Chapter 1 — Wo Ek Decision
Subah ke 6 baje the. Mumbai ki halki si thandi hawa khidki ke parde hila rahi thi, lekin Aarav ki aankhen raat bhar nahi lagi thi. Alarm bajne se pehle hi wo uth kar chhat ko ghur raha tha, jaise waha koi jawab likha ho jo usse mil nahi raha.
Uske phone screen par ek notification chamka:
"Memories from 3 years ago."
Aarav ne phone uthaya, aur gallery kholi. Photo mein wo khud tha — hass raha tha, aankhon mein confidence, saath mein uske do best friends aur ek ladki… Naina.
Wo photo dekhte hi uske dil mein ek halka sa dard ubhar aaya.
Usne dheere se kaha, "Kaash us din maine wo decision na liya hota…"
🌧️ Past — 3 Years Ago
College ka last year tha. Aarav ek average student tha lekin sapne bade the. Uska dream tha startup shuru karna, kuch alag karna. Naina uski classmate thi — intelligent, calm, aur uski sabse achhi dost.
Ek din canteen mein Naina ne kaha,
"Aarav, placement forms fill kar diye?"
Aarav ne muskurate hue kaha,
"Nahi. Main job nahi karna chahta. Main risk lena chahta hoon."
Naina ne serious hote hue pucha,
"Risk lena achha hota hai, par plan bhi toh hona chahiye na?"
Aarav hansa,
"Plan simple hai — believe in myself."
Naina ne uski aankhon mein dekha, lekin uski smile ke peeche ek concern chhupa hua tha.
⚡ Turning Point
Final exams ke baad sab apni life mein busy ho gaye. Naina ko ek achhi company mein job mil gayi. Aarav ne placement reject kar diya aur apna startup idea pursue karne laga.
Shuru ke kuch mahine excitement se bhare hue the. Meetings, plans, late-night brainstorming — sab perfect lag raha tha.
Lekin phir reality ne knock kiya.
Funds nahi mile. Team members ek-ek karke chhod gaye.
Ek raat Naina ka call aaya.
"Aarav, tum theek ho? Kaafi din se baat nahi hui."
Aarav ne jhooth bol diya,
"Haan sab badhiya. Busy hoon bas."
Sach ye tha ki uske paas rent dene ke paise tak nahi bache the. Lekin uska ego usse help maangne nahi de raha tha.
💔 Wo Galti
Ek din frustration mein Aarav ne Naina se milne ka plan banaya. Café mein baithte hi Naina ne uska thaka hua chehra dekha.
"Aarav, tum thik nahi lag rahe. Please batao kya chal raha hai."
Aarav ka patience toot gaya.
Usne gusse mein kaha,
"Sab theek hai! Tum samjhogi nahi. Tum log safe life choose karte ho, main risk le raha hoon!"
Naina chup ho gayi. Uski aankhon mein aansu aa gaye, lekin usne kuch nahi kaha. Bas dheere se bola,
"Main sirf help karna chahti thi."
Aarav ne us din bina soche-samjhe bahut kuch keh diya.
Aur wahi thi uski zindagi ki sabse badi galti.
Us din ke baad Naina ne kabhi call nahi kiya.
🌙 Present — Aaj
Aarav bed se utha aur balcony mein aa kar khada ho gaya. Neeche road par log apni-apni life ki race mein bhaag rahe the.
Teen saal mein sab badal gaya tha.
Startup band ho chuka tha.
Savings khatam ho chuki thi.
Aur sabse badi baat — usne apni sabse achhi dost kho di thi.
Usne apne aap se pucha,
"Kya main sach mein fail ho gaya hoon...… ya ye bas ek phase hai?"
Phone phir se vibrate hua. Is baar unknown number tha.
"H-Hello?" Aarav ne hesitant voice mein kaha.
Dusri taraf se ek familiar awaaz aayi —
"Aarav… main Naina bol rahi hoon."
Uska dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya.
Naina ne kaha,
"Mujhe tumse milna hai. Aaj shaam. Same café."
Call cut ho gaya.
Aarav kuch seconds tak phone pakad ke khada raha. Uske dimaag mein hazaar sawal ghoom rahe the —
Kyun milna hai? Itne saal baad? Kya wo ab bhi gussa hai?
Lekin sabse bada sawaal tha —
Kya ye uski life ko dobara badalne wala moment hai?
Usne mirror mein apne aap ko dekha.
Aankhon ke neeche dark circles, face par thakan, lekin kahin na kahin ek chhoti si hope ki chamak.
Aarav ne dheere se kaha,
"Shayad life second chance de rahi hai…"
Aur us din, teen saal baad, usne apne dil mein pehli baar halka sa sukoon mehsoos kiya.