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Update 2
Nishant apne kamre me akela baitha hua tha. Uske bed ke paas rakhi photo frame mein Rihaan aur uski photo. Woh photo dekh kar use Rihaan ke saath bitaye hue lamhe yaad aane lage aur woh apne bhai ki yaad mein tadap utha. Usne apne aap ko itna bebas kabhi mehsoos nahi kiya.
Apne dil ki tadap ko shaant karne ke liye woh phir se drugs lene laga. Drugs ke nashe mein jhulta hua woh kab so gaya use pata hi nahi chala. Achanak raat mein uska phone baj utha. Usne neend me hi apna phone uthaya.
Phone par ek aurat ke hasne ki awaz aayi. “Kitna chutiya hai re tu Nishant,” woh aurat haste hue boli, “Armaan ne tere bhai ko maar kar kahin gaad diya aur tu muh dekhta reh gaya!”
Apne bhai ki maut ki khabar sunte hi Nishant ki ragon mein jaise aag daude lagi. “Kaun hai tu?” Nishant ne us aurat se poocha, “Kyu maara Armaan ne mere bhai ko? Kahan gaada hai usko? Bata!”
Woh aurat aage kuch nahi boli. Bas hasti rahi. Uski hasi Nishant ke kaanon ko cheerne lagi. Woh pagalon ki tarah cheekhta hua bistar se utha aur kamre ki cheezein uthakar gusse mein idhar udhar phenkne laga.
“Hasti kya hai be chinaal bata na! Kahan hai Rihaan?” Nishant phone par chillaya.
Lekin woh aurat bas hasti rahi. Nishant ne apne aap par kabu poori tarah se kho diya. Ekdum se zameen par giri hui whiskey bottle par uska pair pada aur woh gir pada. Uska sar table se takraya aur woh farsh par beshosh hokar gir pada.
*******************
Subah ka waqt tha. Eshani daudi daudi Armaan ke chamber mein aayi.
“Jiska darr tha wahi hua,” Eshani ne kaha, “Kisi ne media mein khabar leak kar di aur company ke stock prices tezi se gir rahe hai. Karodon ka nuksaan ho raha hai Sir.”
Armaan ne aankhein band karke ek gheri saans li.
“Media waale bahar bheed lagaye hue hai,” Eshani ne kaha.
“Security ko alert karo,” Armaan ne kaha, “Koi andar na aane paaye.”
Eshani ne haan mein sar hilaya aur chamber se bahar chali gayi. Armaan ne khidki se jhaana to dekha ki media reports uski company ke gate ke bahar bheed jamaye hue the. Armaan ne tezi se girte hue stock prices ko dekha aur uske mann mein Pankhudi ka khayal aaya aur uske chehre par ek muskaan aa gayi. Sirf us ek ladki ko bachne ke liye woh kitna aarthik niksaan utha raha tha lekin use uska zara bhi afsos nahi ho raha tha. Haan lekin agar Pankhudi par ek kharosh bhi aaye, yeh use ab gawara nahi tha.
Nishant dinbadin uski mushkein badhata jaa raha tha. Shaam ko jab Armaan ghar jaane ko nikala, to media waalon ne uski gaadi ko gher liye. Uspar camera flashes aur sawalon ki barsaat hone lagi.
“Sir, aap par lage illegal land encroachment ke ilzaam ke baare mein aap ka kya statement hai?” ek reporter ne poocha.
“Aapke bahot saare projects par stay lagaya gaya hai,” ek aur reporter ne poocha, “To kya ab un sab logon ka paisa doob jayega jinhone aapke constructions mein booking kari hai?”
“Aapke stock prices tezi se gire hai aaj,” ek teesre reporter ne poocha, “Aisa chalta raha to aapko bankrupt hone mein jyada der nahi lagegi. Aapke investors ke nuksaan ki zimmedari kaun lega?”
Armaan ne apne driver ko ishara kiya aur usne khidki ka sheehsha khola aur Armaan ne ek confident smile ke saath jawab diya, “I am sure it is all a big misunderstanding. Inquiry chal rahi hai, mujhe yakeen hai humare kaabil authorities ek fair inquiry karke, humari company ko clean chit denge. Rahi baat stock prices ki, market utar chadav lage rehte hai. Humne koi gairkanooni kaam nahi kiya hai, isiliye na to humare investors ko gharbane ki zaroorat hai, na hi humare customers ko. Ve nishchint rahe unki investment safe hai. That’s all, thank you.”
********
Nishant ko jab hosh aaya tab tak shaam ho chuki thi. Anvit uske bistar ke bagal mein baithe chintit nazron se use dekh raha tha.
“Aap theek ho Sir?” Anvit ne poocha, “Aap kayi ghanton tak beshosh the.”
Nishant ne apne aap ko sambhala aur use ekdum se kal raat ki ghatna yaad aayi.
“Anvit,” Nishant ne order dete hue kaha, “Kal raat mujhe jis number se call aayi thi use trace kar. Pata kar ki number kiske naam par registered hai aur call kahan se aayi thi.”
Nishant ne apne call log khola Anvit ko number dene ke liye. Lekin woh hairaan reh gaya ki uske call log mein raat mein kisi number se koi call nahi aayi thi.
“Abe saale!” Nishant Anvit par chillkar bola, “Number kisne delete kiya?”
“Koi kaise delete kar sakta hai Sir?” Anvit ne kaha, “Aapke phone ka password to sirf aapko pata hai.”
Nishant ab gehri soch mein pad gaya. Kahin woh call uska wehem to nahi tha? Ho sakta hai drugs ke nashe mein use laga ho ki use koi call aaya. Phir bhi usne apne ek aadmi to phone company se pata karne bola ki koi call aaya tha ya nahi.
Nishant ne TV on kiya. Armaan ki company ke girte hue stock prices ko dekh kar muskuraya.
*******
Ek taraf Pankhudi bhi TV dekh rahi thi. Armaan ko news me dekh kar kaafi pareshan ho gayi thi. Sach kahe to use Armaan ke baare mein uske naam ke alawa kuch khaas maalum bhi nahi tha. Lekin news dekh kar use kaafi kuch pata chala.
Woh ab Armaan se milkar baat karne ke liye aur bechain hone lagi.
*********
Idhar Armaan ne Ragini ke saath “massage services” book kari ek jaali naam se, aur bhes badalkar woh us hotel ke kamre mein pahunch gaya jahan usne Ragini ko bulaya tha.
Woh besabri se Ragini ka intezaar kar raha tha. Darwaze par dastak hui aur Armaan ne darwaza khola.
Woh Ragini ko dekh kar hairaan ho gaya. Woh mehej ek 18 saal ki ladki thi, ekdum bholi aur saadi dikhne waali.
Ragini muskurakar kamre ke andar aayi. Woh bilkul ek prostitue ki tarah sazi hui thi.
“Aap kis type ka massage lena chahenge Sir?” usne poocha.
“Mujhe bas tumse baat karni hai Ragini,” Armaan ne kaha aur use sofe par bitha diya.
Ek paani ka glass Armaan ne use thama diya. Ragini ne ek ghoont paani piya aur hairani se Armaan ki taraf dekhne lagi. Jyadatar uske grahak ya to seedhe kapde utarne lagte hai ya uske kapde utarwate hai.
“Let me get straight to the point,” Armaan ne kaha, “Tumhari is halat ke liye jo aadmi zimmedar hai, main use sabak sikhana chahta hun. Is kaam mein mujhe tumhari madad chahiye.”
“Kaisi madad?” Ragini ne poocha.
“Woh tumhe apne paas bulata hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Tum mujhe andar ki khabar de sakti ho. Badle mein tumhe jo chahiye woh milega.”
Ragini muskurayi.
“Ek cigarette milegi?” Ragini ne poocha.
Armaan ne use cigarette pakdayi aur jalane mein madad kari.
Ragini ne ek kash liya aur apne pair pe pair chadakar, apne baahein sofe par failkar apni peeth tek kar baith gayi, ek commanding position mein.
“To tu mere saath sauda karna chahta hai?” Ragini ne ek kash lete hue muskurakar poocha.
Armaan uske badle hue ravaiye se hairan ho gaya. “Aap se seedhe tu, huh? Interesting!” Armaan ne muskurakar kaha, “Haan, ise sauda hi samjho. Meri madad karo, badle mein tum jo maango woh milega.”
“Kya de sakta hai tu?” Ragini ne muskurate hue kaha, “Paisa?”
“Haan,” Armaan ne kaha, “Jitna maangogi utna.”
“Mere maathe par idhar chutiya likha hua hai kya?” Ragini boli.
“Kyu? Bharosa nahi hai? Tum chaho to advance de sakta hun,” Armaan ne kaha.
“Randi hun saheb,” Ragini ne muskurate hue kaha, “Mard ki aankh dekh kar uski aukaat pechaan leti hun. Tujhme aur Nishant mein koi farak nahi hai. Wahi vahashiyat dikh rahi hai mujhe teri aankhon mein jaise us haraamzade ki aankhon mein dikhti hai. Tera kaam ho jaye bas, uske baad koi jeeye ya mare is se tujhe koi farak nahi padta. Saale tu sochta hai, mere aage chand sikke phenk kar mujhe Nishant ke khilaaf apna mohra bana lega? Us bhadwe Nishant ko bhanak bhi lagi na, to meri sar kati laash padi milegi Mumbai ki kisi gutter me.”
“Main jaanta hun kaam khatre se khali nahi hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Aur paise ke liye jokhim uthane waale log bahot hai duniya mein lekin yeh kaam karne ki jo wajah tumhare paas hai kisi aur ke paas nahi hai. Aur tumhara bhai Rohit, use bhi to...”
“To Rohit ke baare mein bhi pata kar liya,” Ragini ne usi muskaan ke saath kaha, “Accha hai. Homework acche se kiya hai tune. Lekin yeh baat acche se jaan le, ke na mujhe tera koi kaam karne mein interest hai na tere paison main. Mere dhande me waise bhi accha khasa paisa milta hai. Mujhe bas zinda rehna hai Rohit ke liye.”
Ek pal ke liye Ragini ke chehre par itna dard jhalka jise woh chupane ki poori koshish kar rahi thi.
“Baaki tujhe maze lene ho to lele,” Ragini apna top utarte hue boli, “Video to dekha hi hoga tune, mast tha na?”
Armaan ne use roka. “Iski zaroorat nahi hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Main bas baat karna chahta tha. Tumne sahi kaha, Ragini, paison ke alawa kuch nahi hai mere paas tumhe dene ke liye. Aur yeh paisa kuch nahi badal sakta. Na woh tumhari khoyi hui izzat lauta sakta hai, aur na tumhare pitaji to wapas la sakta hai. Bas itna kahunga ki yeh kaam karne ki mere paas ek wajah hai. Jo tumhare saath hua, woh main ek aur masoom ladki ke saath nahi hone dena chahta. Isiliye madad maange aaya tha tumse. Nishant par goli chalwana mere liye koi badi baat nahi hai, lekin main use itni aasaan maut nahi dena chahta.”
Ragini ab gambhir bhaav se Armaan ki baatein sun rahi thi. Use Armaan ki aankhon me ek junoon dikhai diya.
Armaan ne Ragini ne aankhein milate hue uske sar par pyaar se haath pherte hue kaha, “Maine tumhara video nahi dekha tha Ragini, aur na hi main us waqt club ke andar maujood tha. Bas jo hua woh suna tha. Aaj pehli baar tumhe dekha hai. Main to jaanta bhi nahi tha ki tum bas 18 saal ki ho. I am really sorry and I respect your decision.”
Armaan wahan se chala gaya. Use Ragini se ummed thi lekin woh uske darr ko bhi bakhoobi samajh raha tha. Uspar uske chhote bhai ki zimmedari thi. Woh apni jaan ko jokhim mein nahi daal sakti thi.
*************
Armaan ke ghar aur office ke bahar din raat media reporters bheed lagaye rehte the. Armaan ka kahin bahar nikalna bhi mushkil ho gaya.
Armaan ke informer Raghav us se mila aur use Nishaant ke baare mein bahot saari useful information di. Anvit ke saath Nishant ke kharab sambandhon ke baare mein bhi bataya. Armaan ab apna next move plan karne laga.
Ek din Armaan shaam ko Armaan apne terrace par khada drink kar raha tha. Uske main gate par media ki bheed chhatne ka naam hi nahi le rahi thi. Usi bheed ke beech mein Armaan ko ek jaana pechana chehra dikha. Pankhudi ko apne ghar ke bahar khada dekh kar Armaan ke chahre ka rang udd gaya. Woh jaanta tha ki Nishant ke spies uske ke gate par 24 ghante nazar jamaiye hue hai.
Armaan ka dil darr ke maare zor zor se dhakadke laga. Usne turant apne aadmi ko call kiya.
“Woh jo peele suit mein ladki khadi hai main gate par,” Armaan ne kaha, “Use fauran hatao wahan se.”
Armaan ke guards bheed ke beech mein samakar Pankhudi ko ek taraf kheench liya aur uska muh dabakar ek van mein bitha liya aur van chal pada. Pankhudi ne struggle karne ki koshish kari lekin un aadmiyon ne uske kas ke pakad rakha tha. Phir ek guard phone uske kaan par lagaya. Armaan ki awaz sunkar woh shaant ho gayi.
“What the fuck do you think you were doing?” Armaan ne gusse mein kaha.
“I am sorry,” Pankhudi ne rote hue jawab diya, “Main bas tumse milna chahti thi. Maine TV par dekha itna sab kuch...”
“Tumhe andaza nahi hai tumhari yeh bewakoofi kitni mehengi pad sakti thi tumhe,” Armaan gusse se upar chillaya.
Pankhudi rone lagi. Itni dino baad woh Armaan se baat kar paayi thi aur woh uspar chilla raha tha. “I am sorry,” Pankhudi ne roti hui awaz mein kaha, “Bas tumse milne ka mann tha. Woh TV mein dekha tha tab pata chala ki tumhara ghar kahan hai toh tumhe surprise dene chali aayi...”
Uska rona sunkar Armaan shaant ho gaya.
“Main bataunga tumhe kab aur kahan milna hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Filhaal mere aadmi tumhe tumhare ghar chhod denge. Aur yaad rakhna dobara mere ghar ya office ke aas paas galati se bhi mat aana.”
Armaan ne phone kaat diya. Woh bahot pareshan tha. Woh bas yeh dua kar raha tha ki reporters ki bheed mein Nishant ke aadmiyon ne Pankhudi ko alag se notice nahi kiya ho, warna anarth ho jayega.
Nishant apne kamre me akela baitha hua tha. Uske bed ke paas rakhi photo frame mein Rihaan aur uski photo. Woh photo dekh kar use Rihaan ke saath bitaye hue lamhe yaad aane lage aur woh apne bhai ki yaad mein tadap utha. Usne apne aap ko itna bebas kabhi mehsoos nahi kiya.
Apne dil ki tadap ko shaant karne ke liye woh phir se drugs lene laga. Drugs ke nashe mein jhulta hua woh kab so gaya use pata hi nahi chala. Achanak raat mein uska phone baj utha. Usne neend me hi apna phone uthaya.
Phone par ek aurat ke hasne ki awaz aayi. “Kitna chutiya hai re tu Nishant,” woh aurat haste hue boli, “Armaan ne tere bhai ko maar kar kahin gaad diya aur tu muh dekhta reh gaya!”
Apne bhai ki maut ki khabar sunte hi Nishant ki ragon mein jaise aag daude lagi. “Kaun hai tu?” Nishant ne us aurat se poocha, “Kyu maara Armaan ne mere bhai ko? Kahan gaada hai usko? Bata!”
Woh aurat aage kuch nahi boli. Bas hasti rahi. Uski hasi Nishant ke kaanon ko cheerne lagi. Woh pagalon ki tarah cheekhta hua bistar se utha aur kamre ki cheezein uthakar gusse mein idhar udhar phenkne laga.
“Hasti kya hai be chinaal bata na! Kahan hai Rihaan?” Nishant phone par chillaya.
Lekin woh aurat bas hasti rahi. Nishant ne apne aap par kabu poori tarah se kho diya. Ekdum se zameen par giri hui whiskey bottle par uska pair pada aur woh gir pada. Uska sar table se takraya aur woh farsh par beshosh hokar gir pada.
*******************
Subah ka waqt tha. Eshani daudi daudi Armaan ke chamber mein aayi.
“Jiska darr tha wahi hua,” Eshani ne kaha, “Kisi ne media mein khabar leak kar di aur company ke stock prices tezi se gir rahe hai. Karodon ka nuksaan ho raha hai Sir.”
Armaan ne aankhein band karke ek gheri saans li.
“Media waale bahar bheed lagaye hue hai,” Eshani ne kaha.
“Security ko alert karo,” Armaan ne kaha, “Koi andar na aane paaye.”
Eshani ne haan mein sar hilaya aur chamber se bahar chali gayi. Armaan ne khidki se jhaana to dekha ki media reports uski company ke gate ke bahar bheed jamaye hue the. Armaan ne tezi se girte hue stock prices ko dekha aur uske mann mein Pankhudi ka khayal aaya aur uske chehre par ek muskaan aa gayi. Sirf us ek ladki ko bachne ke liye woh kitna aarthik niksaan utha raha tha lekin use uska zara bhi afsos nahi ho raha tha. Haan lekin agar Pankhudi par ek kharosh bhi aaye, yeh use ab gawara nahi tha.
Nishant dinbadin uski mushkein badhata jaa raha tha. Shaam ko jab Armaan ghar jaane ko nikala, to media waalon ne uski gaadi ko gher liye. Uspar camera flashes aur sawalon ki barsaat hone lagi.
“Sir, aap par lage illegal land encroachment ke ilzaam ke baare mein aap ka kya statement hai?” ek reporter ne poocha.
“Aapke bahot saare projects par stay lagaya gaya hai,” ek aur reporter ne poocha, “To kya ab un sab logon ka paisa doob jayega jinhone aapke constructions mein booking kari hai?”
“Aapke stock prices tezi se gire hai aaj,” ek teesre reporter ne poocha, “Aisa chalta raha to aapko bankrupt hone mein jyada der nahi lagegi. Aapke investors ke nuksaan ki zimmedari kaun lega?”
Armaan ne apne driver ko ishara kiya aur usne khidki ka sheehsha khola aur Armaan ne ek confident smile ke saath jawab diya, “I am sure it is all a big misunderstanding. Inquiry chal rahi hai, mujhe yakeen hai humare kaabil authorities ek fair inquiry karke, humari company ko clean chit denge. Rahi baat stock prices ki, market utar chadav lage rehte hai. Humne koi gairkanooni kaam nahi kiya hai, isiliye na to humare investors ko gharbane ki zaroorat hai, na hi humare customers ko. Ve nishchint rahe unki investment safe hai. That’s all, thank you.”
********
Nishant ko jab hosh aaya tab tak shaam ho chuki thi. Anvit uske bistar ke bagal mein baithe chintit nazron se use dekh raha tha.
“Aap theek ho Sir?” Anvit ne poocha, “Aap kayi ghanton tak beshosh the.”
Nishant ne apne aap ko sambhala aur use ekdum se kal raat ki ghatna yaad aayi.
“Anvit,” Nishant ne order dete hue kaha, “Kal raat mujhe jis number se call aayi thi use trace kar. Pata kar ki number kiske naam par registered hai aur call kahan se aayi thi.”
Nishant ne apne call log khola Anvit ko number dene ke liye. Lekin woh hairaan reh gaya ki uske call log mein raat mein kisi number se koi call nahi aayi thi.
“Abe saale!” Nishant Anvit par chillkar bola, “Number kisne delete kiya?”
“Koi kaise delete kar sakta hai Sir?” Anvit ne kaha, “Aapke phone ka password to sirf aapko pata hai.”
Nishant ab gehri soch mein pad gaya. Kahin woh call uska wehem to nahi tha? Ho sakta hai drugs ke nashe mein use laga ho ki use koi call aaya. Phir bhi usne apne ek aadmi to phone company se pata karne bola ki koi call aaya tha ya nahi.
Nishant ne TV on kiya. Armaan ki company ke girte hue stock prices ko dekh kar muskuraya.
*******
Ek taraf Pankhudi bhi TV dekh rahi thi. Armaan ko news me dekh kar kaafi pareshan ho gayi thi. Sach kahe to use Armaan ke baare mein uske naam ke alawa kuch khaas maalum bhi nahi tha. Lekin news dekh kar use kaafi kuch pata chala.
Woh ab Armaan se milkar baat karne ke liye aur bechain hone lagi.
*********
Idhar Armaan ne Ragini ke saath “massage services” book kari ek jaali naam se, aur bhes badalkar woh us hotel ke kamre mein pahunch gaya jahan usne Ragini ko bulaya tha.
Woh besabri se Ragini ka intezaar kar raha tha. Darwaze par dastak hui aur Armaan ne darwaza khola.
Woh Ragini ko dekh kar hairaan ho gaya. Woh mehej ek 18 saal ki ladki thi, ekdum bholi aur saadi dikhne waali.
Ragini muskurakar kamre ke andar aayi. Woh bilkul ek prostitue ki tarah sazi hui thi.
“Aap kis type ka massage lena chahenge Sir?” usne poocha.
“Mujhe bas tumse baat karni hai Ragini,” Armaan ne kaha aur use sofe par bitha diya.
Ek paani ka glass Armaan ne use thama diya. Ragini ne ek ghoont paani piya aur hairani se Armaan ki taraf dekhne lagi. Jyadatar uske grahak ya to seedhe kapde utarne lagte hai ya uske kapde utarwate hai.
“Let me get straight to the point,” Armaan ne kaha, “Tumhari is halat ke liye jo aadmi zimmedar hai, main use sabak sikhana chahta hun. Is kaam mein mujhe tumhari madad chahiye.”
“Kaisi madad?” Ragini ne poocha.
“Woh tumhe apne paas bulata hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Tum mujhe andar ki khabar de sakti ho. Badle mein tumhe jo chahiye woh milega.”
Ragini muskurayi.
“Ek cigarette milegi?” Ragini ne poocha.
Armaan ne use cigarette pakdayi aur jalane mein madad kari.
Ragini ne ek kash liya aur apne pair pe pair chadakar, apne baahein sofe par failkar apni peeth tek kar baith gayi, ek commanding position mein.
“To tu mere saath sauda karna chahta hai?” Ragini ne ek kash lete hue muskurakar poocha.
Armaan uske badle hue ravaiye se hairan ho gaya. “Aap se seedhe tu, huh? Interesting!” Armaan ne muskurakar kaha, “Haan, ise sauda hi samjho. Meri madad karo, badle mein tum jo maango woh milega.”
“Kya de sakta hai tu?” Ragini ne muskurate hue kaha, “Paisa?”
“Haan,” Armaan ne kaha, “Jitna maangogi utna.”
“Mere maathe par idhar chutiya likha hua hai kya?” Ragini boli.
“Kyu? Bharosa nahi hai? Tum chaho to advance de sakta hun,” Armaan ne kaha.
“Randi hun saheb,” Ragini ne muskurate hue kaha, “Mard ki aankh dekh kar uski aukaat pechaan leti hun. Tujhme aur Nishant mein koi farak nahi hai. Wahi vahashiyat dikh rahi hai mujhe teri aankhon mein jaise us haraamzade ki aankhon mein dikhti hai. Tera kaam ho jaye bas, uske baad koi jeeye ya mare is se tujhe koi farak nahi padta. Saale tu sochta hai, mere aage chand sikke phenk kar mujhe Nishant ke khilaaf apna mohra bana lega? Us bhadwe Nishant ko bhanak bhi lagi na, to meri sar kati laash padi milegi Mumbai ki kisi gutter me.”
“Main jaanta hun kaam khatre se khali nahi hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Aur paise ke liye jokhim uthane waale log bahot hai duniya mein lekin yeh kaam karne ki jo wajah tumhare paas hai kisi aur ke paas nahi hai. Aur tumhara bhai Rohit, use bhi to...”
“To Rohit ke baare mein bhi pata kar liya,” Ragini ne usi muskaan ke saath kaha, “Accha hai. Homework acche se kiya hai tune. Lekin yeh baat acche se jaan le, ke na mujhe tera koi kaam karne mein interest hai na tere paison main. Mere dhande me waise bhi accha khasa paisa milta hai. Mujhe bas zinda rehna hai Rohit ke liye.”
Ek pal ke liye Ragini ke chehre par itna dard jhalka jise woh chupane ki poori koshish kar rahi thi.
“Baaki tujhe maze lene ho to lele,” Ragini apna top utarte hue boli, “Video to dekha hi hoga tune, mast tha na?”
Armaan ne use roka. “Iski zaroorat nahi hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Main bas baat karna chahta tha. Tumne sahi kaha, Ragini, paison ke alawa kuch nahi hai mere paas tumhe dene ke liye. Aur yeh paisa kuch nahi badal sakta. Na woh tumhari khoyi hui izzat lauta sakta hai, aur na tumhare pitaji to wapas la sakta hai. Bas itna kahunga ki yeh kaam karne ki mere paas ek wajah hai. Jo tumhare saath hua, woh main ek aur masoom ladki ke saath nahi hone dena chahta. Isiliye madad maange aaya tha tumse. Nishant par goli chalwana mere liye koi badi baat nahi hai, lekin main use itni aasaan maut nahi dena chahta.”
Ragini ab gambhir bhaav se Armaan ki baatein sun rahi thi. Use Armaan ki aankhon me ek junoon dikhai diya.
Armaan ne Ragini ne aankhein milate hue uske sar par pyaar se haath pherte hue kaha, “Maine tumhara video nahi dekha tha Ragini, aur na hi main us waqt club ke andar maujood tha. Bas jo hua woh suna tha. Aaj pehli baar tumhe dekha hai. Main to jaanta bhi nahi tha ki tum bas 18 saal ki ho. I am really sorry and I respect your decision.”
Armaan wahan se chala gaya. Use Ragini se ummed thi lekin woh uske darr ko bhi bakhoobi samajh raha tha. Uspar uske chhote bhai ki zimmedari thi. Woh apni jaan ko jokhim mein nahi daal sakti thi.
*************
Armaan ke ghar aur office ke bahar din raat media reporters bheed lagaye rehte the. Armaan ka kahin bahar nikalna bhi mushkil ho gaya.
Armaan ke informer Raghav us se mila aur use Nishaant ke baare mein bahot saari useful information di. Anvit ke saath Nishant ke kharab sambandhon ke baare mein bhi bataya. Armaan ab apna next move plan karne laga.
Ek din Armaan shaam ko Armaan apne terrace par khada drink kar raha tha. Uske main gate par media ki bheed chhatne ka naam hi nahi le rahi thi. Usi bheed ke beech mein Armaan ko ek jaana pechana chehra dikha. Pankhudi ko apne ghar ke bahar khada dekh kar Armaan ke chahre ka rang udd gaya. Woh jaanta tha ki Nishant ke spies uske ke gate par 24 ghante nazar jamaiye hue hai.
Armaan ka dil darr ke maare zor zor se dhakadke laga. Usne turant apne aadmi ko call kiya.
“Woh jo peele suit mein ladki khadi hai main gate par,” Armaan ne kaha, “Use fauran hatao wahan se.”
Armaan ke guards bheed ke beech mein samakar Pankhudi ko ek taraf kheench liya aur uska muh dabakar ek van mein bitha liya aur van chal pada. Pankhudi ne struggle karne ki koshish kari lekin un aadmiyon ne uske kas ke pakad rakha tha. Phir ek guard phone uske kaan par lagaya. Armaan ki awaz sunkar woh shaant ho gayi.
“What the fuck do you think you were doing?” Armaan ne gusse mein kaha.
“I am sorry,” Pankhudi ne rote hue jawab diya, “Main bas tumse milna chahti thi. Maine TV par dekha itna sab kuch...”
“Tumhe andaza nahi hai tumhari yeh bewakoofi kitni mehengi pad sakti thi tumhe,” Armaan gusse se upar chillaya.
Pankhudi rone lagi. Itni dino baad woh Armaan se baat kar paayi thi aur woh uspar chilla raha tha. “I am sorry,” Pankhudi ne roti hui awaz mein kaha, “Bas tumse milne ka mann tha. Woh TV mein dekha tha tab pata chala ki tumhara ghar kahan hai toh tumhe surprise dene chali aayi...”
Uska rona sunkar Armaan shaant ho gaya.
“Main bataunga tumhe kab aur kahan milna hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Filhaal mere aadmi tumhe tumhare ghar chhod denge. Aur yaad rakhna dobara mere ghar ya office ke aas paas galati se bhi mat aana.”
Armaan ne phone kaat diya. Woh bahot pareshan tha. Woh bas yeh dua kar raha tha ki reporters ki bheed mein Nishant ke aadmiyon ne Pankhudi ko alag se notice nahi kiya ho, warna anarth ho jayega.
