CHAPTER – 1
{THE QUEST FOR STYGIAN}
UPDATE – 1
CITY : DELHI
LOCATION : NATIONAL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
“ARJUN... You're Late...”
Ye shabd kahe the ek formal suit ko pehne vyakti ne jo iss College ke Convocation Hall ki entry ke paas khade the. In shabdon ko recieve karne waale end par tha ek ladka jo koyi aur nahi balki “MAIN” hi tha.Jiske jawaab mein,
“Sorry Sir, won't happen again!!”
SIR ( Smiles ) : I know My Boy... Go take your seat.
Main bina kuchh kahe bas sar haan mein hilaakar aage badh gaya. Jab main hall mein pahuncha to wahaan baithe zyadatar students aur Staff ki nazren bhi mujhpar hi tik gayi. Main chalta hua middle row mein baithe ek ladke ke bagal mein baith gaya.
LADKA : Aa gaya tu, kya baat aaj late kaise hua?
MAIN : Maine Saara intezaam kar diya hai. Tujhe aaj hi nikalna hai!!
Wo meri baat sunkar ek dum serious ho gaya. Fir kuchh sochkar,
LADKA : Hmm... Thik hai. Par wahaan se aage kaise jaana hai ye tune abhi tak nahi batya hai.
MAIN : Kuaan pyaase ke paas nahi aata... Pyaasa Kuyen ke paas jaata hai. Tujhe bhi wahaan pahunchkar hi pata chal jaayega.
Usne mere tark par bas muskurakar sar hila diya. Tabhi, hall mein ek shaanti chhaa gayi. Reason – College ke Dean jo Stage par pahunch chuke the.
DEAN : So, Hello All the Genius Students of NCE. Jaisa ki aap sab jaante hain ke aaj hum sab yahaan Convocation ceremony ke liye ikattha huye hain. Main aapko batana chahunga ke iss baar bhi hamare Institute ka Result 100% raha hai.
Ye sunkar sabhi students ke chehre khil gaye. Aakhir fail hone ki chinta se mukt jo ho gaye the.
DEAN : Aaj hamare beech Delhi ke Education Minister bhi maujood hain aur wo Institute ke Top 3 rankers ko apne shubh haathon se degree pradaan karenge. So without wasting any time, main unhe stage par bulana chahunga ke wo aayen aur toppers ko puraskrit karen.
Iske baad wo Minister stage par pahunche aur jo ladki 3rd thi usse Graduation ki degree aur ek Trophy di.
DEAN : Ab, baari hai uss student ki jisne College mein 2nd rank achieve kiya hai – VIHAAN SINGH...
Iss naam ki ghoshna par mere saath mein baitha ladka khush hote huye stage ki taraf badh gaya. Ji haan ye Vihaan hi tha, mera param mitra. Usse bhi uski degree aur award se samaanit kiya gaya.
DEAN : And ab baari hai Institute ke Topper ki aur mujhe ye batate huye behadh khushi ho rahi hai ke iss baar jisne Hamare College mein first rank haasil kiya hai wahi University Topper bhi hai & the name is – ARJUN THAKUR...
Sabhi chhatron ke sar apne aap hi meri aur ho gaye. Main bina kisi adhik excitement ko dikhaaye utha aur stage ki taraf badh gaya. Stage par pahunchkar maine Dean aur Special Guest dono ko hi greet kiya. Prize ke taur par mujhe degree aur trophy ke alawa ek All India Scholarship mili, jiske falswaroop Main kisi bhi college se Free Of Cost Post-graduation kar sakta tha.
Iske baad kuchh derr tak ye programme chala aur fir saare students ko disperse kar diya gaya. Mujhe aur saath hi Vihaan ko bhi sabhi congratulate kar rahe the par jahaan mera chehra bhaavheen tha wahin Vihaan kaafi chintit lag raha tha. Main uske paas gaya,
MAIN : Kyon pareshaan ho raha hai!? Kuchh nahi hoga. Chill kar, marne nahi dunga tujhe filhaal main.
VIHAAN : Filhaal...
Maine bas usse dekh kar ek shaitaani smile bikher di. Hum dono College se nikalkar apne Flat par pahunche aur Vihaan ek bag uthakar Airport ki taraf nikal gaya.
UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION :
Ek bahut hi ajeeb si jagah hai ye, aas – paas kisi insaan ya jaanwar ka to kya, ped – paudhon tak ka naam – o – nishaan nahi hai. Zameen ka rang bhi ajeeb hai, laal gehra laal maano yahaan khoon ki holi kheli gayi ho. Waise to filhaal subah ka samay hai par yahaan chaaron taraf ujaale ka ek katra tak nahi hai. Andhere ki chaadar se dhaki ye jagah sachmein behadh khaufnaak hai.
“ Apollyon Nizrin Apollyon...
Jinvir Sikliosis Apollyon!!
Kinhit girden Hitrit Apollyon...
Hixxot Hixxot Apollyon Apollyon!!
Hobden Ristik Nerin Beleth...
Jindin Deavin Fillin Beleth!!
Gonnin Gitris Dinen Beleth...
Claxxot Claxxot Beleth Beleth!! ”
Ye shabd the jo fizaon mein goonj rahe the. Jo bhi in shabdon ko bol raha tha uski aawaz nischit hi behadh dheemi thi par in shabdon se jo intensity Paida ho rahi thi wo kaan se khoon nikaal dene ka maada rakhti thi. Khair, yahaan aas – paas kahin koyi bhi ghar ya kuchh bhi aesa nazar nahi aa raha tha par aawaz saaf sunaayi de rahi thi.
Ohhh!! Ye aawaz to zameen ke neeche se utpann ho rahi hai. Chaliye aapko Zameen ke neeche ke drishya se bhi ru – baroo karaya jaaye. Adbhut, yahi shabd niklata hai munh se ye dekhne ke baad. Kaha jaata hai ke Paatal Lok zameen ke neeche hai aur ye uska live example tha. Ek behadh hi daraavni aur badsoorat jagah. Chaaron taraf sookhe huye khoon ke nishaan, kankaal aur kayi saare hathiyaar bhi maujood hain. Par kamaal ki baat ye hai ke ye sabhi hathiyaar behadh hi ajeeb hain. Maano ke Puraane Zamaane se laaye gaye hon!! Dhanush, Bhaala, Talwaar aur inhi ke bhai – bandhu samajh sakte hain aap in hathiyaaron ko.
Iss jagah ke beechon – beech kuchh ajeeb se jeev – jantu maujood the. Unki appearance se lag raha tha jaise wo sab pathhar ke bane ho. Ya fir ek bade se pathhar par nakkashi karke unhe banaya gaya ho. Unki unchaayi kareeban 8–9 feet hogi aur ginti thi 5. Yahi the wo musicians jo upar likhi gayi lines bol rahe the ya chinghaad rahe the pata nahi. Wo sab ek bistar ke chaaron taraf khade the aur uss bistar par pada tha ek ajeeb sa praani. Uska chehra nahi dekha ja sakta tha kyonki uske oopar ek kaale rang ka dhuaan maujood tha par uska baaki shareer kaafi ajeeb sa tha. Uspar itni drawings bani thi ke samajh nahi aa raha tha ke Uske shareer par tattoos hain ya Tattoos par uska shareer.
Khair, wahin par ek roshni chamak rahi thi aur wo ek darwaaza sa lag raha tha. Kyonki jo bed par maujood shakhs tha uske munh se lagaatar nikal raha kaala dhuaan uss roshni numa darwaaze par jaakar gayab ho raha tha.
Kuchh derr tak yahi prakriya chali aur uske baad bistar par pada shakhs gaayab ho gaya. Wahin wo paancho Patthar ke bane jeev apni – apni jagah par gir gaye jaise behosh ho chuke hon. Ab wahaan agar kuchh tha to sirf wo roshni jismein se ek hi aawaz sunaayi de rahi thi –
“ Hahahahah... Hahahahah... Hahahahah... ”
CITY : MUMBAI
LOCATION : THAKUR VILLA
Jiss ghar ki charcha Introduction mein huyi thi wahi ghar, ya agar bangla kahun to zyada better hoga. Iss ghar ke ek kamre mein maujood hain ek ladki aur uske saath hai ek ladka...
LADKA : Pata nahi kab sab theek hoga!?
LADKI : Hmmm... Ab to bas unka intezaar hai. Ek baar wo aa jaayen to shayad sab kuchh sahi ho paaye.
LADKA : Right, par mujhe thodi tension bhi ho rahi hai kahin sab kuchh ulta naa ho jaaye.
LADKI : Tu hamesha manhoos hi rahiyo. Kabhi bhi positive to sochega nahi tu.
LADKA : SNEHA... Positive baaton se hi sab kuchh nahi ho jaata. Tu khud soch agar unke aane se problem aur badh gayi to? Kya guarantee hai ke wo aakar aasani se sab kuchh bhula denge?
SNEHA : I wish ke sab kuchh sahi ho jaaye DHRUV...
DHRUV : Hope so too... Chalo kam se kam ANVI to theek ho hi jaayegi unke aane se!!
SNEHA : Ye tune sahi kaha, ek wahi hain jo usse waapis se puraane waali mastikhor ladki bana sakte hain.
DHRUV : Wo din... Main bahut miss karta hoon un dinon ko. Kitna achha time tha naa, hum sab saath milkar khela karte the.
Darwaaze par khadi ek ladki in dono ki baatein sun rahi thi aur shayad wo bhi wahi chahti thi jo ye dono chahate the. Wo inke paas hi andar gayi aur,
LADKI : Tum dono tension mat lo wo bahut samajhdar hai. Dekhna wo aakar sab kuchh sahi kar dega!!
In dono ke chehron par bhi khushi ki lakeerein dikhne lagi.
SNEHA : Kaash aesa hi ho Di. Fir hum paancho milkar firse pehle jaisi dhoom machaayenge.
LADKI : Haan tujhe to bas uchhal kood hi karni hai...
SNEHA : Kya HIMANI Di aap bahut hi boring ho!!
HIMANI : Chal chal ab thoda kitaaben bhi khol ke dekh le. Kahin baad mein roti fire ke main fail ho gayi.
SNEHA : Main nahi hoti fail. Waise Di Kab aa rahe hain Bhai? Aapko to phone kiya hi hoga unhone!?
HIMANI : Hmm... Keh to raha tha ke kal aa jaayega. Baaki uske mood ka kaunsa kuchh pata rehta hai.
Kuchh derr tak inki baat cheet chali fir ye sabhi apne – apne kaamo mein mashgool ho gaye. Issi bangle ke ek alag kamre mein bistar par akeli gum sum si baithi hai ek ladki. Bed se tek lagaaye side waali khidki se baahar ki taraf dekh rahi hai. Jaane kin khayalon mein khoyi hai wo. Tabhi usne apne pillow ke neeche se ek tasveer nikaali aur uspar haath ferne lagi.
Dard to nischit hi tha uske chehre, aankhon mein mayoosi bhi saaf dikh rahi thi par fir bhi uski aankhon mein aansoon nahi the. Wo shaant thi, behadh shaant. Jaise ke khud ke andar apne saare dukhon ko samete jaa rahi ho. Kisi ke intezaar mein, kisi kandhe ke intezaar mein jispar sar rakh kar wo apne ashkon ko bahaa sake.
Uske antarmann mein bas ek hi baat chal rahi thi, ek hi tasveer chal rahi thi aur ussi tasveer ko yaad karte huye wo soch rahi thi :
“ I miss you Bhai... I miss you so much!! Kab aaoge aap, aap to mujhe bhool Gaye hona. Bhool gaye ho ke aapki ek behen bhi hai, jo aapke bina nahi reh sakti, please mere paas aa jaao bhai. Please!! ”
Usne uss tasveer ko apne seene se laga liya jaise wo uss photo se gale mil rahi ho, aur ek gehri neend mein chali gayi.
PLACE : THAKUR & CO.
Desh ke sabse badi business mein se ek, THAKUR & CO.. ka ye office jahan hum maujood hain, ye office hi kaafi hai batane ke liye ke kitni badi company hai ye. Iss office ke ek Cabin mein baithe hain ek vyakti, cabin ke baahar name plate par likha hua tha – RAJVEER THAKUR [M.D.]...
Wo yahaan baithe kisi gehri soch mein gum hain. Unke saamne ek aur aadmi bhi maujood hai aur unhe sochon mein gum dekh kar wo bhi haalat bhali – bhaanti samajh rahe hain. Tabhi wo khoye – khoye hi bole,
RAJVEER : Kya wo mujhe maaf karega!?
AADMI : Kya kaha Bhaisahab Aapne??
RAJVEER : SAMARTH... wo kabhi mujhe maaf kar paayega? Main kitna bura baap hoon naa jo apni hi aulaad ke sath ye sab kiya.
SAMARTH kuchh nahi bole bas apne bade bhai ki taraf hi dekhte rahe,
RAJVEER : Tum batao Samarth... Kya wo mujhe maaf karega??
Unhone ek lambi saans chhodi aur bole,
SAMARTH : Bhaisahab, agar aapne usse maara hota peeta hota, daanta hota, gaaliyan di hoti, yahaan tak ki jaan se bhi maar diya hota... Tab bhi haste huye ye sab sweekar kar leta par... (Pause) Par uss sabke kaaran jo haalat Anvi ki huyi hai aapko lagta hai uske liye wo kabhi aapko maaf kar paayega!?
Wo bhi nishabd se ho gaye the iss baat par aur dobara se apni sochon mein kho gaye.
CITY : MANALI
PLACE : JOGINI FALLS
Manali mein stith ye ek bahut hi manmohak jharna jiski khubsurti dekhte hi banti hai. Issi jharne ke kareeb haath mein camera liye khadi hai ek ladki, aur chaaron taraf ke view ki tasveeren click kar rahi hai. Iss ladki ke nazdeek hi maujood hain kayi aur ladke – ladkiyan bhi, prateet hota hai jaise group mein trip par aaye hon ye sabhi.
Uss camera waali ladki ka dhyaan keval photos kheenchne par hi laga hua hai ke tabhi wahaan achanak se hi tezz hawaayein chalne lagti hain. Jo kuchh hi palon mein aandhi ka roop le chuki thi. Wo ladki wahin ek patthar ke paas baith gayi kyonki abhi chal paana sambhav nahi tha. Wahin uske saath ke baaki log bhi paas hi kisi na kisi cheez ke nazdeek baith gaye.
Tabhi, aasman mein bijli ki garjana hone lagi aur ek dhundh si fiza mein failne lagi. Kuchh hi palon mein kohre ke kaaran visibility shunya ho chuki thi. Wahaan maujood koyi bhi aas – paas ka kuchh nahi dekh paa raha tha. Tabhi uss Camera waali ladki ke paas ek prakaash fail gaya. Par agar baahar se koyi dekhta bhi to wahaan sab kuchh gaayab nazar aata. Saaf shabdon mein kahun to iss roshni ne uss ladki ko cover kar liya tha jiss kaaran se baahar se wo invisible ho gayi thi.
Uss ladki ki ye sab dekh kar saansein atakne lagi. Tabhi uske shock ko badhaata hua wo patthar jiske kareeb wo baithi thi do tukdon mein bant gaya aur jo cheez uss pathhar se baahar aayi usse dekh kar to uss ladki ki saansein laghbhag band hi ho chuki thi. Kyonki wo ek behadh hi daraawna saanp tha. Yes, a Snake. Uski appearance bahut hi ajeeb thi. Mostly uski Skin Safed rang ki thi par beech – beech mein kaale aur neele rang ki maujoodgi bhi dikh rahi thi. Saath hi uske oopar ek talwaar ki tasveer bhi bani huyi thi.
Achanak hi usne apna fan (sar) uthaya aur apna munh kholkar funkaar maarne laga. Ab to wo ladki apne aap ko mara hua samajhne lagi thi ke tabhi wo behosh ho gayi ya kahun ke behosh kar di gayi kyonki uske sar ke oopar ban chuka tha ek golden colour ka dhuaan. Aur ye sab dekh kar shayad wo saanp bhi hairaan reh gaya tha kyonki wo idhar – udhar apna sar ghumaane laga tha. Tabhi wo saanp ek gol chakkar mein ghoomne laga aur jab uski speed itni zyada ho gayi ke wo dikhna hi band ho chala, tabhi...
Wo saanp ek aadmi mein badal gaya. 6 feet se zyada ki height, shareer par kaale kapde, munh se baahar latakte do bade zehrile daant aur haath mein maujood ek talwaar. Uski appearance kisi ko bhi dara dene ke liye kaafi thi. Wo uss golden colour ke dhuen ki taraf jalti huyi nigaahon se dekhne laga.
SNAKE : Hisss... Hisss... Kaun ho tum!? Himmat kaise huyi mere raaste mein aane ki. Hisss... Hisss...
Tabhi uss dhuen mein hulchul hone lagi aur achanak hi usmein se aawaz aayi,
DHUAAN : Tu jaanta hai ke kispar hamla karne jaa rha tha tu??
SNAKE : Hisss... Hisss... Wo mera shikaar thi. Main uske saath kuchh bhi karun. Tu kaun hai rokne waala? Hisss... Hisss...
DHUAAN : Hahahaha... Shikaar! Tu inka shikaar karega!! Hahahaha...
SNAKE : Hisssss... Hisssss... Ab tu dekh, mujhe lalkaarne ka nateeja!! Hisssss... Hisssss...
Aur us aadmi numa saanp ne uss camera waali ladki ki taraf foonk maar di. Ye koyi aesa – waisa hamla nahi tha balki usne apna zeher foonka tha uss ladki ke oopar. Par tabhi apne aap hi uss zeher ki direction badli aur wo oopar ki taraf behta hua uss Golden Dhuyen mein sama gaya aur ye dekh kar uss Saanp ki aankhen fati ki fati reh gayi. Wo hairaan pareshaan sa maamla samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.
DHUAAN : Kaha tha na maine bewakoof ke tu inhe chhoo bhi nahi sakta.
SNAKE : Hisss... Hisss... Nahi ye naamumkin hai, mera zehar... Mera zehar bekaar kaise ho sakta hai??LORD ki shakti hai mere zehar mein... Ye koyi maamoli zehar nahi tha ye mera...
DHUAAN : BOTIS ka zehar tha...
Ye sunkar ek baar firse uss aadmi roopi saanp ki aankhen hairat se fail gayi.
SNAKE : Hisss... Hisss... Tum kaun ho!? Kaun ho tum... Mujhe koyi aese hi nahi Pehchaan sakta. Hisss... Hisss...
DHUAAN : Tu na mujhe pehchaan sakta hai naa inhe jinpar tu hamla karne aaya tha. Jaa chala jaa yahaan se warna kahin maara naa jaaye!!
Wo Saanp apni taakat ko bhali bhaanti jaanta tha aur khud par poora yakeen bhi tha usse par jo kuchh abhi hua tha, specially uski identity koyi jaanta tha ye usse dara raha tha. Wo waapis apni saanp ki form mein lauta aur ussi patthar mein ghus gaya. Wo patthar bhi pehle ki hi tarah waapis se jud gaya. Wo Golden Dhuaan kuchh der wahin raha fir gaayab ho gaya.
Ab poore ilaake mein ek shaanti thi. Hawayein tham chuki thi aur kohra bhi hatt chuka tha. Wo sabhi log uss camera waali ladki ke kareeb aaye to usse neeche behosh gira paaya. Unmein se ek aur ladki ne uska sar apni god mein rakh liya aur uske gaalon ko thapthapaate huye usse uthaane lagi.
LADKI : Aankhen kholo... Aankhen kholo... Utho AHANA!!
Tabhi uss camera waali ladki ne apni aankhen kholi aur ek hi shabd chillate huye uthkar baith gayi aur wo shabd tha – “ARJUNNNNN...”
CITY : DELHI
LOCATION : JANPATH
Delhi ke Janpath ke paas hi ek khaali maidaan mein iss waqt khaad tha Main. Mere saamne khade the kuchh aadmi jo oonchi kad – kaathi ke hatte – katte bande the. Sabhi formal suit – boot pehne huye the. Tabhi,
Main : Tum sabko abhi ke abhi KOLKATA ke liye nikalna hai. Wahaan tumhe Vihaan milega. Tum sabko dhyaan rakhna hai ke uspar koyi bhi khatra naa aaye. Jiss kaam ke liye wo gaya hai wo bahut zyada zaroori hai aur agar uss kaam mein koyi chook huyi toh...
Maine sentence to adhoora chhod diya par meri aankhon mein dikh rahi darindagi se wo sabhi parichit the. Isiliye unhone kaanpte huye haan mein sar hila diya.
Maine aasman ki taraf dekha aur bas inhi shabdon ko budbudaya : Aur yahaan se shuru hoti hai...
“THE QUEST FOR STYGIAN...”
Iss Update Mein Itna Hi... Next Update tak ke liye Bye – Bye...
Bane Rahiye!