Teen mahine beet chuke the.
School naya principal, naye rules aur nayi image ke saath chal raha tha.
Aarav phir se normal life jeene ki koshish kar raha tha—
par raat ko neend ab bhi poori nahi aati thi.
Ek shaam papa ne kaha,
"Main kal city chhod raha hoon.
Mujhe lagta hai sab khatam ho chuka hai."
Aarav ne sir hila diya.
Shayad sach mein sab khatam ho gaya tha.
Us raat 11:58 PM par
Aarav ke phone par ek notification aayi.
No Network. No Sender.
Sirf ek line:
"Kahani khatam nahi hoti… sirf jagah badalti hai."
Aarav seedha baith gaya.
Agla message aaya—
ek photo.
Photo mein school ka basement tha…
lekin clean, naya paint laga hua.
Aur wall par likha tha:
"Night Records – Phase 2"
Aarav ka phone haath se gir gaya.
Usne turant papa ke room ki taraf dekha—
darwaza khula tha.
Bed khaali.
Table par ek chhoti si chitthi padi thi:
"Sach ke saath rehna aasaan nahi hota.
Agar main wapas na aau…
to yaad rakhna,
kisi ne mujhe message bheja tha."
Tabhi phone ek aakhri baar vibrate hua.
"Tumhe laga principal akela tha?"
Screen black ho gayi.
Bahaar door kahin
school ki ghanti ki awaaz aayi—
Trinnnng…
Lekin ghadi mein time tha
12:00 AM
aur aaj Sunday tha.
Aarav ne dheere se kaha,
"Yeh toh sirf shuruaat thi…"