Shehar ki bheed-bhaad se door, ek purana railway station tha Jahan ki ghadi shayad barson phele thamm gayi thi. Wahan ki ek purani bench par baithi Ananya har shaam dhalte suraj ko dekhti. Uske hath mein ek purani chitthi thi jiska panna ab peela pad chuka tha, aur dil mein ek sawal Jo waqt ke sath gehra hota ja raha tha.
(Intezar ki shuruwat)
Ananya aur Ishaan ki dosti bachpan ki thi. Ishaan ek artist tha, khwaabon ka saudagar, aur Ananya uski har tasveer ka rang. Do saal pehle, Ishaan ko ek bade art project ke liye mulk se bahar jana pada tha. Jaate waqt usne Ananya ka hath thamkar kaha tha, ''Bas thoda waqt do mujhe,main itna bada naam kama kar lautunga ki tum mujh par naaz karogi. Kya tum mera intezar karogi?''
Ananya ne muskura kar kaha tha, "Hamesha." Lekin "hamesha" kitna lamba hota hai, yeh use tab maloom nhi tha. Shuru ke mahine toh phone calls aur messages mein guzar gaye. Phir dhere-dhere calls kam hone lagi, aur phir ek din... khamoshi chha gayi.
(Udasi ka saaya)
Ek saal beet gaya. Ananya ne har roz us purane station par jana shuru kiya jahan se Ishaan gaya tha. Log use dekhte aur aapas mein baatein karte. Uske ghar waale kehte, "woh bhool gaya hoga tumhe, shehar ki chamak mein purane rishte aksar dhundhle pad jaate hain." Ananya ka dil toot-ta.par wo maanti nahi thi. Uske liye udasi ab koi dushman nahi, balki ek purani saheli ban gayi thi. Wo aksar raat ko khidki par baith kar chand se poochti," kab tak intezar karogi mera"--yeh sawal ab uski apni parchayi usse poochne lagi thi. Uske rang pheeke pad gaye the, aur wo khamosh rehne lagi thi. Use darr lagata tha ki kahin uska intezar be-maayani na nikal jaye
(Ek nayi roshni)
Ek shaam, jab baarish ho Rahi thi, Ananya wahi bench par bheeg rahi thi. Tabhi ek chhote bachche ne uske sar par apna chhata a ke kar diya. Wo bachcha wahan ke station master ka beta tha. Usne masoomiyat se pucha, "Didi, aap roz yahan kiske liye aati ho? Kya wo koi farishta hai?" Ananya ne pehli baar saalo baad dil se hasi. Usne mehsoos kiya ki intezar sirf dukh nahi hota, intezar ek "umeed" hai. Us din se Ananya ne rona band kar diya. Usne socha ki agar Ishaan nahi bhi aaya, toh kya hua? Uska pyar toh sachha tha. Usne dobara painting brush uthaya aur apne intezar ko rangon mein utarna shuru kiya. Ab wo udaas nahi thi, wo "intezar" ko jee rahi thi.
(Aakhiri mod)
Ek din, jab station par bheed thodi zyada thi, ek shakhs wheelchair par baith kar train se utra. Uske chehre par purane nishaan the aur ek hath mein plaster. Wo Ishaan tha. Wo koi bada star ban kar nahi lauta tha,balki ek bade hadse se lad kar lauta tha. Usne saalo hospital mein guzare the, itni himmat nahi thi ki Ananya ko aapni haalat bataye. Use laga tha Ananya use bhool kar aage badh gayi hogi. Lekin jaise hi uski nazar us bench par baithi Ananya par padi, uski aankhon se aansu beh nikle. Ananya daud kar uske paas gayi Ishaan ne dheemi awaaz mein pucha, "Tumne itna intezar kyun kiya? Maine toh shayad kabhi na laut pata. Ananya ne uska hath thaam aur muskurate huye kaha, "Tumne pucha tha na 'kab tak intezar karogi', toh suno...tab tak, jab tak meri har saans tumhara naam lena band na kar de."
Sabaq: Mohabbat sirf saath rehne ka naam nahi,balki us umeed ka naam hai jo mushkil waqt mein bhi humein zinda rakhti hai.