Chapter 2: Nimantran Ka Jaal

Agla din Delhi University ke campus par normal subah ki tarah shuru hua. Dhoop narm thi, thandi hawa chal rahi thi, aur students apni classes ki taraf ja rahe the. Priya bhi apne normal routine mein thi, lekin kal ka thappad wala waqiya uske dimag mein ghum raha tha. Usne raat bhar soya nahi tha. Uske dimag mein Rohan ka vulgar comment aur uska thappad ghum raha tha.
Priya library ke bahar bench par baithi thi. Uski best friend Sonali uske paas baithi thi. Dono ladkiyan aaj kuch dull aur chup thi. Priya ka chehra thoda uda hua tha, aur Sonali bhi chinta mein thi. Dono ke beech silence tha. Priya apne phone ko dekh rahi thi, lekin kuch bol nahi rahi thi.
Sonali ne dheere se poocha, "Priya, kal se tu bahut quiet hai. Sab theek toh hai na? Kal library ke bahar jo hua tha… Rohan ne kuch kaha tha kya?"
Priya ne thoda muskurane ki koshish ki, "Haan Sonali, sab theek hai. Bas thoda thak gayi hoon. Kal ka din thoda stressful tha. Padhai ka pressure bhi hai."
Sonali ne uska haath pakad kar kaha, "Priya, tu mujhse chhupa rahi hai. Hum best friends hain na? Bata na kya hua. Main tere saath hoon."
Priya ne sigh kiya, "Kuch nahi yaar. Bas normal baat thi. Chhod na."
Dono chupchap baithi thi. Tabhi unki ek aur friend Ritu aayi. Ritu bahut energetic ladki thi, hamesha party aur masti mein lagi rehti thi. Usne khushi se kaha, "Hey girls! Kya baat hai? Dono itni serious kyun ho? Aaj Richa ka birthday party hai farmhouse mein! Bahut badi party hai. Music, dance, food — sab free! Tum dono zaroor aana. Priya, tu toh hamesha mana karti hai, lekin aaj Richa ka birthday hai, please mat mana karna!"
Priya ne muskurate hue kaha, "Ritu, sorry yaar. Main usually in parties mein nahi jaati. Ghar walon ko pasand nahi hai. Mummy-papa strict hain. Aur bhaiya bhi allow nahi karte. Main middle-class family se hoon, aisi parties mere liye nahi hain. Main ghar par hi rahungi."
Ritu ne haath jod kar request ki, "Please Priya! Richa teri bhi friend hai. Agar tu nahi aayi toh wo bahut hurt ho jayegi. Bas 2-3 ghante. Sab ladkiyan aa rahi hain. Koi ladka nahi hoga jo pareshan kare. Security bhi hai wahan. Tu itni decent ladki hai, thoda relax kar le. Hamesha padhai aur ghar ke beech mat fas ja. Life enjoy bhi kar."
Sonali ne Priya ki taraf dekha aur dheere se boli, "Priya, Ritu sahi keh rahi hai. Richa ka birthday hai. Hum dono saath rahenge. Tu hamesha ghar aur padhai mein busy rehti hai. Thoda time apne liye bhi nikaal. Main bhi aa rahi hoon. Koi problem nahi hoga. Aur agar kuch hua toh hum turant wapas aa jayenge."
Ritu ne aur convince karte hue kaha, "Dekh Priya, tu bahut achhi ladki hai. Sab jaante hain. Bas ek baar aa ja. Richa ke liye. Aur wahan sab decent log hain. Koi ganda scene nahi hoga. Tu apne parents ko bol dena ki group study hai library mein. Sab theek ho jayega. Hum tere saath hain na?"
Priya sochne lagi. Usne apne upbringing ko yaad kiya — mummy-papa ne hamesha usko samjhaaya tha ki bahar parties se door raho, ladkon se careful raho. Lekin aaj Ritu ki khushi aur Sonali ki baaton ne usko manipulate kar diya. Usne socha Ek baar ja kar dekh lungi. Agar kuch galat laga toh turant wapas aa jaungi. Doston ke liye ek baar toh kar sakti hoon.
Priya ne thoda ruk kar kaha, "Theek hai yaar… main aa jaungi. Lekin bas thodi der. Aur Sonali, tu mere saath rahegi na?"
Sonali ne smile kiya, "Bilkul! Hum dono saath rahenge. Bahut maza aayega."
Ritu khush ho kar hug kar liya, "Thank you so much Priya! Tu best hai. Shaam 8 baje location bhej dungi. Dress code casual hai, lekin tu toh hamesha sundar lagti hai."
Priya ne muskurate hue kaha, "Theek hai. Par main jaldi wapas aa jaungi. Ghar walon ko kuch mat batana."
Dono doston ne usko convince kar liya tha. Priya ke dimag mein thoda dar tha, lekin doston ki baaton ne usko maan liya.
Shaam ko Priya ghar pahunchi. Uska chehra thoda uda hua tha, lekin woh apne aap ko normal dikhane ki koshish kar rahi thi. Ghar mein mummy kitchen mein thi, papa sofa par newspaper padh rahe the, aur Sameer laptop par kaam kar raha tha. Priya ne deep breath li aur unke paas gayi.
Priya ne dheere se kaha, "Bhaiya… papa… ek baat karni thi."
Sameer ne laptop side rakh kar muskurate hue poocha, "Haan champ, bol na. Kya hua?"
Priya ne soft voice mein kaha, "Aaj ek friend ka birthday party hai. Random group party hai farmhouse mein. Sab ladkiyan ja rahi hain. Main bhi jaana chahti hoon. Bas 2-3 ghante. Main jaldi wapas aa jaungi. Please bhaiya, aap allow kar do."
Sameer ne serious ho kar kaha, "Priya, party? Aaj raat?Main nahi maanta. Tu ghar par hi reh. Bahar bahut unsafe hai aajkal. Ladke kaise hain, tu jaanti hai."
Priya ne bhaiya ke paas baith kar uska haath pakad liya aur soft, emotional voice mein kaha, "Bhaiya please… main badi ho gayi hoon. Sab meri friends ja rahi hain. Agar main nahi gayi toh wo sochenge main backward hoon. Aap hamesha kehte ho ki main independent bano. Aaj ek baar try karne do. Main careful rahungi. Phone on rakhungi. Koi problem hui to turant call karungi. Please bhaiya… aap mera superhero ho na? Ek baar maan jao."
Sameer ne uske sar par haath ferte hue kaha, "Priya, main jaanta hoon tu badi ho gayi hai. Lekin Delhi hai yahan. Ladke bahut gande hote hain. Kal bhi kisi ne pareshan kiya tha kya? Bata mujhe."
Priya ne jhooth bola, "Nahi bhaiya, sab theek tha. Bas aaj party hai. Please allow kar do."
Papa ne newspaper side rakh kar gusse se kaha, "Party? Bilkul nahi! Tu akeli nahi jayegi. Ladke bahut khatarnaak hain aajkal. Main nahi maanta."
Priya ne papa ki taraf dekha aur soft voice mein kaha, "Papa please… aap bhi toh kehte ho ki main apni life khud decide karun. Sab meri friends ja rahi hain. Agar main nahi gayi toh wo mujhe boring samajhenge. Main decent ladki hoon papa. Main kuch galat nahi karungi. Bas dance aur music enjoy karungi. Please ek baar maan jao."
Papa ne gusse se kaha, "Priya, yeh teri zidd nahi chalegi! Tu ghar par rahegi! Main tera baap hoon, mera kehna maan."
Priya ka chehra laal ho gaya. Usne dheere-dheere gussa build kiya aur toxic tone mein kaha, "Aap log hamesha mujhe control karte ho! Main badi ho gayi hoon! Aap log mujhe bachchi samajhte ho? Main jaungi! Aap log mujhe rok nahi sakte. Aap log hamesha mujhe cage mein rakhna chahte ho. Modern time hai papa, aaj kal ladkiyan apni marzi se jeeti hain. Aap log purane zamane ke ho! Main apni life khud handle kar sakti hoon! Aap log mujhe kabhi samajhte hi nahi ho!"
Papa ne gusse se kaha, "Priya, yeh teri zubaan hai? Main tera baap hoon!"
Priya ne aur gusse mein kaha, "Haan papa, aap mere baap ho! Lekin aap mujhe kabhi azad nahi hone dete! Main padhti hoon, achhi ladki hoon, phir bhi aap mujhe trust nahi karte! Main jaungi aur kuch nahi!"
Woh apne kamre mein chali gayi aur darwaza zor se band kar diya. Uski aankhon mein aansu the. Woh bed par let gayi aur sochne lagi, Kyun mujhe hamesha rokte hain? Main bhi jeena chahti hoon. Ek baar toh try karungi.
Ghar mein silence chha gaya tha. Sameer aur papa ek dusre ko dekhte hue chup the.
Thodi der baad Priya apne kamre mein bed par leti hui thi. Uska dil tezi se dhadak raha tha. Usne phone uthaya aur Sonali ko call kiya. Phone ki ghanti baj rahi thi. Priya soch rahi thi Sonali ko bataungi toh wo samjhegi. Woh meri best friend hai.
Phone utha. Sonali ki awaaz aayi, lekin aaj kuch alag thi. Uski awaaz thodi low aur thaki hui thi, jaise woh kuch chhupa rahi ho.
Sonali: "Hello… Priya?"
Priya: "Sonali! Sun na, Ritu aur tu ne mujhe convince kar diya. Aaj Richa ka birthday party hai farmhouse mein. Main aa rahi hoon. Tu bata mujh kahan se pick karay gie? Hum dono saath rahenge. Bahut maza aayega."
Sonali kuch seconds chup rahi. Phir uski awaaz aayi, lekin aabi woh normal nahi lag rahi thi. Uski awaaz thodi ruk-ruk kar aa rahi thi, jaise woh kuch soch rahi ho.
Sonali: "Haan Priya… party… main yaad hai. Ritu ne mujhe bhi invite kiya tha. Lekin… aaj main nahi aa sakti. Mujhe subah se thoda bukhar jaisa lag raha hai. Mummy ne bola hai ghar par hi rahun. Doctor ke paas bhi jaana hai shaam ko."
Priya: "Arre Sonali, bukhar hai toh rest kar. Lekin main toh ja rahi hoon. Tu tension mat le. Main careful rahungi. Phone on rakhungi. Koi problem hui toh turant call karungi."
Sonali ne dheere se kaha, uski awaaz ab aur low thi, jaise woh rone wali ho,
"Priya… please… aaj mat ja. Kal bhi Rohan ne… tu jaanti hai na usko. Woh log… dangerous hain. Party mein… kuch galat ho sakta hai. Main… worried hoon. Tu ghar par hi reh na. Hum kal college mein milenge. Please…"
Priya: "Sonali, tu itni tension kyun le rahi hai? Main jaanti hoon Rohan ko. Lekin aaj party mein sirf girls honge. Security bhi hai. tu bhul kyun gie? Main bas 2 ghante rahungi aur wapas aa jaungi. Tu rest kar. Bukhar mein mat soch itna."
Sonali ne aur ruk kar kaha, uski awaaz ab bilkul alag thi, jaise woh kuch chhupa rahi ho,
"Theek hai Priya… tu ja rahi hai toh… mujhe call karte rehna har ghante. Aur… agar kuch bhi galat lage toh turant wapas aa ja. Main… so rahi hoon ab. Call cut kar rahi hoon. Bukhar mein neend aa rahi hai."
Priya: "Theek hai Sonali. Tu rest kar. Kal college mein milenge. Love you yaar."
Sonali ne dheere se kaha, uski awaaz ab bilkul kamp rahi thi,
"Love you too Priya… please… careful rehna."
Priya ne call cut kar diya aur muskurayi, Sonali itni caring hai. Aaj uski awaaz thodi strange thi. Shayad bukhar ki wajah se.
Priya ne socha Sab theek ho jayega. Main jaungi aur enjoy karungi. Bhaiya aur papa ko pata nahi chalega.
Woh taiyar hone lagi. Uska dil tezi se dhadak raha tha, lekin excitement bhi tha.
Shaam ko Priya apne kamre mein khadi thi. Uska dil tezi se dhadak raha tha. Usne apni favourite blue dress pehni thi — woh dress jo usne kabhi bahar nahi pehna tha. Usne thoda makeup kiya, eyeliner lagaya, lips pe light lipstick, aur baal khule chhod diye. Woh mirror ke saamne khadi ho kar apne aap ko dekhti rahi.
Yeh pehli baar hai jab main ghar se chupke se nikal rahi hoon. Bhaiya aur papa ko pata chal gaya toh bahut gussa karenge. Lekin aaj ek baar try karungi. Sab ladkiyan ja rahi hain. Main bhi jaungi. Bas thodi der rahungi aur wapas aa jaungi.
Priya ne deep breath li. Woh mummy ke kamre ke paas gayi. Mummy kitchen mein thi.
"Mummy, main Sonali ke ghar group study ke liye ja rahi hoon. Late ho sakta hai. Aap tension mat lena."
Mummy ne muskurate hue kaha, "Theek hai beta. Careful rehna. Jaldi wapas aa jaana."
Priya ne guilt feel kiya, lekin usne smile kiya aur ghar se chupke se nikal gayi. Bahar pahunch kar usne auto li aur party location pahunch gayi.
Party shuru ho chuki thi. Music baj raha tha. Lights chamak rahi thi. Bahut saari ladkiyan dance kar rahi thi. Priya andar ghusi toh uski aankhein phail gayi.
Wahan Rohan khada tha. Usne Priya ko dekh kar innocent smile diya.
Priya shock ho gayi. Usne socha Rohan? Yahan? Ritu ne toh kaha tha sirf ladkiyan!
Rohan ne uske paas aakar soft voice mein kaha, "Priya… welcome. Tum aayi… main bahut khush hoon."
Priya peeche hati, "Rohan? Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho? Ritu ne kaha tha sirf ladkiyan hain. Main abhi ja rahi hoon."
Rohan ne embarrassed ho kar haath jod liye. Uska chehra laal ho gaya.
"Priya please… suno toh. Main jaanta hoon kal maine bahut galat kiya. Main bahut sharminda hoon. Mera dost Ritu ka cousin hai. Usne mujhe bhi invite kiya tha. Main socha tha ki tum aaogi toh sorry bolunga. Please… ek chance do. Main aaj kuch galat nahi karunga. Sirf dost ki tarah baat karunga. Please mat jao. Sab dekh rahe hain."
Priya gusse mein boli, "Tumne kal mujhe jo kaha tha… uske baad main tumse baat bhi nahi karna chahti. Mujhe ghar jaana hai."
Rohan ne aankhon mein aansu la kar kaha, "Priya… main sach mein sorry hoon. Main nashe mein tha kal. Mera dimaag kharab tha. Tum itni achhi ladki ho… main tumhe hurt nahi karna chahta tha. Please… ek baar maaf kar do. Aaj sirf dance aur baat. Koi ganda comment nahi. Main promise karta hoon. Agar tumhe ek bhi baar bura lage toh main khud tumhe ghar chhod dunga."
Priya sochne lagi. Rohan ka embarrassed chehra dekh kar uska gussa thoda kam hua.
Rohan ne aur request ki, "Priya… main badal sakta hoon. Ek chance toh do. Sab ladkiyan dekh rahi hain. Meri izzat ka sawal hai. Please…"
Priya ne thoda ruk kar kaha, "Theek hai… bas 1 ghanta. Aur koi ganda comment nahi."
Rohan ne khush ho kar kaha, "Thank you Priya. Tum bahut achhi ho."
Dance floor par lights chamak rahi thi. Music tez tha. Priya thoda hesitate karte hue dance floor par chali gayi. Woh pehli baar aisi party mein thi. Usne dheere-dheere dance karna shuru kiya. Uski blue dress thodi si hil rahi thi. Woh soch rahi thi Yeh maza bhi hai. Bas thodi der.
Rohan uske paas aaya aur muskurate hue bola, "Priya, bahut achha dance kar rahi ho. Come, main tumhe kuch dost se milwata hoon."
Priya ne thoda hesitate kiya, lekin Rohan ne uska haath pakad kar gently pull kiya.
Rohan ne group ki taraf ishara kiya, "Yeh hai Karan — mera best friend. Yeh Vikram, Arjun, Rishabh, Devansh aur Siddharth. Sab mere close friends hain. Sab decent hain. Koi tension nahi."
Karan ne smile kiya, "Hi Priya. Bahut sundar lag rahi ho aaj."
Priya ne politely smile kiya, "Thank you."
Rohan ne innocent tone mein kaha, "Priya, yeh sab mere dost hain. Aaj sirf masti hai. Koi galat baat nahi hogi. Trust me."
Dance ke dauran Karan ne uske haath mein ek glass drink pakda diya. Glass mein orange colour ka juice jaisa drink tha.
Karan ne muskurate hue kaha, "Yeh try karo Priya. Bahut tasty hai. Fresh juice hai with little mix. Party mood ban jayega."
Priya ne mana kiya, "Nahi thanks Karan. Main drink nahi karti. Ghar walon ne mana kiya hai."
Rohan ne uske paas aakar soft aur innocent voice mein request ki, "Please Priya, ek sip. Sirf dost ke liye. Main guarantee karta hoon kuch nahi hoga. Sab ladkiyan pee rahi hain. Yeh non-alcoholic hai mostly. Thoda sa hi. Agar tumhe bura lage toh chod dena. Please… ek baar try karo. Meri khushi ke liye."
Priya ne socha Ek sip se kuch nahi hoga. Rohan aaj bahut innocent behave kar raha hai. Sab dekh rahe hain.
Usne glass liya aur 3 strong Rohypnol pills wala drink pi liya. Rohypnol — ek powerful sedative drug jo memory loss, dizziness aur unconsciousness cause karta hai. 3 pills ka dose bahut strong tha — normal insaan ko 20-30 minutes mein hi behosh kar sakta hai.
Thodi der baad Priya ko chakkar aane lage. Uski aankhein dhundhli ho gayi. Uski taange kaanpne lagi. Woh dance floor par hilne lagi.
Priya ne dheere se kaha, "Mujhe… ghar jaana hai… mera sir ghum raha hai… mujhe acha nahi lag raha…"
Rohan ne turant uska haath pakad liya aur innocent tone mein kaha, "Priya, kya hua? Lagta hai thak gayi ho. Chalo, main tumhe rest karne ke liye le chalta hoon. Wahan ek quiet room hai. Thoda rest kar lo. Phir ghar chhod dunga."
Priya ne kamzor voice mein kaha, "Nahi… main… theek hoon… ghar jaungi…"
Lekin Rohan ne usko support kiya aur dheere se private room ki taraf le gaya. Priya ki taange kaanp rahi thi. Uski nazar dhundhli thi. Woh resistance kar rahi thi lekin body control mein nahi thi.
Private room mein pahunch kar Rohan ne darwaza band kar diya. Room bahut luxurious tha — bada bed, dim lights, aur soft music.
Priya ne bed par baithte hue kaha, "Rohan… mujhe… ghar… jaana hai… please…"
Rohan ne uske paas baith kar uske baal sehlate hue innocent voice mein kaha, "Priya, relax karo. Thoda rest kar lo. Main yahan hoon. Koi problem nahi hoga.": "Just relax, OK?"
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See you all next time. love from JD S. take nice care guys. stay safe. Cheers.