Shaam ka waqt tha. Suraj dheere dheere doob raha tha aur aasman narangi rang se bhar gaya tha. Halki hawa chal rahi thi jo pedon ke patton ko hila rahi thi.
Meher library ke bahar bench par baithi hui thi. Uske haath me ek kitab thi lekin uski aankhen kitab par nahi balki kahin door khoi hui thi.
Meher un ladkiyon me se nahi thi jo zyada bolti hain. Wo zyada tar khamosh rehti thi. Uski aankhon me ek ajeeb si gehrai thi jaise usne zindagi ko baaki logon se zyada samjha ho.
College ke bahar students ki bheed thi. Sab haste hue, baatein karte hue apne doston ke saath ja rahe the.
Tabhi ek black bike gate ke paas rukti hai.
Bike se ek ladka utarta hai.
Tall, confident aur thodi si serious personality.
Uska naam tha Armaan Raiz Khan.
College me uska naam sab jaante the. Lekin wo khud zyada kisi se baat nahi karta tha.
Armaan seedha chal kar campus ke andar aaya.
Uski nazar achanak Meher par padi.
Wo bench par baithi hui thi aur hawa uske baalon ko halka halka uda rahi thi.
Armaan kuch seconds ke liye wahi ruk gaya.
Usse pata nahi kyun laga jaise waqt ruk gaya ho.
Usne dheere se kaha
"Yeh ladki itni khamosh kyun rehti hai…"
Usne Meher ko pehle bhi dekha tha. Lekin aaj uski nazar us par thodi zyada ruk gayi.
Meher ko mehsoos hua koi usse dekh raha hai.
Usne sar utha kar dekha.
Armaan.
Dono ki nazrein ek pal ke liye takra gayi.
Meher ne turant nazar jhuka li.
Uska dil tez dhadakne laga.
Usne Armaan ke baare me bahut suna tha.
Rich family ka ladka… thoda arrogant… aur kisi ko zyada importance nahi deta.
Meher ne kitab band ki aur uth kar jaane lagi.
Tabhi peeche se awaaz aayi.
"Excuse me."
Meher ruk gayi.
Usne dheere se mud kar dekha.
Armaan uske saamne khada tha.
"Ji?"
Armaan ne thodi der usse dekha.
"Tum Meher ho na?"
Meher hairan ho gayi.
"Tumhe mera naam kaise pata?"
Armaan halki si muskuraaya.
"Main notice karta hoon."
Ye sunte hi Meher ka dil aur tez dhadakne laga.
Usne jaldi se kaha
"Mujhe jana hai."
Aur wo wahan se chalne lagi.
Lekin usne do kadam hi liye the ki Armaan ki awaaz phir aayi.
"Meher."
Meher ruk gayi.
Armaan ne dheere se kaha
"Tum jab khamosh hoti ho na… tab bhi bahut kuch keh deti ho."
Meher ne pehli baar Armaan ki aankhon me dekha.
Uski aankhon me ek ajeeb si sachchai thi.
Meher ko samajh nahi aaya kya kahe.
Usne kuch nahi kaha.
Aur wahan se chali gayi.
Armaan usse jaate hue dekhta raha.
Uske dil me ek ajeeb sa ehsaas tha.
Usne khud se kaha
"Yeh ladki baaki sab se alag hai."
Us raat Meher ko neend nahi aayi.
Uske dimaag me sirf ek hi chehra tha.
Armaan.
Usne khud se kaha
"Yeh ladka meri zindagi me kyun aa raha hai…"
Aur shayad usse ye pata nahi tha ki
ye sirf ek mulaqat nahi thi…
ye ek kahani ki shuruaat thi.
Raat ka waqt tha.
Meher apne kamre ki khidki ke paas khadi thi. Bahar chand ki roshni poore aasman me faili hui thi. Hawa halki halki chal rahi thi.
Lekin Meher ka dil bilkul shaant nahi tha.
Uske dimaag me baar baar ek hi chehra aa raha tha.
Armaan.
Aaj college me jo hua tha, wo uske liye unexpected tha.
Usne kabhi socha bhi nahi tha ki Armaan usse baat karega.
Meher ne dheere se khud se kaha
"Ye sab bas ek coincidence hoga…"
Lekin dil keh raha tha ki baat itni simple nahi hai.
Next day.
College campus hamesha ki tarah busy tha.
Students groups me khade baatein kar rahe the.
Meher gate se andar aayi aur seedha library ki taraf chalne lagi.
Uska plan simple tha.
Class attend karna… aur kisi se zyada baat nahi karni.
Lekin jaise hi wo corridor se guzri, uski nazar ek jagah ruk gayi.
Wahan Armaan khada tha.
Aur uske aas paas uske friends khade the.
Armaan hamesha ki tarah confident lag raha tha. Black shirt aur blue jeans me wo aur bhi handsome lag raha tha.
Meher ne turant nazar hata li.
Usne socha wo usse notice nahi karega.
Lekin jaise hi wo aage badhne lagi, peeche se awaaz aayi.
"Meher."
Uska dil ekdum se tez dhadakne laga.
Wo dheere se ruki.
Aur mud kar dekha.
Armaan uski taraf chal kar aa raha tha.
Uske friends peeche khade muskura rahe the jaise unhe sab pata ho.
Armaan Meher ke saamne aakar ruk gaya.
"Tum mujhse bach kyun rahi ho?"
Meher thodi ghabra gayi.
"Main… main kyun bachungi?"
Armaan halki si muskuraahat ke saath bola.
"Kal bhi tum jaldi chali gayi thi."
Meher ko samajh nahi aaya kya bole.
Usne sirf itna kaha.
"Mujhe class ke liye late ho raha hai."
Wo jaane lagi.
Lekin Armaan ne uska raasta rok diya.
"Tum mujhse itna darti kyun ho?"
Meher ne pehli baar seedha uski aankhon me dekha.
"Main kisi se nahi darti."
Armaan ki aankhon me ek chamak si aa gayi.
"To phir ek coffee pe chalogi?"
Meher shock ho gayi.
"Coffee?"
"Haan."
"Abhi?"
Armaan ne sir hilaya.
"Abhi."
Meher ka dil confuse ho gaya.
Wo Armaan ke baare me bahut kuch sun chuki thi.
Rich family… attitude… aur girls uske peeche.
Usne dheere se kaha.
"Sorry… mujhe interest nahi hai."
Aur wo wahan se chal di.
Armaan wahi khada reh gaya.
Uske friends uske paas aaye.
Ek friend hans kar bola.
"Bhai… kisi ladki ne tujhe pehli baar reject kiya hai."
Armaan ne bas halka sa smile kiya.
Phir usne Meher ko door jaate hue dekha.
Aur dheere se kaha.
"Game abhi shuru hua hai."
Usi shaam.
Meher apne ghar ja rahi thi.
Road par zyada traffic nahi tha.
Wo headphones laga kar chal rahi thi.
Tabhi achanak ek bike uske saamne rukti hai.
Meher thodi dar gayi.
Usne headphones nikale.
Aur dekha.
Armaan.
" Tum mera peecha kar rahe ho?"
Armaan hans pada.
"Nahi."
"To phir?"
Armaan ne kaha.
"Mujhe tumse baat karni hai."
Meher ne gusse me kaha.
"College me bhi keh sakte the."
Armaan ne uski aankhon me dekhte hue kaha.
"College me bahut log hote hain."
"Yahan sirf tum aur main hain."
Meher ka dil phir tez dhadakne laga.
Usne khud ko sambhala.
"Bolna kya hai?"
Armaan kuch seconds chup raha.
Phir usne dheere se kaha.
"Meher… tum baaki ladkiyon jaisi nahi ho."
Meher hairan ho gayi.
Armaan ne aage kaha.
"Tumhe pata hai college ki har ladki mujhse baat karna chahti hai."
Meher ne seedha jawab diya.
"Mujhe nahi."
Armaan hans diya.
"Isi liye to interesting ho tum."
Meher ne thodi der socha.
Phir usne kaha.
"Armaan… tum galat ladki choose kar rahe ho."
Armaan ne poocha.
"Kyunn?"
Meher ne halki si udaasi ke saath kaha.
"Kyuki meri zindagi itni simple nahi hai."
Armaan ne turant kaha.
"To phir mujhe bhi complicated pasand hai."
Meher kuch seconds usse dekhti rahi.
Uske dil me ajeeb si feeling thi.
Usne dheere se kaha.
"Good night Armaan."
Aur wo chal di.
Armaan usse jaate hue dekhta raha.
Usne apne dil me mehsoos kiya.
Ye sirf attraction nahi tha.
Kuch aur tha.
Kuch gehra.
Aur shayad
yehi tha… Tere Naam Ka Ishq.
Us raat Armaan ko neend nahi aa rahi thi.
Wo apne kamre ki balcony me khada aasman ko dekh raha tha. Thandi hawa chal rahi thi lekin uske dil me ajeeb si bechaini thi.
Uske dimaag me baar-baar Meher ka chehra aa raha tha.
Uski khamoshi… uski aankhon ki gehrai… aur uska simple sa "Good night Armaan".
Armaan ne apne aap se kaha
"Ye ladki meri zindagi ko itna affect kyun kar rahi hai…"
Usne kabhi kisi ladki ke baare me itna nahi socha tha.
Lekin Meher… kuch alag thi.
Next morning.
College me normal hustle chal raha tha. Students classes ki taraf ja rahe the.
Armaan bhi campus me enter hua.
Lekin aaj uski nazar sirf ek chehre ko dhoond rahi thi.
Meher.
Usne library dekhi.
Garden dekha.
Cafeteria dekha.
Lekin Meher kahin nahi thi.
Armaan thoda restless ho gaya.
Tabhi uska friend Sameer uske paas aaya.
"Bhai kis ko dhoond raha hai?"
Armaan ne casually bola
"Kisi ko nahi."
Sameer hans pada.
"Jhoot mat bol… Meher ko dhoond raha hai na?"
Armaan ne usse ghoor kar dekha.
"Tumhe kaise pata?"
Sameer muskuraaya.
"Poora college jaanta hai ab."
Armaan thoda shock ho gaya.
"Matlab?"
Sameer ne kaha
"Kal tum dono ko road par kisi ne dekh liya tha."
Armaan kuch seconds chup raha.
Phir usne bas itna kaha
"Let them think whatever they want."
Dopehar ka waqt tha.
Meher finally college aayi.
Wo seedha class ki taraf ja rahi thi jab uski nazar Armaan par padi.
Wo corridor ke end par khada tha.
Aur seedha usi ko dekh raha tha.
Meher ka dil phir tez dhadakne laga.
Usne ignore karne ki koshish ki.
Lekin jaise hi wo uske paas se guzri, Armaan ne uska haath halki si pakad liya.
"Meher."
Meher ekdum ruk gayi.
Usne ghabra kar kaha
"Armaan… sab dekh rahe hain."
Armaan ne uska haath chhod diya.
"Sorry."
Phir usne dheere se kaha
"Tum kal bina kuch kahe chali gayi thi."
Meher ne seedha jawab diya
"Good night bola tha."
Armaan halka sa hans pada.
"Main serious baat kar raha hoon."
Meher thodi serious ho gayi.
"Kaunsi baat?"
Armaan ne uski aankhon me dekhte hue kaha
"Main tumhe samajhna chahta hoon."
Meher hairan ho gayi.
"Kyunn?"
Armaan ne bina soche jawab diya
"Kyuki tum important ho."
Ye words sunte hi Meher bilkul chup ho gayi.
Usne kabhi expect nahi kiya tha ki Armaan aisa bolega.
Lekin uske dil me dar bhi tha.
Usne dheere se kaha
"Armaan… tum mujhe nahi jaante."
Armaan ne kaha
"To jaanne do."
Meher ne sar hila diya.
"Nahi."
Armaan hairan ho gaya.
"Kyunn?"
Meher ki aankhon me halki si udaasi aa gayi.
"Kyuki jab tum mujhe jaan jaoge… to shayad tum khud door chale jaoge."
Armaan kuch seconds usse dekhta raha.
Phir usne dheere se kaha
"Try me."
Meher ne kuch nahi kaha.
Wo wahan se chal di.
Lekin is baar Armaan ne usse roka nahi.
Wo bas usse jaate hue dekhta raha.
Us raat Meher apne kamre me baithi diary likh rahi thi.
Usne likha:
"Armaan meri zindagi me kyun aa raha hai…
Jab mujhe pata hai meri zindagi me mohabbat ke liye jagah hi nahi hai."
Uski aankhon me aansu aa gaye.
Kyuki ek secret tha…
Ek aisa secret jo Armaan ko pata chala
to shayad sab kuch badal jayega.
Aur usse khud bhi nahi pata tha
ki kuch dino baad
Armaan ko wo sach pata chalne wala tha…
Aur us sach ke baad
unki kahani
ya to aur gehri mohabbat banegi
ya phir
hamesha ke liye toot jayegi.
Agle kuch din college me ajeeb sa mahaul tha.
Armaan aur Meher aksar ek dusre ko dekhte the… lekin zyada baat nahi hoti thi.
Jaise dono ke beech kuch unsaid sa reh gaya ho.
Armaan ko ye khamoshi bilkul pasand nahi aa rahi thi.
Usse lag raha tha Meher jaan bujh kar usse door reh rahi hai.
Ek din lunch break me Armaan cafeteria me apne friends ke saath baitha tha.
Tabhi uski nazar door ek table par padi.
Meher wahan baithi thi.
Lekin wo akeli nahi thi.
Uske saamne ek ladka baitha tha.
Wo dono baat kar rahe the… aur Meher halki si muskura bhi rahi thi.
Armaan ke dil me ek ajeeb si jalan hui.
Usne Sameer se poocha
"Wo ladka kaun hai?"
Sameer ne dekha aur bola
"Shayad uska school friend hai… naam shayad Ayan hai."
Armaan ka mood turant kharab ho gaya.
Usne bina kuch bole apni chair push ki aur cafeteria se bahar chala gaya.
Sameer peeche se chillaya
"Bhai itna serious mat ho!"
Lekin Armaan ne suna hi nahi.
Dusri taraf Meher ko bilkul pata nahi tha ki Armaan ne unhe dekh liya hai.
Ayan uska bachpan ka dost tha.
Wo kuch saalon baad sheher wapas aaya tha.
Ayan ne poocha
"Meher tum ab bhi utni hi khamosh ho."
Meher muskuraayi
"Tum ab bhi utne hi zyada bolte ho."
Ayan hans pada.
Phir usne serious ho kar poocha
"Meher… sab theek hai na?"
Meher thodi der chup rahi.
Phir usne dheere se kaha
"Sab theek hai."
Lekin uski aankhon me sach nahi tha.
Ayan usse bachpan se jaanta tha.
Usse pata chal gaya tha Meher kuch chhupa rahi hai.
Usi shaam.
Meher college se ghar ja rahi thi.
Tabhi achanak ek car uske saamne rukti hai.
Car ka door khulta hai.
Aur usme se Armaan bahar aata hai.
Meher hairan ho gayi.
"Armaan?"
Armaan ka face serious tha.
"Wo ladka kaun tha?"
Meher samajh gayi wo Ayan ke baare me pooch raha hai.
"Wo mera dost hai."
Armaan ne turant kaha
"Sirf dost?"
Meher thodi irritate ho gayi.
"Haan… sirf dost."
Armaan kuch seconds chup raha.
Phir usne kaha
"Tum uske saath bahut comfortable lag rahi thi."
Meher ne seedha jawab diya
"Kyuki main usse bachpan se jaanti hoon."
Armaan ko samajh nahi aa raha tha kyun usse itni jealousy ho rahi hai.
Usne dheere se kaha
"Meher… mujhe ye sab pasand nahi aa raha."
Meher hairan ho gayi.
"Kaunsa sab?"
Armaan ne seedha jawab diya
"Tumhara kisi aur ke saath itna close hona."
Meher kuch seconds usse dekhti rahi.
Phir usne dheere se kaha
"Armaan… tumhe koi haq nahi hai mujhse ye kehne ka."
Ye words Armaan ke dil ko chubh gaye.
Usne thoda hurt ho kar poocha
"Sach me?"
Meher ne kaha
"Haan."
Phir wo wahan se chal di.
Armaan wahi khada reh gaya.
Usse pehli baar mehsoos hua ki
shayad wo Meher ke liye utna important nahi hai
jitna Meher uske liye ban chuki hai.
Us raat Meher apne kamre me baithi thi.
Uska phone vibrate hua.
Message tha.
Armaan.
Message me sirf ek line thi.
"Meher… mujhe lagta hai main tumse door nahi reh paunga."
Ye message padh kar Meher ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye.
Kyuki usse pata tha
agar Armaan uske kareeb aaya
to usse ek din wo sach bhi pata chal jayega
jo Meher saalon se chhupa rahi thi.
Aur wo sach tha
Meher ki zindagi me ek aisi problem thi
jo kisi bhi relationship ko tod sakti thi…
Raat ka waqt tha. Meher apne kamre ki light band karke bed par baithi thi. Sirf khidki se aati chand ki roshni kamre me halki si chamak de rahi thi.
Uske haath me phone tha.
Screen par Armaan ka message abhi bhi open tha.
"Meher… mujhe lagta hai main tumse door nahi reh paunga."
Meher ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye.
Usne dheere se phone side par rakh diya aur khud se kaha,
"Armaan… kaash tum meri zindagi ki sachchai jaante."
Uska dil chahta tha wo Armaan se baat kare. Lekin usse dar lag raha tha.
Kyuki uski zindagi me ek aisa sach tha jo sab kuch badal sakta tha.
Next day.
College me aaj thoda shor zyada tha. Students kisi event ki preparation kar rahe the.
Meher campus me enter hui to uska dil thoda heavy tha.
Wo seedha library ki taraf ja rahi thi.
Lekin jaise hi wo garden ke paas pahunchi, kisi ne uska naam liya.
"Meher."
Wo ruk gayi.
Armaan uske saamne khada tha.
Aaj uska face thoda serious lag raha tha.
"Tum mujhe ignore kyun kar rahi ho?"
Meher ne dheere se kaha
"Main kisi ko ignore nahi kar rahi."
Armaan ne uski aankhon me dekhte hue kaha
"Jhoot."
Meher chup ho gayi.
Armaan ne thoda paas aakar kaha
"Kal raat ka message padha tha na?"
Meher ne sirf halki si haan me sir hila diya.
Armaan ne poocha
"Phir reply kyun nahi kiya?"
Meher ne thodi der baad jawab diya
"Kyuki mujhe nahi pata kya bolna chahiye."
Armaan ne seedha kaha
"Sach bol do."
Meher ne aankhon me aankhen daal kar poocha
"Kaunsa sach?"
Armaan ne bina hesitation ke kaha
"Ye ki tumhe bhi meri parwah hai."
Meher ka dil zor se dhadakne laga.
Wo kuch seconds tak Armaan ko dekhti rahi.
Phir usne dheere se kaha
"Armaan… kuch feelings sirf feel ki jaati hain… unhe kehna zaroori nahi hota."
Armaan ke face par halki si smile aa gayi.
"Matlab tumhe bhi kuch feel hota hai."
Meher ne turant nazar hata li.
"Armaan… please."
Armaan ne serious ho kar poocha
"Please kya?"
Meher ki awaaz halki si toot gayi.
"Please mere kareeb mat aao."
Armaan ek pal ke liye bilkul chup ho gaya.
"Kyunn?"
Meher ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye.
"Kyuki meri zindagi simple nahi hai."
Armaan ne kaha
"Maine pehle bhi kaha hai… mujhe complicated se problem nahi."
Meher ne sir hila diya.
"Nahi Armaan… tum samajh nahi rahe."
Armaan ne gently uska haath pakad liya.
"Phir samjhao."
Meher ka dil toot raha tha.
Usne dheere se kaha
"Ek din tumhe sab pata chal jayega."
Armaan ne poocha
"Kya?"
Meher ne jawab nahi diya.
Wo bas apna haath chhudakar wahan se chali gayi.
Armaan wahi khada reh gaya.
Uske dimaag me sirf ek hi sawal ghoom raha tha.
Meher kya chhupa rahi hai?
Usi shaam.
Armaan parking area me khada tha jab Ayan uske paas aaya.
"Tum Armaan ho na?"
Armaan ne usse dekha.
"Haan."
Ayan ne seedha poocha
"Tum Meher ko pasand karte ho?"
Armaan ne bina soche jawab diya
"Haan."
Ayan kuch seconds chup raha.
Phir usne dheere se kaha
"Phir tumhe ek baat pata honi chahiye."
Armaan serious ho gaya.
"Kya?"
Ayan ne kaha
"Meher ki zindagi utni simple nahi hai jitni tum samajh rahe ho."
Armaan ne poocha
"Matlab?"
Ayan ne seedha jawab nahi diya.
Usne bas itna kaha
"Uski life me ek aisa sach hai… jo shayad tumhe tod de."
Ye sun kar Armaan ka dil ek pal ke liye ruk gaya.
"Kaunsa sach?"
Ayan ne kaha
"Agar tum sach me usse chahte ho… to khud pata kar lo."
Aur wo wahan se chala gaya.
Armaan wahi khada reh gaya.
Usse lag raha tha jaise kahani abhi shuru hui hai.
Aur sach itna simple nahi hone wala.
Aur shayad Armaan ko abhi ye pata nahi tha
ki Meher ka secret sirf ek problem nahi…
ek aisi sachchai thi jo un dono ki mohabbat ko sabse mushkil imtihaan me daalne wali thi.
Us raat Armaan ko bilkul neend nahi aayi.
Wo bed par lete hue ceiling ko dekh raha tha. Ayan ki baat uske dimaag me baar-baar ghoom rahi thi.
"Meher ki life utni simple nahi hai… ek sach hai jo tumhe tod de."
Armaan ne aankhen band kar li.
Usne khud se kaha,
"Chahe kuch bhi ho… mujhe sach pata karna hi hoga."
Kyuki ab baat sirf curiosity ki nahi thi.
Baat Meher ki thi.
Next day.
College me event ki preparations chal rahi thi. Har jagah music aur students ki awaaz aa rahi thi.
Lekin Armaan ka dhyaan sirf ek jagah tha.
Meher.
Wo library ke bahar khadi thi aur kisi file ko dekh rahi thi.
Armaan dheere-dheere uski taraf gaya.
"Meher."
Meher ne sar utha kar dekha.
Uski aankhon me thodi si thakan thi.
"Armaan…?"
Armaan seedha uske saamne khada ho gaya.
"Mujhe tumse baat karni hai."
Meher ne kaha
"Abhi?"
"Haan… abhi."
Meher ne thodi der socha, phir sir hila diya.
"Okay."
Dono college garden ke ek quiet corner me aa gaye.
Hawa halki-halki chal rahi thi.
Kuch seconds tak dono chup rahe.
Phir Armaan ne seedha poocha
"Tum kya chhupa rahi ho?"
Meher ka face ekdum serious ho gaya.
"Tumhe kisne kaha main kuch chhupa rahi hoon?"
Armaan ne kaha
"Ayan ne."
Meher ek pal ke liye bilkul silent ho gayi.
Uski aankhon me halka sa dar aa gaya.
"Usne kya kaha?"
Armaan ne jawab diya
"Usne kaha tumhari life me ek sach hai jo mujhe tod sakta hai."
Meher ne nazar jhuka li.
Uska dil bahut tez dhadak raha tha.
Armaan ne dheere se kaha
"Meher… main sach jaan na chahta hoon."
Meher ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye.
"Armaan… kuch sach aise hote hain jo agar chup hi rahe to behtar hota hai."
Armaan ne turant kaha
"Lekin agar us sach ki wajah se tum mujhe door kar rahi ho… to mujhe pata hona chahiye."
Meher ka dil toot raha tha.
Usne dheere se kaha
"Armaan… meri zindagi me bahut problems hain."
Armaan ne poocha
"Kaunsi problems?"
Meher ne deep breath li.
Phir usne dheere se kaha
"Jab main 16 saal ki thi… meri life me ek accident hua tha."
Armaan shock ho gaya.
"Accident?"
Meher ki awaaz halki si kaanp rahi thi.
"Haan."
"Us accident me mere papa…"
Uski awaaz ruk gayi.
Aankhon se aansu girne lage.
Armaan ka dil pighal gaya.
Usne softly kaha
"It's okay… agar nahi batana chahti to mat batao."
Meher ne sir hila diya.
"Nahi… tumhe pata hona chahiye."
Usne phir kaha
"Us accident ke baad… meri family ki life bilkul change ho gayi."
Armaan dhyaan se sun raha tha.
Meher ne dheere se kaha
"Tab se mere upar bahut zimmedariyan hain."
Armaan ne poocha
"Par isme problem kya hai?"
Meher ne aankhon me aansu ke saath kaha
"Problem ye hai Armaan…"
Wo kuch seconds chup rahi.
Phir usne dheere se kaha
"Main kisi relationship me padne ki position me hi nahi hoon."
Armaan ne turant jawab diya
"Ye koi problem nahi hai."
Meher ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tum samajh nahi rahe."
Armaan ne calmly kaha
"To samjhao."
Meher ne thoda ruk kar kaha
"Ek aur sach hai…"
Armaan ka dil zor se dhadakne laga.
"Kaunsa sach?"
Meher ne aankhen band kar li.
Jaise usse kehne me bahut himmat lag rahi ho.
Aur phir usne dheere se kaha
"Doctor ne kaha hai…"
Lekin uski baat poori hone se pehle hi
kisi ne door se awaaz di
"Meher!"
Dono ne mud kar dekha.
Ayan wahan khada tha.
Uske face par tension thi.
"Meher… tumhe abhi ghar jana hoga."
Meher ghabra gayi.
"Kya hua?"
Ayan ne serious tone me kaha
"Tumhari mom ki tabiyat suddenly kharab ho gayi hai."
Ye sunte hi Meher ka face safed pad gaya.
Armaan bhi shock ho gaya.
Meher bina kuch bole jaldi-jaldi wahan se bhaag gayi.
Armaan usse jaate hue dekhta reh gaya.
Usse lag raha tha
kahani ab aur complicated hone wali hai.
Aur shayad
Meher ka asli secret abhi bhi usse chhupa hua hai.
Meher jaldi-jaldi hospital ke corridor me chal rahi thi. Uska dil itna tez dhadak raha tha jaise kabhi bhi ruk jayega.
Ayan uske saath tha.
"Doctor ne kya kaha?" Meher ne ghabra kar poocha.
Ayan ne dheere se kaha,
"Abhi tests chal rahe hain… tension mat lo."
Lekin Meher ka dil maanta hi nahi tha.
Wo waiting area me baith gayi aur apne haath jod kar chup-chaap dua karne lagi.
"Ya Allah… meri ammi ko theek kar do."
Uski aankhon se aansu girne lage.
Us waqt use sabse zyada kisi ki zaroorat thi.
Lekin wo kisi ko call bhi nahi kar pa rahi thi.
Dusri taraf.
Armaan apne room me idhar-udhar chal raha tha.
Uske dimaag me sirf ek hi baat chal rahi thi.
Meher.
Usne phone uthaya aur Meher ko call kiya.
Call ring hoti rahi.
Lekin koi answer nahi aaya.
Armaan aur zyada restless ho gaya.
Usne Ayan ko call kiya.
Ayan ne phone uthaya.
"Hello."
Armaan ne turant poocha
"Meher kahan hai?"
Ayan ne kaha
"Hospital me."
Armaan ka dil ek pal ke liye ruk gaya.
"Hospital? Kyun?"
Ayan ne jawab diya
"Uski mom ki tabiyat kharab ho gayi hai."
Ye sunte hi Armaan ne bina kuch bole phone cut kiya aur turant car lekar hospital ki taraf nikal gaya.
Hospital me.
Meher abhi bhi chair par baithi thi.
Uski aankhen laal ho chuki thi.
Tabhi kisi ne dheere se uska naam liya.
"Meher."
Wo hairan ho kar mudhi.
Armaan.
Usse dekhte hi Meher shock ho gayi.
"Tum yahan…?"
Armaan uske paas aakar khada ho gaya.
"Tumhe laga main nahi aata?"
Meher ki aankhon me phir aansu aa gaye.
"Armaan… main nahi chahti thi tum tension lo."
Armaan ne softly kaha
"Tumhari tension meri tension hai."
Ye sunte hi Meher bilkul chup ho gayi.
Usne pehli baar mehsoos kiya
Armaan sach me uski parwah karta hai.
Kuch der baad doctor bahar aaye.
Meher turant khadi ho gayi.
"Doctor… meri ammi kaisi hain?"
Doctor ne calm tone me kaha
"Abhi wo stable hain… lekin unhe rest ki zaroorat hai."
Meher ne relief ki saans li.
"Thank you doctor."
Doctor wahan se chale gaye.
Meher ki aankhon me ab bhi aansu the.
Armaan ne dheere se kaha
"Sab theek ho jayega."
Meher uski taraf dekhti rahi.
Phir usne dheere se kaha
"Armaan… tum kyun itna care karte ho?"
Armaan ne seedha jawab diya
"Kyuki main tumse mohabbat karta hoon."
Ye words sunte hi Meher ka dil ruk sa gaya.
Usne kabhi expect nahi kiya tha Armaan itni seedhi baat bol dega.
"Armaan…"
Armaan ne uski aankhon me dekhte hue kaha
"Haan Meher… main tumse mohabbat karta hoon."
Hospital ka corridor bilkul khamosh tha.
Jaise waqt ruk gaya ho.
Meher ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye.
Usne dheere se kaha
"Armaan… tumhe mera sach nahi pata."
Armaan ne calm voice me kaha
"Jo bhi sach hai… mujhe farq nahi padta."
Meher ne sir hila diya.
"Padta hai."
Armaan ne poocha
"Kaunsa sach?"
Meher ki awaaz halki si kaanp rahi thi.
"Doctor ne kaha hai… meri health me ek problem hai."
Armaan serious ho gaya.
"Kaunsi problem?"
Meher ne aankhon me aansu ke saath kaha
"Shayad… main kabhi normal life nahi jee paungi."
Armaan shock ho gaya.
"Matlab?"
Meher ne dheere se kaha
"Doctor ne kaha hai… future me meri life me bahut complications ho sakti hain… aur shayad main kabhi family bhi…."
Uski awaaz ruk gayi.
Wo ro padi.
Armaan kuch seconds bilkul chup khada raha.
Uske dimaag me hazaar thoughts chal rahe the.
Lekin phir usne ek step aage badhaya.
Aur softly Meher ka haath pakad liya.
"Bas itni si baat?"
Meher hairan ho gayi.
"Armaan… ye choti baat nahi hai."
Armaan ne uski aankhon me dekhte hue kaha
"Meher… mohabbat perfect logon se nahi hoti."
"Mohabbat unse hoti hai jinhe dil choose karta hai."
Meher ki aankhon se aansu behne lage.
Usse lag raha tha jaise uska dil halka ho raha hai.
Lekin usse abhi bhi dar tha.
Kyuki kahani abhi khatam nahi hui thi.
Aur shayad aage
unki mohabbat ko aur bhi mushkilein face karni thi
Agla din tha. College me halki si morning breeze chal rahi thi. Students apni classes ke liye ja rahe the, lekin Meher ka dhyaan kisi aur jagah tha.
Wo ab bhi kal ki baaton aur apne secret ke baare me soch rahi thi. Uska dil itna bhara hua tha ki use words me express karna mushkil lag raha tha.
Tabhi ek familiar voice uske peeche se aayi.
"Meher."
Wo mud kar dekhi. Armaan khada tha, confident lekin aankhon me serious expression ke saath.
"Armaan…" Meher ki awaaz halki si kaanp rahi thi.
Armaan ne uske samne khade ho kar dheere se kaha,
"Kal raat ke baad, aur jo bhi tumne mujhe ab tak nahi bataya… main sab jaanta hoon. Tumhare problems, tumhari health… sab."
Meher hairan ho gayi.
"Kaise?"
Armaan ne halki si smile ke saath kaha,
"Pata chal hi gaya. Tum mujhe chhupana chahti thi… lekin mujhe pata tha tumhare aankhon me sach likha hua hai."
Meher ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye.
"Armaan… main… main nahi chahti thi ki tum… mera burden feel karo."
Armaan ne uska haath pakad liya, aur aankhon me aankhen daal kar kaha,
"Meher… tum mere liye burden nahi ho. Tum meri life ka sabse important hissa ho. Tumhare saath hona… meri choice hai, chahe kuch bhi ho."
Meher ke dil me ek ajeeb sa sukoon aa gaya.
Usne dheere se kaha,
"Par… meri health…"
Armaan ne interrupt kiya,
"Main tumhari health ke liye saath rahunga. Tumhe kabhi akeli nahi rehne dunga. Tumhare saath hona… mere liye sabse zaruri hai."
Meher ke aankhon se aansu behte rahe. Usne apne haath Armaan ke haath me aur tightly pakad liye.
"Armaan… kya tum sach me…"
Armaan ne gently uska face pakad kar kaha,
"Meher… main tumse mohabbat karta hoon. Sirf tumse."
Meher ka dil itna bhara hua tha ki wo bas roti rahi. Phir dheere se bola,
"Armaan… main bhi… tumse… mohabbat karti hoon."
Armaan ne khushi me usse tight hug kiya.
"Bas yehi sunna tha mujhe."
Us moment me lag raha tha jaise duniya ruk gayi ho. Sirf dono the… aur unka pyar.
Phir hospital ka phone aaya. Meher ki mom ka update tha.
"Meher… sab theek hai. Mom stable hain."
Meher aur Armaan ek dusre ki taraf dekhe.
Armaan ne softly kaha,
"Dekha? Life me problems aati hain… lekin agar saath ho to sab easy ho jata hai."
Meher ne aankhon me aansu ke saath muskurate hue kaha,
"Armaan… ab mujhe darr nahi lagta… kyunki tum mere saath ho."
Aur phir dono ek dusre ki aankhon me kho gaye.
Ek pal tha… sirf dono ka… aur pyar ka ehsaas… jo kabhi nahi bhulaya ja sakta.
Ending Scene:
Meher aur Armaan hospital se bahar aa rahe the.
Hawa me halki si thandak thi. Suraj ki roshni sab kuch golden bana rahi thi.
Armaan ne Meher ka haath apne haath me tightly pakad liya.
"Chalo… ab hamari zindagi ka naya chapter shuru karte hain."
Meher ne muskura kar kaha,
"Haan… bas tumhare saath."
Aur dono wahan se chalte hue… ek nayi life ki taraf bade.
Jahan mohabbat unke liye sabse badi taqat thi… aur problems sirf unhe aur strong banati thi.