi bhi peeche. Woh haraamzade use jaane hi nahi de rahe the.
Surya, peechhe apni car ki window se aadha bahar jhuka.
Surya : Bhaga bhaga bhaga! Pakdo uss harami ko!
Nik apne aap me hi badbadaaya. “Shit-!”
Harbour aage tha. Agar woh Gaurav ki yacht tak pahunch gaya toh… Woh samundar ke zariye unse dur bhaag paane me qamyaab ho jaayega.
Bas thoda aur.
Bas-
Uski aankhein phail gayi. Harbour use dikhaayi diya. Aur, yacht bhi. Lekin, kuchh toh gadbad thi.
Log. Dher saare log. Yacht ke neeche aas-paas khade the. Road ko dekh rahe the. Intezar kar rahe the. Nik ke badan me jhurjhuri daud gayi.
"Shit." Uski steering wheel pe pakad mazboot ho gayi. “They’re here too…?”
Usne jaldi se apni kamar thap-thapaayi. Uski ungliyon ko apni handgun feel hui. "Tch."
Aur, uske peechhe-
"RUK MADARCHOD!"
*BANG*
Zor se gunshot ki aawaz aayi. Nik ne turant hi duck kiya, kyunki bullet ne peechhe waale sheeshe ko ab tod kar use poori tarah dhwast kar diya tha.
"Damn it! Damn it! Fuccckkk!" Usne steering wheel ko jhatke se ghumaaya aur car ko tezi se moda. Gaadi harbour se dur chali gayi.
---
Veer darwaaze tak pahucha. Rohan ki aawaz phir aayi.
Rohan : Maine kaha na ki tum mere sawaalo ke jawaab diye bina nahi jaoge?
Veer ruka. Dheere-dheere… Woh peechhe muda. Phir, woh Rohan ki taraf wapas chal pada. Ahista-ahista. Ve dono ab lagbhag aamne-saamne khade the. Veer thoda sa aage jhuka.
Veer : Ek samajhdar officer… jaanta hai kab kaunse sawaal poochhne hai. Aur, kab nahi, Sir.
Rohan ki aankhein jal rahi thi.
Rohan : Gaurav hi sirf jail me nahi rahega… Balki, tum bhi salaakhon ke peechhe jaaoge. Aur woh Nik- hum use bhi jald hi daboch lenge.
Veer : Oh?
Bilkul usi waqt-
Uska phone vibrate hua. Dheemi si ghanti baji. Veer ne neeche dekha. Unknown number. Ek message aaya hua tha.
“Pakad liya boss.”
Uske chehre pe dheere se ek muskaan phail gayi. Rohan jhijhka.
Rohan : K-Kya?
Veer nazdeek aaya. Rohan ke kandhe par haath rakha. Phir, uske kaan ke paas jhuka.
Veer (smirks) : Pata hai sabse taaza khabar kya hai, sir?
Rohan ke badan me sihran daud gayi. Veer ke honth aur adhik phail gaye.
Veer (whispers) : NIK MERE PAAS HAI!
Rohan ke badan me raungte khade ho gaye. Bina koi use samay diye, Veer muda aur exit ki taraf chal diya.
Veer : Dobaara baat karni hai agar, toh kal shaam ghar aa jaaiyega. *pauses* Aur, bina wardi ke hi aaiyega. Aur, agar nahi-
Rohan : !!?
Veer (smiles) : Toh, Nik ko jaise aap dabochne waale the, daboch lijiyega.
Rohan (yells) : VEEEEER!!! Mein tumhe jail me daal dunga. Tumhe lagta hai ki tum bach jaaoge?
Veer (smiles) : Bilkul!
Kehte hue woh waha se nikal gaya. Kamre me gehra sannaata chhaa gaya. Rohan wahi khada raha, gehri saansein le raha tha. Uski aankhein krodh se laal thi.
Veer bina peechhe dekhe police station se baahar nikal gaya. Rohan dheere se Trisha ki orr muda. Uski nigaahein teekhi thi. Jawaab maang rahi thi.
Trisha ne uss se nazrein churaayi. Uska gala sookh raha tha. Woh ghabraate hue aage badhi. “R-Rohan-!”
***
Veer baahar aaya aur tabhi uske saamne uski apni car aa kar ruki. Driver seat ki khidki neeche sarki, Erica halki muskaan ke saath baahar jhuki.
Erica (smiles) : Kaafi derr laga di!
Veer ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Usne darwaaza khola. Erica baahar aayi aur ghoom kar passenger ki seat par baithi. Veer driver seat par baitha. Engine chaalu hote hi gaadi police station ke gate se nikal padi. Aur, peechhe ki seat par-
Garofano ek perr ko dusre par rakhe baithi hui thi, uske bagal se Ava thi.
Garofano : Toh?
Veer : Done and dusted. Filhaal abhi ke liye.
Garofano (sighs) : Finally!
Usne apne baalo par haath phera.
Garofano : Sorry! Mein khud nahi aa saki. Clients se badi mushqil se jaan chhooti hai aaj.
Veer : It’s okay! Tum pehle hi bahut kuchh kar chuki ho.
Garofano (smiles) : Oh!?
Veer : Trisha ko phone par guide karna aur Raman tak precisely pahuchaana asaan kaam nahi tha.
Garofano : Well… Looks like system yahi chaahta tha ki mujhe ye mission mile. *grins* Kaafi badhiya skill mili hai reward me.
Veer : Kaun si?
Garofano (smirks) : If I reveal everything now, what will I tease you with later?
Veer ke jawaab dene se pehle hi Erica chehek uthi.
Erica : Mujhe bhi toh badhiya skill mili hai, hehe~
Veer (nods) : Yeah! Part vision!
[Skill : Part Vision
Description : Allows the host to join the parts of the past from the available clues and understand what transpired. Accuracy of the past will depend on the number of clues the host can get.]
Veer : Uss skill ne sab kuchh badal diya. Pushkar ke past ke bina… Gaurav aur Nik ki kartooto ke baare me nahi jaan paate.
Erica garv se muskuraayi.
Erica (smiles) : So, basically I saved the day. Yay~
Garofano : Relax little girl. You didn’t save the world. Your skill just came handy, that’s all. Itna exaggerate karne ki zaroorat nahi.
Erica (pouts) : Hmph~
Veer ke mann me-
*Ding*
[Mission : ‘Deal Breaker (1)’ has been completed.]
[You have gained 10,000 points.]
[Suhana’s favorability has increased by : 25.]
[Divya’s favorability has increased by : 10.]
*Ding*
[Perk Selection Available.]
[Select one of three random perks.]
[Perk 1] [Perk 2] [Perk 3]
‘Later Pari!’
[As you wish, Master!]
*Ding*
[Perk selection is post-poned.]
Veer : Waqai. Erica. Uss skill ki wajah se hi aaj mera mission poora hua hai. Thank you~
Erica (blushes) : It’s okay! Mujhe bhi ek skill mil gayi.
Garofano (chuckles) : Isliye, tumhare daddy Renshu yaha se gaayab ho gaye. Missions jo nahi mil rahe the use haha. Imagine losing to your own daughter in missions lol.
Erica : Hmph~ Toh kya hua? My dad would still crush you in a 1 v 1 fight.
Garofano : Oh please! Maana ki Renshu strong hai, lekin itna bhi nahi jis hisaab se tum apne daddy ke liye biased rehti ho.
Erica : Oh achha? Toh lagao bet. Hai himmat dad ke saath-
“I couldn’t do anything!”
Ava ki komal awaaz ne unki behas ko kaat diya. Erica aur Garofano, dono turant ruk gayi. Ava apne haatho ko ghoor rahi thi.
Ava : I… I barely helped.
Uski awaaz thodi kaanp rahi thi.
Veer : Nahi!
Ava : Huh?
Veer : Tumne apni identity reveal ki. Mere liye. Uss se poori situation change ho gayi thi.
Ava : But… But that is exactly why I hate it, Veer! I don’t want to appear only when things are already happening. I want to be there… when it begins. For you.
Aur, phir use ehsaas hua ki woh jaldbaazi me kya keh gayi. Usne haya me sarr neeche jhuka liya. Garofano aur Erica ne chup-chap use dekha. Dono shaant thi.
Veer : Tumne Teju di ko bachaaya, Ava. You took the bullet for my family. Aur, tumhe lagta hai tumne madad nahi ki?
Ava ke honth khule, lekin koi shabd nahi nikla.
Veer : I think it’s about time I- *pauses* I introduce you to my family. Tomorrow.
Ava (shivers) : Huh?
Usne aayeene me Veer ko dekha. Phir, dheere-dheere uske chehre par ek sharmeeli muskaan aa gayi.
Ava : O-Okay…! Tomorrow then…!
Baaki ka safar shaant baat-cheet me beeta. Plans. Precautions. Aage ki strategies.
Jab tak Veer ghar lauta, kaafi raat ho chuki thi. Ghar me andhera aur sannaata chhaaya hua tha. Shayad sabhi so chuke the. Usne spare key se gate ko unlock kiya and andar pravesh kiya.
Jaise hi woh hallway se guzar ke muda, woh achanak ruk gaya.
Uski maa ke kamre ka darwaaza khula hua tha. Andar ek light bulb jal raha tha. Bhavna darwaaze ke paas hi khadi thi. Intezaar kar rahi thi. Uski shaant nigaahein Veer par tiki. Aur, boli-
“Andar aao!”
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This update consists of 12k words. Dena nahi chaahta tha itna bada update par ab likh diya hai. Let's see tum log phirse wahi kaand karte ho ya iss baar bhi last update ki tarah jaldi reactions poore karte ho. Next update se hum thode system ke lore, Veer's familial issues, relationship, aur kuchh baaki characters par focus karenge. Kuchh secrets bhi unveil hone waale hai jald hi. Target apna wahi hai. 250.
Dhanyavad.
kingxlegion
Active Member
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lost_boy
New Member
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Thanks brother, I think they are looking into it.Pm @ Lucifer kaam ho jayega
Rihanna
कांटों को मुरझाने का खौफ़ नहीं होता
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Baat to sach ho gyi
