Episode 29
New Team New Mission
Hut ke andar,
Jase hi Sikandar ne aankhein band ki, achanak uski aankhein jhatke se khul gayi.
“Yaar main har dafa cheezein kyun bhool jaata hoon?” usne apne aap par gussa karte hue socha.
Usne system ka shop section khola aur search karne laga,
“Pichle quest se mujhe paanch hazaar gold mile the, chalo apni Lightning Affinity ko mid-rank mein upgrade karta hoon.”
Usne dekha ke mid-rank lightning affinity ki keemat 4000 gold hai. Bina waqt zaya kiye usne kharid li.
Kharidte hi uske haath mein ek chamakdar orb zyada taqatwar roshni ke saath chamak uthi. Ye pehle wale orb se kaafi alag tha. Orb ka jism ab translucent nahi tha, balke asli bijli ki shakal mein dhadak raha tha.
Sikandar ne gehri saans li aur medidation mein doob gaya.
Orb dheere dheere absorb hone laga, aur chand hi lamhon mein ghaib ho gaya.
<Congratulation on upgrading the user's Lightning Affinity to mid-rank!>
System ki awaz goonj uthi, lekin Sikandar us waqt meditation mein dooba hua tha. Uske jism par bijli ke currents chalne lage.
BLITZ!!
Agar koi us waqt usse dekhta to shayad deewana ho jaata.
System isse mid-rank keh raha tha lekin asal mein yeh duniya ki sabse rare aur taqatwar affinities mein se ek thi. Ye affinity Awakened ke jism ko cover kar leti hai aur mana ki absorption ko kai guna tez kar deti hai.
Ab Sikandar ke aas paas maujood abundant lightning mana uski taraf bijli ki raftaar se kheench raha tha.
Pehle jahan wo ghanton mein sirf ek lightning mana absorb karta tha, ab paanch minute mein wo kar sakta tha!
Do ghante guzre,
BLITZ!!
Bijli ka current ab itna tez ho gaya ke uske jism ke aas paas ek cocoon jaisi bubble ban gayi.
Blitz! Blitz!
Bijli aise ghoom rahi thi jaise abhi dhamaka kar degi.
Achanak,
CRACK!!
Lightning bubble foot gayi aur ek shockwave bahar phail gayi. Sikandar ka jism ab lightning mana se aur zyada familiar mehsoos kar raha tha.
Hut ke bahar Rosie aur Adhara jo apna kaam kar rahi thi, wo bhi is shockwave se hil gayi. Dono ne ek doosre ki taraf dekha aur confusion se socha:
“Yeh Sikandar tha...??”
Dono dheere dheere hut ki taraf barhne lage.
Adhara ne curtain se jaanka aur jo manzar dekha usne uske hosh uda diye. Sikandar wahan khara tha aur uske jism ke gird bijli nach rahi thi jaise koi zinda jaanwar ho.
Uski phati hui shirt uske mazboot back muscles ko expose kar rahi thi.
System ne tabhi ek aur notification diya:
<Congratulation on achieving Rank Two power!>
<Obtained 10% Lightning Resistance!>
Sikandar ne apne fists band kiye, uske rag rag mein bijli ka junoon daud raha tha.
Usne koshish ki ke apne jism ko lightning aura se cover kare jaise rank-two Awakened karte hain, lekin har dafa fail ho gaya.
“Yeh kyun nahi ho raha? Kya maine kuch galat kiya?” usne soch kar chhod diya.
Phir usne system ka ek aur feature yaad kiya: Lunar Blessing Storage.
Usne khola:
<Lunar Blessing Storage: 13/60 minutes>
Sikandar hairan reh gaya. Usne system se poocha:
“Yeh storage ka kya faida hai?”
System ne jawab diya:
<User can store moonlight. Stored moonlight can be used anytime to boost stats.>
Sikandar ke chehre par muskaan aa gayi, “Ye to cheat code hai... passive skill ko active bana diya. Zabardast!”
Lekin uski soch toot gayi jab usne Rosie aur Adhara ko curtain ke peeche jhankte dekha.
“Tum dono kya kar rahi ho?” usne muskurate hue poocha.
Rosie aur Adhara uski aankhon mein ghur kar khamosh ho gayi.
Sikandar ne unki shocked expression dekh kar apna phone nikala aur unki tasveer kheench li.
Snap!
“ERASE THAT!!”
“Tum bohat bure ho!!”
Dono cheekh uthi aur phone cheenne lagi.
Sikandar hans kar bola, “Aray ruk jao, cute lag rahi ho.”
Dono ne muh phula liya aur phir poocha, “Zyada zaroori baat yeh hai... tum Awakened kaise ban gaye?!”
“Humne tumhe kabhi awakening process se guzarte nahi dekha.”
“Tumne yeh sab humse chhupaya?!”
Sawal pe sawal barsne lage.
Sikandar ne sir khujate hue jhoot bola, “Main aaj hi awaken hua hoon... bas batane wala tha.”
Rosie aur Adhara ne ek doosre ki taraf dekha aur chilayi:
“JUTHE!!”
Aakhir usne sach bol diya, “Theek hai... kuch din pehle naturally ho gaya tha. Main bas meditate kar raha tha.”
Dono ne aapas mein sar hila kar baat chhod di.
Tabhi Sikandar ne apna phone khola aur Hera ka message dekha. Jaise hi content pada, uska chehra kaala pad gaya.
Adhara aur Rosie ne ghabra kar poocha, “Kya hua Sikandar?”
Sikandar ne bhari awaz mein kaha,
“Duncan Platchi... hume investigate kar raha hai.”
Ye sunte hi dono ke rang udd gaye.
Unke gharane Platchi Family ke muqable mein kuch bhi nahi the. Agar unki dushmani ho gayi to nateeja khaufnaak hoga...
Tabhi ek tez awaz gunji:
ZONG!!
Achanak kisi ne Cluster Domain ka darwaza cross kiya.
Sikandar ne bhawen chadhayi aur hut se bahar nikla dekhne k liye.
Bahar nikalte hi usne dekha Ugrok pasine mein tar ho raha tha.
Sikandar ne foran poocha,
“Ugrok, kya hua?”
Ugrok ne saans sambhali aur bola,
“Ugrok ne kuch insaan dekhe, sab k sab kaale uniform mein the. Ugrok bhaag aaya… Ugrok ko lagta hai unhon ne Ugrok ko Cluster Domain ke aas paas dekh liya hai.”
Yeh sunkar Sikandar ka chehra syaah ho gaya.
Ugrok se poocha,
“Kya tujh se koi aur detail mili?”
Ugrok ne socha aur jawab diya,
“Unke seene par ek kala tiger ka badge bana tha.”
Sikandar ne dil hi dil mein kaha,
‘Kya hum Cluster Domain ka entrance seal kar sakte hain?’
<System: User ki authority itni high nahin hai ke Cluster Domain entrance seal kiya ja sake.>
‘Phir authority kaise badhaye?’
<System: Cluster Domain ek zinda cheez ki tarah hai, jaise-jaise yeh tum par trust karega tumhari authority barhti jayegi. Is process ko tez karne ke liye tum Energy Crystal ko bohot zyada Elemental Stones khila sakte ho.>
Sikandar ne sar hila kar socha,
‘Lekin itne saare Elemental Stones laaunga kahan se?’
Usne Adhara aur Rosie ki taraf dekha aur bola,
“Hum ahbi nikal rahe hain. Tayyar ho jao. Ugrok, tum yaha pehredari karoge jab tak main wapas na aaun.”
Ugrok ne haan mein sar hilaya aur hut ke andar chala gaya.
Sikandar abhi bahar ki situation dekhne ja raha tha ke usne mehsoos kiya koi uske kapdon ko kheench raha hai.
Usne side mein dekha to Adhara thi jo uski shirt kheench rahi thi. Usne dheemi si awaz mein kaha,
“Mere paas kapde hi nahin hain…”
Yeh sunkar Sikandar hairaan reh gaya.
Usne Adhara ko dekha jo sirf ek blanket mein lipti hui thi jo jaanwar ki khal se bani thi.
‘Wait… mere kapde to bilkul theek hain lekin Adhara ke poore phat gaye? Yeh kaise?’
<System: User ke kapde transformation ke dauraan hamesha bachaaye jaate hain.>
Sikandar hairaan hokar muskuraya,
‘Wah, yeh to kaafi convenient hai.’
Usne Adhara ki taraf dekha jo laal ho kar blanket ko kas ke pakde hue thi.
‘Main system se kapde kharid sakta hoon, lekin agar main achanak nikalun to sabko shak hoga.’
Thodi der ruk kar Sikandar ne casual tone mein kaha,
“Oh, mujhe hut ke andar kapde padhe nazar aaye the.”
Woh hut ke andar chala gaya.
Ugrok ne dekha Sikandar ander aaya aur seedha hut ki deewar ki taraf dekhne laga. Uske samajhne se pehle hi—
Swish!
Sikandar ke haath mein ek one-piece dress aa gayi jo halki brown color ki thi aur jaanwar ki khal se bani lagti thi.
‘Yeh chalega. Usse shak bhi nahin hoga,’ Sikandar ne socha aur kapde le kar Adhara ke paas aaya.
Ugrok apne sir ko pakad kar sochne laga,
‘Yeh kya tha?! Kya iske paas space magic hai?’
Adhara ne kapde le liye, uska chehra aur laal ho gaya. Woh badalne lagi lekin Sikandar ki nazar abhi bhi us par thi.
Adhara ne sharma kar kaha,
“Kya tum thodi dair ke liye nazar hata sakte ho?”
Sikandar hosh mein aaya, awkward si hansi di aur peeth ghuma kar bola,
“Meri ghalti.”
Adhara halka sa muskurayi, lekin Rosie gusse se kaamp rahi thi.
Woh seedha Sikandar ke paas aayi aur—
Smack!
Sikandar cheekh utha,
“Yeh kis liye tha?!”
Rosie ne gusse mein apne baal jhatke aur “Hmph!” karke wahan se chal di.
Sikandar ne dil mein socha,
‘Choti si! Wapas aayi na to main ise achhi tarah seekh doonga!’
Bina rukhe, Sikandar ne Cluster Domain se jump lagaya aur Emham Forest ki taraf chala gaya.
Bahaar dhoop chamak rahi thi, parinday khushi se chehchaha rahe the.
Sikandar ne idhar-udhar dekha,
‘Ugrok ke bataye hue insaan yahan nazar nahin aa rahe… shayad woh FAA ko report karne chale gaye. Yeh bohot bura hoga.’
Woh aage badhne hi wala tha ke usse mehsoos hua koi use dekh raha hai.
Woh turant ruk gaya, uski aankhen tezi se charo taraf ghoomne lagi.
Hawa uske chehre ko chhuti rahi thi, aur phir—
Bam!
Peechhe se ek bullet uski taraf aa rahi thi. Sikandar ne turant apna Force Beam activate karke usse parry kar diya.
Reflex itne tez the ke goli hawa mein hi ruk gayi.
Sikandar ne trees ki taraf ghura, uski aankhon mein shaque tha.
Tabhi ek mardana awaaz aayi,
“Huh, humein kaha gaya tha ke team ka teesra banda naya hoga… lekin lagta hai yeh kaafi tez hai.”
Ek thandi, narmi se bhari aurat ki awaaz sunayi di,
“Kam az kam yeh bojh to nahin banega.”
Aur phir do shaks bina awaaz ke saamne aa gaye.
Sikandar hairaan reh gaya,
‘Yeh dono bohot strong hain! Agar goli na chalate to mujhe inki presence ka bhi pata na chalta.’
Un mein se ek mard tha—
Safed kapdon mein lapeta hua, lambi safed ponytail wali zulfein, aur uski daahine aankh par ek purani blade wali nishani. Chehre par muskurahat thi jo kisi khatre ka ehsaas nahin deti thi, lekin Sikandar ko mehsoos ho raha tha ke yeh banda asaan nahin hai.
Doosri shaks ek aurat thi—
Usne purane brown kapde pehne the, lekin uski presence aam nahin thi. Gehri samundari neeli aankhen, neele baal jo uski ek aankh ko dhak rahe the. Uske chehre ke paas ek blue-black tattoo bana tha jo tree roots ki tarah lagta tha aur usse dekhte hi ek mystical energy ka ehsaas hota tha.
Sikandar ne unki taraf cautious nazar se dekha,
“Tum log kaun ho?!”
Mard ne muskurakar kaha,
“Hum? Hum tumhare team members hain.”
---
‘Team members? Ye log team members se kya matlab le rahe hain?’, Sikandar ne hairani se socha. Usne aankhein tang kar ke yaad karne ki koshish ki ke kya usne pehle in dono shakhsiyat ko dekha hai, lekin uske zehan mein kuch bhi nahi aya.
Phir achanak, Devan ne apni shirt uthai aur uske seene par kale kauwe ka tattoo dikhai diya.
Sikandar turant samajh gaya, ‘Kale kauwe ka tattoo? Matlab ye dono SCO se hain.’
Usne foran un dono ke stats check kiye:
<Devan Pummel>
Power: Peak Rank Four – Telekinesis
Mental: 130
Strength: 65
Agility: 90
Endurance: 88
Intelligence: 0
Sikandar ne hairani se socha, “Devan poora safed pehna hua hai aur telekinesis power rakhta hai? Uske lean aur muscular jism ko dekh kar mujhe laga ke ye melee fighter hoga.”
Sabse ajeeb baat ye thi ke Devan ne safed beanie pehna hua tha jo is garmi mein kafi ajeeb lag raha tha.
Phir usne Devan ke saath khari Liliya ki taraf dekha:
<Liliya Archie>
Power: Early Rank Five – ???
Mental: 93
Strength: 127
Agility: 185
Endurance: 115
Intelligence: 0
Sikandar ki bhawen chadh gayin, “Iski stats to meri Werewolf form se bhi zyada hain… aur sabse khatarnaak baat ye hai ke main iski powers ko dekh bhi nahi pa raha. Ye pehli baar ho raha hai.”
Thodi dair ke baad Sikandar ne kaha,
“Tum logon ne kahin kala uniform pehne huye Awakened dekhe the?”
Devan ne bhawen uthai, aur phir achanak hawa mein tairte kuch log saamne aa gaye.
“Tumhara matlab in logon se hai?” Devan ne kaha.
Sikandar ne sir hila kar haan ki.
“Hum in se takra gaye the. Ye bahut shor macha rahe the to main aur Liliya ne inhe behosh kar diya. Lekin ek banda bach ke nikal gaya, kafi tezi se bhaga,” Devan ne kaha aur behosh logon ko zameen par gira diya.
Sikandar ke chehre par sochnay wali shakal thi, ‘Ye log Black Tiger Guild se hain. Matlab mujhe dhoondhne bheje gaye hain.’
Thoda sochne ke baad usne poocha,
“To Devan aur Liliya, tum log mujhe kyun dhoondhne aaye ho?”
Ye sun kar dono chand pal ke liye ruke aur hairan hogaye.
Devan ne kaha, “Ruko… tumhe hamare naam kaise maloom hue? Humne apna naam abhi tak bataya hi nahi.”
Sikandar andar se hil gaya, ‘Shit! Ye to bhool gaya ke abhi tak unhone apna introduction nahi diya tha.’
Usne zor se khansi kar ke kaha, “Mujhe Green Messenger ne bataya tha. Tum topic se mat hato.”
Ye sun kar Liliya aur Devan dono shaant hogaye. Sikandar ne chain ki saans li.
Liliya ne turant kaha, “Humein apna pehla mission mila hai. Humein abhi chalna hoga, raaste mein sab kuch bata doongi.”
Sikandar ne ek pal ke liye hichkichahat dikhai, ‘Adhara aur Rosie abhi bhi Cluster Domain mein hain. Liliya aur Devan ko shayad peeche ke surakh ka kuch andaaza nahi hua. Behtar hai aise hi rehne doon.’
Usne dil hi dil mein Rosie aur Adhara se maafi maangi aur unke saath chal pada.
---
Kuch der baad…
“Zong! Zong!”
Adhara aur Rosie Cluster Domain se bahar nikle, unhone saman baandh liya tha.
Adhara ki shakal thodi mazedaar lag rahi thi kyunke usne woh kapde pehne hue the jo bilkul Tarzan jaise dikh rahe the. Ye kapde Sikandar ne jaan bujh kar diye the taki Adhara shak na kare. Agar wo system se koi modern dress nikalta to Adhara turant shak karti ke ye kapde kahan se aaye. Ugrok aise kapde bana hi nahi sakta tha.
“Aray, Sikandar kahan hai?” Rosie ne idhar-udhar dekh kar poocha.
Woh dono samajhne lage ke shayad Sikandar ke saath kuch bura hua hai, lekin achanak…
Ting!
Rosie ke phone par message aya – Sikandar ka tha:
“Mujhe kuch urgent kaam hai. Mujhe dhoondhne mat aana. Tum dono university wapas chale jao. Shayad 2-3 din mein wapas milunga.”
Rosie ne turant jawab diya:
“Faraday University Tournament teen din baad hai. Agar late hue to samajh lena tumhari khair nahi!”
Sikandar ne bas ek thumb emoji bhej diya. Rosie ne dil hi dil mein usse galiyan di.
Phir Rosie ne Adhara ki taraf dekha aur kaha, “Sikandar ko urgent kaam hai. Chalo wapas chalte hain.”
---
Dusri taraf…
Sikandar, Liliya aur Devan ke saath jangal se tez raftaari se nikal raha tha. Kuch der mein woh Emham Forest ke bahar pohanch gaye jahan ek black sports car khadi thi.
“Get in,” Devan ne kaha aur driver seat par baith gaya.
Gaari bahut heavy aur powerful lag rahi thi, uski height lagbhag Sikandar ke kandhe tak thi. Char seats thi, peechay ek lamba aur patla spoiler tha, aur engine ki garaj bahut hi darr waali thi.
Vroom!!
Devan ne pedal dabaya aur gaari forest se nikal gayi.
Gaari ke andar khamoshi thi.
Sikandar ko do anjaan logon ke saath awkward lag raha tha, akhir agar yeh uski team hai to itni khamoshi theek nahi.
Usne baat chedi, “Mission exactly kya hai?”
Devan ne jawab diya, “Tumne Zrolis City ka naam suna hoga?”
Sikandar ne sir hilaaya.
“Hamare SCO kehti hai ke Supernatural ki movement wahan ajeeb hai. Zrolis City ke siege ko dinon ho gaye hain. Unka objective high-grade Elemental Stones hain, lekin unhe mine karne mein itna waqt nahi lagta. Kuch aur chal raha hai.”
Sikandar ne socha, ‘Sahi keh rahe hain. Supernatural ke paas magic aur enhanced physique dono hote hain. Itna waqt lagna ajeeb hai.’
Tabhi Liliya, jo ab tak chup thi, boli, “Wahan zaroor kuch aisa hai jo unhe rok raha hai. Hamara pehla objective hai pata lagana ke wahan kya hai… aur agar ho sake to unki stay ko lamba karna.”
Sikandar ne socha, ‘Ye to wahi purane scouting missions jaisa lag raha hai jo main karta tha.’
Phir Devan ne baat aage badhai, “Aur doosra objective hai…”
Sikandar hairan hokar bola, “Wait… do objectives hain?”
Devan ne rear mirror se uski taraf dekha aur kaha, “SCO ke scouts ne dekha ke paanch figures der se Zrolis City mein gaye. Unki wajah se hi ye ajeeb harkatein ho rahi hain. Un mein se chaar Haltija race ke hain – Haltija ek supernatural race hai jo kisi cheez ya shakhs ki hifazat karte hain.”
Sikandar aur dhyaan se sunnay laga.
Devan ne jari rakha, “Paanchwa figure sabse important hai. Hamara doosra objective hai us paanchwe figure ka pata lagana… aur agar mumkin ho to use capture karna.”
Hearing this, Sikandar nodded his head, "Ye kuch din bohot mushkil honay wale hain..."
Baad mai Devan aur Sikandar halki phulki baatein karne lage. Dono ke darmiyan ab pehle jaisi begaanagi nahi rahi thi.
Sikandar khidki ke bahar dekh raha tha, raste itni tezi se guzar rahe thay ke aankhon ko samajhne ka bhi waqt nahi milta. Tabhi uska phone bajta hai.
Ting!
Woh screen dekhta hai — Edward ka message tha:
"Yo Sikandar, kaisa hai?"
Sikandar turant reply karta hai:
"Main theek hoon, thoda busy hoon abhi. Tum sunao?"
Edward: "Main bhi theek hoon. Seedha mudde pe aate hain — main soch raha hoon Kyle ke ghar jaaun, uski family se milne. Agar tum chaho to saath chal sakte ho."
Yeh padhte hi Sikandar ki aankhon ke saamne woh din aa gaya jab Kyle ne apni jaan qurbaan kar di thi un sab ke liye.
Sikandar ne type kiya: "Kab?"
Edward: "Jab tum free ho, mujhe farigh waqt hai. Bas tum time bata do."
Sikandar: "Theek hai."
Kuch dair aur baat karne ke baad, Sikandar ki palkein bhari si lagne lagi. Khidki ki taraf dekhte hue uski aankhen bojhal ho gayin. Do teen dafa palkein jhapkaane ke baad woh gheri neend mein chala gaya.
---
Dusri taraf, Black Tiger Guild ka office:
Ek aadmi jiska uniform phata hua tha, office mein ghusta hai. Log usse ajeeb nazron se dekhte hain magar woh inhe ignore karta lift ki taraf barh jaata hai.
Woh lift ka button dabata hai — 35th floor, jo ke president ka floor tha.
Wahan pahunch kar uske samne ek bhari bharakam aur shandar darwaza tha, gahre bhure rang ka jo apne aap mein shaukat aur dabdaba rakhta tha.
Darwaze ke paas ek table thi jahan ek khubsurat blonde secretary baithi thi.
Aadmi ne aage barh kar kaha:
"Mujhe president se milna hai, bohot zaroori hai. Main us team ka hissa tha jo Emham Forest gayi thi."
Secretary ne phone uthaya aur kaha:
"Mr. Duncan, ek aadmi aap se milna chahta hai... woh kehta hai ke Emham Forest team se hai."
Bzzztt~
Secretary ne phone rakh kar kaha:
"Aap andar ja sakte hain, lekin knock karna mat bhooliye ga."
Aadmi ne halka sa muskara kar sar jhukaya aur darwaze pe dastak di.
Andar Duncan apni kursi par aaram se baitha tha, haath mein cigarette. Usne us aadmi ko dekha aur gusse se bhaari lekin pur-sukoon awaaz mein bola:
"Kya hua?"
Aadmi ne sar jhukaya:
"Maaf kijiye Mr. President, hamari puri team ko ek unknown third party ne khatam kar diya."
Duncan ke chehre par laalima chhaa gayi, gussa uski ragon mein daud gaya. Lekin awaaz phir bhi khaufnaak had tak thandi thi:
"Unka chehra dekha tha? Woh kaisay thay?"
Aadmi ka jism kaanp gaya:
"Un... unhone koi mana use nahi kiya... Shayad woh log Unawakened thay."
Duncan ne uski aankhon mein jhaanka, jaise rooh tak padh raha ho.
"Tum sure ho?"
Aadmi ne paseena pochha aur jhat se bola:
"Ji! Main yaqeen dilata hoon!"
Duncan ne phir poocha:
"Aur tumhein pura yaqeen hai ke Sikandar, Rosie aur Adhara wahan thay? Tumne confirm kiya?"
Aadmi ne ghabrahat mein turant jawaab diya:
"Ji haan! Main unke classmates se bhi poocha aur doosron ki gawahi se bhi confirm kiya."
Duncan ne haath hila diya — ishara ke ab nikal jao.
Aadmi ne gehra jhuk kar salaam kiya aur jaldi se nikal gaya.
Duncan ne gehri saans li, cigarette ka dhuan andar kheench kar dheere se socha:
"Toh ye log uss organization se taluq rakhte hain... Aur mujhe lagta hai inhi mein se koi hai jisne mere bete ko mara."
Uski aankhon mein nafrat ki bijli chamki, aur usne ungli se cigarette ko jala kar chamka diya.
---
Raste mein:
Kai ghanton ke safar ke baad woh log aakhir Ratmawati City se bahar nikal aaye.
Kisi wajah se Devan ne train lena pasand nahi kiya, jabke woh zyada tezi se pohch jati. Usne zid ki ke woh apni gaadi se hi jaye ga. Aakhir Liliya aur Sikandar maan gaye.
Unka manzil thi Zrolis City, jo ke level three city thi. Magar pehle unhein kuch level two cities se guzarna tha.
Gaadi rukti hai Nerphia City mein, jo Ratmawati ke baad ek level two city thi.
Liliya aur Sikandar ne hairan nazron se Devan ko dekha.
Devan: "Mujhe thoda kaam hai, main ek do ghante mein wapas aata hoon."
Sikandar ne gusse se kaha:
"Hum itna late nahi ho sakte! Guild abhi attack kar rahi hai, aur humein wahi waqt chahiye ho goh ke hum andhar ghus saken."
Devan ne usse tasalli di:
"Bas thoda waqt do, main zaroor wapas aaunga. Tum dono wahan us bar mein chalay jao, main tumse wahi milta hoon."
Sikandar ne haath se apna chehra dhak liya:
"Yeh banda bohot ameer hai, shayad apne kaamon mein uljha hai. Lekin uski pehle wali serious expression ko dekh kar lagta hai mission uske liye bhi important hai... To phir woh pehle wahan kyun ja raha hai?"
Phir usne sar hila diya, aur sochna chhod diya.
Woh gaadi ki driving seat par beth kar andhar dekhta hai aur halka chakkar mehsoos karta hai.
"Kya sports car hai... andar ka setup aam gaadiyon jaisa bilkul nahi."
Magar woh gaadi theek se chala kar bar tak pohch hi gaya.
Sikandar ne Liliya ki taraf dekha:
"Chalogi andar?"
Liliya kuch nervously boli:
"Mere paas cash nahi hai."
Sikandar ne muskurakar kaha:
"Fikr mat karo, main pay kar dunga."
Aur dono gaadi se nikal kar bar ke andar chale gaye.
---
Bar shehar ke darmiyan ek bade office ke samne thi, Nerphia City ka mashhoor spot jahan har waqt bheer lagi rehti thi. Log bar ke andar bahar ja rahe the, aur road par khari gaadiyan bhi sab lavish aur mehngi thi.
Lekin Devan ki black sports car ke samne baki sab pheeki lag rahi thi—kyunke asal mai wo ek unique car thi jo sirf usi ke paas thi.
Jaise hi Sikandar aur Liliya car se utar kar bar ki taraf chale, logon ki nazar turant unpar jam gayi. Sikandar halka muskurata raha, Liliya ke sath halka phulka baat kar raha tha. Liliya zyada jawabi guftagu nahi karti thi, jaise usne kabhi dost banaye hi na hon. Uski thandak rude nahi thi, bas aadat si thi.
Sikandar ko bar jaane ki umeed nahi thi, lekin ajeeb taur par wo khush tha—kaafi din baad usne apni zindagi ko normal logon ki tarah enjoy kiya.
Tabhi teen larkiyan glamorous dresses mai unke paas aayi. Teeno alag alag vibes de rahi thi, lekin sab khoobsurat aur seductive. Rosie aur Adhara bhi khoobsurat thi, lekin in larkiyon ki adaon mai kuch aur hi shiddat thi.
Aage wali larki ne blue button-up shirt aur jeans pehni hui thi. Wo muskurai aur meethi awaaz mai boli:
“Hii, mera naam Casie hai…”
Sikandar ruk kar thoda sa unki taraf mud gaya, “Ji, koi madad chahiye?”
Casie ne dheere se apna haath Sikandar ki baazu par rakha aur seductively boli:
“Hum teeno abhi aaye hain… kya aap hume apne table pe invite karenge?”
Lekin unhone Liliya ki presence ko bilkul ignore kar diya, hatta ke usse thoda dhakel bhi diya.
Ye dekh kar Sikandar ne larki ka haath zor se hata diya aur thandi lekin tehqiqat bhari awaaz mai bola:
“Sorry, mai apni dost ke sath hoon. Shaayad next time.”
Ye keh kar usne Liliya ka haath pakda aur bar ke andar chala gaya. Larkiyan peeche se paon patak kar reh gayi—unko bura laga ke Sikandar unki adaon mai nahi aya.
Bar ke andar, Sikandar ne ek receptionist jaisi formally dressed aurat se kaha:
“Excuse me, mujhe do logon ka table chahiye.”
Aurat ne pehle Sikandar ko dekha, phir Liliya ki taraf nazar daali aur thandi awaaz mai boli:
“Sorry sir, tables full hain.”
Sikandar ne dekha ke wo Liliya ki dressing ki wajah se usse ghur rahi thi, jaise use ghinn aa rahi ho. Usne aas paas dekha aur ek khaali table pakad liya:
“Wahan ek table khali hai, use reserve kar dijiye.”
Aurat ne jhata dene wale lehje mai jawab diya:
“Sir, maine kaha na, tables full hain. Please samajhiye.”
Ye baat sun kar Liliya ne halka sa sar jhuka kar dheere se kaha:
“Chalo, Devan ka wait kahin aur kar lete hain…”
Ye sun kar Sikandar ko bura laga, lekin jawab dene hi wala tha ke achanak bahar se kayi black sedans ruk gayi.
Screeechhh!
Gaadiyon ke zor ke brake se pura area gunj giya. Unme se ek aadmi nikla—white shirt pehni hui, upar black vest, fashionable glasses, ek rich businessman ki tarah. Uske peeche guards black suits mai nikle.
Sikandar ne dheere se socha:
“Yeh kaun hai?”
Wo aadmi bar mai aaya aur receptionist se seedha bola:
“VIP table khaali hai?”
Aurat ne turant muskaan ke sath jawab diya:
“Ji sir, please aaiye.”
Ye dekh kar Sikandar ka gussa phat pada:
“Ek minute! Abhi toh aapne kaha tables full hain!”
Uski awaaz puri bar mai gungunai. Aurat ka chehra safed pad gaya lekin phir bhi chillayi:
“Security! Inhe bahar nikaalo!”
Sikandar ka sabr ab toot gaya tha. Uske liye ye sirf table ka masla nahi tha, ye uski izzat aur insaaf ka sawaal tha.
Do guards uske paas aaye, dono ne ek dusre ko ishara kiya aur ek robotic sync ke sath usse push karne ki koshish ki.
Lekin Sikandar ne asaani se unka daav taal diya, unke haath ghumaye aur dono ko zameen par gira diya.
Thud!
Zameen hila di unke dard bhare cheekhon ne.
Sikandar ki aankhen bijli ki tarah chamak rahi thi, usne thandi lekin khaufnaak awaaz mai kaha:
“Maine kaha tha… mujhe explanation do.”
Ye dekh kar baaki guards ne turant apni guns nikaali aur uski taraf taan di.
Sikandar bas hans diya, ek junooni hasi ke sath:
“Wah… ek civilian pe bandook uthate ho? Kitne kamzor ho tum log.”
Sikandar ka chehra andhera ho gaya, phir wo apni jagah se ghaib ho gaya.
BAM!
CLAK!
DANG!
Sikandar ne aik pal mai tamaam guards ke hathiyar tod diye aur unhein zameen per phenk diya. Yeh sab kuch chand seconds mai hua, guards ko samajh bhi na aaya ke un ke hathiyar tabah ho chuke hain.
Receptionist aur woh ameer aadmi dono hosh o hawaas kho baithay, un ke chehron ka rang udd gaya. Jo ghamand aur akad abhi tak unke lehje mai tha, sab kuch pal bhar mai mita. Ab sirf aik khauf ka lafz unke dimaagh mai ghoom raha tha—
"Awakened!"
Sikandar muskuraya, "Haan, hum tum logon ke liye ladte hain, aur humein yeh sila milta hai?"
Receptionist apne hosh mei aayi, foran zameen per ghutnon ke bal gir gayi aur apna sar zameen per maar kar boli:
"Maaf kar dein! Mujhe nahi pata tha aap Awakened hain!"
Thud! Thud!
Uske sar ki takrahat aur carpet ki goonj bar bar sunai di.
Sikandar ne baith kar uska khon mein bheega hua chehra dekha aur thandi aawaaz mai bola, "To agar mai Awakened na hota, to tumhara ye bartao theek tha? Yehi matlab hai tumhara?"
"No sir! Aisa dobara nahi hoga! Khuda ka wasta hai maaf kar dein!", us ne rote hue Sikandar ke jooton ko pakad kar bheek maangi.
Tabhi,
"Yahan kya ho raha hai? Ye shor sharaba kaisa hai?"
Aik aurat jo surkh blazer pehne huwi thi, bar ke andar se nikal aayi.
Sikandar ne usay dekha, "Tum manager ho shayad?"
Manager ne ghabra kar kaha, "Sir, masla kya hai?"
Sikandar ki aawaaz baraf ki tarah thandi thi, "Maine do logo ke liye table order kiya tha, lekin is ladki ne kaha koi table khali nahi hai. Aur foran is aadmi ke liye table nikal aaya. Ab batao, ye kya tamasha hai?"
Manager ne receptionist ki taraf dekha, uska jhukta sar sab kuch bayan kar raha tha. Guards ko dekh kar manager ke dil ka haal aur kharab ho gaya—kuch zameen par bilkul tootay hue pade thay aur kuch khauf se kone mai chipay huwe thay.
Manager ka dil kaanp gaya, "Ye to Awakened hai… agar naraaz ho gaya to tabahi le aayega…"
Manager abhi kuch kehne hi wali thi ke Liliya ne Sikandar ka coat pakar kar dheemi aawaaz mai kaha, "Bas, chalo. Kahin aur chal kar khana khatay hain."
Sikandar ne socha, "Ye mujh se badi hai, lekin itni masoomiyat se behave karti hai… iske saath aakhir hua kya hai?"
Manager jaldabazi mai boli, "Sir, please aaiye, main khud aapko table tak le chalti hoon." Uski aawaaz mai seedha darr tha, khaaskar jab dekha ke log is waqiye ki video bana rahe hain.
Lekin Sikandar thandi muskaan ke sath bola, "Nahi. Ab mera dil nahi karta. Tumhari service neeche ke level ki hai. Agar Awakened ka yeh haal hai, to socho aam logon ka kya hota hoga."
Uski baat khanjar ki tarah manager ke dil par lagi. Wo pasina pasina ho gayi, "Sir, humein moka dein! Aapko sabse behtareen service milegi, aur aapko kuch bhi ada nahi karna padega!"
Lekin Sikandar thandi saans le kar Liliya ka haath pakad kar bar se nikal gaya.
Manager zameen per ghutnon ke bal gir gayi. Uske liye ye manzar bar ke band hone ki misaal tha. Usne receptionist ko qatal nazar se dekha—sab tabah kar diya usne.
---
Baahar aa kar, Sikandar aur Liliya gaari mai baithe aur bar ke paas hi ek street food stall par ruk gaye. Sikandar ne dono ke liye satay order ki aur side par baith gaya.
Liliya ghurob mai khoi hui thi, chalti phirti zindagi ko blank nazar se dekh rahi thi.
Sikandar bhi khamoshi se logon ki normal zindagi ko dekhta raha—koi kaam kar raha tha, koi date par tha, koi bas sapne dekh raha tha. Sab apni duniya mai masroof, jaise un par koi bojh hi na ho.
Sikandar ne khamoshi todhi, "Kya tumhein kabhi normal hone ki yaad aati hai?"
Liliya ne ghoor kar poocha, "Kya matlab?"
Sikandar halka sa hansa, "Dekho inhein… hum din ba din taqatwar ban’ne ki koshish karte hain, Zrolis City tabahi ke nashay par hai, aur humari zindagi mai sukoon ka naam hi nahi. Aur ye log chain se rehtay hain."
Liliya ne saans chorhi, "Haan, agar socha jaye to normal zindagi waqayi aramdeh hai."
Sikandar ne khud par hans kar kaha, "Ajeeb nahi lagta? Aam log Awakened ya Gifted ban’ne ka sapna dekhte hain, aur hum normal hone ki khwahish rakhte hain. Kitna ulta hai na?"
Liliya muskurayi, "Bilkul us bache ki tarah jo bara hone ko tarasta hai, aur bara hoke phir bachpan ki tamanna karta hai… ironic hai."
Sikandar ne apne gaal thapthapaye aur kaha, "Chalo, ab zyada sochnay ka faida nahi. Khao!"
Dono ne satay uthai aur khana shuru kar diya.
---
Isi dauran, Devan apne office ke upar wale kamre mai tha. Kamra simple tha—sirf aik bada dark brown desk, aik kursi, aur mehmaanon ke liye sofa.
Devan bathroom mai tha, haath mai aik chhoti si goli liye hue. Dheemi aawaaz mai bola, "Mujhe ye pasand nahi… lekin karna padega. Koi jaan’ na paye."
Usne goli muh mai dali, paani piya aur uska jism kuch minute tak kaanpta raha. Phir kaanpna ruk gaya.
Wo beanie pehn kar kapray set karta hua office ke bahar nikal aaya…
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Aaj ke liye itnah hi...
I hope ke yeh episode be aap ko pasind ahye gah.
Likes target same 30..
Next update likes complete hone par..
Next update b normal update ho gah. Normal matlb k fight zada nahi ho gi. Lekan episode no 31 and 32 boht mazedar hone wala hai. Boht sari khtrnaak c fights hon gi..
Ab tak ki sub se khatrnak...
Lekan next episode par likes target change ho jaye gah....
Miltey hain next episode main tab tak ke liye..
Bye and Thanks..
