(๐๐๐ซ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ค๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ข ๐ง๐ก๐ข ๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐ข... ๐๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐ง๐, ๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ ๐ง๐ก๐ข ๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐)
๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ ๐ญ
"THE SMILE IN THE RAIN"
Barish us raat nhi gir rahi thi
Wo jaise shehar par thop di gayi ho โโ
bina puchhe,bina rukhe.
Sadak Par Paani Jama Tha, Aur Us Paani Me police Lights ka Rang Ajeeb Lag Raha tha. Laal, Neelaโฆ Phir Laal.
White Sheet ke Neeche Padi Body Bilkul Shaant Thi. Shayad Zyada Shaant.
Inspector Ne Jab kapada Thoda Sa Uthaaya, To Aas-Paas Khade Logon ki Saans Ek Saath Ruk Gayi. Ladki ka Chehra Safed Tha, Aankhen Aadhi khuli. Aur Uske Hothon Parโฆ Ek Muskaan.
Par Wo Muskaan Zinda Hone Ki Nahi Thi.
Wo Kisi Ne Banaayi Thi.
Chaku Se kaati Hui. Dheere. Dhyaan Se.
"Smile Killer," kisi Ne Peeche Se Dheere Se kaha, Jaise Naam Lene Se Hi kuch Bura Ho Jaayega.
Inspector Ne Sheet Wapas Daal Di.
"Media Ko Door Rakho,"Usne Kaha."Aur
City Alert Bhejo."
Kyunki kuch Cheezein Wapas Aane ke Baadโฆ Asaani Se Jaati nahi.
Han Soo-Min Ne TV Band kar Diya
Remote Uske Haath Se Fisal kar Sofa Par Gir Gaya, Par Awaaz kamre Me Zyada Der Tak Ghoonjti Rahi. News Anchor ke Shabd Ab Bhi Uske Dimaag Me Atke Hue The.
Same Pattern. Same Smile.
Bathroom Me Ghus kar Usne Tap khol Diya. Thanda Paani Behne Laga. Usne Apna Chehre Par Paani Maara, Jaise kisi Yaad ko Dho Dena Chahti Ho. Sheeshe Par Bhaap Jam Gayi Thi. Ungli Se Sheesha Saaf Karte Hi Usne Apni Aankhon ko Dekha.
Aankhon ke Neeche Gehri Thakaan.
Aur Unke Andarโฆ Purana Darr.
Uske Dimaag Me Bina Pooche Ek Tasveer Aa Gayi.
Hospital ka kamra. Safed Diwaarein. Safed Bed.
Aur Us Bed Par Uski Maa.
Uske Hothon Par Bhiโฆ Wahi Muskaan.
Soo-Min Ne Aankhen Band kar Li.
"Tum Phir Se Kuch Nahi khaogi, Hai Na?"
Awaaz Sunte Hi Uske kandhe Thode Dheele Pad Gaye.
Kang Hae-Rin Darwaaze Par khadi Thi. Baal Geele, Shayad Baarish Me Bheeg kar Aayi Thi. Chehre Par Hamesha ki Tarah Wohi Halki Si Smileโ Jo Bina Wajah Bhi Sukoon De Jaati Thi.
"Main Bana Deti Hoon," Hae-Rin Ne Bina Jawab ka Wait kiye kaha Aur kitchen ki
Taraf Badh Gayi.
Ye Uski Aadat Thi.
Poochti kam Thi. Saath Zyada Deti Thi.
Soo-Min Sofa Par Baith Gayi. Uske Haath Ab Bhi Thode Kaanp Rahe The. Hae-Rin Ne Notice kar Liya.
"Kya Hua?" Usne Bowl Table Par Rakhte Hue Poocha. "Phir Se Nightmare?"
Soo-Min Ne Sirf Haan Me Sir Hila Diya
Hae-Rin Uske Paas Baith Gayi. Bahut Paas. Itni Paas ki Unke kandhe Touch Ho Rahe The.
"Tum Jab Aise Chup Ho Jaati Ho Na," Hae-Rin Ne Dheere Se kaha, "Mujhe Lagta Hai Main Tumhe kho Dungi."
Soo-Min Ne Uski Taraf Dekha. "Agar Main Pehle Hi Tooti Hui Hoon To?"
Hae-Rin Ne Uska Haath Pakad Liya. Pakad Me Zyada Zor Nahi Tha, Par Chhodne ka koi Irada Bhi Nahi.
"Tootne ke Baad Hi To Log Asli Lagte Hain," Usne Muskurate Hue kaha. "Aur Tumโฆ Tum Akeli Nahi Ho. Main Hoon."
Soo-Min Ne kuch Nahi kaha. Bas Us Haath ko Pakde Rakha.
Agla Din College Me Normal Lag Raha Tha. Shayad Isliye kyunki Dard Hamesha Dikhai Nahi Deta.
Lecture Hall Me Naya Professor Introduce Hua. Lee Joon-Hyuk. Kaafi Log Uski Taraf Dekh Rahe The, Par uski Nazar Bas Ek Jagah Ruki โ Soo-Min Par.
Wo Zyada Der Tak Nahi Dekha. Par Jitna Dekhaโฆ kaafi Tha.
Jab Lecture ke Baad Soo-Min Corridor Se Nikal Rahi Thi, To Use Laga Jaise koi Peeche Se Usse Dekh Raha Ho. Palat kar Dekha To Joon-Hyuk Tha. Uski Aankhon Me Curiosity Kam, Tension Zyada Thi.
"Tum Han Soo-Min Ho?" Usne Poocha.
"Haan."
Usne Sirf Itna Hi kaha, "Careful Rehna."
Phir Wo Chala Gaya.
Soo-Min Wahi khadi Reh Gayi.
Shaam ko Phir News Aayi.
Doosra Murder.
Same Muskaan.
Police Ne City Alert Jaari kar Diya. Log Doors Lock kar Rahe The. Par Soo-Min ko Darr Is Baat ka Nahi Tha ki koi Bahar Tha.
Usse Darr Thaโฆ ki kuch Uske Bahut Paas Hai.
Raat ko Jab Phone Baja, Time 2:17 AM Tha.
Unknown Number.
Usne Call Uthayi.
Dusri Taraf Saans Lene ki Aawaz Thi. Phir Ek Distorted voice.
"Tumhari Maa Ne Mujhe Barbaad kiya."
Soo-Min ka Gala Sookh Gaya. "Kaun Bol Raha Hai?"
"Ab Tumhari Baari Hai."
Call Cut.
Phone Haath Se Chhoot kar Zameen Par Gir Gaya.
Usne kamre Me Dekha.
Hae-Rin Saamne khadi Thi. Neend Bhari Aankhen. "Kya Hua?" Usne Poocha.
Soo-Min kuch Nahi Boli.
Uski Nazar Table Par Rakhe Hae-Rin ke Phone Par Gayi.
Screen Dark Thi
Silent Mode.
Hae-Rin Ne Soo-Min ko Baahon Me Le Liya. "Tum Safe Ho," Usne kaha. "Jab Tak Main Hoon."
Soo-Min Ne Uske kandhe Par Sir Rakh Diya.
Us Waqt Usne Ye Notice Nahi kiya...
Hae-Rin ke Chehre Par Muskaan Thi.
Par Us Muskaan Me Garmi Nahi Thi.
Mujhe us raat ye samajh hi nahi aayaโฆ
ke jis muskaan se mujhe sabse zyada sukoon milta tha,
wahi sabse pehle mujhe todne wali thi.