UPDATE 11 (B)
BARF KE SAAYE (WARZONE)
PART 4: Jab Khel Khooni Ho Jaye
BONFIRE NIGHT - JALTI AAG, SULAGTE RAAZ
Haadse ne trip ka masoomiyat ko cheer kar rakh diya tha, trip ka mahaul badal gaya tha. Us raat resort ke bahar jalta bonfire ka aag garmahat kam, ek ajeeb sa bechaini zyada de raha tha. Aag ke chatakti laptein students ke chehron par ajeeb-o-gareeb saaye bana raha tha. Kuch log gaa-baja kar mahaul ko halka karne ke nakaam koshish kar rahe the, lekin unke gaano mein bhi ek dar ka goonj tha. Aisa lag raha tha jaise aas paas ka ghana, kaala jungle unhe ghoor raha ho, unke har sargoshi sun raha ho.
Arjun, jo din bhar se Ravi ke hero banne par sulag raha tha ,ek shaatir shikaari ke tarah, apne mauke ka intezaar kar raha tha. Arjun ne is mauke ka poora fayda uthaya.
Usne Sia ko aag ke paas akele khade dekha aur apne doston ko ishaara karke uske paas chala gaya. Rishi aur Virat ne usey ek smirk ke saath 'all the best' ka ishaara kiya, jabki Sameer bechaini se idhar-udhar dekh raha tha.
Arjun ne Sia ke paas jaakar apni awaaz mein jitni ho sake utni fikr bharte hue kaha.
Arjun: "Sardi badh gaya hai. Din mein jo hua, uske baad tumhe apna extra dhyaan rakhna chahiye."
Uska awaaz mein fikr ka mitha zahar ghula hua tha, par uska aankhein Sia ke chehre par dar talaash raha tha.
Sia ne kuch jawab nahi diya, bas aag ki lapton ko dekhti rahi.
Tabhi, resort ka buzurg pahaadi chowkidar, Deenu Kaka, jo apni khukri hamesha kamar mein lagaye rakhta tha, aag ke paas aaya. Unhone ek nazar sab par daale aur unke aankhein Ravi, YuKi, aur Aarav par aakar thehar gaya. Unke jhurriyon bhari awaaz mein sadiyon ka anubhav tha.
Deenu Kaka: "Yeh pahaad jitne sundar dikhte hain, utne hain nahi, bachchon. Jab raat gehra hota hai aur hawa mein barf ka mehak aata hai, tab 'Barf ke Saaye' utarte hain."
Ek student hass pada. "Kya Kaka, aap bhi dara rahe ho."
Deenu Kaka ki aankhein uss student ko dekh kar sakht ho gaya. "Yeh kahaani nahi, chetavni hai. Woh saaye... woh shikaar karte hain. Na khoon ka nishaan chhodte hain, na haddiyon ka suraag. Jise le jaate hain, woh bas hawa mein gaayab ho jaata hai. Hamesha ke liye."
Sabke hasne ki awaaz gale mein hi atak gaye. Ravi, YuKi aur Aarav ne ek dusre ko dekha. Unhe pata tha, yeh sirf ek lok-katha nahi tha. Yeh ek code tha, ek sandesh tha.
Sia uss anjaan si tension se ghabrakar wahan se hatne lagi. Andhere mein, uska haath anjaane mein Ravi ke ussi haath se takra gaya jo din mein zakhmi hua tha.
Ek jhatka.
Ek current.
Ravi ke dard se see karne ki bajaye saansein ruk gaya. Sia ne foran apna haath pichhe kheench liya. Ek pal ke liye, un dono ki nigahein mile. Uss ek pal mein unhone lafzon se nahi, rooh se baat kiye. Ek an-kaha vaada, ek ehsaas ke is khatre mein woh akele nahi hain.
Lekin woh nahi jaante the ke unke har harkat, har saans, record ho raha tha.
Bahut door, ek ped ke aad mein, andhere se bhi zyada kaala ek saaya baitha tha. Ek high-tech night-vision camera ke lens un dono par zoom kiye hue tha. Lens ke peeche baitha aankhon mein koi bhavna nahi tha, sirf aadesh ka intezaar tha.
KRAK!
Jungle ke andhere se achanak ek moti tehni tootne ka awaaz aaya. Awaaz itna tez tha jaise kisi ne jaan-boojh kar use toda ho.
Sabhi students darr kar ek-dum shaant ho gaye. Bonfire ka aag ke alawa har taraf maut jaisa sannata tha. Sabka aankhein uss andhere ki taraf dekh raha tha jahan se awaaz aaya tha.
Deenu Kaka ne apni khukri ka handle kas ke pakad liya.
Aur uss andhere mein baithe shakhs ne apne satellite phone par ek encrypted message type kiya:
"Ravi kamzor hai. Uska ek kamzori hai. Tasdeek ho gaya. Mansoobe ke agle hisse ki ijaazat di jaaye."
Masti ka waqt khatm ho chuka tha. Asli khel ab shuru hone wala tha.
Raakh Hoti Aag, Sulagti Nafrat
KRAK!
Jungle se aayi uss awaaz ne bonfire ke aas paas jami hawa ko sheeshe ki tarah tod diya. Sabhi students darr se ek dusre se sat gaye. Unki saari masti, saare gaane, ek pal mein hawa ho gaye.
Principal Malhotra: "Shaant raho! Stay calm, everyone! Koi jaanwar hoga."
Ms. Meera: "Sab log resort ke andar chalo! Now! Make a line!"
Lekin Ravi, YuKi aur Aarav jaante the. Yeh kisi jaanwar ki awaaz nahi tha. Yeh ek sochi-samjhi harkat tha. Ek signal. Ek ailaan.
Deenu Kaka ne apni khukri aadhi bahar nikaal liye the, unke tajurbekaar aankhein andhere ko aise cheed raha tha, jaise woh saayon ke aar-paar dekh sakta ho.
Students ke beech afra-tafri mach gaya. Sab jaldi se jaldi resort ki garmahat mein laut jaana chahte the. Isi bhagdad mein, Sia ne Ravi ko dekha. Woh apni jagah se hila tak nahi tha. Uski nigahein uss andhere par tik tha, jaise woh uss shakhs ko dekh sakta ho jo wahan chhupa baitha tha. Ravi ke chehre par dar nahi, ek sard ghussa tha. Aisa ghussa jo shikaar ko shikaari bana deta hai.
Ms. Meera ne sabko andar lobby mein ikattha kiya.
Ms. Meera: "Okay, everyone, apne apne room partners ke saath check karo. Make sure everyone is here."
Ek-ek karke sabne "Yes, ma'am" kehna shuru kiya.
Bonfire ki aakhri laptein bhi bujh chuka tha. Jalti lakdiyon ki mehak ab hawa mein faile dhuen aur anjaane khatre ki sargoshiyon mein badal gaya tha. Students thake-haare apne kamron mein laut gaye the, is baat se bekhabar ki unke beech chupe shikaari ab apne agle vaar ki taiyaari kar rahe the.
Arjun ke kamre mein...
Kamra andhere mein dooba hua tha. Sirf laptop ki neeli roshni Arjun ke chehre par kathor parchhaiyan bana raha tha.
Whiskey ka adha bhara glass mez par apne naseeb ka intezaar kar raha tha, bilkul waise hi jaise Arjun ki shatranj ke mohre uske agle hukum ka karte the.
Click... Click... Click.
Mouse ka har click ek ijaafa tha uss aag mein jo Arjun ke seene mein sulag raha tha. Telephoto lens se kheencha gaya darjanon tasveeron ka silsila ruk gaya, ek file mein qaid theen, lekin Arjun ka cursor baar-baar ek hi tasveer par aakar ruk jaata.
Ek frame par. Sirf ek.
Woh tasveer nahi, ek lamha tha. Ek pal, jab Sia ka haath anjaane mein Ravi ke haath se chhua tha. Unke ungliyon ka mehez ek lams (sparsh)... lekin unke chehron par likha kashish aur bechaini ek poori dastaan bayaan kar raha tha. Arjun uss tasveer ko zoom karke dekh raha tha. Woh Sia ke chehre par aayi pal bhar ki sharam, aur Ravi ki aankhon mein uss ek pal ke liye thehar gayi duniya ko saaf padh sakta tha.
Yeh sirf ek masoomi si chuhan nahi tha. Yeh Arjun ke banaye hue khel mein ek baghawat tha. Ek aag tha jo uska saltanat mein lag raha tha. Sia uska shatranj ka Wazir thi—khubsoorat, khatarnaak, aur sirf uske ishaaron par chalne waali. Aur ek Wazir ka kisi maamuli pyaade ke taraf dekhna bhi... badshaah ki tauheen hota hai.
Uska ungliyan keyboard par kas gaya. Chehre par ek sard muskaan phail gaya. Usne phone uthaya, number dial kiya. Uski awaaz sheeshe ke tarah saaf aur thandi tha.
ARJUN: "Khanna, waqt aa gaya hai. Plan B. Abhi."
Doosri taraf se sirf ek itminaan bhari awaaz aaya, "Hukum kijiye, Sir."
ARJUN: "Activate it , "Monastery ka program kal subah ka hai. Main chahta hoon resort ka woh pura wing andhere mein doob jaaye jahan Ravi Mishra apni neend poori kar raha hai. Ek 'power trip' lagna chahiye .Aisa andhera ki woh apni parchhayi se bhi darr jaaye. Aur sabse zaroori... communications. Blackout. Koi Wi-Fi nahi, koi mobile network nahi. Main chahta hoon Kal subah jab suraj nikle, toh yeh resort duniya ke liye ek black hole ban jaana chahiye."
KHANNA : "Ho jaayega, Sir. Suraj ugne se pehle, woh apni hi parchhai se bhi baat nahi kar payega."
Arjun ne call kaat diya.
Uske nigahein wapas uss tasveer par lauta. Usne Ravi ke chehre par cursor rakha, jaise nishaana laga raha ho.
ARJUN (khud se): "Khelne ka bohot shauk hai na tumhein, Ravi Mishra? Chalo, ek naya khel khelte hain. Ek aisa khel jismein roshni nahi hoga... aawaaz nahi hoga... aur tumhara kamzori hi tumhara gala ghontega."
Ek aakhri, aatish-fishaan nazar se tasveer ko dekh kar usne 'Delete' ka button daba diya.
Screen par likha aaya: File Permanently Deleted.
Jaise Ravi Mishra ka wajood.
[LOCATION: SIA’S RESORT ROOM – RAAT]
Kamre mein maddham roshni tha, lekin Sia ko aaine mein apna aks nahi, apni uljhi hui rooh nazar aa rahi thi. Aaine ke uss paar khadi ladki ek anjaan shakhs lag rahi thi, jiski aankhon mein farz ki thakaan aur dil ki baghawat saaf dikh rahi thi.
Ek taraf Dada Sahab ka mission tha—ek maqsad jiske liye usne apni zindagi daanv par laga di thi. Doosri taraf Alisha ke zehar mein bujhe hue shabd kaan mein goonj rahe the, ek aisi chetavni jo anjaam ka aaina dikha rahi thi.
Aur in dono chattanon ke beech... Ravi ke haath ka woh ehsaas.
Ek second se bhi chhota lamha, lekin jaise waqt uss ek pal mein qaid ho gaya tha. Uski hatheli par abhi bhi uss chuhan ki jhanjhanahat thi. Uska dimaag cheekh raha tha ki yeh ek galti hai, ek kamzori jo usse uske maqsad se bhatka degi, jo usse barbaad kar degi. Par dil... woh dimaag ki ek bhi daleel sunne ko taiyaar nahi tha.
Usne aaine par apni ungliyan pheri, jaise apne hi aks ko samajhane ki koshish kar rahi ho.
SIA (fufusate hue):
"Kaash yeh trip... bas ek trip hota"
Uski awaaz kamre ki khaamoshi mein ek raaz ki tarah ghul gayi. Ek aisa raaz, jo shayad uski sabse badi taqat banne wala tha... ya uski tabahi ka kaaran.
PART 5: SHIKARI HUA SHIKAR
[LOCATION: RAVI’S ISOLATED ROOM – RAAT]
Kamre mein ek kafan jaisi khamoshi tha, lekin Ravi ke andar ek toofan chal raha tha. Yeh alag-thalag kamra aaraam ke liye nahi, ek qaid-khane ki tarah lag raha tha. Bonfire ki aag bujh chuka tha, par uska peeth par chubhta hua woh nigahein... usse ab bhi mehsoos ho rahe theen. Uska instinct, jo saalon ki training se faulad ban chuka tha, chilla raha tha—"Tum akele nahi ho."
Usne lights band kar diya. Andhera uski aankhon ke liye ek parda nahi, ek hathiyaar tha.
Usne kamre ko dekhna nahi, usse 'padhna' shuru kiya. Har kona, har saaya, har cheez jo apni jagah par nahi tha. Uska nigahein ek professional ki tarah scan karti hui... ceiling par lage smoke detector par jaakar theher gaya. Uska design ajeeb tha, standard model se alag. Aur tabhi usne woh dekha... ek behad baareek, lagbhag adrishya laal roshni, jo ek dil ke tarah... ek second ke hazaarwein hisse ke liye dhadka.
Arjun ka jaal.
Ravi ke chehre par muskaan nahi aayi. Uski aankhon mein ek aisi thandak utar aayi jo Manali ki barf ko bhi sharma de.
"Toh khel shuru ho chuka hai, Arjun Rathore."
Usne camera todne jaisa bachkani galti nahi kiya. Nahi. Usne khelne ka faisla kiya. Par ab, niyam uske honge.
Woh bed par gaya aur kambal ko aise odha, jaise ek thaka hua insaan gehri neend mein doob jaata hai. Usne apni saanson ki raftaar ko dheema kiya, apne jism ko bilkul shaant chhod diya. Woh intezaar kar raha tha, uss shikari ke sustane ka, jo usse ek aasaan shikaar samajh raha tha.
Das minute... pandrah minute... Bees minute.
Aur phir, jaise bijli kadakta hai...
Ek jhatke ke saath, Ravi ka wing mein har roshni, har awaaz, har electronic saans band ho gaya. Generator ka backup bhi aane se pehle hi mar gaya. Yeh ek 'power trip' nahi tha; yeh ek 'power execution' tha. Ek surgical strike, jiska nishana sirf ek tha.
Lekin is andhere mein, jahan ek aam insaan ki aankhein bebasi se phail jaati, Ravi ki aankhein... unhone jeena shuru kiya.
Uska shareer ekdum shaant ho gaya, saansein itna dheema ki jaise ruk hi gaya ho. Usne bistar se utarkar zameen par pair rakha, bina kisi awaaz ke. Uske kaan ab uska aankhein ban chuke the. Woh hawa mein aate badlaav, temperature mein girta har degree, aur door corridor mein bichha carpet par padne wale har anjaane bojh ko mehsoos kar sakta tha.
Uska dimaag ek supercomputer ke tarah kaam kar raha tha.
RAVI (Inner Monologue): "Blackout. Sirf meri wing mein. Communications dead. Yeh Arjun ka kaam hai. Woh mujhe alag-thalag karna chahta hai. Par woh ek galti kar raha hai. Andhera mera dushman nahi... mera ghar hai. Is andhere mein, main shikaar nahi, shikaari hoon."
Usne apne zakhmi haath ki mutthi bheenche. Dard ki ek tez lehar utha, par uss dard ne usse sulaya nahi, jaga diya. Usse yaad dilaya ki khatra kitna asli hai.
Tabhi... aawaz aaya.
Ek halka sa 'click' ka awaaz. Uske kamre ke darwaze ke lock se. Koi bahar se electronic key card override karne ki koshish kar raha tha.
Ravi ek saaye ki tarah pichhe hata aur deewar se sat kar khada ho gaya, theek darwaze ke paas, jahan se andar aane wala usey pehli nazar mein dekh na sake. Usne paas rakhe bhaari table lamp ko haath mein utha liya. Yeh koi high-tech hathiyaar nahi tha, par andhere mein, sahi waqt par, yeh maut ka doosra naam ban sakta tha.
Darwaza bina awaaz kiye khula.
Ek kaala saaya, sir se paanv tak kaale tactical gear mein, kamre mein daakhil hua. Uske haath mein ek chhota, suppressed pistol tha, jiske aage night-vision scope laga tha. Woh professional tha.
Par usne ek galti kar dala. Usne Ravi ko bistar par dhoondha.
Aur Ravi bistar par nahi tha.
Jaise hi woh saaya aage badha, andhera zinda ho gaya. Ravi uske peeche se ek toofan ki tarah ubhra. Uska zakhmi haath ek lohe ke panje ki tarah saaye ki pistol wali kalai par pada. Isse pehle ki woh trigger daba paata, Ravi ne uski kalai ko ek wehshi angle par mod diya.
KRRACK!
Haddi aur cartilage ke tootne ki ek geeli, dil-dehlaane wali awaaz andhere mein goonj gayi. Saaye ke munh se ek dabi hui cheekh nikli, par Ravi ne usse mauka nahi diya. Usne ussi toote haath se use apni taraf kheencha aur apna ghutna uski pasliyon mein de maara. Doosri KRAK ki awaaz aayi.
Saaya professional tha. Dard ke bawajood, usne apne doosre haath se ek combat knife nikaala aur Ravi ke pet ki taraf vaar kiya.
Par Ravi wahan tha hi nahi. Woh hawa ki tarah pichhe hata, saaye ka santulan bigadne diya, aur phir aage badhkar, uske knife wale haath ki kohni par ek brutal 'elbow-lock' laga diya. Teesra CRACK!
Saaye ke dono haath ab bekaar the. Isse pehle ki woh cheekh paata, Ravi ne uske baalon ko pakda aur uska sir deewar par de maara.
THUMP!
Saaya behosh hokar zameen par dher ho gaya.
Ravi ne uske chehre se naqaab hataya. Ek anjaan chehra. Ek kiraye ka qaatil. Par Ravi ka dhyaan uske kaan mein lage communication device par gaya. Usne use nikaal kar apne kaan mein lagaya. Doosri taraf se Arjun ki bechain awaaz aa raha tha.
ARJUN (O.S. via earpiece): "Hunter? Kya hua? Report! Status!"
Ravi ne kuch nahi kaha. Usne device ko zameen par rakha aur apne military boot se, dheere se, poora wazan daal kar use kuchal diya.
CRUNCH
Yeh khel ka pehla mohra tha jo shatranj se bahar ho chuka tha.
[LOCATION: ARJUN’S ROOM]
CRUNCH.
Earpiece se aaya aakhri awaaz Arjun ke kaano mein zehar ke tarah utar gayi. Uske chehre par gusse aur hairat ka toofan umad aaya.
ARJUN (gurrate hue): "Impossible! Usne HUNTER ko... andhere mein... bina hathiyaar ke?"
Usne apni whiskey ka glass ek jhatke mein khaali kar diya. Uska plan, uska perfect plan, pehli hi chaal mein dhwast ho chuka tha. Usne Ravi ko kamzor samjha tha. Yeh uski sabse badi bhool thi.
Usne Mr. Khana ko call kiya, jo bahar corridor mein pehra de raha tha.unke pass Virat , Rishi aur Sameer bhi khade the.
ARJUN: "Plan B fail ho gaya hai! HUNTER neeche hai. Ab Plan C. 'Saayon' ko aage badhne ka ishaara do. Unse kaho, shikaar ab hoshiyaar ho chuka hai. Aur Virat..."
VIRAT : "Ji, Arjun bhai."
ARJUN: "Agar Sia apne kamre se bahar nikle... usey rokna mat. Bas us par nazar rakhna. Woh Ravi ke taraf hi jaayegi. Aur jab kamzori khud shikaari ke paas jaaye... toh khel aur bhi mazedaar ho jaata hai."
Usne call kaat diya aur monitor par aayi ek live feed ko dekhne laga. Ek hidden camera Sia ke kamre ke theek bahar laga tha. Woh intezaar kar raha tha. Apne Wazir ko, pyaade ki taraf badhte hue dekhne ka.
[LOCATION: SIA'S ROOM / CORRIDOR]
Sia apne kamre mein bechaini se tehel rahi thi. Ravi ki wing mein andhera hote hi uska dil kisi anhoni ke aashanka se doob gaya tha. Uska dimaag usey Dada Sahab ka mission yaad dila raha tha, par uska dil... woh Ravi ke naam ki zidd kar raha tha.
"Main uske maamle mein nahi pad sakti. Yeh mission ke liye khatra hai," usne khud se kaha.
Par agle hi pal, usne darwaza khola. Uska dil jeet chuka tha.
Corridor mein maut jaisa sannata tha. Woh dabe paanv aage badhi. Har kadam uske farz par ek chot jaisa tha. Jab woh Ravi ke wing ke paas pahunchi, toh usne andhere mein khade ek saaye ko dekha. Virat.
Virat ne use dekha, par Arjun ke hukum ke mutaabik, usne Sia ko roka nahi. Bas ek ajeeb, sard muskaan di, jaise keh raha ho, "Jao, apni maut ki taraf."
Sia usse nazarandaaz karke aage badh gayi. Ravi ka darwaza halka sa khula tha. Usne darte-darte andar jhaanka.
Andar ka manzar dekh kar uski saansein gale mein hi atak gayi.
Ravi zameen par baitha tha, behosh HUNTER ke paas. Kamre mein sirf chaand ka halka roshni aa raha tha. Us roshni mein, Ravi ka chehra kisi insaan ka nahi, ek... yoddha ka lag raha tha. Uska aankhon mein ghussa nahi, ek thanda, hisaabi focus tha.
SIA (dheere se): "Ravi...?"
Ravi ne palat kar use dekha. Uski aankhon mein ek pal ke liye narmi aaya.
RAVI: "Tumhein yahan nahi aana chahiye tha, Sia. Yeh jagah ab mehfooz nahi hai."
SIA: "Main bas... main chinta kar rahi thi."
Isse pehle ki Ravi kuch kehta, uske kaan khade ho gaye. Usne Sia ko ishare se chup rehne ko kaha.
Bahar... corridor mein... kadmon ki awaaz aa rahi tha.
Par yeh ek insaan ke kadmon ki awaaz nahi thi. Aisa lag raha tha jaise koi cheez... barf par reng rahi ho. Koi awaaz nahi, koi khusar-pusar nahi. Bas ek ehsaas. Ek thanda, maut jaisa ehsaas jo darwaze ke neeche se sarak kar andar aa raha tha.
Deenu Kaka ki awaaz Ravi ke dimaag mein goonja. 'Barf ke Saaye'.
RAVI (sargoshi mein): "Bistar ke neeche chhup jao. Aur jab tak main na kahun, bahar mat nikalna. Chahe kuch bhi ho jaaye."
Uska awaaz mein ek aisa authority tha jise Sia mana nahi kar saka. Woh foran bistar ke neeche chhup gayi.
Ravi ne Hunter ke behosh shareer ko ek taraf kheencha aur darwaze ke peeche phir se apni position le liya.
Darwaza dheere-dheere, ek ajeeb si crakkk ke saath khula.
Iss baar, ek nahi... teen saaye andar daakhil hue. Unhone kaale nahi, balki barf jaise safed, camouflage gear pehne the. Unke chehre par ajeeb se thermal goggles the aur unke haath mein khukri jaise, aage se mude hue, ghatak khanjar the.
Woh hawa ki tarah shaant the. Unka har move ek socha-samjha, train kiya hua qadam tha.
Pehle saaye ne kamre ko scan kiya. Doosra Hunter ke shareer ke paas gaya. Aur teesra... teesra theek uss bistar ke paas jaakar khada ho gaya jiske neeche Sia apni saansein roke chhipi hui thi.
Khel ab one-on-one nahi raha tha.
Yeh teen-on-one tha. Aur Ravi jaanta tha... yeh Arjun ke mamooli gunde nahi the.
Yeh professional qaatil the. 'Barf ke Saaye'.
Jangal ka asli shikaar... ab shuru ho chuka tha.
YAADON KE PEHREDAAR
[LOCATION: GADEN BAUDH MATH – ANDRUNI KAKSH]
Jabke resort ke uss kamre mein saansein ruka hua tha, pahaadon ki goad mein basa Gaden Baudh Math ka roohani khamoshi bhi uss ek kamre mein aakar thehar jaata tha. Yeh math ka sabse gupt, sabse andhera hissa tha. Hawa mein chandan, kapoor aur sadiyon purani prarthnaon ki mehek ek saath ghula hua tha. Deewaron par bane thangka paintings andhere mein saans lete hue mehsoos ho rahe the.
Beech mein baithe Lama Tashi ke aankhein band tha, par unka astitva uss kamre ki har cheez par haavi tha. Unke saamne, zameen par ghutno ke bal, Kitsune (YuKi) ka sir jhuka hua tha.
Lama Tashi ki bhaari awaaz pattharon se takraaya, jaise koi gufa goonj utha ho.
LAMA TASHI: "Aasmaan se toota hua taara... apni roshni zaroor kho chuka hai, Kitsune. Lekin girte waqt woh Qayamat ki garmi apne andar samet laaya hai. Tumhara zimmedaari sirf uske zakhmi jism ka nahi, uska bikhra hua rooh ka hifazat karna hai. Woh ab ek aisa daulat hai jiski koi keemat nahi, aur jise lootne ke liye Shaitan khud zameen par utar aaya hai."
KITSUNE: (Awaaz mein bebasi) :"Uss garmi ko woh khud mehsoos nahi kar paa raha, Lama. Uski aankhon mein ek aisa khaamoshi hai... jismein sirf aakhri tabahi ka shor hai. Apni pehchaan ki ek chingari tak nahi. Agar usse zara bhi yaad hota, toh woh meri aankhon mein chhipa fikr aur Aarav ke chehre par ubalte laave ko ek pal mein pehchaan leta."
Tabhi andhere se ek fauladi awaaz ne Kitsune ke shabdon ko cheer diya.
"Khaamoshi kamzori nahi, gehraayi ka nishaani hota hai, Lama. Aur samandar ki gehraayi mein hi toofan saans lete hain."
Phoenix (Aarav) andhere se nikal kar uss roshni mein aaya jo ek ghee ke diye se phail raha tha. Uska aankhein ek shikari baaz ki tarah aage dekh raha tha, jaise woh deewaron ke paar bhi dekh sakta ho.
PHOENIX (AARAV): "Woh sab kuch bhoola nahi hai. Uska yaadon par bas jakhmon ka zang lag gaya hai. Chehre dhundhle ho gaye hain, par unn chehron se mile dard ka ehsaas aaj bhi taza hai. Woh aag... woh cheekhein... uske zehen mein nahi, uski rooh mein qaid hain. Ek Shezaada jiska takht uska yaadein tha, aur woh takht ab cheen liya gaya hai."
LAMA TASHI: (Dheere se apni aankhein kholte hain. Unke nazron mein gyaan nahi, ek aisa chetavni tha jo waqt ko rok de.)
"Aur yahi baat usse is duniya ka sabse khatarnaak hathiyaar banata hai! Uska dimaag ab ek band darwaza nahi... woh Pralay ka taaboot hai. Ek aisi taqat jise dushman apni jeet samajhta hai, aur jise humein is duniya ke antt se pehle kaabu mein rakhna hai. Agar woh taaboot khul gaya... toh yeh duniya uss Shezaade ka kahani nahi, uska tabahi ka kissa sunega."
KITSUNE: (Uthkar, awaaz mein ek nayi zimmedaari ke saath)
"Toh humara maqsad kya hai, Lama?"
LAMA TASHI: "Tum dono uske saaye nahi... uski yaadon ke pehredaar banoge. Tumhare jung sirf dushman se nahi, uske ateet se bhi hai. Tumhein usse bachana bhi hai... aur waqt aane par, is duniya ko uss se bachana bhi hai. Jaao! Kyunki waqt ka ret nahi, zindagiyan phisal raha hain. Aur dushman ne apni pehli chaal chal diya hai."
USOOLON KI QEEMAT
[LOCATION: RESORT – STAFF QUARTERS – RAAT]
Resort ke chamak-damak ke peeche ek aur duniya tha. Geeli deewaron, seelan ki mehek aur saste disinfectant ki gandh waala. Yeh staff quarters ka pichla hissa tha, jahan andhera bhi zyada thaka hua aur gehra lagta tha.
Yahin par, parchhaiyon ko apna saathi banaye, Vikrant aage badh raha tha. Woh Aryan ke sabse puraane aur wafadaar aadmiyon mein se tha. Uski ragon mein khoon ke saath Aryan bhai ka ek usool daudta tha—"Begunahon par haath nahi uthana." Aur Arjun ke Manali aane ke baad se hi, usse yeh usool toot-ta hua mehsoos ho raha tha.
Usne Arjun ke Security Head ko ek band pade store room mein ghuste dekha. Ek aisi jagah jahan kisi ko nahi jaana chahiye tha. Vikrant deewar se sat kar aage badha, uske saans lene ki awaaz bhi usse dhokha de sakti thi. Usne darwaze ke daraar se andar jhaanka, aur jo dekha, usse uska rooh tak kaanp gayi.
Andar do log the. Security Head... aur ek anjaan saaya.
Woh saaya roshni mein aaya. Lamba, patla jism. Lambe baal jo uske chehre par a rahe the. Gaal par ek purane zakhm ka nishaan, jaise kisi janwar ne panja maara ho. Par sabse darawni cheez uska aankhein theen—bilkul khaali, jaise unke peeche koi insaan nahi, sirf maut ka intezaar tha.
(NAYE KIRDAAR KI ENTRY – KAI)
Woh ek professional mercenary tha. Ek bhoot, jise Arjun ne khaas iss kaam ke liye kiraye par liya tha. Kai usoolon par nahi, keemat par kaam karta tha.
SECURITY HEAD: (Awaaz mein ek ajeeb sa ghabrahat) "Target confirm hai. Ladki, Jaanvi. Kal Monastery mein... kaam saaf hona chahiye."
Kai ne jawaab nahi diya, bas gardan halki sa hilaaya. Jab woh bola, toh uska awaaz sookhe patton par rengte saanp jaisa tha.
KAI: "Kaam ho jaayega. Par Rathore Junior ko yaad dila dena, iss kaam ki keemat sirf paisa nahi hai... uska khamoshi bhi hai. Kissa khatam hone ke baad, main kabhi tha hi nahi."
Vikrant ka dimaag sunn ho gaya. Dhokha. Arjun ne apne hi bhai ko dhokha diya tha. Yeh sabaq sikhaane ki nahi, ek begunah ko mitaane ki saazish tha. Usne bina awaaz kiye wahan se hatna chaha, par uska kismat ne saath chhod diya. Uska pair neeche pade kaanch ke ek toote hue tukde par pad gaya.
KRRNNCH!
Awaaz mamuli tha, par uss khamoshi mein ek dhamake jaisa laga.
Ek palak jhapk mein Kai insaan se hathiyaar ban gaya. Woh aisi tezi se palta jaise hawa ne rukh badla ho. Uska khaali aankhein seedha daraar ke uss paar Vikrant ki dehshat-zada aankhon se takraaya.
Sochne ka waqt nahi tha. Vikrant bhaaga.
Par Kai shikaar tha, aur Vikrant shikaari. Woh ek saaye ke tarah uske peeche lapka, uske kadmon ki awaaz tak nahi aa raha tha. Vikrant ne jaan bachane ke liye daudte hue paas pada ek zang laga lohe ka rod uthaya aur palat kar poori taqat se vaar kiya.
Kai ne ek hairaan kar dene waala furti se uss rod ko hawa mein hi pakad liya. Uska kalai tak nahi hila.
Ek jhatke mein usne rod Vikrant ke haath se cheen liya. Isse pehle ki Vikrant apna galti samajh paata, Kai ne wahi rod ghuma kar uske ghutne par de maara.
CRACK!
Haddi ke tootne ki wehshi awaaz uss tang corridor mein goonj gaya.
Vikrant ki cheekh uske gale mein hi ghut gaya jab woh zameen par gira. Kai uske upar shikaari ke tarah jhuka. Uska aankhon mein na gussa tha, na nafrat. Sirf ek peshewar khamoshi.
KAI: "Galat waqt... galat jagah."
Usne rod uthaaya aur Vikrant ke doosre haath ke kalai par maar diya. Ek aur dardnaak cheekh. Phir usne rod Vikrant ke gardan par rakha aur dheere se dabav badhaya, bas itna ki saans rukne lage.
KAI (sargoshi mein, jaise koi raaz bata raha ho): "Apne Aryan bhai ko paigaam dena... Arjun Rathore ke khel mein usoolon ke jagah nahi... sirf nateeje hote hain."
Yeh keh kar usne rod hata liya aur Vikrant ko toote jism aur toote himmat ke saath wahin tadapta hua chhod diya. Woh andhere mein aise ghul gaya jaise kabhi tha hi nahi.
Yeh sirf ek warning nahi tha. Yeh ek elaan-e-jung tha. Ek khooni elaan... ki Manali mein ab Aryan ke nahi, Arjun Rathore ke niyam chalenge.
QAYAMAT KA NAACH
[LOCATION: RAVI’S ISOLATED ROOM – RAAT]
Kamre mein teen saaye the, aur ek shikaar. Kam se kam, woh yahi soch rahe the.
Bistar ke neeche, Sia ka dil uske seene mein ek qaid parinde ki tarah phadphada raha tha. Upar khade saaye ke boot uski aankhon se bas kuch inch door the. Usne apni cheekh ko gale mein hi ghont diya.
Jaise hi teesre saaye ne bistar ko khanjar se uthane ke liye haath badhaya, andhera zinda ho gaya.
Ravi ek toofan ke tarah nahi, Qayamat ke tarah utha. Usne paas rakha bhaari table lamp uthaya, lekin phenka nahi. Usne use ek pendulum ki tarah ghumakar pehle saaye ke thermal goggles par de maara.
CRASH!
Kaanch aur high-tech plastic ke tukde saaye ki aankhon mein ghus gaye. Uski cheekh nikli, par sirf ek pal ke liye. Isse pehle ki uska cheekh poori hota, Ravi uske saamne tha. Usne saaye ke khanjar wale haath ko pakda, uske kohni ko apne ghutne par rakha aur doosre haath se uska kalai ko neeche ki taraf mod diya.
SNAP!
Kohni ke joint ke ulti disha mein tootne ki ek geeli, wehshi awaaz aayi. Par Ravi wahin nahi ruka. Usne qaatil ke hi toote hue haath se khanjar cheena aur uski gardan ke aar-paar utaar diya.
Ek saans... aur pehla saaya zameen par tha. Zinda nahi.
Doosre do saaye, apne saathi ke achanak khatm ho jaane se chaunke, par woh professional the. Unhone Ravi par ek saath hamla kiya. Unke khanjar hawa ko cheerte hue maut ka sangeet gaa rahe the.
Lekin Ravi unse lad nahi raha tha. Woh naach raha tha. Maut ka ek aisa naach jise Sia apni zindagi mein kabhi nahi bhool paayegi.
Woh ek khanjar ke neeche se jhuka, doosre ko apni baazu se deflect kiya, jisse uske haath par ek gehra ghaav laga. Par uske chehre par dard ka nishaan tak nahi tha. Usne doosre qaatil ke hamle ki taaqat ka istemaal karte hue use apni taraf kheencha aur use teesre qaatil ke saamne ek insaani dhaal ki tarah kar diya.
Teesre qaatil ka khanjar apne hi saathi ke seene mein utar gaya.
Uska aankhein dehshat se phail gaya. Par Ravi ne use sambhalne ka ek pal bhi nahi diya. Usne zakhmi qaatil ko ek taraf dhakela aur aakhri bache hue saaye ke taraf badha. Usne zameen par pade Hunter ke pistol ko pair se uchhalkar hawa mein pakda.
Par goli nahi chalaya.
Woh qaatil ke itne kareeb pahunch chuka tha ki pistol ka barrel uske maathe par lage thermal goggle se takra raha tha.
RAVI (uska awaaz andhere se bhi zyada thanda aur khaali tha): "Usse kaho... usne kutte bheje hain... ek sher ke shikaar ke liye."
Aur phir usne trigger nahi, pistol ke pichle hisse (slide) se qaatil ke naak par poori taaqat se vaar kiya.
KRRR-UNCH!
Naak ka haddi toot kar uske dimaag mein ghus gayi. Woh bina koi awaaz kiye, ek murde ki tarah pichhe gir gaya.
Teen professional qaatil. Tees second se bhi kam.
Kamre mein ab sirf Ravi ke tez saanson ke awaaz tha. Aur khoon ka bhaari, lohe jaisa mehek.
Ravi dheere se utha. Uske haath se khoon tapak kar zameen par safed barf par lahu ka pehli boondon ki kahani likh raha tha. Woh dheere-dheere chalta hua kamre ke beech mein aaya. Usne neeche pade jismon ko nahi dekha.
Usne upar dekha.
Seedha uss smoke detector mein lage camera ke lens mein. Arjun ke aankhon mein.
Uske chehre par na ghussa tha, na jeet. Sirf ek aisa khaamoshi jo hazaar cheekhon se zyada darawni tha. Usne apna khoon se sana haath uthaya aur usse apna aankhon ke saamne laaya. Phir, behad dheere se, usne apniaek ungli se apne hi gale par ek lakeer kheencha.
Ek vaada. Ek paigaam. Ek maut ka farmaan.
Arjun Rathore ne ek pyaada samjha tha. Uss raat, usse pata chala ki shatranj ke uss paar... ek Qayamat baitha hai , ek doosra Badshah.
Aur uss Badshah ke chehre par ek an-kaha paigaam saaf likha tha...
"Welcome to my warzone."
RAAKH BHI NAHI MILEGA
Par khel abhi khatm nahi hua tha.
Bistar ke neeche se Sia kaanpte hue yeh sab dekh rahi thi. Uski aankhon mein ab sirf darr nahi, ek aisi hairat thi jise samajhna namumkin tha.
Ravi ne camera ke taraf se nazar hataya aur kamre ko dekha. Ek aam insaan is manzar ko dekh kar cheekh padta ya behosh ho jaata. Chaar lashein. Khoon se sane farsh aur deewar.
Par Ravi... usne ek lambi, thandi saans liya, jaise usne abhi-abhi ek halka sa exercise khatm kiya ho. Uske chehre par koi bhaav nahi tha. Jaise yeh uske liye roz ka kaam ho.
Woh bina kisi jaldbaazi ke, behad methodical tareeke se kaam par lag gaya.
Usne sabse pehle bed se saari chaadarein utaara. Bistar ke neeche se Sia ne dekha ki usne ek-ek karke chaaron lashon ko un chaadaron mein lapetna shuru kiya. Uske movements ek surgeon ki tarah sateek the. Koi awaaz nahi, koi ghabrahat nahi.
Phir, usne un bhaari gathriyon ko, ek-ek karke, balcony ki taraf kheench kar le jaana shuru kiya. Sia ko laga ki woh shayad unhein neeche phenk dega. Par Ravi ne aisa nahi kiya. Resort ke uss wing ke theek peeche ek ghana, andhera jungle tha, jahan ek gehri khaai tha. Ravi ne ek-ek gathri ko balcony ki railing par rakha aur bina kisi awaaz ke, neeche uss andhere mein dhakel diya jahan se unka suraag milna namumkin tha.
Char insaan... jaise kabhi the hi nahi.
Iske baad woh wapas kamre mein aaya. Sia ne socha ab woh thak kar rukega. Par woh ruka nahi. Usne bathroom se paani ka baalti aur kuch saaf karne wale kapde liye aur zameen par ghutno ke bal baith gaya.
Bistar ke neeche se Sia usse ek bhoot ki tarah kaam karte hue dekh rahi thi. Woh farsh se khoon ka har ek daag, deewar par lage har ek cheente ko aise saaf kar raha tha, jaise koi crime scene cleaner ho. Usne toote hue lamp ke tukde, qaatilon ke gire hue hathiyaar, har cheez ko ikattha kiya aur ek bag mein bhar liya.
Pandrah minute ke andar, woh kamra waisa hi tha jaisa pehle tha. Bas hawa mein khoon aur disinfectant ka halka sa mehek baaki tha. Jaise kuch hua hi nahi tha. Jaise Qayamat aaya, apna kaam kiya, aur bina koi nishaan chhode chala gaya.
Ab Ravi palta. Woh seedha bistar ke paas aaya aur neeche jhuka.
Andhere mein, Sia ko sirf uski do aankhein dikhayi de rahi theen, jo chaand ki roshni mein ajeeb tarah se chamak rahi theen. Un aankhon mein ab woh Ravi nahi tha jise woh school mein jaanti thi.
Ravi ne apna khoon se saaf kiya hua, par ab bhi zakhmi haath uski taraf badhaya.
Uska awaaz ek sargoshi se zyada nahi tha, par Sia ke liye woh ek dhamaka tha. Ek aisa sawaal jo is trip ki, aur shayad uski zindagi ki, disha badalne wala tha.
"Iss khel mein masoomiyat ki keemat maut hota hai, Sia. Main tumhein bacha sakta hoon, par tumhari masoomiyat nahi. Tayyar ho?"
Uska awaaz ab bhi hawa mein tair raha tha jab usne Sia ko dekhe bina aage kaha, jaise woh aane wale kal se baat kar raha ho.
"Kyunki yeh raat toh bas ek trailer tha... asli film toh kal subah Monastery mein shuru hoga."
"Ab batao, Sia... Darr lag raha hai... ya maza aa raha hai?"
