Neon lights ki halki-chhalki roshni me nahayi hui Arjun ki lab kisi futuristic dreamland jaisi lag rahi thi… jaise koi dusri duniya ho jo sirf machines aur algorithms se bani ho. Har taraf advanced technology ka ek ajeeb sa sannata tha, jo sirf kabhi-kabhi kisi monitor ke blink hone ya kisi machine ke halki si beep karne se toda jata.
Lab ke beech me ek workstation par Arjun baitha tha, uski aankhe screen par chipki hui thi, par chehre par sirf tallinta nahi, ek ajeeb si ghabrahat bhi thi. Ye wo ghabrahat thi jo tab mehsus hoti hai jab koi insaan apni hi hado ko tod kar unknown territory me kadam rakh raha ho. Uska dimaag calculations aur theories ki bhool-bhulaiyya me ghira tha, par dil ke kisi kone me ek ajnabi si bechaini bhi thi… jaise kuch alag kuch bada hone wala ho.
Wo ‘Project Maya’ par kaam kar raha tha… ek aisa ambitious neuroscience aur artificial intelligence project jo insani dimaag ki unexplored frequencies ko decode karne ka lakshya rakhta tha. Ye sirf ek research nahi thi, balki ek talaash thi, ek paheli ka jawab jo shayad kayi sadiyon se insani soch ka hissa thi ke kya mrityu ke baad bhi kuch hai?
Arjun ek brilliant neuroscientist tha, jiska dimaag har waqt naye ideas se bhara rehta tha. Lekin uske liye science sirf ek logic-based discipline nahi thi, balki ek tareeka tha un mysteries ko samajhne ka jo duniya ke samne ab tak unsolved thi. ‘Project Maya’ uska sapna tha, ek aisa device develop karna jo human consciousness ki gehraiyo tak ja sake... aur shayad, mrityu ke paar bhi kuch hone ka saboot de sake.
Aur aaj ek bahut important din tha.
Usne apne ‘Neuro-Decoder’ ka final testing shuru ki thi. Ye ek highly sophisticated device tha jo quantum entanglement aur advanced algorithms ka istemal karta tha… insani dimaag se nikalne wali subtle electromagnetic waves ko capture karne ke liye, wo waves jo ho sakta hai ki kisi insaan ke emotions, vichar, aur yaadon tak ko record karti ho. Arjun is theory par kaam kar raha tha ki insani consciousness ek physical entity nahi hai, balki ek frequency hai jo shayad death ke baad bhi kahi na kahi exist karti rahti hai.
Arjun ne ek gehri saans li. Uski ungliyo ne keyboard par ek last command type ki. Phir usne ‘Run Simulation’ button daba diya.
Jaise hi system activate hua, laptop screen par complex graphs tez raftaar se move karne lage. Machines ki halki beep ek rhythm me gunjne lagi, jaise koi anjaani taal ho jo sirf technology ke samajhne layak ho. Sab kuch theek lag raha tha.
Par fir achanak…
Glitch.
Ek dum se, orderly move kar rahe graphs ek ajnabi taal me hilne lage. Erratic. Wild. Jaise koi anjaana signal beech me ghus aaya ho. Machines ka soft humming sound ek alag hi frequency me crackling noise me badalne laga… karrak... karrak... ek aisi awaaz jo human ears ke liye unnatural thi. Arjun ki aankhe screen par chipak gayi.
"Shit! Ye kya ho raha hai?" Uske haath turant keyboard par chale gaye, par jo bhi data aa raha tha, wo aur bhi ajeeb hota ja raha tha. Readings stable hone ki jagah aur disturb ho rahi thi. Jaise system kisi external force se interfere ho raha ho. Jaise koi... waha tha.
Aur tabhi…
Lab ke kone me lage chhote speaker se ek awaaz aayi. Ek narm, halki-thartharati madhur aawaaz, jaise hawa me gunj rahi ho
"Arjun..."
Ek pal ke liye Arjun ka dil dhadakna bhool gaya.
Awaaz itni dheemi thi ki sirf ek fiza me gunjne wali halki fusahat lag sakti thi, lekin uske kaan use bilkul saaf sun paa rahe the. Ek jaani-pehchaani aawaaz. Ek aisi aawaaz jo kabhi uski duniya thi.
Usne turant idhar-udhar dekha.
Lab… ab bhi waise hi thi. Monitors, cables, aur wo khud.
To phir… ye awaaz kahaan se aayi?
Kya Neuro-Decoder ne kisi aur ki thoughts ko capture kar liya? Ya ye koi interference tha?
Arjun ne ek baar phir system ki readings dekhi, lekin ab tak sab normal lag raha tha. Jaise kuch hua hi na ho. Par… wo awaaz!
Tabhi… wahi awaaz dobara sunai di, is baar thodi aur clear.
"Arjun, kya tum mujhe sun sakte ho?"
Arjun ne jhatke se ek gehri saans bhari. Uske haath thande ho gaye the. Lab ka temperature waise ka waise tha, par ek ajeeb si energy mahaul me bhar gayi thi, jaise koi anjaani presence wahaan ho.
Usne larazti awaaz me dheere se kaha, "Kaun hai? Tum kahan ho?"
Lab ke kone me ek monitor achanak blink karne laga, jaise koi signal capture ho raha ho. Screen par ek ajnabi fluctuation dikhai diya, ek pattern jo kisi bhi algorithm me fit nahi baithta tha. Arjun ne turant coding logs open kiye, uski ungliya tez raftaar se keyboard par chalne lagi thi. Har ek byte, har ek frequency ka analysis chal raha tha. Aur tabhi…
System logs me ek naam flash hua.
"Meera."
Arjun ki aankhe screen par chipak gayi thi. Ye kaun hai?
Usne turant database me search kiya… uske projects me kahi bhi ‘Meera’ naam ka koi data stored nahi tha. Toh phir ye naam system me kaise aaya?
Aur phir… ek baar phir wahi awaaz, is baar aur bhi saaf, kareeb, jaise wo bas ek pal dur ho.
"Arjun… kya tum mujhe sun sakte ho?"
Arjun ke haath keyboard par thame-thame se reh gaye. Usne palat kar idhar-udhar dekha… lekin lab me wahi machines, screens aur uski files thi. Koi bhi toh nahi tha!
Usne jhijhak kar bola, "Kaun hai? Kaun bol raha hai?"
Lekin koi jawab nahi aaya.
Sirf ek ajeeb sa sannata.
Graphs ab phir se normal ho chuke the. Machines ki beep bhi waise hi thi jaise hamesha hoti thi. Lekin Arjun ka dil ab bhi tez dhadak raha tha. Uske zehan me sawalo ka tufaan tha…
Kya usne waqai ek awaaz suni thi? Ya ye bas uski thakaan aur tension ka natija tha?
Usne ek gehri saans li, "Shayad ye koi ek glitch hai…"
Lekin ek baat use andar se chain nahi lene de rahi thi…
Awaaz ne uska naam liya tha!
Ye sirf ek technical error nahi ho sakta tha.
Apne doubts clear karne ke liye usne turant screen pe system logs check karne shuru kiye. Agar kahi koi external frequency ya interference aayi hogi toh wo record zaroor hui hogi. Usne data ka ek-ek signal analyze kiya, har ek line ko zoom karke dekha…
Lekin sab kuch perfectly normal tha!
Arjun ne frustration me ek lambi saans bhari aur kursi se jhapta maar kar uth khada hua. Lab ke kone me rakhe ek glass panel me apna reflection dekha… thaki hui aankhon ke neeche dark circles, chehre pe halki si daadhi, aur ek ajeeb si bechaini.
"Mujhe bas araam ki zaroorat hai," usne apne aap se kaha.
Usne aankhe band kar li, sirf ek pal ke liye…
Aur tabhi…
Ek tasveer uske zehan me chamk uthi.
Ek shandaar purana mahal… bada sa… sandstone ka bana hua, jisme suraj ki roshni ek ajeeb si soneri chamak bhar rahi thi. Mahal ke bagiche me ek ladki… ek ajeeb si jaani-pehchaani si ladki… khadi thi
Lambi, kaale ghane baalon wali… gehri, udaas aankhon wali.
Arjun ne jhatke se apni aankhein khol di. Yeh kya tha? Ye chehra… kya usne kabhi ye dekha tha?
Usne apna sir jhatka, "Nahi, yeh toh bas imagination hogi."
Arjun ne zor se apni aankhe band kar li, jaise in tasveero ko apne dimaag se nikal phenkna chahta ho. Lekin jitna wo inhe bhoolne ki koshish kar raha tha, utni hi gehri ye tasveere uske andar samati ja rahi thi.
Ek aur tasveer...
wahi mahal, wahi bagicha… aur iss baar, wo ladki ek jharokhe me khadi thi, hawa me udte baalon ke saath, door kahi dekhti hui. jaise kisi geet ki madhur lay par jhoom rahi ho. Uske chehre par ek ajeeb si udaasi thi, jaise koi intezaar me ho… kisi ki aahate sunne ki koshish kar rahi ho. Ye sab kya ho raha tha Arjun samajh nahi pa raha tha
Aur tabhi, usne apna naam suna… "Arjun…"
Arjun ka dil ek pal ke liye tez dhadak utha. Ye tasveer uske dimaag me kyun baar-baar aa rahi thi? Ye ladki… ye Meera… ye kaun hai? Aur sabse badi baat, ye sab uske dimaag tak kaise pahunch raha tha?
Usne jhat se aankhe khol di, lekin tasveer ab bhi wahan thi!
Uske saamne rakhe glass panel me apna reflection dikh raha tha, par us reflection me kuch ajeeb tha. Wo sirf apna chehra nahi dekh raha tha… uske peeche ek parchai jaisi thi, jaise koi uske bilkul kareeb khada ho!
Ek pal ke liye uska poora sharir sun ho gaya.
Dhak… dhak… dhak…
Uske dil ki dhadkane har second ke saath tez hoti ja rahi thi. Usne dheere se palat kar dekha…
Lekin wahan koi nahi tha.
Arjun ne apne aap ko sambhala, apne haath se apne chehre ko jhatka, jaise khud ko hosh me lana chahta ho. "Shayad main overwork kar raha hoon… ye sirf thakaan ka natija hai," usne fir se apne aap se kaha.
Lekin andar kahi na kahi ek aawaz keh rahi thi… "Nahi Arjun, ye bas thakaan nahi hai. Kuch hai… kuch jo tumse juda hua hai…"
Aur usi pal, saamne wale monitor ki screen par ek aur naya shabd likha gaya
Arjun ne ek jhatke se palat kar dekha. Lab ke kone me jagah jagah rakhi machines, unki halki gunjti awaaze… sab kuch waisa hi tha. Koi nahi tha wahan. Lekin uska dil keh raha tha ki koi hai.
Uske haath thande pad gaye the, shabd gale me atak gaye. Usne monitor ki taraf dekha… wahi chamakti screen, wahi ek naam jo baar-baar ubhar raha tha… "Meera."
Arjun ne ek gehri saans bhari. Ye naam, ye awaaz, uske zehen me ubharti ye ajnabi tasveere… ye sab use itna apna kyun lag raha tha?
Aur phir… ek jhalak phir se chamki.
Meera… wahi ladki… ab ek sundar rajsi kamre me khadi thi. Peechhe moti-moti roshandaan wali deeware thi, jisme se chand ki roshni andar aa rahi thi. Uski safed poshakh us roshni me chamak rahi thi, aur uske gehne halki roshni me dabe-dabe se chamak rahe the. Lekin uski aankhe… uski aankho me ek ajeeb si kasak thi… ek intezaar jo shayad sadiyo se chal raha tha.
Arjun ne mehsus kiya ki wo phir us tasveer me kheechta chala ja raha hai. Jaise uska apna wajood waha tha, jaise wo kabhi waha reh chuka ho.
Aur tabhi… Meera ne dheere se apna haath aage badhaya. Arjun ka dil zor se dhadka. Uska haath apne aap aage badhne laga, jaise kisi anjaani taqat ke bas me ho. Jaise kayi sadiyo ka fasla sirf ek haath ke fasle pe aake ruk gaya ho.
Usne uske haath tak pahunchne ki koshish ki… lekin jaise hi uske ungliya Meera ke haath ko chhune wali thi…
Sab kuch bikhar gaya.
Ek dum se tasveer hawa me udti ret ki tarah bikhar gayi. Mahal, roshni, Meera… sab kuch ek jhatke me khatam ho gaya. Aur Arjun phir se apni lab me tha.
Lekin uske dil ki dhadkane ab bhi utni hi tez thi. Uski sans phuli hui thi. Ek ajeeb sa dard tha, jaise usse kuch chheen liya gaya ho.
Aur tabhi…
"Arjun..."
Wahi awaaz. Is baar aur kareeb, aur zyada zinda.
Arjun ne turant screen ki taraf dekha. Monitor ki screen ekdum safed ho chuki thi. Aur dheere-dheere ek naya shabd ubharne laga
"Punarjanm…"
Uske ungliyan keyboard pe ruk gayi. Use apne andar ek ajeeb si garmi mehsus hui, jaise koi uske bilkul kareeb aake fusfusa raha ho…
"Tum mujhe bhool gaye ho Arjun..."
Ye sab jo ho raha tha usse Arjun ghabra to raha tha, lekin ab darne ka waqt khatam ho chuka tha. Ab sirf sachai dhundhni thi. Aur Arjun isi kaam me lag gaya tha
Is ghatna ko ab kuch din ho chuke the lekin wo tasveere Arjun ke zehan me mano jam gayi thi… Arjun ke liye agle kuch din jaise kisi gehri dhund me beet rahe ho waise bite the. Uska dimaag lab ke data aur un ajeeb sapno ke beech uljha hua tha.
Ek taraf hard logic aur science thi... doosri taraf wo tasveere, wo awaaz, wo ehsaas jo science se pare lagte the.
Awaaz ek baar sunai di thi, phir gayab ho gayi thi, lekin apni ek gehri chaap chhod gayi thi. Jo cheez kahi jaane ko taiyaar nahi thi, wo thi wo tasveere… wahi mahal, wahi ladki, aur wo ajnabi si udaasi, jo uske dil ke ek ajeeb se kone me sama gayi thi.
Pehle Arjun ne khud ko samjhaya ki ye sab bas uske thake hue dimaag ki ek shaitani thi.
"I need a break now! Shayad bahut jyada kaam ne dimag ko jaam kar diya hai aur shayad mujhe bhram hone lage hai," usne apne aap se kaha.
Lekin uska andar ka scientist iss jawab se satisfy nahi ho raha tha.
Break lene se kya hoga? Kya uske dimaag se wo tasveere mit jayengi? Kya wo awaaz chup ho jayegi?
Nahi.
Ye koi maamuli cheez nahi thi.
Ye ek connection tha.
Par kis se? Kahan se?
Uske dimaag me ek aur ajnabi vichar aaya
"Agar koi kisi aur duniya se mujhe bula raha ho to?"
Usne apni seat adjust ki aur screens par dobara focus karna shuru kiya.
Arjun ne apne Neuro-Decoder ke data logs ko phir se scan karna shuru kiya. Har ek signal, har ek reading ko alag-alag analyze karne laga. Is baar usne high-frequency noise filters lagaye, ek ek parameter ko manually adjust kiya.
Wo dekhna chahta tha ki kahi… bas kahi… us awaaz ki koi nishani mil sake.
Uski aankho me neend thi, lekin junoon usse zyada tha. Lab ki blue light uske chehre par pad rahi thi, aur uske haath bina ruke keyboard par chal rahe the. Coding windows ek ke baad ek khulti gayi.
Aur phir, kai dino ki mehnat ke baad, ek chhupa hua pattern uske saamne tha.
Ek aisa signal ka pattern, jo normal brainwaves ke shor me lapeta hua tha.
Wo itna halka tha ki bina special filters ke uska pata bhi nahi chalta. Ekdum shaant, lekin wo waha tha.
Aur Arjun ko yakin tha ki yei wo signal tha jisne us raat usse baat ki thi.
Uske haath ek pal ke liye thame… dil ek anjaan si umeed se dhadak utha.
Lekin ek aur sawal abhi bhi baaki tha.
"Agar ye signal wapas track ho sakta hai… to kya mai phir se us awaaz se baat kar sakta hu?"
Lab me neon lights ab bhi wahi thi, machines ab bhi wahi thi…
Par Arjun ab waise nahi tha.
Uska safar shuru ho chuka tha.
Arjun ne signal ko enhance karna shuru kiya. Har ek data fragment ko refine kiya, har ek distortion ko eliminate karne ki koshish ki. Jaise-jaise signal clear hota gaya, kuch aur ajeeb aur hairatangez cheeze uske saamne aane lagi.
Ye sirf ek awaaz ka signal nahi tha.
Data me kuch aur bhi tha… ek pattern. Pehle to ye random noise jaisa lag raha tha, par jaise-jaise Arjun ne analysis badhaya, uska dil aur tez dhadakne laga.
Ye pattern shabdo jaisa lag raha tha… vicharo jaisa.
Arjun ne bina ek pal gawaye deep scan algorithm activate kiya. Ab signal ek naye tareeke se reveal ho raha tha… jaise koi invisible ink dheere-dheere dikhai dene lage.
Ek ek word…
Ek ek vibration…
Jaise koi uske dimaag tak koi sandesh pahuchane ki koshish kar raha ho.
Arjun ne apni saans andar kheench li. Monitor screen par kuch likha ja raha tha… dheere-dheere, lekin bilkul saaf.
"Arjun..."
Arjun ka gala sukh gaya.
Usne bina palke jhapkaye screen ki taraf dekha.
Aur tabhi… ek aur shabd screen par likha gaya…
"Yaad karo."
Arjun ke dimaag me bijli ki tarah ek thought aaya.
"Kya Neuro-Decoder kisi aur ke sochne ki frequency pick kar raha tha?"
"Ya phir… mai kisi aur ke sapno tak pahunch chuka hu?"
Arjun abhi tak samajh nahi pa raha tha ki ye sab ho kya raha hai. Kya ye kisi aur ke dimaag ka signal tha? Par kaun? Aur sabse badi baat… kaise? Ye machine sirf ek human brain ko decode karne ke liye bani thi, magar ab kisi aur jagah ka, kisi aur dimaag ka signal capture ho raha tha. Aur wo ladki… uska is sab se kya connection tha?
Aur fir ek din, kuch aisa hua jo Arjun ne kabhi socha bhi nahi tha. Wo lab me apne desk par baitha, screens par data streams dekh raha tha, jab ek aur tasveer uske dimaag me ubharne lagi. Lekin is baar wo tasveer aur bhi zyada saaf thi. Wo ladki phir se uske saamne thi. Lekin ab ki baar, wo sirf ek yaad ki tarah nahi thi. Ye jaise ek real-time signal tha. Arjun ka saans andar hi atak gayi. Uski aankho me aansu the. Wo Arjun ko seedha dekh rahi thi. Jaise kuch kehna chahti ho… Jaise uski aankho me koi baat chhupi ho, koi pukar ho.
Aur tabhi, uske peechhe, mahal ke ek jharokhe se kaale dhue aur aag ki bhayanak lapte uthti dikhayi di. Arjun ki sans tham gayi thi. Ye kya ho raha tha? Ye koi sapna nahi tha. Ye koi glitch nahi tha. Ye sach tha. Aur ab, Arjun ko ye sach samajhna hi tha chahe iske liye use kisi bhi had tak jaana pade. Arjun ka khun jam gaya. Ye tasveer… ye sirf ek yaad nahi thi. Ye dard tha koi purana dard. Use aisa lag raha tha jaise wo kisi bhayanak tragedy ko apni aankho ke saamne hota dekh raha ho. Mahal jal raha tha, dhuaa asmaan tak uth raha tha… Aur wo ladki… uske chehre par jo dukh tha, wo Arjun se saha nahi ja raha tha. Uska dil bhari hone laga tha, jaise kisi ne ek purana zakhm phir se khol diya ho.
Aur tabhi, awaaz phir se aayi. Is baar aur bhi kamzor, jaise bahut door se koi bula raha ho. "Arjun... bachaao mujhe..." Awaaz ek karah ki tarah thi… Dard se bhari hui, madad ki fariyaad liye. Arjun ka gala sukh gaya tha. Usne pehli baar pehchana… ye awaaz usi ladki ki thi. Wahi jo uski tasveero me dikh rahi thi. Aur wo khatre me thi. Lekin kaise? Ye sab kya ho raha tha?
Ye koi sapna tha? Ya... Arjun ka dimaag tez gati se kaam karne laga. Quantum physics aur maanvi chetna ki theories jo usne padhi thi, wo sab ek ek karke use yaad aane lagi thi. "Maanvi chetna sirf ek sharirik avastha nahi hoti... wo quantum sthar par bhi mojood reh sakti hai… aur shayad ek sharir se doosre sharir me transfer bhi ho sakti hai..." To kya ye mumkin tha? Kya ye ladki… kisi pichle janm se use bula rahi thi? Aur sabse badi baat… Kya Neuro-Decoder kisi tarah time aur space ki simaaye tod kar uske signal capture kar raha tha?
Arjun ko Project Maya ka ek gupt objective yaad aaya: "Kya mrityu ke baad bhi chetna bachi rehti hai?" To kya ye awaaz… Kya ye ek mar chuki aatma ki chetna ka signal tha? Ye vichar rongte khade kar dene wala tha. Darr bhi lag raha tha, par saath hi ek ajeeb si excitement bhi thi. Arjun ne faisla le liya tha. Wo ye raaz khol kar rahega. Use ye awaaz kiski hai, ye tasveere kya hai, aur ye sab uske saath kyu ho raha hai… ye sab pata lagana hi hoga.
Arjun chahe jitna bhi samjhane ki koshish kare, sach uske samne ek ajeeb si tasveer ki tarah ubhar raha tha. Ye sab sirf ek hallucination nahi ho sakta tha. Usne apni talaash shuru kar di. Din ho ya raat, uska dimaag ek hi sawal par atka tha… ye sab kya hai? Kya ye sirf ek bhram hai, ya sach mein kisi pichle janm ka aabhas? Screen par ubhra Punarjanm ka jikra iske dimag me ab bhi ghum raha tha aur usne har sambhav tareeke se jawaab dhundhna shuru kiya. Puraane itihaas ke pustakon ko ghanto tak padhte rehna, library me puraane dastavezo ko khojna, aur internet par har uss jagah tak pahunchne ki koshish jahan se koi bhi suraag mil sake. Uske din raat bas isi talaash me guzarne lage.
Aur fir ek raat, jab uski aankhe likhi har ek baat ko harf dar harf sametne ki koshish kar rahi thi, uske haath ek kitaab lagi… bahut purani, dhundhli si. Kitaab ke panne peele pad chuke the, jaise sadiyo ka bojh jhel chuke ho. Usne dhadakte dil se uske panne palatne shuru kiye, aur ek jagah ruk gaya. Uski saansein tez ho gayi. Samne ek purani painting bani thi… ek ladki ki tasveer. Aur ye wahi ladki thi.
Uska chehra, uski aankhe, wo muskurahat… sab kuch bilkul waisa hi jaise Arjun ne apne khayalo me apne sapno me apne zehan me ubhri tasveero me dekha tha. Neeche uska naam likha tha ‘Rajkumari Meera’.
Arjun ne apni ungli se dheere se us naam ko chua, jaise uska astitva mehsus kar raha ho. "Meera…" uske hontho se bina soche nikal pada. Ek ajeeb si kasak thi is naam me, jaise ye naam sunte hi koi purana rishta jag gaya ho. Aur tabhi ek pal ke liye sab kuch andhera ho gaya. Uske zehan me ek tasveer phir se chamki… ek mahal ki ek jharokhe wali chhat, raat ka sukoon, aur ek ladki jo haatho me diya liye khadi thi.
"Meera?" Arjun ne dheere se uska naam liya tha, aur ladki muskurayi thi. "Tumhe kaise pata ki main yaha hoon?" Uski awaaz me ek shararat bhari thi. Arjun has pada. "Jaanti ho na tum chahe jaha raho main tumhe dhundh hi leta hu." Meera ne apne hath me pakda diya ucha kiya, uski roshni Arjun ke chehre par padi. "Agar tum hamesha aise hi dhundh paoge, to shayad ek din..." Wo ruki, jaise kuch soch rahi ho. Arjun thoda aage badha, uski aankho me jhankte hue bola, "Shayad ek din kya?" Meera ne ek pal ko Arjun ki taraf dekha, phir dheere se kaha, "Shayad ek din hum ek saath reh sake."
Arjun ke zehan me ye tasveer ek pal ke liye chamak ke gayab ho gayi, aur phir uske haath me wapas wo kitaab thi. Usne turant neeche likhi kahani padhi. Rajkumari Meera, ek khoobsurat aur samajhdar ladki, jo ek rajkumar se bepanah mohabbat karti thi. Lekin unka pyaar adhura reh gaya tha. Mahal me ek yudh chhed diya gaya tha, ek vishwasghat hua tha… aur phir ek aag lagi aur aag me sab kuch jalkar khak ho gaya tha… Mahal bhi… aur Meera bhi.
Arjun ne ek gehri saans li. Uske haath kapakpa rahe the. Kahani yahi khatam nahi hoti thi. Kaha jata tha ki Meera aur uska rajkumar ek doosre ke bina adhoore the. Unki aatma kabhi mukti nahi paayi. Unka prem amar tha, lekin unhe ek saath jeene ka adhikaar nahi mila.
"To kya ye sab jo mujhe dikh raha hai… jo mehsus ho raha hai… wo sirf koi katha nahi, ek sacchai hai?" Arjun ke mann me ek aur sawal uthne laga… agar ye sirf ek purani kahani thi, to ye uske saath kyun ho raha tha? Ye sab uske sapno tak kaise pahunch raha tha? Kya wo… iss kahani ka ek hissa tha? Kya wo Meera se kisi tarah juda hua tha?
Usne tasveer ki taraf dobara dekha. Meera ki aankhe… aisa lag raha tha jaise wo tasveer se bahar aake usse kuch kehna chahti ho. Jaise wo use pukar rahi ho… "Arjun… bachaao mujhe…" Uska dimaag ab aur zyada sawaal uthane laga. Ye awaaz, ye tasveere, ye kahani… sab kuch kisi tarah ek doosre se juda tha. Aur usse ab kisi bhi haalat me iss raaz ka pata lagana hi tha.
Arjun ki saanse tez ho gayi thi. Ye sach tha… har wo ehsaas, har wo tasveer jo uske dimaag me dikh rahi thi, wo sirf koi bhram nahi tha. Ye sab kuch ek sachayi ki taraf ishara kar raha tha, ek aisi sachai jise samajhna mushkil tha, par mehsus karna namumkin nahi. Meera… wo naam sirf ek itihaas ka hissa nahi tha, wo naam ab uski khud ki kahani ka ek hissa ban chuka tha.
Arjun ne apni aankhe band ki, man ko shant karne ki koshish ki, lekin jitna shant hone ki koshish karta, utni hi zor se wo awaz gunjti. “Arjun… bachaao mujhe…” Ye sirf ek sada nahi thi, ye ek dukh bhari fariyaad thi.
Arjun ke andar kuch toot raha tha… ya shayad kuch jud raha tha. Kya ye ho sakta hai ki pichle janm ka ek adhura rishta, iss janm me apni kahani puri karne laut aaya ho? Kya ye possible hai ki wo sirf ek vigyanik nahi, balki Meera ke guzar chuke ateet ka ek hissa ho?
Par agar ye sab sach hai, toh iska matlab tha ki Meera ka dukh ab bhi kahin zinda hai. Kahi na kahi uski aatma ab bhi bhatak rahi hai. Par kyu? Uske saath aisa kya hua tha ki wo ab tak aazaad nahi ho payi? Aur agar ye sab kuch Arjun tak pahunch raha tha, toh kya ye koi ishaara tha ki ab is kahani ka ant badla ja sakta hai?
Arjun ne gehri saans li. Ye sirf ek bhuli-bisri kahani nahi thi, ye ek sachai thi jo uski zindagi ka hissa ban chuki thi. Agar uske paas wo shakti thi jo waqt ki deewaro ko paar karke us awaaz tak pahunch chuki thi, toh ab uska farz tha ki wo us awaaz ka jawab de. Meera ab bhi use bula rahi thi… aur Arjun jaanta tha ki use kisi bhi haalat me sach ka pata lagana hoga.
Usne apni lab ki roshni kam kar di aur ek baar phir un signals ko decode karne laga jo bina kisi logical source ke uske saamne aa rahe the. Science sirf un cheezon ko maanne ka danka bajata hai jo dekhi aur samjhi ja sake, lekin Arjun jo dekh raha tha wo sirf ek illusion nahi ho sakta tha.
Usne naye filter apply kiye, naye algorithm likhe jo us vibration ko aur refine kar sake. Har naye calculation ke sath, tasveer aur saaf hoti gayi. Aur phir… ek drishya samne aaya.
Ek bada, roshan sheesh-mahal, jisme shan-o-shaukat aur viyog dono ki chhaya thi. Arjun ne headset pehna aur concentration badhaya. Signal ki frequency match hoti gayi aur achanak…
Ek Bhool Chuka Ateet uske saamne tha….
Sheesh-mahal ke andar ek aurat thi. Laal rang ki bhari poshaak me, gehne se saja ek chehra… par uski aankho me ek ajeeb si udaasi thi. Meera. Jaise wo kisi ka intezar kar rahi ho. Uski saans tez thi, jaise use kisi anjaane bhay ka ehsaas ho raha ho.
Parde ke us paar ek parchaayi dikhi. Arjun ne signal zoom kiya.
Tabhi ek aur awaaz aayi. Ek kathor, nirdayi awaaz…
"Tumhe laga tha tum yaha se bach jaogi, Meera?"
Us awaaz me ek thandak thi, ek shadayantra ki jhalak thi. Meera ne darte-darte peeche mudhkar dekha, par uske paas koi raasta nahi tha.
Aur phir… ek tez cheekh… ek bhayanak jwala ki lapat… aur sab kuch ek pal me andhere me sama gaya.
Arjun ek jhatke se apni jagah se uth khada hua. Uska dil joro dhadak raha tha. Ye tasveer sirf ek hallucination nahi thi. Kya Meera kisi saazish ka shikar bani thi? Kya uske saath jo kuch bhi hua tha wo sirf ek dukh bhari kahani nahi, balki ek bhayanak raaz tha?
Par sabse ajeeb baat thi… jaise hi usne ek aur filter lagaya, screen par ek aur chehra ubhar aaya…
Wo khud. Arjun. Par naye roop me. Purane kapdo me, ek rajkumar jaisa… aur Meera uske samne, usi prem bhari muskurahat ke sath.
Uske ragon me ek ajeeb sa dard daud gaya. Kya ye sirf punarjanm tha ya ek adhoori kahani jo dobara likhi ja rahi thi?
Aur phir… ek awaaz… jo dil ke kisi kone me chhupi thi.
"Arjun… tumhe yaad hai? Tumne mujhse ek wada kiya tha… ki hum hamesha saath rahenge?"
Ab Arjun ke paas koi doosra option nahi tha. Usse sach tak pahunchna hi tha. Meera ab bhi use bula rahi thi. Aur is baar, wo use akela nahi chhodne wala tha.
Arjun ne apni bhigi huyi aankho se screen ki taraf dekha. Signal ab aur bhi zyada strong ho chuka tha. Meera ka chehra, uski aankhon ka gehra dukh, sab kuch itna saaf dikh raha tha jaise wo kisi sheeshe ke doosri taraf ho. Arjun ne saans andar kheench kar dheere se kaha, "Haan Meera… mujhe sab yaad hai."
Lekin jaise hi uske labzon ne hawa mein ek naya rang bhara, uske dimaag mein ek aur yaad bijli ki tarah chamak uthi… Meera ka cheekhna, uske peechhe jalta mahal, aur ek dhundhla sa haath jo use kheench raha tha. Ek ajnabi chhaya, ek bhayankar ehsaas. Arjun ka gala sukhne laga. "Meera, mujhe batao… us raat kya hua tha?"
Meera ki awaaz dheemi padne lagi, jaise hawa ke jhonke ke saath bikharti ja raha ho. "Arjun… us raat… hamari kahani khatam nahi hui thi… ek… ek saazish thi… koi tha jo nahi chahta tha ki hum saath rahe…"
Arjun ne turant system ko aur refine kiya, noise filtering badhai, aur Meera ki awaaz ek pal ke liye bilkul saaf sunai di.
"Arjun, tumhe wapas aana hoga… mujhe dhundhna hoga… sach pata lagana hoga… warna hamari kahani ek baar phir adhuri reh jayegi."
Arjun ek jhatke se apni kursi se uth gaya. Ye signal sirf ek purani yaad nahi thi. Ye ek sandesh tha, ek guzar chuki zindagi ka aakhri ahsaas, jo kisi tarah se us tak phir se pahunch raha tha. Aur ab… ab uske paas koi doosra rasta nahi tha.
Use Meera tak pahunchna hi tha.
Meera ko wapas laane Ki Koshish karni hi thi
Arjun ne Meera ki baat sunkar gahri saans bhari. Uske andar ek ajeeb si kasak thi, ek bechaini jo use chain nahi lene de rahi thi. Meera wapas aa sakti thi… ho sakta hai! Par kya ye ethical hoga? Kya science sach mein ek khoi hui aatma ko naye sharir mein laa sakta tha?
Ye vichar jitna romanchak tha, utna hi daravana bhi. Agar ye galat ho gaya toh? Agar koi anjaani taqat beech mein aa gayi toh? Agar Meera wapas aayi, par kisi aur roop me to?
Meera ki awaaz phir se aayi, is baar dheemi aur bhaari, jaise kisi gehre dukh se lipti ho. "Arjun… mujhe dar lagta hai. Agar ye sab galat hua toh? Agar humne jo socha hai, wo waise nahi hua toh?"
Arjun ne thoda socha, phir uski awaaz mein ek naya junoon aaya. "Galat? Meera, hamara pyaar sadiyon tak zinda raha hai. Tumhari yaade mujhe tak pahunchi hain, iska matlab hamari kahani adhuri hai. Aur adhuri kahaniyo ka ant zaroori hota hai! Tumhe wapas aana hi hoga Meera. Ye sirf ek sapna nahi hai… ye hamari taqdeer hai!"
Meera halke se hasi, lekin uski hasi mein ek ajeeb si kasak thi, jaise voh khud bhi is baat par vishwas nahi kar pa rahi thi. "Tum waise hi baat kar rahe ho jaise… jaise purane waqt mein kiya karte the. Mujhe yaad hai, tum tab bhi itne hi ziddi the."
Arjun ke dil mein ek garam ahsaas umad aaya. Usne apne research documents khole aur quantum consciousness, neural cloning aur digital soul preservation ke theories padne laga. Har ek theory ko dobara analyze karne laga, ek ek detail ko samajhne ki koshish karne laga. Science ab bhi iss level tak nahi pahucha tha, par agar kisi ko ye possible banana tha, toh wo sirf Arjun hi tha.
Raat gehri ho chuki thi. Laboratory ki halke neeli roshni me Arjun ki aankhe screen pe tiki thi, aur dil ek hi baat keh raha tha "Meera, main tumhe wapis laa kar rahunga. Iske liye main kisi bhi had tak ja sakta hu, bas tumhe dobara paane ke liye!"
Meera ki awaaz ek gehre sukoon se bhari thi, jaise wo Arjun ki har baat samajh rahi ho, har jazba mehsus kar rahi ho.
"Arjun, tumne mujhe dhundh liya, yahi kaafi hai. Tumne mere wajood ko pehchana, mere dukh ko suna, meri kahani ko samjha… aur sabse zaroori baat, tumne mujhse phir se pyaar kiya."
Lekin ye bas shuruat thi… Arjun jaanta tha ki is kahani ka asli mod abhi baaki tha.
Arjun ki aankhon se aansu behne lage. Uska dil ek ajeeb si uljhan ke beech fasa tha. Usne Meera ko wapas lane ka sapna dekha tha, par ab usse samajh aa raha tha ki kabhi kabhi mohabbat kisi ko pakde rakhne mein nahi, balki use aazaad karne mein hoti hai.
"Meera, agar tum chaho to main… main tumhari yaado ko hamesha zinda rakh sakta hoon. Tumhari kahani ko duniya ke samne la sakta hoon. Main chahta hoon ki log jaane ki Meera aur Arjun ka pyaar sirf ek kahani nahi, balki ek haqeeqat tha!"
Meera ki awaaz halki si thithura gayi, jaise wo bhi is vichar se bhavuk ho gayi ho. "Tum sach mein ye karoge Arjun?"
Arjun ne ek gehri saans bhari, "Main waada karta hoon. Tumhari kahani adhuri nahi rahegi. Tumhari aatma hamesha zinda rahegi… log tumhe sirf ek purani kahani ki tarah nahi, balki ek amar mohabbat ki misaal ki tarah yaad rakhenge."
Jiske baad waha kuch palo ki shanto chhayi rahi, bas laboratory ki machinery ki halki si beep sunai de rahi thi. Phir Meera ki awaaz ek narmi bhari muskurahat ke sath aayi, "Shayad yahi mera mukti ka rasta tha Arjun. Tum meri kahani ko aakhri baar sun lo, use samajh lo, aur phir mujhe aazaad kar do."
Arjun ne dheere se aankhe band ki aur ek ahsaas se bhar gaya. Usne apna haath machine ke screen pe rakha, jaise Meera ki rooh ko mehsus kar raha ho.
"Batao, Meera… main sun raha hoon."
Meera ki awaaz ab bhi wahi thi… narmi se bhari, lekin ab usme ek gehri sachchai thi. "Arjun, us raat sirf ek aag nahi lagi thi… us raat sirf hamari zindagi nahi jali thi, balki ek raaz bhi jala diya gaya tha…"
Arjun ki saansein tez ho gayi. "Kya matlab?"
"Tumhe yaad hai humne ek baar kaha tha ki pyaar sirf dil ka rishta nahi hota? Ye energy ka ek roop hai, ek aisi force jo space-time se bhi paray hoti hai. Quantum entanglement ki tarah… jisme do particles door hote hue bhi ek doosre se jude rehte hain. Hamara pyaar bhi waisa hi tha, Arjun. Hamari aatmaein ek saath bandhi thi… isiliye main aaj bhi tum tak pahunch saki hoon."
Arjun ki aankhe ek nayi roshni se chamak uthi. "Matlab hamara pyaar sirf ek bhavna nahi, ek scientific reality hai?"
Meera ne halka sa muskuraya. "Haan, aur isi wajah se kisi ne hume alag karna chaha tha. Kisi ko pata chal gaya tha ki hum kuch aisa jaan gaye hai jiske liye shayad duniya us waqt tayar nahi thi aur isiliye duniya ke samajhne se pehle hi hame khatam kar diya gaya…"
Arjun ka dimag flashbacks se bhar gaya. Jalte hue mahal ki yaad, Meera ka cheekhna, ek anjaani parchai jo use kheench rahi thi…
"Kya… kya wo koi insaan tha? Ya…"
Meera ki awaaz ek pal ke liye ruki, jaise koi gehri yaad use tod rahi ho. "Wo sirf ek insaan nahi tha, Arjun. Wo ek aisi shakti thi jo hamesha se pyaar aur vigyaan ke beech ki lakeer mitane se rokti aayi hai. Jo nahi chahti thi ki hum sach jaan sake. Hamari maut sirf ek accident nahi thi… wo ek carefully planned experiment tha…"
Arjun ki ungliya system ke keyboard par kas gayi. Usne data analyze karna shuru kiya, neural frequencies aur entangled signals ke pattern check kiye. "Toh iska matlab… tumhari yaade sirf ek residual data nahi, balki ek consciously preserved memory hai?"
Meera ki awaaz ek halke si thakan ke sath aayi. "Haa Arjun… aur tumne mujhe dhundh liya, iska matlab tum sach ke aur kareeb ho. Lekin ab waqt aa gaya hai ki tum mujhe aazaad kar do…"
Arjun ka dil ek pal ke liye thama. "Par Meera… tum chaho toh main tumhe humesha ke liye yaha rakh sakta hoon. Ek AI consciousness ki tarah, ek digital existence me… tum mujhe chod kar kyun jaana chahti ho?"
Meera ne ek gehri saans bhari. "Arjun, tum jaante ho ki pyaar kisi ek jagah pe bandh kar rakhne ka naam nahi hota. Main yahan sirf isiliye hu kyunki tumne mujhe yaad rakha, mujhe yaadon se zinda rakha… lekin ab mujhe mukti chahiye. Kyunki agar tum mujhe sirf ek memory bank me bandh kar doge, toh ye pyaar nahi hoga… ye ek bejaan existence ban jayega."
Arjun ka gala sukh gaya. "Toh kya tum wapas nahi aa sakti, Meera?"
Meera ki awaaz dheemi ho gayi. "Nahi Arjun, agar pyaar sach hai, toh mujhe jane do. Mere wajood ko ek kahani banane do… jisse log yaad rakhe, seekhe, aur shayad kabhi pyaar ko sirf ek ehsaas nahi, ek anant shakti samajh sake."
Arjun ki aankho se phir aansu girne lage. Lekin is baar unme dukh nahi, ek gehra samarpan tha. Usne apni ungliyan keyboard pe rakhi aur system shutdown ke command type ki. uska dil tezi dhadk raha tha.
Screen pe ek aakhri signal flicker hua… ek halka sa noise, ek halki si vibration… phir silence.
Arjun ne aakhri baar screen dekhi. "Meera, tum hamesha mere dil mein zinda rahogi."
Aur phir, system shutdown ho gaya.
Laboratory me sirf machinery ki halki si humming bachi thi, jaise ek kahani apni antim padhav par pahunch chuki ho. Lekin kahaniya sirf likhne ke liye nahi hoti… kuch kahaniyan sadiyon tak jeeti hai. Arjun jaanta tha, ki Meera aur uski kahani bhi waise hi amar rahegi… quantum particles ki tarah, jo alag hoke bhi ek doosre se hamesha jude rehte hain.
Ye anjaam nahi tha, balki ek naye safar ki shuruaat thi. Laboratory ki sabhi machines ab shant ho chuki thi, sirf ek halki si beep ki awaaz bachi thi jo ab ek yaadon ka sangeet lag rahi thi. Arjun ne screen ki taraf dekha graphs bilkul seedhe ho chuke the, jaise kisi ne kisi doori duniya ka darwaza band kar diya ho. Meera chali gayi thi… is baar hamesha ke liye.
Usne kampte haatho se apni notebook ka ek page khola, jisme Meera ke saath hui har baat likh rakhi thi. Har ek shabd ab aur gehra lag raha tha, jaise Meera ab bhi kahin na kahin zinda thi, un yaado me, uske dil ke kisi kone mein, ya shayad us anant jagah mein jahan mohabbat kisi deh ya kaal ki mohtaaj nahi hoti.
Ek pal ke liye uska mann kiya ke dobara machine activate kare, shayad ek baar aur Meera ki awaaz sun sake. Par phir uske kaano mein Meera ke antim shabd goonj uthe "Hum phir milenge, Arjun… kab, kahan, kaise, ye nahi pata… par milenge zaroor."
Ek gehri saans lekar usne screen ke upar apna haath rakha, jaise kisi antim baar Meera ke hone ka ehsaas lena chahta ho. "Haan, Meera… milenge zaroor." Uski awaaz bhari hui thi, par usme ek ajeeb si tasalli thi.
Usne laboratory ki kursi se uthkar ek baar peeche mudkar dekha. Yahi jagah thi jahan usne Meera ko dobara paaya tha, aur yahi jagah thi jahan usne use mukti bhi di.
Uske kadam dheere dheere laboratory ke darwaze ki taraf badhne lage. Jaate waqt usne ek aakhri baar us screen ki taraf dekha, jisme Meera ki energy waves kab ki shant ho chuki thi. "Pyaar sirf paane ka naam nahi hota… kabhi kabhi, pyaar kisi ko aazaad kar dene me bhi hota hai."
Uske chehre pe ek halki si muskurahat thi, ek aise vyakti ki jo dukh ke bawajood jeetna jaanta ho.
Arjun ne laboratory ki batti band ki aur dheere se darwaza band kar diya. Raat ka andhera gheharta ja raha tha, lekin uske andar ek nayi roshni jag chuki thi. Meera chali gayi thi, hamesha ke liye… lekin is baar uske saath sirf dukh nahi tha, balki ek tasalli bhi thi.
Neuro Decoder sirf ek machine nahi thi, ye ek darwaza tha… beete hue kal aur aaj ke beech ka. Ek aisa pul jo sirf vigyaan tak simit nahi tha, balki jazbaat, yaado aur adhure sapno se juda tha. Arjun ne jo khoj ki thi, usne sirf science ko ek naye mod tak nahi pahunchaya tha, balki use us mohabbat tak bhi le gaya tha jo sirf ek kahani nahi thi, ek haqeeqat thi.
Meera ki yaado ki tarah hi, mahal ki aag ka raaz bhi ab ek dhundhli tasveer ban chuka tha. Shayad uska sach kabhi saamne aata, par ab Arjun ke liye uski koi ahmiyat nahi thi. Kyunki jo kho chuka tha, usse wapas nahi laya ja sakta tha… aur jo amar ho chuka tha, use kisi saboot ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Usne ek aakhri baar screen ki taraf dekha, jisme sirf ek khali graph tha… shant, sukoon bhara, jaise Meera ki aatma ab mukti pa chuki ho. Arjun ne apni notebook uthai aur ek naya panna khola. Uske haath thode kanp rahe the, lekin dil ek ajeeb se thehrao se bhara tha. Usne pehla shabd likha…. "Ek kahani thi, jo adhuri lagti thi… par shayad wahi uski khoobsurti thi."
Ek halki muskurahat ke saath Arjun ne apne kadam aage badhaye. Laboratory ke darwaze ke us paar ek naya din uska intezar kar raha tha. Meera chali gayi thi, par uska pyaar, uski yaade, aur uska wajood…. wo hamesha Arjun ke saath rahenge, ek kahani ki tarah, jo kabhi khatam nahi hoti.
Samapt.