Aaj ka din thoda alag tha।
Aisha jab library ke gate ke paas pahunchi, uska dil thoda fast beat kar raha tha।
Kyuki aaj…
Arman ka last day tha yahan।
Library ka door kholte hi Aisha ne andar dekha।
Sab kuch usual jaisa hi tha।
Same shelves…
same wooden tables…
same silence।
Lekin Aisha ko pata tha ki aaj ke baad sab kuch thoda different feel hoga।
Arman already apni usual seat par baitha hua tha।
Jaise hi Aisha andar aayi, usne usse dekh kar smile ki।
"Late ho tum," Arman ne mazaak me kaha।
Aisha uske saamne baith gayi।
"Aaj traffic tha," usne excuse banaya।
Actually woh jaan-bujhkar bahar thodi der ruk gayi thi।
Kyuki usse library me aane se thoda darr lag raha tha।
Arman ne notice kiya ki Aisha unusually quiet hai।
"Sab theek hai?" usne pucha।
Aisha ne sir hilaya।
"Haan."
Lekin dono ko pata tha ki aaj ka din thoda emotional hone wala hai।
Kuch der tak dono books open karke baithe रहे।
Lekin koi bhi properly read nahi kar raha tha।
Finally Arman ne book band kar di।
"Sach bolu?" usne kaha।
Aisha ne curious ho kar dekha।
"Kya?"
Arman ne smile ki।
"Main aaj padhne ke mood me nahi hoon।"
Aisha hass padi।
"Good. Kyuki main bhi nahi hoon।"
Dono ek saath hass pade।
Library ka silent atmosphere thoda light ho gaya।
Thodi der baad Arman ne pucha—
"Aisha… tum future me kya banna chahti ho?"
Aisha ne socha।
Phir usne diary ko dekha।
"Writer," usne slowly kaha।
Arman ne turant smile ki।
"Mujhe pata tha।"
Aisha ne pucha—
"Tumhe kaise pata?"
Arman ne answer diya—
"Kyuki jo log itne letters likhte hain… woh eventually writer hi bante hain।"
Aisha ne diary open ki।
"Actually… maine ek last letter likhne ka plan kiya hai।"
Arman ne eyebrow raise kiya।
"Last?"
Aisha ne sir hilaya।
"Haan… yahan library wala last letter।"
Arman thoda curious ho gaya।
"Dear Future?"
Aisha ne head shake kiya।
"Nahi।"
Phir usne slowly kaha—
"Dear Arman।"
Arman thoda silent ho gaya।
Aisha ne blue pen nikala jo Arman ne gift kiya tha।
Usne likhna start kiya।
"Dear Arman,"
"Aaj library ka last day hai jab hum yahan saath baithe hain."
"Shayad kal se yeh table thoda empty lagega."
"Lekin mujhe lagta hai ki kuch memories kabhi empty nahi hoti."
Aisha ne thoda ruk kar Arman ki taraf dekha।
Arman quietly usse dekh raha tha।
Uski aankhon me bhi thodi emotion thi।
Aisha ne writing continue ki।
"Tumne mujhe ek pen diya tha…"
"Lekin shayad tumhe pata nahi hai ki tumne mujhe ek story bhi de di."
"Aur main promise karti hoon…"
"Main is story ko kabhi incomplete nahi chhodungi."
Aisha ne pen rakh diya।
Usne diary band kar di।
Library me closing bell baj gayi।
Librarian ki awaaz aayi—
"Library band hone wali hai।"
Aisha aur Arman slowly khade hue।
Dono ne last time library ke andar dekha।
Same shelves…
same tables…
Lekin ab yeh jagah memories se filled thi।
Jab dono door tak pahuche, Arman ruk gaya।
"Aisha," usne kaha।
Aisha ne uski taraf dekha।
"Hmm?"
Arman ne softly kaha—
"Thank you।"
Aisha confused ho gayi।
"Kis liye?"
Arman ne smile ki।
"Is library ko interesting banane ke liye।"
Aisha hass padi।
Lekin uski aankhon me halka sa tear bhi aa gaya।
Shayad…
Yeh unki library story ka end tha।
Lekin shayad…
Unki real story abhi start hone wali thi।
To be continued…