Time thoda sa normal hone laga tha.
School ke corridors phir se shor se bhar gaye the, teachers ki daant, doston ki hansi—sab wapas aa gaya tha. Par Sana ke liye sab kuch pehle jaisa nahi tha. Ab wo sirf moments nahi jeeti thi, unke peeche ka matlab bhi samajhne lagi thi.
Aliyar bhi badal raha tha.
Zyada nahi, par noticeable.
Wo ab class ke baad turant nikalta nahi tha. Kabhi Sana ke saath stairs tak aa jata, kabhi library ke bahar ruk kar sirf pooch leta, "Aaj ka din kaisa tha?"
Chhoti baatein.
Par Sana ke liye kaafi thi.
Ek din last period ke baad dono terrace par khade the. School ka terrace zyada logon ko allowed nahi tha, par wahan hawa alag lagti thi—free si.
"Tumhe lagta hai log kabhi poori tarah past se bahar aa paate hain?" Sana ne poocha.
Aliyar ne railing par haath rakhte hue kaha, "Nahi. Par wo seekh jaate hain kaunsa past saath rakhna hai aur kaunsa chhodna."
Sana ne uski taraf dekha. "Aur tum?"
Aliyar thodi der chup raha. "Main ab bolna seekh raha hoon."
Sana smile ki, par us smile ke peeche ek thought tha—kya bol paana hi kaafi hota hai?
Us shaam Sana ghar aayi to usse ek email dikhi. School ID par. Subject blank tha. Sirf ek attached image.
Usne open ki.
Wo abandoned school ki photo thi.
Blackboard par likha hua—A. Khan
Aur neeche ek line, nayi chalk se:
"End tab hota hai jab dono ready hote hain."
Sana ka heart sink ho gaya.
Phone uthaya. Aliyar ko call kiya.
"Tumne koi message ya mail dekha?" Sana ne bina hi-bye ke poocha.
Aliyar ki awaaz tight thi. "Haan."
"Rayan?" Sana ne poocha.
"Shayad," Aliyar ne kaha. "Par is baar wo saamne nahi aa raha. Wo sirf yaad dila raha hai."
"Ya dara raha hai," Sana ne kaha.
Aliyar ne dheere se bola, "Darr tab hota hai jab hum chup ho jaate hain. Is baar main chup nahi rahunga."
Agle din school me principal ne announcement ki—
"Students ke emails monitor kiye ja rahe hain. Koi bhi suspicious message mile to turant report karein."
Sana ne Aliyar ki taraf dekha.
Aliyar ne sir hila diya—main handle karunga.
Lunch break me Aliyar ne Sana ko ek chhota sa folded paper diya.
"Kya hai?" Sana ne poocha.
"Address," Aliyar ne kaha. "Police station ka. Aur ek counsellor ka number. Agar mujhe kuch ho—"
Sana ne paper turant band kar diya. "Aisa kuch nahi hoga."
Aliyar ne uski taraf dekha. "Promise nahi kar sakta. Par fight karunga."
Sana ne ek kadam aage badh kar kaha, "Is baar akela nahi."
Us din ke baad messages band ho gaye. Emails bhi.
Par silence is baar suspicious thi.
Jaise koi storm aane se pehle ki shaanti.
Ek shaam Aliyar ne Sana ko text kiya:
Aliyar:
Kal school ke baad ek jagah chalna hai. Last time.
Sana ne type kiya:
Sana:
Akeli nahi aaungi.
Reply almost turant aaya.
Aliyar:
Isi liye to tumhe bula raha hoon.
Sana ne phone lock kar diya.
Dil me ek ajeeb sa pressure tha—jaise kahani phir se ek turn lene wali ho.
Aur kahin na kahin use mehsoos ho raha tha—
jo baatein ab tak unsaid thi,
wo zyada der chup nahi rehne wali.