2 hafte beet gaye the. Uske jaane ke baad sirf ek cheez constant thi — khamoshi.
Na kisi dost ka call, na koi text. Sabko pata tha, main toot gaya hoon.
Aur jinko nahi pata tha — unhe farak nahi padta tha.
Tabhi ek raat... club me gaya.
Akele. Drunk nahi tha, lekin hosh me bhi nahi.
DJ booth ke paas ek ladki khadi thi. Red lips. Black saree. Jale hue phool jaisa confidence.
Usne mujhe dekha. Seedha aankhon me. Aise jaise meri kahani padh li ho.
Aayi, drink meri table pe rakhi, aur bola:
"Ex ki yaadon me jeena tumhare jaise logon ka shauk hai ya majboori?"
Main hairaan. Bas poocha —
"Tum ho kaun?"
Usne smile ki. "Nikki. Tumhari healing... ya dusra heartbreak. Decide tum karna."
Us raat baat zyada nahi hui. Par uski aankhon me ek ajeeb sa thehraav tha.
Wo chhune nahi aayi thi — andar se jagaane aayi thi.