Incest Baadshah ~ The Tales of Debauchery

[Werewolf]

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Latest Update ➢ Update 198 ​

 

[Good_Boy_]

Mind blowing update

 

[111ramjain]

Nice update

 

[Alok]

Super fantabulous update Werewolf bhai....

Veer ki pritikriya, vehwar aur uski samajh ko naya aayamb milega iss ghatna se jo aage uske liye bahut zaroori tha aur wo dugni mazbooti se apne dushmano ka samna karega.....

 

[Utkarsh awasthi]

Nice update bro

 

[Samar_Singh]

Not waiting till late night is always a wise decision.

Awesome update filled with emotions and dilemma.

Long review later...

 

[ellysperry]

Update - 196 ~ The Fulfilled Promise​

Ab tak...

Ye Veer ki qismat thi, ya kuchh aur-

Jo woh raasta dhundhne me saksham tha. Lair se baahar woh kooda. Mission complete ho chuka tha.

Parantu, Pari ne use iski soochna nahi di. Kyunk, notification tha-

[Mission Failed.]

[Due to the host's partial completion of the mission, all the three penalties of the mission won't be applied.]

[Due to the failure of not killing the Disembowler, one penalty will be applied to the host.]

[Mission penalty : Loss of loved ones.]

Ab aage...

Raat ke 12:05 baj rahe the. Aatishbaziyo ne Mumbai ke aasmaan ko jagmaga kar rakha hua tha, naye saal ke aagman ka har aadmi ullaas mana raha tha. Hawa me khushiyaan chhayi thi, log jashn mana rahe the, galey mil rahe the, iss nav varsh ka swagat karne ke liye khushi se chillaa rahe the. Lekin, isi sheher me iss shor ke beech kahi par maatam chhaaya hua tha.

News channels me prasaaran jaari the — Hotel Prestige ko lekar ek gambheer report. Kuchh bhayanak hua tha. Visfot. Khoon-kharaba. Jaano ka lutna.

Isliye, sheher ke kuchh hisso me jashn ka mahaul feeka pad chuka tha.

"Hotel Prestige par jaanlewa humla!"

"Kayi logo ke maare jaane ki khabar!"

"Suraksha guards maare gaye! Adhikariyo ko lakshit humle ka sandeh!"

Bars aur luxury clubs me TV screen par tabahi ke drishya dikhayi de rahe the — toote hue sheeshein, palte hue furniture, stretchers par le jaaye jaa rahe shav. Ek electronics showroom ke baahar ek chhoti bheed jama ho gayi thi, unki nazar andar rakhe display TV par tiki hui thi.

"Aaj ke din batao kya ho gaya. Tch tch!" Ek aadmi ne badbadate hue kaha.

"Hotel Prestige toh achha hotel tha. Hum toh gaye hai. Badhiya tha. Pata nahi kaise ho gaya ye sab. Mujhe lagta hai humla karwaya gaya hai." Ek mahila ne haami bharte hue kaha.

"Mumbai me crime badhta jaa raha hai. Tch! Tyohaaron me bhi ab-" ek raahgeer ne waha se nikalte hue fusfusaya.

Lekin, har koi shok nahi mana raha tha. Mumbai ke elite varg ke gharo me, oonchi-oonchi imaarato me glass takra rahe the aur dheemi baat-cheet me chhipi hui khushi thi.

Iss beech, Mumbai ki sabse shandar 7 star hotel — Casa Belle me patrakaro aur reporters ki bheed umdi hui thi. Cameramen apna camera liye hotel ke maalik — Aadesh Jaisinghani ke bayaan ka intezar kar rahe the.

Woh baahar aaya. Sleek hairstyle me geele baalo ko poori tarah peechhe kiye, Armani ki dress pehne, aisa lag raha tha maano woh abhi-abhi koi jashn mana ke aaya ho.

Aur, jaise hi woh saamne aaya, reporters uss par toot pade.

Reporter #1 : Mister Aadesh, Hotel Prestige par hue humle par aapke vichaar?

Reporter #2 : Hospitality industry me ek leading figure hone ke naate, aap uss suraksha chook ke baare me kya kehna chaahenge jiske chalte ye haadsa hua?

Reporter #3 : Casa Belle aur Hotel Prestige ke madhya shuru se hi oonch-neech hoti aayi hai. Kya aapko lagta hai ki ye humla kisi business conflict se juda hai?

Media ko chahiye tha masala. Kahani. Khabrein. Jo unhe police se utni maatra me nahi mil paayi thi. Aur, isliye khud Aadesh ne hi ye khabar media ke beech felwayi ki woh iss vishay ko lekar raat me apne vichaar rakhega. Media yaha aayi nahi thi. Unhe chalaaki se yaha laaya gaya tha.

Usne dheere se, kaafi baar abhyaas ki hui ek aah chhori, uski bauhe thodi si sikud gayi. Usne ek napa-tula qadam aage badhaya, yeh sunishchit karte hue ki camera uski aankhon me gehri suhanubhuti ko qaid kar raha hai ya nahi.

Aadesh (lagbhag shok me) : Dekhiye! Sabse pehle, mein peedito, unke parivaro aur iss bhayanak ghatna se prabhavit sabhi logo ke prati sanvedna vyakt karta hu. Aaj nav varsh ke shuru hote hi- yeh humla... Ye humla sirf Hotel Prestige par nahi hai. Ye humla saari hospitality industry par hai. Jab kisi hotel ko iss tarah se nishana banaaya jaata hai, toh ye harr atithi ke uss bharose ki neev ko hila deta hai jo woh hum par rakhte hai.

Reporters uske shabdo par sirr hilaate hue budbudaaye. Woh bilkul sahi baatein keh raha tha.

Aadesh ne aage bolne se pehle ek dramatic effect ke liye kuchh der viraam liya.

Aadesh : Dekhe... Maine humesha... Maine humesha se hi Hotel Prestige ko sammaan diya hai. Haan, mein sweekar karta hu ki humare beech competition chalta rehta hai. Lekin, ye ek healthy competition hota hai. Aur, competition ka matlab dushmani nahi hai. Business me ye sab aam baat hoti hai. Haal hi me, humaare Unicard ki launch ke dauran humne Hotel Prestige ko bhi aamantrit kiya tha. Mister Veer Singh, Miss Bhumika Singh, dono hi parivar jann ke saath padhaare the yaha. Aur, humaare mann me ek-dusre ke liye paraspar sammaan ke alawa kuchh nahi.

Uske hontho par ek dhoort muskaan ubhri, lekin usne badi hi chalaaki se ek aah bharte hue use chhipa liya.

Reporter #4 : Toh aap ko iss baare me koi idea nahi ki humle ke peechhe kaun ho sakta hai?

Aadesh ne asahaay bhaav se apna sarr hilaaya.

Aadesh (dheere se) : Ji, mein bhi Mumbai ke baaki logo ki tarah hairaan hu. Aisa kisne kiya hoga? Unka kya maqsad ho sakta hai? Ye aise sawal hai jinka jawab sirf police hi de sakti hai. Lekin, mein itna zaroor kehna chahunga ki — iss sankat ki ghadi me Casa Belle Hotel Prestige ke saath hai. Agar, hum unki madad ke liye kuchh bhi kar sakte hai, toh hum zaroor karenge.

Casa Belle aur Hotel Prestige ka samarthan? Sawal hi paida nahi hota. Yeh toh bas uski chaal thi.

Andar hi andar woh toh balki iss aapda ka aanand le raha tha.

Yarnia — Veer ka bhavya naya clothing brand, din ki raushni dekhne se pehle hi malbe me tabdeel ho chuka tha. Hotel Prestige, wahi hotel jisne uski Casa Belle ke saath bhidne ki koshish ki thi, ab ek crime scene ka sthal bann chuki thi.

Aisa lag raha tha jaise brahmaand ne swayam uski jholi me ye uphaar de diya tha.

Camera ke saamne usne fir se apna murjhaya hua chehra prastut kiya aur bola-

Aadesh : Kumar! Ye sab humare mehman hai. Inki khatirdari me kami nahi rehni chahiye.

Kumar (nods) : Ji, Sir!

Kehte hue woh wahi murjhayi awastha liye andar chala gaya. Aur, idhar news me uske charche hone lage. Jo uske kapti-pann se parichit nahi the, woh use saccha insaan maanane lage.

Iss traasdi ke bawajood, Mumbai ne rukne se inkaar kar diya tha.

Vyast sadko par, kuchh log shok mana rahe the, lekin kayi log bas aage badh gaye — kyunki, yahi Mumbai ka tareeka tha.

Kisi aspatal ke pareeksha kaksh me ek yuvti dheere-dheere ro rahi thi. Uska bhai, jo Hotel Prestige me security guard tha, mehmano ki suraksha karte hue maara jaa chuka tha. Duniya aage badh gayi, par uske liye uski duniya wahi khatm ho chuki thi.

***

Isi beech ghani raat me Disembowler ki lair ke theek upar sthit shamsan ke paas hi Erica aur Renshu khade hue the.

Renshu : Yahi jagah hai na?

Erica : Haan, dad! Usne toh yahi batayi thi. Kya mein-?

Renshu (nods) : Hmm! Shuru karo!

Erica (nods) : Okay!

Woh jhuki. Usne apna ek haath neeche shamshaan ki bhoomi par rakha aur fir-

'Basic Seer Vision!'

*Ding*

Agle hi pal alag-alag drishya uske mastishq me ghoomne lage. Woh bechari apni bauhe zorr se sikodi, kayi baar uska badan kaanp utha, magar woh waha se uthi nahi.

Renshu agal-bagal apni nazrein ghumaaye hue tha. Woh sunishchit kar raha tha ki kahi koi unhe dekh na le.

Yaha se woh khaali haath nahi laut sakte the.

Kuchh der pehle...

Ek mand raushni waali jagah. Medical equipment ki awaaz.

Ava ka shareer ek andheri sunsaan gali me khadi ek shandar kaali SUV ke andar ek asthayi operating table par laita hua tha. Uski saansein ab niyantran me aa rahi thi. Chehre ka rang wapas aa raha tha.

Uske pait par lagi goli ke ghaav ko pehle hi saaf kiya jaa chuka tha aur surgical precision ke saath sil diya gaya tha.

Garofano uske bagal se khadi thi. Usne zehreeli bullet ko badi hi kushalta se Ava ke shareer se nikaal diya tha. Uske haath sthir the, aur dimag gadna karne me laga hua tha.

Wahi thi jo Ava ko apne kandho par utha ke leke aayi thi. Uske theek peechhe Renshu, Erica ke saath khada hua tha.

Erica ki nigaahein Ava ke achetan roop ka adhyayan kar rahi thi. Uske dad ne humesha hi use iss aurat se satark rehne ko kaha tha. Magar, akhir kaun thi Natalia Martin? Ek bemisal worldwide famous singer aur celebrity. Kya waqai woh Veer ko dhoka deke use maarna chaahti thi? Woh dhyaan se Ava ko ghoorti rahi.

Aur, phir-

Renshu ne chuppi todi.

Renshu : Use hosh me aane me kitna samay lagega?

Garofano ne bina peechhe mude apne khoon se sane dastaane haath se nikaale aur apne haath me pehni ghadi dekhi.

Garofano : Bullet nikaale abhi mushqil se 15 minute hi hue hai. Zeher ki potency aur blood loss ko dhyaan me rakhte hue, ise kam se kam abhi 4 se 5 ghante toh-

"Ngh-!"

Uske shabd adhoore reh gaye jab ek dard bhari karaah ne use beech me hi rok diya.

Ava ka shareer jhatka khaaya, uski ungliyaan neeche seat ke leather par kassne lagi aur fir ek tez gati se, woh bhaari saans lete hue uth baithi.

Garofano ki aankhein avishvas me chaudi ho gayi.

Namumkin!

Ava ka ghaav gehra tha, zeher ke chalte use toh abhi ghanto tak behosh rehna chahiye tha. Magar, fir bhi woh kuchh hi minto me jaag chuki thi!?

[This girl... She has some sort of healing skill.]

Freya ki awaaz Garofano ke mann me goonj gayi.

Erica : Ah? Itni jaldi hosh bhi aa gaya?

Woh halka sa cheekhte hue boli. Yaha tak ki humesha shaant rehne waale Renshu ne bhi aankhein sikod li.

Ava (yells) : V-Veer!

Woh chillaate hue uthne ke liye aage badhi, lekin Garofano ne uske kandho par haath rakh use neeche baitha diya.

Garofano : Calm down!

Ava : Veer-!

Garofano : Sniper marr chuka hai. I have dealt with him. Ab koi khatra nahi hai. Don't worry! Take it easy!

Garofano ne fir apni jeb se ek kaagaz nikaalte hue Renshu ki orr kiya. Renshu ne use thaamte hue khola aur jab use dekha toh uski bauhe chinta me sikud gayi.

Garofano : Ye uss Dexter ke paas se mila. Kisi syndicate alliance ka member tha woh shayad. Check karne par toh yahi nazar aaya.

Ye wahi kaagaz tha jo Dexter ke paas tha. Veer ke parivar jann ke naam aur unki tasveerein iss kaagaz me maujood thi.

Veer ke parivar ka zikr aate hi Ava ki chhaati zoro se upar-neeche hone lagi. Aankhon me chinta abhi bhi barkarar thi.

Ava : Veer... *huff* Veer ki family! Mujhe- *cough* *cough*

Garofano (sternly) : Tumhe shaant rehne ki zaroorat hai!

Usne Ava ko beech me tokte hue kaha. Awaaz teekhi thi lekin nirdayi nahi. Aur, kahi na kahi woh Ava ka adhyayan bhi kar rahi thi. Bhala kis tarah ka system holder aisi chot ke baad itni jaldi hosh me aa sakta tha?

Garofano ki nazro me ek maun manzoori thi. Ava, sirf ek system holder nahi thi. Uske paas bhi uske trump cards the jinhe woh ujagar nahi kar rahi thi.

Erica aashcharya me uske qareeb aayi.

Erica : Itni jaldi kaise hosh aa gaya? Poison ki wajah se itni jaldi hosh nahi aana chahiye tha.

Ava : *huff* T-Tum... Tum sab... *huff*

Garofano : Calm down! Hum sab yaha Veer ke liye hi aaye hai. Aur, tumhe itni jaldi hosh aa gaya? Mein ye expect nahi kar rahi thi.

Ava maun rahi. Woh apne baare me kuchh bhi zaroori baatein nahi bataana chaahti thi.

Renshu : Humare paas samay barbaad karne ke liye nahi hai. Agar, hosh aa hi gaya hai toh kya tum Veer ki location ke baare me kuchh bata sakti ho? Kya tum jaanti ho woh kaha par hai iss waqt?

Ava wahi jamm ke reh gayi. Use yaad aaya. Woh ye kaise bhool sakti thi?

Usne Veer ko Death Flag se mark kar ke rakha hua tha. Bina kisi hich-kichahat ke usne apni aankhein band ki, Veer ki location par dhyaan kendrit kiya. Aur, kuchh hi palo me Veer ki asli location uske mastishq me aa gayi.

Usne apni aankhein kholi. Uska chehra peela pad gaya.

Ava (frowns) : W-Woh-! Woh shamshaan me hai! Uske neeche...! Underground...!

Renshu (frowns) : Shamshaan? Kaha par?

Ava ne use exact location batayi. Chaahe uska shareer kitna hi thaka hua kyu na ho, uske dimag me ek hi baat thi — Veer.

Garofano ne Renshu ko dekha. Dono ek baat jaan gaye the ki Ava ke paas Veer ko track karne ki koi na koi skill zaroor maujood thi. Dono ne hi mann me iss baat ki gaanth baandh li.

Garofano (turns) : Toh kya karna hai? Veer ke paas kaun jaa raha hai?

Renshu : Mumbai me tumhari maujoodgi ab koi rehesya nahi hai. Tum pehle bhi yaha sabke saamne aa chuki ho. Aur, haan- tum ek celebrity se kam bhi nahi. Poora Korea tumhare peechhe paagal hai. Isliye, tumhara Veer ke nazdeek jaana abhi faydemand nahi. Ye unwanted attention ko bulawa dega.

Garofano muskurayi. Apni ungliyon ko apne kaale reshmi baalo me firaayi.

Garofano (smirks) : Hmph! Thanks for the recognition- lekin, shayad tum bhool rahe ho ki mein stealth me maahir hu. Mujhe bas apne chehre par mask pehen'ne ki derr hai. That's it. But, haan! Abhi mein Natalia ko chhor ke yaha se nahi jaa sakti. Woh heal zaroor ho rahi hai but if trouble comes knocking, she won't be able to fight.

Renshu ne uski baat ko sweekar karte hue haami bhari.

Ava ne khud ko upar uthaaya, aur karkash awaaz me boli.

Ava : V-Veer ki family safe toh hai na? I... Usne mujhe- Usne mujhe zimmedari saunpi thi. *huff* M-Mein- Mein yaha aise nahi- *huff*

Renshu : Maine hotel me se ambulances ko nikalte hue dekha tha. Veer ki family ke kuchh logo ko check kiya tha maine. Hotel me ab koi nahi hai andar.

Ava (frowns) : K-Kya woh... Kya woh safe hai?

Renshu : Lagta toh hai. Police ne area ko takeover kar liya hai. Veer ki family shayad hospital gayi hai. Toh, uss hisaab se woh safe hone chahiye. Khatra hotel ke ird-gird hi tha.

Ava ne ek shaant saans chhori. Lekin, chinta zara bhi kam nahi hui.

Renshu (sighs) : Aur, agar mein chaahu bhi toh bhi hospital nahi jaa sakta.

Erica aur Ava dono ne hi use sawaaliya nazro se dekha.

Erica : Eh? Kyu dad?

Iske pehle ki Renshu jawab de paata, Garofano hasste hue jawab di.

Garofano (laughs) : Hahahaha! Because your dad is too damn big. Hospital me logo ko samajhne me hi ghante lag jayenge ki ye aadmi hai kaun? Itni badi qad-kaathi kaise hai? Kaha se aaya hai? Aur, Veer se uska kya sambandh hai? Hahaha! Samjhi?

Renshu : ...

Renshu ne uske chidhaane par koi pratikriya nahi di. Lekin, Erica kaha chup rehne waali thi?

Erica : Wh-What do you mean? Hmph! Mere dad ka matlab simple tha. Unka matlab hai ki Veer ko jald se jald dhundhna hai taaki problem ki asli jadd ka pata lag sake.

Garofano : Oh! Wow! Dekho toh humari Miss Erica ko. Smart banane ki kitni koshish kar rahi hai? But, you're still dumb. Fufu~

Erica : Who-? Who the hell are you calling dumb?

Garofano : Of course, you! Fufu~ Yaha par sirf tum hi dumb ho!

Erica : Y-You-!!

Usne apni mutthi bheenchi. Lekin, iske pehle ki woh jawab de paati, Renshu ki awaaz hawa me goonj uthi.

Renshu : ENOUGH!!!

Dono yuvtiyaan chup ho gayi. Par, Erica ka ghoorna khatam nahi hua.

Erica : Hmph!

Garofano : Fufu~

Renshu : Mein aur Erica Veer ki location par jayenge. Aur, tum yahi rahogi jab tak ki Natalia chalne ki condition me nahi aa jaati.

Garofano (nods) : Theek hai! Par, zyada derr mat lagaana. I don't like sitting on the sidelines.

Renshu ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh bas apni car ki orr muda. Erica ne uska peechha kiya, aage badhne se pehle Garofano ko ek akhiri nazar se dekha.

Garofano muskurate hue unhe jaata dekhi. Fir, Ava ki orr ghoomi jo abhi bhi seat par laiti hui thi.

Garofano : Maine jitna socha tha, tum uss se kahi zyada mazboot nikli. You're hiding your cards too. Just like him. *smiles*

Ava ne koi jawab nahi diya, lekin uski aankhon ki chamak se Garofano ko pata chal gaya ki usne uski baatein sunn li thi.

Aur, isi tarah Renshu aur Erica Veer ki location par pahuch paaye the. Magar, jab tak ve yaha par pahuche, Veer underground lair se nikal chuka tha.

Kintu, Erica ki basic seer vision ye pata laga sakti thi ki yaha kuchh derr pehle kya kuchh hua tha.

Renshu : Erica!?

Erica apni palke khol uthi. Uske badan me rue khade hue the.

Erica : D-Dad!

Renshu : ??

Erica : V-Veer-!

Erica ne poore drishya toh nahi, lekin kaafi hadd tak kuchh derr pehle ki ghatna ko dekh liya tha. Veer ka ajeebo-gareeb system holder se bhidna, neeche ka bhayanak vatavaran, thandi sadti laashein, maans ke tukde, experiments, SHB, Veer ka haath katna aur uska Juhi aur Pihu ko bachaana.

Erica ne jaise hi Renshu ko sab batlaaya toh Renshu ke khud ke badan me ek sihran daud gayi.

Woh bina koi deri kiye, Erica se lair ka entry point poonchh seedhe neeche ki orr kood gaya.

Erica : D-Daaad???

Majbooran, Erica ko bhi neeche koodna hi pada. Na jaane neeche kaun se rehesya khulne ke liye unka intezar kar rahe the.

***

Carewell Hospital,
Morning - 12:10 AM ~

Hospital ke automatic doors achanak se khule, lekin kisi ka dhyaan uss orr nahi gaya.

Duty par maujood kuchh karmchari apne phone me vyast the, toh kuchh counter par sirr tikaaye hue the aur kuchh the jo aadhi neend me dol rahe the ki ve sab corridor me hui tez raftaar se halchal ko dekh paane me vifal reh gaye.

Veer kisi hawa ke jhonke ki tarah waha daakhil hua. Uska shareer dagmaga raha tha, har qadam par perr felne ke liye aatur ho rahe the. Uski baayi aasteen gehre laal khoon se sani hui thi, jisme se aadhi se zyada aasteen toh poori gaayab ho chuki thi.

Baah me abhi bhi woh janzeerein bandhi hui thi. Uski chhaati ukhadi hui saanson ke saath upar-neeche ho rahi thi.

Aur, uske seene se usi surgeon sheet ke sang bandhi hui thi — Juhi. Uska chhota sa shareer uske seene se chipka hua tha, chehra blazer ke andar chhipa hua tha. Veer uski garm saansein apne seene par mehsoos kar paa raha tha. Woh so rahi thi. Shaant. Aur, surakshit.

Pihu ko woh pehle hi surakshit haatho me de aaya tha. Bachi thi toh sirf uski apni Juhi.

Woh Nidhi ke kamre number 31 me pahucha aur darwaza khola. Waqt hi aisa tha ki duty par mushqil se kuchh hi nurses aur safayi karmchari the jo apne-apne kaamo me lage hue the. Nateeja? Veer ke tez raftar se andar aane par kisi ko bhanak tak nahi lagi.

Woh aage badha. Uski drishti ab dhundhli pad rahi thi. Uski nazar saamne bistar par laiti ek aurat par gayi — Nidhi. Woh so rahi thi. Chehre par abhi bhi shikan ke bhaav the.

Veer uske nazdeek aaya. Kamra hil raha tha kya? Nahi! Woh khud ladkhada raha tha. Iske pehle ki woh zameen par girta, usne wahi lagi bench dekh khud ko dheela chhor diya aur seat par gir pada. Shareer ne akhir haar maan hi li. Uski aankhein band ho gayi.

Akhiri cheez jo usne mehsoos ki — woh tha Juhi ka harqat karta hua haath jo uske blazer ko kass ke jakadne ka prayatn kar raha tha aur fir — andhera.

Kuchh kshan baad...

Ek halki si harqat.

Nidhi ki palke jhapki aur woh jaag uthi. Uska sarr dard se tadak raha tha, ghatna ki yaadein tatt par aati samudra ki lehro ki tarah wapas aane lagi.

"J-Juhi...!"

Woh ghabrayi. Uski bacchi. Uski bacchi ko aghwa kar liya gaya tha. Woh chhatpataate hue uthi aur jaise hi uth ke uski nazar saamne padi. Woh wahi jamm ke reh gayi.

Uski beti, uski duniya — wahi thi. Surakshit. Uske saamne. Uska haath apne khule muh par gaya aur woh ro padi. Aansu beqaabu ho kar behne lage.

Woh kaanpte hue dhadalle se uthi aur aage badhi. Uske haath me lagi IV needle aur uske sang laga drip stand bhi uske saath khichta chala gaya.

Woh Veer ke bagal me ghutno ke bal baithi, uska chehra peela pada hua tha. Usne pehle apni bitiya ko dekha. Chhaati upar-neeche ho rahi thi. Bina kisi chot ke. Surakshit.

Lekin, fir... Uski nazar Veer par gayi.

Uska chehra — sookhe khoon se sana hua — bejaan lag raha tha. Sarr kuchh geela sa tha. Baalo me halki barf jami thi jaise. Blazer ke sang shirt kayi jagaho se fati hui thi. Baah, chhaati aur kamar me gehre ghaav dikhayi pad rahe the. Uske kapde khoon se sane hue the. Par, Nidhi ko sabse zyada dang kiya unn janzeeron ne.

Jinhe dekh uska poora badan kaanp utha. Aankhein bhay ke maare chaudi ho uthi. Badi-badi janzeerein uski baaho me kass kar lipti hui thi.

Uska haath zor se thar-thara utha. Kuchh beeti yaadein wapas saamne aane lagi.

---

Lagbhag do saal pehle ka samay tha. Aaj Nidhi ko ek nayi class niyukt ki gayi thi. Yeh pehli baar nahi tha. Use students ko kis tarah se handle karna hai, ye achhi tarah se aata tha.

Iske pehle woh school me bhi ek shikshak reh chuki thi. Shiksha dena use bakhoobi aata tha. Magar, college aur school me kuchh farq toh hota tha.

College me bachhe ab bacche nahi the. Woh baalig the, sayaane the aur javani ke josh me udd rahe naye khiladi the.

Jaise hi Nidhi classroom me pravesh ki, pal bhar ke liye ek sannaata sa chhaa gaya. Students fir ikhatte khade hue-

"Good morning ma'am!"

"Settle down!"

Uski awaaz dridh lekin garmjoshi se bhari thi. Uske bolte hi sabhi chhaatra wapas se apni seats par baith gaye.

Woh bina students ki taraf dekhe blackboard ko rub karne lagi aur ek safed chalk uthaate hue apna naam likhne lagi.

Nidhi Mishra

Khubsoorat si likhawat me likhte hue usne apna parichay diya.

Aur, jaisa ki hona chahiye tha, waisa hi hua. Nayi-nayi 18 baras ki aayu poorn karne waale javan laundo ke mann me laddu phootne lage. Aur, charcha ka vishay tha — ?

"Behanchod kya maal hai bhai."

"Bhai bol de ki ab yahi apni class teacher hai."

"Bhai hai toh karraa yaar. Sahi me!"

"Iska matlab woh madarchod takla gaya? Kya naam tha bey uska?"

"Bhupinder Daruwala!"

"Bhupinder nahi. Guu pait ke andar! Hahahahaha!"

"Hahahahaha! Abey haan bey! Lawda saala dimaag kha jaata tha betichod."

"Daruwala ki bahut daru pee li... Ab Nidhi se Vidhi seekhenge hahahaha!"

"Kaaye ki bhosdiwaale? Hahahaha!"

"Ah! Madam! Ah! Wo waali vidhi! Aah! Uuh!"

"Hahahahahahaha! Madarchod!"

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Yahi baatein ladko ke alag-alag jhund me hone lagi. Par, kya Nidhi ko ye sab sunayi nahi de raha tha? De raha tha. Bilkul, de raha tha. Kintu, woh khamosh thi. Nirash bhi. Aur, chotil bhi.

"Abey pait kuchh fela-fela sa hai iska magar. Hai na?"

"Pregnant hai kya?"

"Nahi bey! Baccha ho chuka hai shayad. Dhyaan se dekh!"

"Abey toh shuru ka mahina bhi toh ho sakta hai?"

"Chutiye toh woh yaha thodi aati padhaane."

"Haan ye bhi hai!"

"Koi nahi-! Mein wazan kam karwa dunga iska hahahaha!"

"Mujhse toh sirf wazan badhaate aata hai hehehe!"

"Hahahahahaha!"

"Pregnancy ke baad bhi pait foola rehta hai kya?"

"Waisa nahi bey chutiye! Bas thode time tak rehta hai. Abhi madam ko apne asli figure me aane me time lagega."

"Waise... Aise bhi koi kam maal nahi hai."

"Hahahahaha!"

Eka-ek Nidhi ka haath na chaahte hue bhi apne pait par chala gaya. Ladke bhale hi dheere-dheere ye sab khuspusaaye, magar aksar unki baatein sabhi teachers ko sunayi de jaaya karti thi.

Jab Nidhi ko apne pait par haath rakhte unn students ne dekha toh iss baar thoda satark hote hue unn logo ne apni baat-cheet ko virham de diya.

Parantu, unki ek baat sahi thi. Nidhi ko bamushqil abhi dedh se do mahina hi hua tha jab uska apna navjaat uss se chheen liya gaya tha. Dhruv — uski apni amaanat.

Yahi woh samay tha jab Nidhi ke jeevan ka sabse kharab daur shuru hua tha. Ek prataadit karta pati, daayan samaan saas ki gaaliyaan, apne hi bacche ko kho dena, unse bhaag ke apne ek kiraaye ke flat me rehna, aas-pados me uth rahe charche, samaaj ka nazariya, aur jo rahi-sahi kasar baaki reh gayi thi woh inn besharam ladko ne uss par behuda tippani kar ke poori kar di thi.

Lekin, woh jaanti thi ki har ladke ek jaise nahi hote the. Uske apne pita. Uska ek bhai. Woh bhi toh mard the na? Woh jaanti thi ki iss classroom me abhi bhi woh ladke the jo waqai uss se padhna chaahte the — jinke mann me koi galat bhavnaaye nahi thi.

Yahi vishvas liye usne bolna shuru kiya.

"Students! Aaj se... Aaj se mein aapki class teacher rahungi. I will be teaching you Mathematics."

"Ye hui na baat behanchod! Ab maza aayega hahahaha"

"Badhayi ho bhai! Takla gaya hahahaha! Nayi phuljhadi aa gayi."

Unki baatein dobaara se shuru ho gayi. Nidhi ke pehle Bhupinder ji the jo iss kaksha ke class teacher the. Kareeban 7-8 maah tak unhone iss kaksha ko sambhala tha. First year ke bache hue 3-4 mahino ke liye Nidhi ab unki class teacher bann ke aayi thi. Aur, uska swagat kaise hua? Inn bhaddi tippaniyo se.

Himmat rakhte hue usne attendance sheet uthayi aur sabhi ke naam pukaarte hue pehle attendance lene lagi. Ek-ek kar ke jab woh akhiri bache kuchh baccho ke naam pukaarne ko aayi toh-

"Vamika Chauhan!"

"Present ma'am!"

"Vasu Mehta!"

"Present ma'am!"

"Veer Singh!"

*Silence*

'Hmm?'

Ek khamoshi si chhaa gayi. Koi jawab hi nahi aaya. Nidhi ne apna sarr uthaate hue sabhi ko dekha aur usne punah awaaz lagaayi.

"Veer Singh???"

Tabhi, uski nazar sabse side waali row par padi jaha aakhiri bench par ek ladka akele baitha hua tha. Bagal waali row se 2-4 ladke hasste hue use bula rahe the.

"Bhai tere ko bula rahi madam!"

"Chutiye haath utha ke present toh bol de hahahahaha!"

Woh ladka hadbadata hua apna kaam beech me rok upar dekha. Uski nazar Nidhi se jaa takrayi. Ek pal ke liye woh dara par fir ahista se haath uthaate hue bola-

"P-Present ma'am!"

Nidhi kuchh kshan ke liye avaak reh gayi. Woh nahi jaanti thi aisa kyu tha par kuchh pal woh bas Veer ko dekhti rahi. Usne fir aaj ka samay jaise-taise nikaala. Baccho ko padhaaya aur waha se nikal gayi.

Agla din. Wahi kaksha, wahi bacche, wahi harqate. Ladkiyaan hi thi jo kam se kam uss se achhe se pesh aati thi. Adhiktar ladke sirf use hawas ki nazro se hi ghoorte the.

Magar, aaj Nidhi ki nazre class me ghoom rahi thi. Maano jaise chehro se bhara ek samundar tha kamre ke andar — kuchh muskura rahe the, kuchh fusfusa rahe the, kuchh uub ke jhuke hue the. Fir bhi, ek student alag dikh raha tha.

Veer Singh.

Kal ki hi tarah aaj bhi woh sab se dur kone me akela baitha hua tha, uski desk hi baakiyo se dur thi. Uski aankhein apni notebook par tiki hui thi, maano likhte rehne se woh duniya se bach jayega. Uski patli si kaaya uski badi uniform ke andar alag hi maalum pad rahi thi.

Pata nahi kyu par use iss qadar dekh Nidhi ko ek samaanta si mehsoos hui. Attendance lene se pehle woh ruk gayi, uski nazre Veer par tiki rahi.

'Woh akela kyu baitha hai?'

Yeh vichaar kal se uske dimaag me atka hua tha. Jab usne attendance ke liye naam pukaarna shuru kiye, toh sabhi chhaatra baari-baari ek swar me 'present ma'am' chillaate chale gaye. Kaksha me hasi ki ek leher daud gayi, dost ek dusre ko dhakka deke hasi mazaak karne lage, aur unki khusur-pusur jaari ho gayi.

"Veer Singh?"

*Silence*

Aaj bhi wahi hua. Nidhi use hi dekh rahi thi. Veer ne apna haath dheere se upar uthaaya.

"Present ma'am!"

Maujood hoke bhi aisa lag raha tha jaise woh adrishya tha baaki logo ke liye. Shaant aur darpok.

Veer ka akelapann sirf samajik nahi tha — ye uske jeevan me samaya hua tha.

Ek baar project ke dauran, Nidhi ne class me baccho se ek-dusre se partners banaane ke liye kaha.

"Apna ek partner banaiye aur saath mil kar project complete karna hai. Theek hai? Class dismissed."

Chhaatra turant apne dosto ke paas bhaage — dekhte hi dekhte alag-alag pairs bann gaye.

Veer ko chhor kar.

Woh baitha raha, apni notebook ko ghoorta raha. Departure ho chuka tha aur sabhi project ke baare me baatein karte hue chale gaye.

Veer ne chup-chap apna bag uthaaya aur uski orr aaya.

"Ma'am!? Kya mein akele project bana sakta hu?"

"Kyu?"

"Mujhse kisi ne poochha hi nahi. Sabke pehle hi pairs bann gaye."

Usne itni saralta se kaha, maano jaise use aadat ho gayi ho bhulaaye jaane ki. Nidhi ka gala andar hi andar roondh gaya. Uski chhaati me jaise ek dard utha. Woh kuchh na bol saki.

Ek shaam woh class ke baad derr tak ruki hui thi. Usne dekha ki Veer parking area ke paas baitha hua farsh ko ghoor raha tha. Uski aankhein laal thi.

"Veer?"

Usne jawab nahi diya.

"Kya hua?"

Firse koi jawab nahi. Magar, jab usne Veer ke saamne dustbin me dekha toh uski aankhein chaudi hokar reh gayi. Dustbin me Veer ka bag dala hua tha.

Woh akasmat uske bagal se aake khadi hui.

"Kisne kiya ye?"

"Nahi pata. *sniff* Farq nahi padta. Koi nayi baat nahi."

"Tum ruko abhi- mein abhi jaa ke-"

"Nahi! Koi zaroorat nahi hai. Aapke jaane se... Woh baad me aur tang karenge. *sniff* Rehne dijiye."

"Par-"

"Maine kaha na, ma'am! Rehne dijiye!"

Nidhi ne aage kuchh nahi kaha. Usne use rona band karne ke liye bhi nahi kaha. Iski bajaaye, woh bas uske bagal se baith gayi.

Varsho me pehli baar, Veer ko laga ki koi tha... Jo uski parvah kar raha tha.

Din beetate gaye aur Nidhi 'Veer' naam ke iss ladke ko observe karti gayi. Usne jaana ki Veer kabhi kisi se baat nahi karta tha.

Recess ke dauran koi bhi uske saath nahi baithata tha, ladko ka koi bhi group use invite nahi karta tha. Lunch ke samay jab chhaatra apni-apni mandliyo me ikhatta hote, Veer chup-chap waha se gaayab ho jaata. Lunch laata bhi tha ya nahi? Iska bhi pata nahi tha.

Aur, isliye ek dopahar Nidhi recess ke theek baad yuhi uske peechhe-peechhe gayi. Veer library me jaa raha tha.

Nidhi ne dekha ki woh library me khidki ke paas baithe, sirr jhukaaye, notebook me kuchh bana raha tha.

'Hmm?'

Woh aage badhi.

"Iss waqt lunch kiya jaata hai, Veer. Koi aur kaam nahi."

Veer uski awaaz sunn jhep gaya. Woh chaunk gaya, use samajh nahi aa raha tha ki jawaab de ya andekha kar de?

"M-Maine lunch kar liya hai, ma'am." Uski awaaz mushqil se Nidhi ke kaano me pahuchi.

"Achha? 5 minute hue hai abhi recess hue aur tumne lunch bhi kar liya? Jhooth bolte ho?"

"M-Maine subah zyada khaaya tha. Isliye, abhi bhookh nahi hai. M-Mein theek hu, ma'am."

"Kya waqai?"

Veer ne hichkichaate hue apni pen aur kass ke pakad li. "H-Haan! M-Mujhe yaha achha lagta hai. Yaha shaanti rehti hai."

Nidhi ne ek pal ke liye use dekha, fir chali gayi. Veer ko laga ki uska peechha chhoot gaya lekin kuchh der baad hi woh waapas laut aayi — sandwich ki ek plate ke saath.

"Agar, tumhe yahi baithna hai toh yahi baitho. Par, kam se kam kuchh khaa toh liya karo."

Veer plate ko ghoorta raha. Dang reh gaya tha. Aisa pehle kabhi kisi ne uske liye nahi kiya tha.

"M-Mujhe bhookh nahi hai, ma'am."

"Of course, tumhe hai. Tum bas maanane ke liye ziddi ho. Tum lunch nahi laate kya? Mummy nahi deti ghar pe?"

Maa ka zikr aate hi Veer maun reh gaya aur Nidhi jaise samajh gayi ki kuchh baat hai. Usne iss vishay ko aage nahi badhaaya. Veer fir apne aap se hi kuchh kshan baad bola.

"M-Mein-! Mein aaj lunch box bhool gaya. Chachi ne bana ke rakha tha. Lekin- mein bhool gaya."

"Oh! Toh ab kha lo. Theek hai?"

"Nahi! Maine kaha na ma'am. Mujhe bhook nahi hai."

Veer ne mana toh kar diya. Lekin, jab Nidhi plate neeche rakh ke waha se chali gayi, toh Veer ne kuchh hi kshano baad khud ko plate ki taraf aage badhte hue paaya.

Ek din, jab Veer apni baahon aur chehre par chot ke saath class me aaya — ragging aur bullying ke kuchh saboot.

Nidhi ne dekha. Usne kuchh poochha nahi.

Lekin, agli hi subah, Veer ko apni desk ke neeche ek bandage kit rakhi mili — ek chhote se note ke saath.

'Take care of yourself. Some people care about you — even if you don't believe it yet.'

Uss din ke baad se Veer Nidhi ki upasthiti ko aur adhik mehsoos karne laga.

Class me, woh aksar uski desk ke aas-paas hi khadi rehti, aur uss se sawaal bhi poochha karti.

"Veer! Tum batao? Kya ye answer sahi hai?"

"Veer! Tumhari kya raay hai isme?"

Pehle toh woh jawab nahi de paata tha. Uski awaaz mushqil se uske muh se nikalti thi. Lekin, Nidhi ne apna prayas nahi chhora. Nidhi uske astitva ko poora karti thi. Lagne laga tha jaise ab woh adrishya nahi tha.

Ek din woh deri se aaya. Woh ghabrahat me darwaze ki dehleez par khada ho gaya.

"S-Sorry! Ma'am- mein..."

"Koi baat nahi!" Nidhi ne beech me hi tokte hue kaha, uski awaaz naram thi. "Ab aa gaye ho na? Baith jao!"

Zyadatar teachers use khari-kothi suna dete lekin, Nidhi... Woh muskurayi. Woh muskaan use shabdo se kahi zyada shaant kar deti.

Ek din Nidhi ne use apni notebook me kuchh banaate hue pakad liya.

"Tum drawing bhi karte ho??"

Veer ne jhepte hue jaldi se apni notebook band kar li. Uski drawing achhi nahi thi. Lekin, use banaane ka shauk tha.

"K-Kuchh nahi-! A-Aise hi bas..."

"Uff-Oh! Ab chalo bhi mujhe dekhne do."

Hichkichaate hue lekin bharosa kar, Veer ne dheere se notebook kholi. Andar alag-alag sketches the. Kuchh landscapes ke, kuchh chehro ke, aur ek kone me — Nidhi ka khud ka ek chhota sa chitr.

Nidhi ne aashcharya me palke jhapkayi. Fir, haule se hasi.

"Arey waah! Bahut khoob. Par, Veer-!? Mujhe nahi lagta ki meri naak itni badi hai. Hai na?"

Veer ka chehra sharm se laal pad gaya.

"Ye... Ye abhi poora nahi hua hai, ma'am." Usne haklaate hue kaha.

"Koi baat nahi... *smiles* Mein mazaak kar rahi thi. Tum talented ho. Ise chhipaane ki koi zaroorat nahi. Confidence rakha karo, Veer. Okay?"

"J-Ji!"

Jaise-jaise unka rishta aur mazboot hota gaya, unki baatein aur bhi sehej hoti chali gayi. Thodi chanchal bhi.

"Tum humesha ye notebook saath leke ghoomte ho." Woh ek baar use chidhaate hue boli. "Kya hai isme aisa? Hmm? Duniya par qabza karne ka master plan?"

"Haan!" Usne bebaaki se jawab diya. "Sabse pehla qadam — Ek aisa teacher dhundhna jo meri notebook ko lekar baar-baar na poochhe."

"Hahahahaha!" Aur, woh khil-khila ke hass padi.

Veer bhi badle me muskura diya. Shayad ye pehli baar tha jab Nidhi ne use muskurate hue dekha tha.

Class me ek baar questions ke dauran, Veer ne pehli baar koi galti pakdi thi.

"Ma'am, waha par... Waha par sin ki jagah cos aayega."

"Oh??" Nidhi ne bauhe chadhayi. "Mujhse galti ho gayi?"

"Haan!"

"Theek hai toh... Class! Agla question Veer solve karega blackboard pe. Chalo, Veer. Utho apni seat se!"

"Eh??? N-Nahi! Ma'am... Ek minute!"

"Hahahaha! Good luck!" Nidhi uski haalat par hasi.

Veer dara. Nidhi mazak nahi kar rahi thi. Woh blackboard ke saamne khada tha aur chalk se likhte samay uske perr kaanp rahe the. Lekin, fir Nidhi ne podium se fusfusate hue uss se kaha-

"Tum sahi kar rahe ho. Solve karte jao. Daro nahi!"

Jab ek baar Veer ko pehli baar assignment test me Maths me thode achhe marks mile toh usne dekha ki Nidhi ne uske test paper par kuchh likha hua tha — Told you you'd do great. ^⁠_⁠^ But you need to do even better.

Ek baar career ke lakshyo ke baare me charcha ke dauran, Nidhi ne Veer se akele me baat karte hue sehejta se tippani ki-

"Veer! Tumhe ek high goal rakhna chahiye. Tumhare jaise log... Tum apna potential barbaad kar rahe ho."

Magar, Veer ko — ek ladka jise uske parivar waale aksar ye keh dete ki woh apni zindagi me kuchh bhi nahi kar payega — uske shabd bahut chubh gaye.

"Aapko lagta hai ki mein apna samay barbaad kar raha hu???" Usne oonchi awaaz me poonchha. "Mein har din apni poori koshish karta hu, theek hai na? Aap jaanti bhi kya ho mere baare me?? *sniff* Koi nahi jaanta."

Nidhi ne palke jhapkayi. Woh achambhit thi. Veer pehli baar iss tarah se gusse me kuchh uss se bola tha.

"Mera matlab ye nahi tha, Veer. Mein-" Usne Veer ka kandha thaama.

"Rehne dijiye! *sniff* Aadat hai mujhe." Usne jhapatta maarte hue khud ko chhuraaya aur baahar nikal gaya.

Teen dino tak, Veer uss se bachta raha. Nazrein churaata raha. Lekin, chauthe din woh use library me mil hi gaya.

"Mera... Mera tumhara dil dukhane ka irada nahi tha, Veer." Usne dheere se kaha. "Mein bas... Mujhe tum pe vishvas hai. Bas itna hi."

"Hmm... Theek hai... Mujh par apna vishvas barbad mat kariye, ma'am." Woh badbadate hue bola.

"Uske liye ab bahut derr ho chuki hai. Mera paala ab tumse jo pad chuka hai." Woh muskurate hue boli.

Aur, iss baar-

Veer naraaz na reh saka. Woh sharmaate hue muskuraya aur apna muh ferr liya. Nidhi uske sharmaane par bas hasti reh gayi. Woh sahi thi. Aaj bhi kuchh ladke the jo uske prati galat bhavnaaye nahi rakhte the. Veer unme se ek tha. Ya yu kahe, unn sab me se sabse alag.

Aur, aise hi woh teen mahine kab guzar gaye, dono ko hi pata nahi chala. Veer vartalap me apna confidence dheere-dheere gain kar raha tha. Chhutiyaan padi aur uske baad shuru hua second year.

Pehla din tha. Naye juniors ko hall me baitha ke unka swagat kiya jaa raha tha. Classes lagni shuru ho chuki thi. Veer ki class ki teacher punah badal chuki thi lekin, Nidhi ko sabhi chaahne lage the aur isliye use wapas se class teacher banaane ki maang bhi rakhne lage.

Aur, fir aaya woh waqt-

Departure ke dauran. Veer ne jab Nidhi ko jaldbazi me jaate dekha toh usne use pukaara-

"Ma'am??"

Magar, Nidhi na ruki. Usne Veer ki awaaz hi nahi suni. Woh bahut hi jaldbazi me thi. Chehre par chinta bhi jhalak rahi thi.

Veer ne mann hi mann khud ko samjhaya ki har waqt koi uske liye haazir nahi reh sakta tha. Aur, fir woh pal aaya-

Jab uski nazar uss par padi. Pragya! Ek behad khubsoorat chehra. College ki jaani-maani sundar ladkiyo me se ek.

Aur, fir Ajay ka use dekhna, apne pantaro ko ishaara karna, Veer ka scooty uthaate hue ghar ki orr nikalna, Ajay aur uske saathiyo ka bikes se use gherna, use college ki peechhe waale raaste par le jaana, use buri tarah peetna, ghaayal karna, aur baarish hoti sooraj dhalti shaam me use sadak par chhor dena.

Yahi sab toh hua tha. Nahi! Yahi nahi! Uske baad use ghar se nikaal diya jaana, Uska aspataal me hona, marrne ki kagaar par hona, aur Nidhi ka waha par aana.

---

-Aur, aaj woh uske saamne tha.

'Aap chinta mat kariye!! Mein Juhi ko leke aaunga. Mein aapse vaada karta hu!'

Uske bol Nidhi ke kaano me goonj gaye. Usne apna vaada nibha diya tha.

Nidhi ka haath kaanp raha tha, woh uske bagal me ghutno par gir padi. Uski ungliyaan jhijhakte hue aage badhi aur fir usne Veer ki fati hui aasteen ko kass kar pakad liya.

Uski rone ki siskiyaan chhootne lagi. Ghutan bhari awaaz. Uske mote-mote aansu Veer ke khoon se sane haath par girne lage.

"*hic* Aaaaaaaaaa-!!! *hic*"

Woh royi. Kuchh bol nahi paa rahi thi. Iss sab ka bhaar use kuchal raha tha. Agar, Juhi ko kuchh ho jaata toh-

Iss vichaar ne uske shareer ko aur bhi zyada kaanpne par majboor kar diya. Usne apna chehra Veer ke perr se sataaya, uske perr kass ke pakde — maano use chhorne se Juhi fir se uss se dur chali jayegi. Aur, Veer bhi.

Mann hi mann woh Veer ko lagatar dhanyavad deti rahi. Kuchh pal beet gaye, fir usne apna sarr uthaaya.

Veer behosh tha. Usne apni ungliyon se Veer ke khoon se sane chehre ko chhiya, uske angoothe ne Veer ke maathe par fir ek ghaav ko chhiya.

"V-Veer-!" Uski awaaz toot gayi. Honth thar-thara uthe.

Aur, fir usne apni baahein uske kandho par rakhi, uske sirr ko dheere se uthaaya aur agle hi pal-

Use apni chhaati se laga liya. Veer ki garm saansein uske seene par padi. Magar, uska chehra poori tarah se thanda mehsoos ho raha tha.

Nidhi ke aansu ab khul kar gir rahe the. Woh bilakh-bilakh kar ro rahi thi. Veer ko apne aalingan me liye, use kass ke pakde woh khadi-khadi dahaad maar ke roti rahi. Jaise varsho se usne khud ko roke rakha tha aur ab uski bhavnaaye khul kar baahar nikal rahi thi.

"M-Maine tumhe apne se dur dhakela..." Woh fusfusayi. "Har baar... *hic* Har baar maine tumhe dur kiya."

Use yaad aaya jab usne Veer ko 1 lakh rupaye ki payment kar di thi. Kaise woh uss par bhadka tha.

Use ye bhi yaad aaya ki uski padosan Mrs. Tiwari kis tarah use Veer jaise ladko se dur rehne ki hidayat de rahi thi.

Ye sab yaad karte hi, usne Veer ko aur kass ke laga liya.

"Mujhe maaf kar do-!! *hic*" usne roondhi hui awaaz me budbudaya. "Mujhe maaf kardo, Veer!! Aaaaaaaa-!! Aaaaaaaaaa!! *hic* *sniff*"

Aur, firse usne uska sirr apni chhaati me aur bhi gehraayi me daba liya. Aur, inn teen saalo me aaj pehli baar — usne apni bhavnao se bhaagna band kar diya.

"Maine tumhe chaahna kabhi nahi chhora tha... Trust me... Mein bas... *hic* Mein bas darti thi."

"L-Lekin, *sniff* ab aur nahi bhaagungi."

Veer ke sang bitaaye use saare puraane pal yaad aane lage.

Har muskaan jo woh chhipaata tha.
Har aansu jo woh dabaata tha.

"Tum... *sniff* Tum akele the... M-Mujhe aur bhi bahut kuchh karna chahiye tha... *hic* Mujhe tumhare paas aur rehna chahiye tha."

"Par ab... *hic* Ab mein hu yaha. Aur, mein ab kahi nahi jaungi. *sniff* Kabhi bhi nahi."

Usne na jaane kab se inn bhavnao ko dabaaye rakha tha. Lekin, ab aur nahi.

Aasmaan me aatishbaziyo se fel rahe rang bikhre hue the, aur hospital ke iss kamre me ek mahila ne khoon se sane ek naujavan ko apni baaho me bhar rakha tha.

Aur, hospital ke saamne ki building ki terrace par khade do log ye sab kuchh dekh paa rahe the.

Erica : See, dad? Yahi woh Nidhi hai jinki beti ko Veer bacha ke laaya. But... I have never seen him so low.

Renshu : Low? He's the one who's the tallest among us. Na sirf usne unki jaan par khatra nahi aane diya, balki woh unhe chhuraane me bhi qamyab tha. Par, ab time nahi hai. Erica-!

Erica samajh gayi ki use kya karna tha. Garofano ko call connect kar ke Ava se poochhne ke baad dobara se Veer ki nayi location le li thi unhone.

Erica bina kuchh kahe waha se ek kshan me gaayab ho gayi.

Andar derr raat me hospital ka corridor shaant tha. Shreya ki bauhe sikudi aur palke jhapkaate hue woh kursi par se uthi. Sabhi resting area me so chuke the aur woh aur uske Ishaan bhaiya hi yaha kursi par baithe the.

Usne dekha ki uske bhaiya bhi baitha-baithe hi so rahe the. Apne phone ko dheele haath se pakdi woh Nidhi ko dekhne ke liye uske kamre ki orr badhi.

Lekin, Nidhi ke kamre ke paas pahuchte hi uske qadam wahi tham gaye.

Darwaaze ke sheeshein se... Usne dekha.

Veer.
Nidhi.
Juhi.

Nidhi ne Veer ke chehre ko apni chhaati se laga rakha tha — khoon se lathpath aur ghaayal.

Shreya bhauchakki reh gayi.

Drishya use umeed se zyada prabhavit kar gaya. Uski ungliyaan phone par kass gayi. Aur, vibhinn anubhutiyaan ek pal me mehsoos ho gayi.

Raahat — kyunki, Veer sahi salamat tha.

Khushi — kyunki, Juhi surakshit thi.

Irshya — kyunki, Veer kisi aur ki baaho me tha.

Glaani — kyunki, jiski baaho me tha woh uski apni badi behan hi thi. Ye sab uske mann me nahi aana chahiye tha.

Aur, dard — na jaane kyu.

*Click*

Darwaaze ki awaaz aate hi Nidhi chaunk kar tezi se mudi.

'Huh?'

Saamne koi ladki thi. Iske pehle ki woh kuchh keh paati-

"Shh! It won't hurt! Please! Sleep!"

Nidhi ko kuchh pata nahi chala. Uski aankhon ke saamne achanak se andhera chhaa gaya.

***

Ek ukhdi hui saans.

Veer ki aankhein fad-fada kar khuli. Chhat alag thi. Hawa me gandh toh wahi thi — antiseptic ki. Magar, uski chhaati par se woh bhaar gaayab tha.

Juhi.

Uski saans atakne ko hui, ghabrahat ne uske shareer ko jhakjhor diya. Uski baahein Juhi ko paane ke liye fadki. Kaha gayi woh?

Par, agle hi pal use mehsoos hua — uske dono taraf, daaye aur baaye koi uski baaho ko jakde hue tha.

'Huh?'

Uska sirr daayi orr muda.

Tej.

Uski Teju di ne use pakde rakha tha. Magar, nigaahein saamne ki orr ek band darwaaze par tiki thi.

Woh baayi orr muda.

Kavya.

Woh uss se chipki hui thi. Tej ki hi tarah, woh bhi saamne hi nazre gadaayi thi.

Uske haatho se bediyaan gaayab thi. Ye kaise hua? Janzeerein uski kalaayi par locked thi. Kaha chali gayi wo?

Kuchh gadbad thi. Tabhi-

“Veer!”

Ghane vatavaran me ek awaaz goonj gayi. Shweta! Use jaagta hua dekh uski aankhein chaudi ho gayi. Woh chillaati hui uske nazdeek aayi. Aur, kamre me maujood sabhi ki nigaahein Veer par pad gayi.

Badhi toh Bhavna bhi thi lekin, Shweta ne aate hi Veer ke chehre ko thaam liya aur use betaab apne seene se laga liya.

"Hosh aa gaya mere bete ko... Hey bhagwan!"

Veer akad ke reh gaya. Uske shareer ka har ang dard se tadak raha tha, lekin uljhan ka bojh dard se kahi zyada bhaari tha.

Ye sab yaha kyu the? Ye woh aspataal toh nahi tha jaha par Nidhi bharti thi.

Tej aur Kavya uss se lipti hui thi. Uski Shweta maa, aur uski maa — Bhavna. Sab ro rahi thi.

Usne dekha ki uske pita-

Brijesh!

'???'

Uske pita bhi kone me haath mode chintan me khade hue the. Uski behan Aarohi apni laal aankhein liye rote hue use hi dekh rahi thi.

Aabha aur Sonali bhi ek jagah par baithi use rote hue dekh rahi thi. Aur, na jaane kitne log the.

Uska sirr ghoom raha tha. Dhadkane tez ho rahi thi. Kuchh nahi, bahut kuchh galat lag raha tha.

'P-Pari? What the hell happened?'

Magar-

Sannaata. Koi jawab nahi.

'P-Pari? Juhi kaha hai? Ye sab kya chal raha hai?'

Fir bhi koi jawab nahi. Usne apne daant peese.

'Pariiii-!!'

Magar, kuchh nahi. Pari sleep mode me jaa chuki thi.

Uski saansein tez hui. Use Nidhi ke kamre me jaana yaad tha. Use yaad tha ki Juhi uske seene se hi lipti hui thi. Use ye bhi yaad tha ki woh seat par gira tha. Lekin, uske baad-!?

Use kuchh bhi yaad nahi tha. Kya hua tha? Veer ki nazar achanak baayi orr dur ek corridor me padi. Aur, usne dekha-

Kone ke paas, uske parivar se alag. Teen log khade hue the.

Renshu. Erica. Aur, Garofano.

Jo use hi dekh rahi thi.




System holders. Yaha par? Woh sab yaha kyu the? Use tabhi yaad aaya-

Yarnia's launch.

Woh toh aaj thi na? Toh kya hua? Sab yaha kyu the? Aur, ro kyu rahe the? Yarnia ka kya hua?

Aur, use yaad aa gaya.

Mission ki penalty. Ek sihran uske badan me daud gayi. Kahi isliye toh sab-?

Nahi! Aisa nahi ho sakta. Usne Juhi, Pihu ko bacha liya tha. Fir, akhir aur koi kaise khatre me ho sakta tha? Woh koi sawal kar paata ki itne me saamne ka darwaza khul gaya.

Ek doctor baahar nikal ke aaya. Sab achanak se khade ho gaye. Jis baat ko Veer ka darr tha, woh darr aur gehra ho gaya.

Doctor ne sabhi ko dekha aur fir Veer ko dekh ek haami bhar uski orr chalte hue nazdeek aaya jaise woh jaanta tha ki use kis se baat karni thi.

Veer Singh.

Yahi wo vyakti thi jise usko jawab dena chahiye. Doctor ne ek gehri saans li. Fir, ek asthir awaaz me bola-

"I'm very sorry, sir. Hum unhe bacha nahi sake. Mr. Manorath is no more."

*Badump*

Dhadalle se darwaza punah khula, stretcher par Manorath ji ka shav tha, upar se safed kapda dhaka hua tha.

Cheekhein goonj uthi. Parivar jano ke rone ki awaaz aspataal me goonjne lagi.

Veer ko kuchh samajh aata ki tabhi-

"Although, Miss Ragini ki situation kaafi critical thi. But, doctor ne mujhe khabar de di hai."

'Ragini' naam sunn woh wapas se hosh me aaya.

"She's out of danger now."

Raahat bamushqil ek kshan ke liye hi thi.

"But there's only one problem. I'm sorry to say but — woh ab pehle ki tarah kabhi nahi chal payengi."

Aur, aspatal ko ek gehre sannaate ne dhak liya.
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Aaj ke liya itna hi guys.
This update consists of 8.3k words. Jaan boojh ke around itni length ka rakha hai warna ye update 10k ke upar jaa raha tha. Too much info dump iss update me mujhe sahi nahi lagi because Nidhi ka aham hissa tha iss update me. So, I decided to post those sections in the later updates. This update also justifies why Nidhi took Veer to her house and sheltered him. Unke beech ka rishta ekdum naya nahi tha. They knew each other. Mehez 3 mahino ka hi rishta tha lekin, unn teen mahino ne bahut kuchh badal diya tha. Samay-samay par aise hi flashbacks ke zariye hum Nidhi aur Veer ke madhya aur bhi moments dekhenge. Yaha par past kaisa laga woh zaroor bataane ka. Baaki, target apna wahi hai. 300. Pahucha dene ka. Agle update se Post Disembowler arc shuru ho jayega.
Milte hai agle bhaag me.
Dhanyavad.

Awesome update

 

[Xkingthakur]

Nice update bro keep it up

 

[lovenaeem88]

Super fantastic update janab

 

[Harman11]

Update - 197 ~ Despondency ​

Ab tak...

Veer ko kuchh samajh aata ki tabhi-

"Although, Miss Ragini ki situation kaafi critical thi. But, doctor ne mujhe khabar de di hai."

'Ragini' naam sunn woh wapas se hosh me aaya.

"She's out of danger now."

Raahat bamushqil ek kshan ke liye hi thi.

"But there's only one problem. I'm sorry to say but — woh ab pehle ki tarah kabhi nahi chal payengi."

Aur, aspatal ko ek gehre sannaate ne dhak liya.

Ab aage...

Mukhya hall safed chaadron se dhaka hua tha. Pooja ki samagri aur phoolo ki mehek ek mishran me hawa me ghuli hui thi.

Beech me Manorath ji ka shav aise pada hua tha jaise maano wo bas kisi gehri neend me so rahe ho. Koi shikan nahi. Bas bejaan.

"Papaaaaaaa jiiiii!"

Brijesh rota hua unki chhaati se lipatne ki koshish kiya, magar Arun aur Shyaam ne use pakad kar peechhe kheench liya.

Karunesh, Pranjal aur Vivek bhi wahi the. Teeno ke sirr neeche jhuke hue the. Hairani ki baat yeh thi ki Karunesh ki aankhon me bhi aasu the.

Aur, kone me khadi Bhavna ki aankhein bhi namm thi. Manorath ji jaise bhi the, unhone kabhi bhi uska bura nahi chaaha tha. Isliye, humesha se hi uske mann me unke liye aadar aur sammaan hi tha. Unhe iss tarah se jaata dekh, aaj uska dil bhi chotil tha.

“Mummaaa-!”

Kavya sisakte hue apni maa, Sumitra se lipat gayi jiski khud ki aankhein aasuon se bheegi hui thi. Sumitra ne bhi kass ke use apne aalingan me bhar liya.

Shweta khud kuchh kehne laayak nahi thi. Bhale hi Manorath se uska rishta behad mazboot nahi tha par itne saal se ek chhat ke neeche hi wo sab ke saath rehti aayi thi. Kahi na kahi Manorath ji ki mrityu ka asar uss par bhi pada tha. Bhumika ki bhi haalat yahi thi — niraasha se paripoorn.

Purvi wahi thoda door baithi sab kuchh dekh rahi thi. Bauhe sikudi hui thi aur mann vichlit.

Shyaam, Gauri, aur Parijaat ki aurtein, ye sabhi gaanv ki aatma the. Uski reedh. Ve ekjut, maun khade the, toofan ke khilaf puraane pedo ki tarah dard ko sehte hue. Aane waali zimmedariyon ke liye poori tarah se taiyaar.

Suhana apni behan Sonia ke saath thi, dono ke ird-gird suit pehne unke bodyguards khade hue the. Apne haath baandhe, sunglasses pehne, Sonia ek kursi par wahi baahar baithi hui thi. Itna gamgeen mahaul dekh wo sehem si gayi thi.

Toh wahi, Suhana thoda kaanp rahi thi. Raat bhar ke jaagne se uski aankhein laal ho rakhi thi. Apne phone par nazre gadaaye wo sandesho ko padhti jaa rahi thi.

Usne andar hall me baithe Veer ko dekha. Uske honth khule, par fir thar-thara ke band ho gaye.

Kya use haq tha uske paas jaane ka? Aise waqt par? Wo wahi khadi yeh sochti rahi.

Idhar Kaera kuchh feet door khadi thi, uska bhai Karan kuchh logo se baat-cheet kar raha tha. Shuru se ant tak, Kaera ki nazrein ek hi shaks par tiki hui thi — Veer.

Woh uske paas jaana chaahti thi. Use galey se lagaana chaahti thi. Use samjhaana chaahti thi. Lekin, uske perr hilne me asamarth reh gaye.

Uski bhavnaaye jo haal hi me jaagrit hui thi — aaj ek aur nayi anubhooti se guzar rahi thi. Aaj wo wahi mehsoos kar paa rahi thi jo usne tab mehsoos kiya tha jab usne apni maa, Archana ko khoya tha.

Dukh. Peeda. Udaasi.

Wo saare bhoole gaye emotions waapas sateh par aa rahe the.

Aabha bhi ek jagah apna ghoonghat odhe dheere-dheere ro rahi thi. Manorath se uska lagaav nahi tha. Ye aansu kal raat jo bhayanak drishya hue aur jis tarah se sab kuchh ujda, uske liye the. Apne maalik ko iss tarah dekh uska dil andar hi andar dehel raha tha.

Sonali use apne se laga ke sambhaalne ki koshish kar rahi thi, kintu woh swayam hi bheetar se ghabrayi hui thi.

Magar, Veer ka kya-!?

Tej ne use dekha. Wo chup-chaap Manorath ke saamne baitha hua tha. Jaise maano uss se abhi bhi ye khabar nahi pachaayi jaa rahi thi. Par, wo uss se kuchh na boli. Balki, wo to nazrein hi nahi mila paa rahi thi.

Ek chhota sa kaam tha. Apne bhai ki gerr-maujoodgi me Yarnia ka udhghatan karna. Bas! Iss ek chhote se kaam ko karne me wo naqamyab thi. Na sirf hotel ko nuksaan pahucha, balki Yarnia ka sampoorn karyakram bhi barbaad ho gaya. Logo ki jaane chali gayi aur upar se humle me gharwalo ne bhi apni jaan gawa di.

Aur, ye sab kuchh hua — Naye saal ki lagne waali raat me. Naya saal unke liye khushiyaan nahi, balki barbaadiyaan leke aaya. To aise me Tej akhir kaise apne bhai se nazrein mila sakti thi?

Veer ke bagal se hi Arohi bhi thi. Honth thar-thara rahe the aur bechaari ka poora chehra aansuon se bheega hua tha.

Wo uski orr jhuki. Usne Veer ke kandhe par haath rakha-

Arohi : V-Veer!

Par, koi jawab nahi.

Bas — khamoshi.

Arohi ne uske haath ko apne haath me lete hue baandha aur ek baar fir se use jhunjhlaaya.

Arohi : V-Veeeer! *sniff*

Kintu, punah koi jawab nahi. Wo hila hi nahi. Ekdum sthir — bina koi palke jhapkaaye. Jaise samay sirf uske liye ruk gaya ho. Arohi ne ek baar aur koshish ki.

Arohi : Veeeeer! M-Mujhe aise darao mat, please. *sniff* Kuchh bolo. Veeeer?

Magar, abhi bhi koi pratikriya nahi.

---

Kuchh der pehle...

Yeh woh waqt tha jab Veer Juhi aur Pihu ko apne badan par laade Disembowler ki lair se baahar nikla tha.

Uski har saans fool rahi thi, drishti dhundhli pad rahi thi, lekin woh rukne ko taiyaar nahi tha.

Juhi uski chhaati se bandhi hui thi, uska kamzor shareer thakaan ke chalte neend me upar-neeche ho raha tha. To, wahi Pihu peechhe uski peeth par behosh thi.

Baah me bhayanak tez dard uthne ke bawajood Veer use thaam ke rakha hua tha — ekdum adig.

Pari ki awaaz tabhi uske dimaag me goonji.

[Master! Aapka haath. You need to rest right now. 'Limb Substitution' ki madad se kaafi hadd tak uss waqt haath position me aa gaya tha, lekin aapne-]

Pari shikayat kar rahi thi. Veer ka haath 'Limb Substitution' ke equip karte hi sahi dhang se position me aa chuka tha. Zaroorat thi toh bas kuchh dino ke araam ki, jiske chalte uska haath wapas se pehle ki tarah ho jaane waala tha.

Magar, usne kya kiya-!?

Disembowler se bhidte waqt, usne jhatke se liquid nitrogen ke cylinder ko kheencha tha, jiske parinam swaroop uska haath wapas se lachakte hue ukhad chuka tha.

Na keval dobara use jodne ke liye shareer ki urja ka istemal hua, balki haath ke ukhadte hi ek baar fir use bloodloss se guzarna pada.

Ab agar samay rehte haath ko araam nahi diya gaya, to ye samasya aur bhi gambheer mod le sakti thi. Aur, isliye Pari chintit thi. Kyunki, iss waqt bhi — Veer ka haath Pihu ko peechhe se thaame hue tha. Haath par zor pad raha tha.

Veer ne bamushqil hi koi pratikriya di. Uska dimag ek hi cheez par kendrit tha — kaise bhi karke dono bacchiyo ko surakshit unke apno tak pahuchaaya jaaye.

Woh waha se bhaaga. Pari ki baat par usne kuchh derr baad jawab diya.

'Yeah! I- I know, Pari. Lekin, mere paas rukne ka koi option nahi hai. I must move on.'

Sadke street lights aur aasmaan aatishbaziyo se jagmaga raha tha. Police ki jeeps sadko par daud rahi thi, adhikaari hatyaare aur laapata ladkiyon ki talaash me har kone, har gali ko chhaan rahe the.

Aur, unhi jeep me se ek jeep me — Trisha thi.

Uski aankhein sooji hui thi, dashboard ko pakde hue uske haath kaanp rahe the.

"Tez chalo!!!"

Usne driver ko aadesh diya, ghanto chillaane se uski ab awaaz bhi fatt rahi thi. Bahut lamba samay ho gaya tha. Bahut saare ghante guzar chuke the — koi suraag nahi, koi sanket nahi, koi ummeed nahi. Bebasi ka bojh ab use ghutan de raha tha, magar usne tootne se inkaar kar diya.

Woh iss tarah, iss samay nahi toot sakti thi. Apni beti ko dhundhne se pehle to hargiz nahi.

Rohan, uska pati bhi wahi kahi sadko par tha. Beti ki khoj me paagalo ki tarah sheher me bhaag raha tha. Parantu, ye sab vyarth jaane waala tha agar unhe unki beti na mili toh.

Fir, jeep ne ek mod liya.

Aur, koi waha par tha.

Sadak ke beech me ek akela shaks, khoon se lathpath. Uski shirt fati hui thi, chehra ghaavo aur khoon ke kaaran bamushqil se pehchaana jaa sakta tha.

Woh waha khada tha, haanf raha tha, kaanp raha tha — lekin, sirf wahi nahi tha.

Uske seene se kuchh bandha hua tha. Koi tha. Nahi! Sirf seene se hi nahi, peeth par bhi koi tha.

Trisha ke dil ki dhadkane maano wahi tham gayi.

"Rukooooo!" Veh chillaayi.

Jeep ghisatate hue achanak ruk gayi. Jaise hi usne darwaza khola, kaanpte haatho se usne turant bandook nikaali aur seedhe saamne khade shaks par nishaana saadh diya.

"Theher jao!"

Woh chillaayi. Uski awaaz teekhi thi, ghabrahat ke bawajood usne apne aap ko sthir rakha hua tha. Jeep ki headlights jaise hi uss shaks ke peechhe ladi nanhi si bacchi ke chehre par padi, to Trisha ki aankhein bhay ke maare fel gayi.

Pihu!

Uski aankhein khoon se saney uss shaks ke chehre par ghoomi aur fir apni bacchi par.

Kaun tha ye vyakti?

Aur, uski beti uski peeth par?

Upar se wo kahi se bhi dara hua nahi prateet ho raha tha.

Idhar, Veer ne Trisha ko dekh apni gati dheemi nahi ki, balki woh chalta raha — seedhe uski orr.

Trisha ki pakad trigger par mazboot ho gayi.

"Maine kaha ruk jao!"

Woh darr rahi thi. Kya yahi wo serial killer tha? Kya isi ne uski bacchi aur Juhi ko agwa kiya tha?

Kya kare woh? Kahi woh vyakti uski chetavni ka bura maan bacchiyo ko kuchh kar diya to? Kya use bandook neeche kar leni chahiye? Kya kare? Use kuchh nahi soojh raha tha.

Lekin, tabhi veh bola.

"Tumhari beti... Surakshit hai!"

'Huh?'

Uski awaaz halanki karkash thi, lekin usme koi darr nahi tha. Koi hich-kichaahat nahi. Keval nishchitata.

Trisha ki saansein atakne lagi. Uska dimaag kaam karna band kar raha tha.

Jaise hi Veer ne uske aur apne beech doori kam ki, jeep me baithe baaki police karmiyo ne turant hi qadam uthaaya, apne-apne hathyaar liye unn sabhi ne Veer par bandooke taan di. Unki ungliyaan bhi trigger par mandra rahi thi, thodi si bhi galat harqat par goliyaan chalaane ke liye ekdum taiyaar.

Lekin, Trisha abhi bhi Veer ko ghoor rahi thi. Usne apna haath ghabraate hue uthaaya.

"Nahiiiiii!"

Woh chillaayi aur usne sabhi police karmiyo ko goli chalaane se rok diya.

Woh nahi jaanti thi ki usne aisa kyu kiya. Kya ye darr tha? Ya fir kuchh aur? Lekin, use itna zaroor samajh aaya ki bandook ko iss shaks par taanana iss sthiti ka hal nahi tha.

Veer ahista-ahista uske paas aaya. Aur, fir apne badan par gathaan bandhi, khoon se sani chaadar ko usne dheere se khola.

Pihu.

Uske nanhe se chehre par shaanti ke bhaav the. Na koi chot, na koi ghaav. Ekdum achhoot.

Trisha ki bandook uske kaanpte haatho se chhoot kar fisal gayi. Woh dhadalle se bina koi parvah kiye aage badhi-

"Madam!!!"

Police karmiyo ne use savdhan karne ki koshish ki, parantu Trisha ko apni bacchi ke siwa aur koi nazar na aaya.

Usne Pihu ko apne dono haatho me lete hue sambhaala aur apne seene se lagaaya aur apni beti ko galey se lagaate hi uski rulaayi chhoot gayi.

"Woh sirf behosh hai. Thaki hui hai. Aur, kuchh nahi. Use kuchh derr me hosh aa jaayega." Veer ne samjhaate hue kaha.

Trisha bilakhte hue apni beti ke chehre ko bas choomti chali gayi. Use saans bhi badi mushqil se aa rahi thi. Uski ungliyaan Pihu ke komal chehre par daud gayi.

Veer, jiska kaam abhi bhi aadha-adhoora tha, thoda sa Trisha se alag hua. Woh waha se nikalne ke liye hua.

"Ab mujhe Juhi ko ma'am ke paas le jaana hoga. Aur, tum..."

"Huh?" Trisha use hairat me dekhi.

"Jaldi! Shamshaan ke neeche. Akele nahi. Poori force leke jao. Jaldi! Warna woh- *huff*"

"K-Kya?" Trisha ne sarr uthaate hue use aashcharya me ghoora.

"Samay kam hai. J-Jaldi- *huff* Iske pehle ki derr ho jaaye."

Uske perr mushqil se seedhe khade ho paa rahe the. Woh jaanta tha ki Disembowler buri tarah ghaayal tha. Police ki full force use takedown kar sakti thi. SHB ka raaz khul paana bhi lagbhag namumkin tha kyunki, woh hawa ke sampark me aate hi oxidise ho jaata tha.

Aur to aur, police ko Disembowler jaise serial killer aur uske kaale karnaamo se avgat karaana bhi zaroori tha. Yahi soch ke usne ye nirnay liya.

Trisha kuchh soch-samajh nahi paa rahi thi. Lekin, uski sahej pravatti Veer ki baat maanane ke liye chillaa rahi thi.

Wahi iss orr, Veer ne apna muh fera. Usne Juhi ko kass kar pakda aur ek qadam aage badha jab-

"R-Ruko! K-Kaun ho tum? Kaha jaa rahe ho? Mein tumhe yaha se kahi nahi jaane dungi."

Veer ne koi jawab nahi diya.

Trisha ne dekha ki Veer ke harr qadam me thakavat thi, blood loss use har pal kamzor kar raha tha. Magar, iske bawajood — woh aage badhne ke liye tatpar tha.

"Nidhi ma'am... Juhi ko unke paas pahuchaana hoga."

'Nidhi' ka naam uske muh se sunte hi Trisha chaunk uthi. Aur, kuchh ghante pehle ki kuchh baatein use yaad aa gayi. Gift shop par Nidhi ke sang uski pehli mulaqat aur wo baatein—

'Meri beti ki dost ka janmdin hai. Aur, aapka-!?'

'Mere bhi... Mere student ne naya business shuru kiya hai. Uske launch ke liye event rakha hai.'

"T-Tum..." Trisha bhauchakki apna muh khole avaak Veer ko ghoori.

Yeh ladka.

Veer ke ek aur qadam aage lete hi police karmiyo ne uska raasta rok liya.

"Wahi ruk jao!" Unme se ek ne aadesh diya.

Veer ne mushqil se unn par koi nazar daali. Uska shareer bhalayi iss samay kamzor tha, lekin uska sankalp atal tha. Wo ab kisi bhi haalat me nahi ruk sakta tha.

Iske pehle ki police waale kuchh kar paate, Trisha ki awaaz ne unhe hairangi me daal diya.

"Jaane do use!" Woh ahista se boli.

Ve sab chaunkte hue uski orr mude.

"M-Madam?" Unme se ek hich-kichaaya. "M-Madam, aap ye kya keh rahi hai? Hum iss anjaan ko aise kaise jaane de sakte hai? Hum ise bilkul bhi-"

"Maine kaha na use jaane do!!!" Usne iss baar aur bhi dridhta se dohraaya.

Police karmiyo me sankoch bana raha, lekin Trisha apne nirnay par dagmagayi nahi.

Dheere-dheere wo sabhi ek taraf hatt gaye.

Agar, koi Nidhi ko jaanta tha, bacchiyo ko apne shareer par laad kar unhe bina chotil hue wapas leke aaya tha, to isme koi shaq nahi tha ki woh insaan koi serial killer nahi, balki ek shubhchintak tha.

Veer Trisha ke bagal se nikalte hue aage badha. Trisha ne ek akhiri sawaal uss se poochha—

"Kaun ho tum?"

Veer iss baar ruka. Woh peechhe muda. Uski nazar Trisha par tiki.

Ek pal ki khamoshi.

Aur, fir usne jawaab diya-

"Veer Singh!!!"

Trisha ke badan me sihran daud gayi. Veer bas itna bol, waha se chal diya.

Yeh naam. Inn beetein dino me woh iss naam se bhali bhaanti parichit thi. Yahi toh woh naam tha. Yahi wo insaan tha jiski use talaash thi. Wo aadmi jiske peechhe wo na jaane kab se padi hui thi.

Lekin, kabhi uss tak thos saboot ke saath pahuch na saki.

Aur, aaj wahi insaan-

Uski beti ko bacha ke uske paas laaya tha. Dimaag sawaalo ke bawandar me fassta jaa raha tha. Lekin, usne khud ko iss bawandar se baahar nikaala.

Abhi jo maayne rakhta tha — wo tha uski beti ka surakshit hona.

Usne apne mann me chal rahe toofan ko door karte hue, apna radio uthaaya.

"Rohan!!!"

Aur, bas... Wo punah toot ke reh gayi. Uss orr se Rohan ki bhi raahat ki saans lene ki awaaz use sunaayi di. Upar waale ko dhanyavad dete hue usne gaadi Trisha ke ilaake ki orr ghuma di.

Aur, aise hi Veer Pihu ko surakshit haatho me pahuchaate hue Nidhi ke paas pahucha tha.

Yahi woh waqt bhi tha jab Renshu aur Erica Disembowler ki lair me jaa kar, chhaan-been kar ke waha se nikal chuke the. Aur, unke nikalte hi police force ne poore shamshan ko under surveillance rakh liya tha.

Yahi woh waqt tha jab Renshu ne Erica ko ishaara kiya, Erica Veer ko Nidhi ke kamre se apne kandho par utha kar leke aayi. Wahi thi, jisne Nidhi aur Shreya dono ko neutralise kiya tha.

Renshu ne fir behosh Veer ko apne kandhe par uthaaya aur seedha Garofano ke paas le gaya.

Use car me hi Ava ke bagal se litaate hue usne Garofano ki orr dekha.

Behosh Veer aur Ava dono ek dusre ke bagal se laite hue the. Behoshi me bhi dono ke haath ek dusre se lage hue the.

Ek pal ke liye Garofano ki bauhe sikudi. Usne kuchh sochte hue Veer ka haath Ava ke haath se dur kar diya aur uske ghaavo ka ilaaj karne me jutt gayi.

Na sirf usne Veer ko apna ek vitality serum aur antiserum diya, balki uske ghaavo ka ilaaj kar uske haatho ko chains se azaad bhi kar diya.

Renshu, Erica aur Garofano, fir Veer ko leke hospital pahuche jaha parivar jann Veer ko iss awastha me dekh hakke-bakke reh gaye the.

Aur, fir Veer ka hosh aana aur use Manorath ki mrityu ki khabar ka praapt hona. Yahi sab toh hua tha.

Uske baad Garofano hospital se seedhe wapas car par pahuchi jaha Ava pehle se hi hosh me baithi hui thi.

Garofano : You are awake!

Ava : ...

Garofano : !!? Kuchh nahi kehna?

Ava : V-Veer! K-Kaha hai woh?

Garofano (smiles) : Kuchh derr pehle tumhare bagal se hi tha.

Ava : K-Kyaaaaa??

Wo hadbadaate hue idhar-udhar dekhi.

Ava : K-Kaha? Kaha hai woh? No! Wait!

Agle hi pal jaise use khud hi Veer ki location 'Death Flag' ke zariye maalum pad gayi.

Ava (mutters) : H-Hospital!

Garofano : Hmm! Uske dada ji nahi rahe. The other lady... What was her name again? Ragini! Hmm! Wo out of danger hai, lekin ab chal nahi sakti.

Ava ka sarr ye sunte hi neeche jhuk gaya. Usne apne dono perr mod apna chehra ghutno ke peechhe chhupa liya. Woh apne aap ko dosh de rahi thi. Use ek zimmedari di gayi thi. Aur, woh bhi wo theek se nahi nibha paayi.

Garofano (glances) : You don't have to feel bad about it. Although, mein waha nahi thi, aur mujhe nahi pata exactly kya hua tha lekin-

Ava : ???

Garofano : Erica ne sab kuchh bata diya hai. You took a bullet for someone else. Aur, agar tum nahi hoti- there was no way that girl would have survived that shot.

Ava : M-Mein- *sniff*

Garofano ne aage kuchh na kaha. Kuchh derr baad Ava ne uss se sawaal kiya.

Ava : Tumne aisa kyu kaha tha?

Garofano : Hmm? Kya?

Ava : Yahi ki... You are hiding your cards. Just like him.

Garofano : Woh? *smiles* Well, kya ye sach nahi? Tum apne cards chhipaaye hue ho. Just like him. Usne bhi mujhe apne saare cards ke baare me nahi bataaya. Hey! Now, I feel really bad you know.

Ava : ??

Garofano : Mein akeli hi hu jisne apne saare cards ke baare me tum sabko bataya hua hai. Aur, tum sab ho ki-

Ava : I don't feel the need to tell you.

Garofano : Wow! So, much for the help, right?

Ava : Kisi na kisi din mein ye favor chuka dungi. Cards ki details share karne ki koi zaroorat nahi mujhe.

Garofano : Chill, pretty girl. So cold, damn! *sighs* To kya mein wo favor abhi maang sakti hu?

Ava : Huh?

Garofano : Bolo?

Ava (nods) : Ask!

Garofano (grins) : Apne aap ko Veer se door kar do!

Ava (yells) : KABHI BHI NAHIIIIII-!!!

Wo itni zorr se chillaayi ki Garofano khud aashcharya me reh gayi. Ava ke gaal agle hi pal fir gulaabi ho chale. Aur, Garofano ke hontho par ek muskaan bikhar gayi. Woh bina kuchh kahe, waha se nikal gayi par jaate-jaate uske shabd Ava ke kaano tak pahuchne se na choonke.

"Tumhare favor chukaane ka intezar rahega, mujhe."

Kehte hue wo waha se chali gayi aur Ava pichhli ghatit vardaato ke baare me soch-vichaar kar leen ho gayi.

---

Veer's old house...

Antim sanskar ki taiyaari shuru ho chuki thi. Ghar ki mahilaaye, bagal se khadi ho kar sab dekh rahi thi. Aankhein laal thi aur sarr dhake hue.

Purush shaiyaa ki samagri ka prabandhan karne me lage hue the. Bhaar sirf Manorath ji ke shareer ka nahi uthaana tha, uske saath unki yaadon ka bhi bhaar juda hua tha.

Shaiyaa ko taiyaar karne ke liye baans ki lakdiyaan, rassiyaan aur safed kapda aa chuka tha.

Karunesh, Vivek aur Brijesh mil kar lakdiyaan baandhne ka kaam kar rahe the.

Ghar ke ird-gird aas-pados ki bheed-bhaad bhi jama ho chuki thi. Log aapas me charcha kar rahe the.

"Kaise? Ghatna kaise hui ye?"

"News me aaya to raha. Humla ho gaya na."

"Haan? Kaha?"

"Wai apna... Prestige hotel. Bahut bada humla tha."

"To humle me maare gaye?"

"Haan! Abhi poora clear nahi pata chala hai, par baaki log to yahi bata rahe ki humle me jaan chali gayi."

"Accha! Tch! Tch! Tch! Bechaare buzurg hoke aisi ghatna ka shikaar ho gaye."

"Kya kar sakte hai ab."

Veer Manorath ji ke perr ke paas hi baitha hua tha. Peeth jhuki, haath ghutno par tike hue, aur aankhein khaali.

Kavya aur Arohi use awaaz deti rahi, magar usne ek baar bhi nahi suna. Shyaam ne jab use paani ka glass diya tab bhi usne apni palkein tak nahi jhapkayi.

Uski nazrein sirf apne dada ji ke chehre par tiki hui thi. Aur, jaise hi Manorath ji ke shareer ko farsh se uthaaya gaya, Veer ki tandra bhang ho gayi.

'Huh?'

Usne mud ke dekha. Ek baar palak jhapki. Fir, dobaara.

Qadmo ki chehel-pehel, shorgul, sab kuchh ek saath uss par toot pada. Wo bina kuchh samjhe khada hua, dheere-dheere uske perr dada ji ke shav ki disha ki orr badhne lage.

Manorath ji ke shav ko baahar laa kar rakh diya gaya tha.

Rassi baandhte hue Brijesh ne sarr upar kar Veer ko dekha. Uske haath me bhi rassi thi.

Wo baans ke dhaanche ko aise dekh raha tha jaise maano wo koi suljhaane waali paheli ho. Kabhi uski nazrein apne haath me li hui rassi par tikti to kabhi baans ke dhaanche par.

Jeevan me pehli baar wo apne kisi qareebi ki maut me iss tarah se shaamil ho raha tha. Inn reeti-rivaaz me itna sammilit hone ka avsar use pehle kabhi praapt nahi hua tha.

Ek khamoshi kuchh derr chhaayi rahi.

Fir, aaj saalo me pehli baar-

"Ise iss tarah se baandho, Veer. Meri tarah...!"

Brijesh ne Veer se kaha. Awaaz naram thi. Na hi aagya se bhari hui aur na hi katu. Ekdum — vinamra.

Veer ne use dekha. Wo chup-chaap neeche baitha, apne pita ko dekhte hue usne rassi ko baandhna seekha, aur baans ki lakdiyo me wo rassi ki gathaane lagaane laga.

Ek pal ke liye — saara gussa, saare gile-shikve, sab kuchh ek taraf ho gaya. Dono baap-bete ke haath shaiyaa banaane me chal rahe the. Karunesh aur Vivek ne jab ye dekha to dono hi ahista se unn dono ke beech se alag ho gaye.

Ek ke baad ek gaanth.
Ek ke baad ek saans.
Saath-saath.

Kuchh door khadi, Bhavna ne jab yeh dekha to usne apne haath se apne muh ko dhak liya. Bagal se khadi, Purvi ne uske kandhe ko thaama.

Brijesh ko tabhi, apne pita ji ke akhir bol yaad aa gaye.

Wo Yarnia ke udhghatan me nahi gaya tha. Parantu, jab TV par samachar se use khabar lagi. Uske perr apne aap chal pade.

Use wo drishya yaad aaya. Wo pal jab uske pita ji use Hotel Prestige me chalne ke liye anurodh kar rahe the. Use nahi pata tha ki wo uska apne pita ke saath akhiri sanvaad hone waala tha —

---

"Toh tum nahi chaloge??"

"Jab mujhe bulaya hi nahi gaya toh bhala mein kaise jaa sakta hu, papa ji?"

"Murkh ho kya tum? Veer ne ek nyota bheja hai. Kya itni bhi samajh nahi tumhe ki ye sabke liye hai?"

"Aapko Veer ka phone aaya tha?"

"Haan!"

"Sumitra ko bhi aaya tha. Usne bataya mujhe. Lekin, mujhe nahi! Iska kya matlab hua? Kya aap samjhe nahi? Ya aap samajhna nahi chaahte?"

"Tum paagal ho sach me, Brijesh! Tumne jo kuchh bhi kiya hai uske baad bhala woh kaise tumse aake upat ke baat kar sakta hai? Jaise tum hich-kicha rahe ho waise hi toh woh bhi hich-kicha raha hoga na?"

"Kya waqai, papa ji? Mujhe nahi lagta! Balki, mujhe waha na paa kar use khushi hi hogi."

"Tum bawle ho gaye ho, Brijesh! Beta hai tumhara! Aur, tum baap ho uske. Ek baap apne bete ke sukh me uske nyota dene ka intezar nahi karta."

"Ye uss baap ke liye hai jo dukh me bhi apne bete ke saath khada rahe, jo mein nibha na saka. Mujhe waha paa ke sab uncomfortable ho jayenge. Rehne dijiye! Aap bhuliye mat ki Shweta aur... Bhavna bhi waha hongi. Aapke liye kehna asaan hai. Par, mere liye waha jaana itna asaan nahi."

"Tumhari dikkat kya hai tumhe pata hai Brijesh? Tum log kya sochenge iss baare me zyada sochte ho aur iss baare me kam ki kya karna chahiye. Arey bhai ye toh zahir si baat hai ki tumhare waha hone se baatein pehle ki tarah nahi hongi. Par, kya Veer ko iss se farq padega?"

"???"

"Nahi! Maayne ye rakhega ki uska baap jisne use ghar se baahar nikaal diya tha, aaj woh waha uske saamne uske liye khada hai."

"Nahi! Nahi papa ji! Ye toh wahi baat ho gayi ki sukh me sab kaam aate hai par dukh me-? Koi nahi! Mein ab maafi ke laayak nahi papa ji! Ab bahut bigaad liya maine apna aur baakiyo ka jeevan. Ab aur nahi-!"

"Tumne sahi kaha. Tum maafi ke laayak nahi! Lekin, maafi ke laayak koi bhi nahi hota, Brijesh!"

"???"

"Maafi ke laayak koi nahi hota. Use ye kamaana padta hai. Uss laayak banana padta hai ki vyakti aap ko maaf kar sake. Aur, tumhara waha pahuchna maafi maangne ka pehla qadam hoga."

"N-Nahi, papa ji! M-Mein-"

"Tum iss liye nahi jaana chaahte kyunki tumhe lagta hai ki woh log kya sochenge? Tum unse aankh se aankh milaane par ghabra rahe ho. Par, yahi toh pehla padaav hai, Brijesh. Chalo! Ghabrao nahi! Ek baar samay haath se nikal gaya toh dobaara nahi aata."

"Papa ji, samajhiye baat ko-"

"Tumhe pata hai? Kabhi-kabhi ek baap apne bacche ko jo sabse bada tohfa de sakta hai woh kya hai? Woh hai uski - maujoodgi! Agar, Veer ka phone nahi aaya toh kya hua? Woh toh chhota hai, par tum toh bade ho na? Pehel toh tumhe hi karni hogi na? Bhale hi tumhe kaisa bhi mehsoos ho par chalo, kyunki iss sthiti me andar se har baccha yahi chaahega ki uske pita saamne aaye. Veer bhi-!"

"M-Mein... Mein sochunga, Papa ji! Par, aaj mujhe apni mann-maani kar lene dijiye! Jaiye aap! Samay ho raha hai!"

Manorath ke lakh manaane par bhi jab Brijesh na maana toh woh narazgi me waha se jaane lage. Unke qadam darwaze ki dehleez par aake ruke.

"Meri seekh yaad rakhna Brijesh! Samay ek baar haath se nikal gaya, toh dobaara nahi aata."

Aur, woh waha se nikal gaye.

---

Akhiri lapte ek ajeeb si shaanti ke saath naach rahi thi — dheemi, aur bhasm karne waali.

Veer jalti hui chita se kuchh hi feet door khada hua tha. Manorath ji ka shav agni me sama chuka tha. Hawa ne rukh badla aur dhue ko ek taraf uda diya, apne saath na keval raakh, balki unki kahaniyaan, gyaan, aur uss vyakti ki antim garmjoshi bhi le gaya jisne kabhi Veer ko uska ekmaatra surakshit aashray diya tha.

Uski mutthiyaan bandhi rahi. Saansein kamzor. Aur, aankhein — bina moonde ek jagah sthir.

Mann shaant tha. Bahut derr tak. Jab tak ki-

[Master...]

Pari ki awaaz na goonj gayi.

Kintu, koi pratikriya nahi.

Uski aankhein abhi bhi aag ki lapto par tiki hui thi, maano jaise uske sawaalo ka jawaab ye laptein hi dene waali thi.

Lekin, Pari kahi nahi gayi.

[Master... I'm here.]

Veh jhijhki. Fir, aage boli. Uski awaaz dheemi thi, ek asamaanya komalta se bhari hui. Aur, fir kuchh sochte hue usne-

*Ding*

['Mission : A Knight's Stand' failed.]

System ki window ne Veer ki chetna me roop liya. Usme se aani waali neeli raushni tim-tima rahi thi. Iss baar, Veer ne dhyaan diya.

*Ding*

[The host was not able to get rid of the Disembowler.]

[The host did succeed in rescuing Juhi and Pihu.]

[The host also succeeded in keeping the experiment’s secret a secret from the general public.]

[The host will not be penalized for the secret being publicized.]

[The host will not be placed under police surveillance.]

[The mission failed because not all the conditions were fulfilled.]

[Mission failure penalty applied.]

[Penalty : Loss of loved ones.]

[Rewards have been granted.]

*Ding*

[You have been rewarded 20,000 Points.]

[You have been rewarded 5000 Fame Points.]

[Since the mission wasn’t completed, Perk Hunt will not be activated. Hence, no perks can be selected.]

Khamoshi.

Veer ne unn notifications ko suna. Magar, uska dhyaan abhi bhi kahi aur hi tha.

Usne ek gehri saans li. Aur, fir-

'M-Maine unhe kho diya, Pari. Mein unhe bacha nahi saka. Mere karan wo-'

Wo ek qadam aage badha. Aankhein ekdum laal.

'Maine maut ko dekha hai. Mere inn haatho ne logo ko maut bhi di hai. P-Par, kabhi bhi... kabhi bhi maine iss tarah mehsoos nahi kiya. Ye mujhe andar se jala raha hai, Pari.'

[...]

'Wo sirf mere dada ji nahi the. Wo mera ghar the. Uss puraane ghar se agar koi mujhe jod ke rakhe hue tha to woh wahi the... W-Wahi...!'

Uski mutthiyaan dheeli pad gayi.

'I was too late, Pari. Too weak. Too distracted. Aur, ab mere paas kuchh bacha hai toh woh hai — ye dhua, ye raakh, aur ye... glaani. Asahaneeya glaani.'

'Agar, mein aur taqatvar hota, hoshiyar hota, toh shayad mein-'

[Maaasterrrr, Nooooo-!]

'???'

[Master! Aapne wo kiya jo aur koi nahi kar sakta tha. Aapne uss Disembowler se do bacchiyon ki jaan bachaayi. Aapne SHB ke rehesya ko duniyaa ke saamne aane se roka.]

'M-Mein-'

[Aap unprepared the. Aap uski territory me the. Aur, fir bhi aapne haar nahi maani. Kya aapko lagta hai aap kamzor ho???]

Uski awaaz kaanp uthi. Aur, fir-

Dusri baar. Veer ko apne mann me wahi anubhooti mehsoos hui.

Aansu. Lekin, uske nahi. Pari ke.

'Pari, tum-'

Pari ki chetna se uski chetna me ek udaasi ki jhalak.

[Aap bhool kyu jaate ho ki mein wo sab kuchh mehsoos kar sakti hu jo aap karte ho. *sniff* Aapki har dhadkan... Mujhe goonjti hui sunaayi deti hai. Har aansu jo aap girne nahi dete... Unhe mein andar se mehsoos karti hu.]

'!!?'

[You didn't fail him, Master. You carried his name through fire. Through war. Through hell.]

'Pari!'

[Aur, ab bhi aap mazbooti se khade hue ho. Tab bhi jab aap andar se toot rahe ho. They can't see it. But I can. I can feel it.]

Veer wahi chita ke paas dhool bhari zameen par apne ghutno ke bal gir pada.

*Sniff*

Usne apni chhaati ko kass ke jakda. Dard se nahi, balki apne andar bachi hui cheezon ko sambhaalne ki ek betaab koshish me.

Usne ghutate hue kaha,

'P-Par, unhone mujhpe vishvas kiya tha, Pari. Kitne bharose se wo aaye honge aur unke saath- Ek akhiri baar mein unhe dekh tak na saka. I-'

[Aap humesha unke pasandeeda rahoge, Master. Humesha.]

Ek lambi khamoshi chhaa gayi. Veer ke aansu akhirkar gir pade.

'Itna dard kyu ho raha hai, Pari? *sniff*'

[Kyunki, aap unse itna pyaar karte the jitna aap khud nahi jaante the, Master.]

'!!!'

[And love, Master… is the only thing in this world more powerful than death.]

Woh muda. Uske peechhe ki aag ek antim baar bhadak uthi aur fir dheere-dheere feeki padne lagi.

Aur, aaj mann ki gehraayi me, jaha aam taur par notifications aur pari ke bol goonjte rehte the, ek durlabh tarah ki khamoshi chhaa gayi — khaalipann se nahi, balki do chetnao se, jo ek saath shok mana rahi thi.

***

Antim sanskar samapt hua hi tha, aag abhi bujh hi rahi thi, jab-

Baahar ek alag tarah ki aag ne apna janm le liya.

Veer, apne parivar sang jaise hi mukti dham se baahar nikla, toh uska swagat khamoshi se nahi, balki shor se hua.

Ek toofan.

Cameras chamak uthe. Microphones kinhi bhaale ki tarah aage badhe. Awaazein — unme se hazaaron — jwaar ki leher ki tarah aake uske kaano me takraayi.

"Mister, Veer Singh! Kya Hotel Prestige ki tragedy aapki zimmedari thi?"

"Humle ke dauran aap kaha the? Aapko kahi dekha hi nahi gaya."

"Aapki nigraani me bekasoor security guards maare gaye. Iska dosh kis par hai?"

"Kya aap ye soch rahe hai kya ki fame hone se aap inn sab se bach sakte hai?"

"Kya aap aaj raat so bhi paayenge? Ye jaante hue ki aapki sampatti ki suraksha karte hue nirdosh log maare gaye?"

"Jawab dijiye, Mister Veer!"

"Tune mere bhai ko maar daala, haram khor!! Mein tujhe chhorunga nahi!"

"Khooni!! Khooni ho tum!"

"Tumhare hotel ne mere pita ji ko zinda kha liya."

"Kya hoga humaara?"

Mratak security guards ke parivar ke kuchh sadasya bhi journalists ki bheed me ghus gaye. Wo barricades ko dukh, gusse aur aakrosh me paar kar gaye.

Unme se ek Veer par lagbhag jhapatne hi waala tha, lekin kuchh dayaalu ajnabiyon ne use rok liya.

Veer wahi khada raha. Uska shareer jamm sa gaya. Isliye, nahi ki woh darr gaya tha, balki isliye kyunki Hotel Prestige ka samachar ab vistaar se use sunane mil raha tha.

Wo jaanta tha humla hua tha. Hospital me hosh aane ke baad, Arohi ne use zaroori khabar de di thi. Yahi ki Hotel Prestige me humla hua tha. Golibaari. Jisme uske dada ji chal base.

Manorath ji ki maut bloodloss aur pain se hi hui thi. Sniper ki bullet koi aam bullet nahi hoti thi. Aur, na hi sniper koi aam bandook thi.

Manorath ji ke kandhe par bullet lagi thi. Jab tak ve hospital pahuche, unka ilaaj shuru hua, tab tak unhone dum tod diya tha.

Veer yeh jaanta tha. Magar, ye sab kya tha? Security guards ki jaan jaana? Arohi ne uske bhale ke liye poori sachaayi nahi bataayi thi.

Uski aankhein chaudi ho gayi. Glaani, sadma, aur kuchh agyaat anubhutiyaan uske andar toofan ki tarah ghoomne lagi.

Aur, fir-

Bheed ke beech se.

"VEEEEEEER!!!"

Ek awaaz. Ek cheenkh. Ek pukaar — iss araajakta ko cheerti hui.

Tej. Wo aayi.

Uske baal bikhre hue the. Chehra aasuon se bheega hua tha. Bheed uske liye alag nahi hui — lekin, usne sangharsh kar ke apna raasta banaaya.

Logo ki kohniyaan use lagi, dhakke lage, cameras use lage, woh lagbhag girte-girte bachi, lekin ruki nahi.

Wo bhaagi. Tezi se. Jaise uska dil fatne ko aa gaya ho-

Aur, tamaam bheed ko alag karte hue wo uske paas pahuchi. Waha khadi ho gayi — Veer aur saari duniyaa ke madhya.

Wo haanf rahi thi. Uske baal, paseene se geele ho chuke uske gaalo se chipke hue the.

Tej (screams) : BAS KAROOOOO!!!!

Shor kam ho gaya. Awaazein shaant pad gayi.

Tej ne mud kar media ka saamne kiya, uske kandhe kaanp rahe the, lekin uski awaaz bheed ke shor se bhi zyada tez thi.

Tej : Aap logo ko jawaab chaahiye na??? Mein dungi jawaab! Kyunki, hotel prestige ko sambhaalne waale Mister Veer nahi. Mein thi.

Ek virham. Ek sannaata sa chhaa gaya.

Tej (shaking but firm) : Mein Tejal Singh. Mister Veer Singh ki badi behan. Mein hi in charge thi. Mein hi thi jo new year eve ko sambhaal rahi thi.

Journalists : !!?

Tej : Aur, mein... Mein hu doshi. Haan, mein galat hu. Maine khatre par dhyaan nahi diya. Mein galat hu jo guests par dhyaan de rahi thi aur hazar saalo me kabhi ye khayal mujhe nahi aane waala tha ki koi sarfira uss waqt humari hotel ke andar bomb fek sakta hai.

Journalists : *mutters*

Tej (eyes flaring) : Haan, mein galat hu. Par, kya aap me se kisi ko aisi ummeed ho sakti thi? Kya aapko ummeed thi ki celebration ki raat me bandook liye naqab-posh gunde logo par goliyaan barsaane lagenge?

Kisi ne jawaab nahi diya. Microphones dheere-dheere neeche ho gaye. Kuchh cameras bhi neeche jhuk gaye.

Tej : Mein ise rok nahi saki. Mein iska anumaan bhi nahi laga saki...! Lekin, mein ise jitna ho sakta hai, utna theek karne ki koshish karungi. Har parivar jisne kisi ko khoya hai, mein unse milungi. Jo kuchh bhi bann padega, wo mein karungi. Wo sab humari hotel ke sadasya the.

Door khadi, Bhumika ki aankhon me ye sab dekh aansu umad aaye. Hotel uski thi. Magar, kavach bann ke Tej unhe inn sab se bacha rahi thi.

'T-Tejal, tum-!!'

Ho na ho, aaj Bhumika ke mann se Tejal ko leke saare berr samapt ho chuke the.

Tej : Madad, chaahe aarthik ho, ya kaisi bhi. Mein sab karungi. Guzre hue logo ko waapas nahi laaya jaa sakta. M-Mein jaanti hu ki ye sab ek jaan ke badle kisi kaam ke nahi-! M-Magar, fir bhi-! Mein har wo koshish karungi, jo cheezein theek kar sakti hai.

Journalists : *nods*

Tej : But don't you dare... DON'T YOU DARE come after him.

Wo ek pal ke liye mudi. Veer ko dekhi, ko aashcharya me use hi ghoor raha tha. Aur, fir waapas bheed ka saamna karne me lag gayi.

Tej : Usne bhi aaj kisi ko khoya hai. Maine bhi. Humaare poore parivar ne. Aap sab akele nahi ho. Humaare parivaar ka kya? H-Humaare nuksaan ki bharpaayi kaun karega? *sniff* Huh? Jawaab do!!!

*Silence*

Tej : Sirf, isliye ki mera bhai chup hai, use kamzor samajhna aur kisi dushman ki tarah treat karna band karo! *sniff* Sirf, isliye ki wo famous hai. Sirf isliye ki wo umr me adhiktar logo se chhota hai. Aur, sirf isliye kyunki aap sab mann marzi muh chala sakte ho...! BAND KAR DO!!

*Silence*

Veer ka haath utha. Aur, dheere se usne apna haath — kaanpte hue — Tej ke kandhe par rakh diya.

Woh chaunki. Fir, palti.

Unki aankhein mili.

Koi shabd nahi.

Sirf wo bandhan. Unke beech ka — ankaha aur achal.

Veer (mutters) : Thank you! Teju di!

Aur, wo bechaari toot gayi. Uske gaalo se aasu behte hue girne lage, magar honth muskura uthe.

Uss ek pal, Veer ko ehsaas ho gaya ki-

Yeh... Yeh ek badi behan thi.

Sansaar agar talwaar liye tha to woh kavach thi.

Khud ki awaaz na ho to woh uski awaaz thi.

Doobta hua toofan me ho to woh uska kinaara thi.

Aur, girte hue ko ek haath ka sahaara.

Veer ne apni ungliyaan Tej ki ungliyon me ird-gird lapeti. Use kass kar pakda. Aur, fir use door le jaane laga. Bheed, shor aur sawaalo se door.

Ek bhai. Ek behan. Ek dard. Ek vaada.

Tej ne na sirf fir saari vardaat ka vishleshan diya, balki apni chintaaye aur aane waale jokhim ke baare me bhi vyakt kiya.

Jiski wajah se, Veer ko ek aur shaks ka dhyaan aaya. Akhir, wo use akela chhor ke kaise aa sakta tha?

***

Baahar sheher abhi bhi araajakta me tha. Lekin, Veer ki manzil filhal ek hi thi — hospital.

Tej ke bataane par wo ek shabd bhi nahi bola. Bas, mukti dham se car uthaata hua seedhe yaha chala aaya.

Kaise naye saal ka jashn narsanhaar me badal gaya.

Kaise naqab-posh bandook-dhaariyo ne Hotel Prestige me pravesh kiya.

Kaise ek sniper ki goli, jo darasal Kavya ke liye thi — Ragini ko jaa kar lagi.

Veer ki saans ukhdi-ukhdi aa rahi thi. Woh bas bhaagta raha. Bheed ke beech se. Dukh ke beech se. Pagalpann ke beech se.

Uske joote farsh par shor macha rahe the, pattiyaan uski pasliyon par dabi hui thi, jo abhi bhi khoon se sani hui thi.

"Ragini...!"

Wo ICU me daakhil hua. Nurses ko dhakka dete hue aage badha — jab tak ki ek doctor ne use rok na diya.

Doctor : Sir! Rukiye, ek minute. Ragini ji abhi-abhi surgery se baahar aayi hai. Aur, hum unhe jald hi shift bhi kar denge. Tab tak ke liye please aap baahar hi rahiye.

Veer : R-Ragini...!

Veer ki haalat dekh, doctor haami bhar aage aaya.

Doctor : Dekhiye! Woh theek hai. Gambheer khatre se woh baahar hai, lekin-

Veer : !!?

Lekin, kya? Veer jaanta tha. Magar, dobara sunana nahi chaahta tha.

Usne Ragini ko dekha. Wo wahi laiti hui thi. Haatho me alag-alag naliyaan lagi hui thi. Ek perr thoda upar utha hua tha aur jatil surgical braces se bandha hua tha.

Uski saansein kamzor thi, lekin wo jeevit thi. Yahi! Uske paas.

Veer uske nazdeek aaya. Har qadam pehle se adhik bhaari. Uska haath bistar ki steel ki railing ko chhua aur Ragini ke chehre ko dekha.

Uske honth sookhe hue the. Maathe par halki si jhurriyaan jo shikan ko darsha rahi thi.

Doctor chalte hue Veer ke paas aaya.

Doctor : Mujhe sab pata chala. Dekhiye, mein jaanta hu ye kaafi mushqil hai. Par, aap sabko ye hazam karna padega.

Veer ne doctor ko na dekha. Wo bas Ragini ko dekhta raha.

Doctor : Ragini ji ko sniper round se nikli high velocity bullet ne chotil kiya tha. Goli ne femur ko chaknachoor kar diya aur tibial nerve bhi damage ho chuki hai. Aap samajh rahe hai na?

Veer : ???

Doctor : Humne femur ko reconstruct karne ke liye rods aur bone grafts ka istemal kiya hai. Lekin, nerve damage irreversible hai.

Veer : M-Matlab...

Doctor : Matlab, ye ki- unka perr to theek hai, lekin wo firse nahi chal payengi. Kam se kam, pehle ki tarah to nahi.

*Silence*

Doctor (continuing) : Intensive rehab ke chalte unhe thodi mobility mil sakti hai. Lekin, neuromuscular ka jo ek coordination hota hai, woh jaa chuka hai. Brain se signals nichle ang tak pehle ki tarah nahi pahuchenge.

Veer : ...

Doctor : Dekhiye, humne wo sab kiya jo hum kar sakte the. Fracture ko stabilise kiya, nerve pressure ko decompress kiya, haemorrhage ko roka. Par, aghaat bahut gehra tha, Mister Veer. Bahut sateek. Isliye- *sighs* Anyways, this is the best outcome.

Shabd Veer ke dimaag me mandraane lage. Laga jaise woh abhi yahi ladkhada ke gir jayega.

Ragini pehle jaise nahi chal paayegi. Kabhi bhi nahi.

Doctor to chala gaya, magar Veer wahi ghutno ke bal Ragini ke bagal se baith gaya. Uska haath ahista se aage badha.

Komalta se usne Ragini ke baalon ka ek dheela latka hua latt kaan ke peechhe kiya. Ungliyaan Ragini ki twacha se sparsh hote hi kaanp rahi thi.

Aur, fir uske jaane bina-

Uske aansu punah binn marzi beh chale.

'Kyu???'

'Mein tumhe kabhi sahi jawab na de saka.'

Ragini ne use panaah di thi jab uske paas koi thikaana nahi tha. Jab woh khud ke liye muskura nahi sakta tha tab woh uske liye muskuraati thi. Usne uski raksha ki, uss se pyaar kiya. Apne poore astitva ke saath.

Usne kabhi kuchh nahi maanga — siwae uske dil ke.

Par, Veer humesha use intezar karwaata raha. Aur, aaj woh yaha iss haal me laiti thi. Chotil. Tooti hui. Apahij. Uski wajah se.

Veer ne uska haath thaama.

'Tumne mujhe kya kuchh nahi diya, Ragini. Pyaar, Panaah, Khushiyaan. Tumne mujhe apna tann, mann, dhan sab kuchh luta diya. Aur, badle me maine tumhe kya diya? Sirf, mera maun jawaab.'

Usne apna haath, uske maathe par rakha.

'Mein... tumhe deserve nahi karta, Ragini.'

Woh jhuka. Aur, uske maathe ko usne dheere se choom liya.

'But, I'll earn you now.'

'Mein yahi rahunga. Ab kahi nahi bhaagunga. Ab aur koi chuppi nahi.'

'I'll be your legs... Your strength... Your everything.'

'Bas jaag jao. Please... Ragini! Jaag jao.'

Akhiri guhaar par uski awaaz andar hi andar toot gayi. Aaj pehli baar, use andar se mazbooti mehsoos nahi hui. Ek system holder jaisa mehsoos nahi hua. Bas, ek sadharan aadmi. Jo duniyaa se pareshan ho chuka tha.

Woh khada hua. Usne apne aansu pochhe. Ragini ke sote chehre par ek akhiri nazar daali. Fir, muda...

Aur, darwaaze ki orr chal diya.

Jaane se pehle — usne peechhe mud kar dekha.

'I promise, Ragini. When you wake up... You won't find me missing again.'

Aur, wo chala gaya.

ICU se baahar aate hi uski nazar ek aur ward me padi, jaha Suman laiti hui so rahi thi. Uske haath me bandage lagi hui thi. Veer ko samajhne me derr na lagi ki Suman hi thi — jisne Ragini ko khoon diya tha.

***

Aspataal se neeche aate waqt, Veer ke mann me Tej ke bol goonj rahe the.

"Mein shayad nahi bachti, Veer- A-Agar woh na hoti. Wo lady. Mask pehni hui. Pata nahi kaun thi. Usne mujhe dhakela aur fir- wo apna pait pakad ke dard se karaah rahi thi. Lekin, iss se pehle ki mein use pakad paati wo hotel ke baahar bhaag gayi. Kasam se...! Agar, wo na hoti to shayad aaj mein yaha tumhare saamne nahi hoti, Veeru."

A masked woman?

Veer samajh chuka tha.

Ava.

Uske dimag ke chalne se pehle hi uske perr chal diye. Hospital ki parking ke paas — mukhya dwaar ke theek baahar.

Do jaani pehchaani aakritiya ek kaali badi si SUV ke paas khadi thi.

Renshu aur Erica.

Erica ne use sabse pehle dekha.

'V-Veer!'

Woh ladka jisne Jaw Long ke maidaan me ghus ke poore yuddh ko apne paksh me kar liya tha.

Wahi Veer jis se dobaara milne ke liye wo itna lalcha rahi thi. Woh uske saamne tha.

Par, Veer kuchh bhi kehne ke liye nahi ruka. Renshu ne use dekh saath chalne ka ishaara kiya. Woh aage badha.

Ava car me peechhe ki foldable seat par baithi hui thi. Wo baahar hi dekh rahi thi jab kisi ke aane ka use ehsaas hua. Uska sarr uss disha ki orr muda aur-

Woh waha tha.

Veer.

Ava ki saans atak gayi. Uska badan kaanp gaya.

Veer ne hi use zimmedari saunpi thi. Hotel Prestige aur parivar ko surakshit rakhne ki.

Aur, wo vifal rahi.

Veer ke dada ji jaa chuke the. Hotel par humla hua. Ragini ghaayal hui. Sab kuchh bikhar gaya.

Ava ka dil baith gaya.

Glaani ka bhaar itna badh gaya ki veh khud ko rok na paayi. Aasu behne lage. Pehle to chupke se... Fir lagatar.

Ava : M-Mein... V-Veer...

Usne uthne ki koshish ki-

Ava : I-I'm... I'm sorry, Veer. I-

Parantu, iske pehle ki woh aur kuchh bolti, Veer aage ki aur dauda. Aur, usne Ava ko apni baahon me bhar liya.

Kass kar. Poori tarah se.

Uski mazboot pakad se Ava ke ghaav dabb gaye, woh halka sa karaah uthi.

Lekin, ye dard kuchh bhi nahi tha. Tab nahi jab woh uski baahon me thi.

Tab nahi, jab woh apne aap se use apne aalingan me bhar raha tha. Fir, bhale hi uski chot kyu na dukhe, aise hazaro dard uthaane ke liye khushi-khushi raazi thi woh.

Ava ne apna chehra uske seene me daba liya. Uske haath dheere-dheere Veer ki shirt ke peechhe kass gaye. Uski awaaz siskiyon me badal gayi.

Ava (barely breathing) : V-Veer, mein-

Veer (softly) : I know...

Ava : ??

Veer : Tumne Teju di ko bachaaya. Tumne wo bullet apne upar li. Mujhe sab pata hai.

Ava jamm ke reh gayi. Uske aasu behna dheeme ho gaye.

Ava (confused) : B-But, I failed... Tumhare dada ji...

Veer : Nahi!

Ava : Huh!!?

Veer : You fulfilled your duty, Ava. Bhale hi tum na maano. Par, mein maan gaya hu.

Woh stabdh thi.

Veer (smiles) : Thank you, Ava!

Ava : Ahh!!!?

Aur, Veer ne use apne gale se laga liya. Ava ke aasu jhar-jhar kar behne lage.

Kuchh qadam door, ye drishya dekh kar Garofano ki haath mutthi me simat gaya. Uske honth ek patli rekha samaan dabb gaye. Woh aalingan... Jis tarah se Veer ne Ava ko pakad rakha tha.

Usne Garofano ke andar kuchh jala kar rakh diya.

Woh mudi aur bina kuchh kahe waha se door chali gayi.

Renshu : Huh? Kya hua tumhe?

Erica ka haal bhi kuchh aisa hi tha. Use ehsaas hua ki sirf wahi nahi thi. Ek ajeeb sa dard uske seene me utha aur woh bhi Garofano ki taraf chal di.

Renshu : Huh? Erica???

***

SUV ke baahar Veer dheere se aaya.

Ava andar hi thi. Laal aankhein liye use dekh rahi thi. Woh hug abhi bhi uske mann me ghoom rahi thi, saath hi Veer ke seene ki garmahat.

Veer ka sarr jhuka hua tha, aankhein uske kaale baalon ke parde ke peechhe chhipi hui thi.

Woh aage badha — Erica ya Garofano ki orr nahi, balki Renshu ki orr.

Koi greetings nahi. Koi emotions nahi.

Bas... Sannaata.

Uske ird-gird ka aura badla hua tha. Thanda. Mapa hua. Ab dard nahi jhalak raha tha. Ek toofan ke pehle ki shaanti.

Garofano ne sabse pehle notice kiya. Veer ki ungliyon ki halki si thar-tharahat. Erica ne uske baad dekha — Veer ke chalne ka ek alag dhang.

Veer ruka. Renshu se bas ek qadam ki doori par.

Veer (without raising head) : Renshu! Tumhare paas kitni aur kaun-kaun si skills hai?

'Huh?'

Prashn aise aaya jaise maano shaant jheel me kisi ne bahut bada patthar fek diya ho. Renshu ki bauhe sikud gayi.

Hawa ke chalte Veer ke kapde aise fadfada rahe the jaise maano koi khamosh toofan paida hone ka intezar kar raha tha.

'Ye Veer... Iss tarah ka sawaal kyu kar raha hai achanak se?'

[Apni skills, kisi aur ko bataana. Ye khatarnak hai, Renshu.]

'Lloyd!'

[Kya hoga agar wo hume dhoka dede?]

'Mujhe nahi lagta.'

Veer ne dheere se apna sarr uthaaya. Ab uski aankhon me dard nahi jhalak raha tha. Kuchh aur hi tha. Koi uddeshya.

Veer : Aura Vision, Hawkeye, advanced martial arts, limbo, basic enemy tracker, detoxification, copycat, radio protective, aquatic breathing, tracer. Ye meri kuchh important skills hai. The rest are pretty much useless.

'Huh?'

Renshu ne apni aankhein sikodi. Skills kaafi thi. Sab ki sab ek se badh ke ek. Aur, Veer ne use iske baare me aise bata diya jaise maano woh mausam ka haal-chaal bata raha ho.

Kuchh badla hua tha. Ye Veer ko kya ho gaya tha achanak?

Renshu ne ek aah bhari.

Renshu (nods) : Theek hai. To suno. Lance of Blaze, Prime Venture Specialist, Rapid Reaction, Commando, Strong Core, Chi Perception, Wushu, Toxin Sleuth, Pigeon Whisperer. Ye hai meri kuchh important skills.

Veer : Are you sure?

Renshu : Kya matlab?

Veer : Kya bas itni hi hai?

Renshu (nods) : Haan! Zaroori waali yahi hai.

Veer : Koi lengendary skill nahi?

Renshu : Nahi!

Ek sannaata chhaa gaya.

Aur, fir bina kisi chetaavni ke-

*Whoooooooooooshhh*

'???'

Bijli ki raftaar se ek tez roundhouse kick, Renshu ke chehre ki orr aayi.

Agle hi pal, Renshu ki Rapid Reaction activate hui aur uska shareer sahaj roop se peechhe ki orr jhuk gaya. Veer ki laat ki hawa uski naak pe paas se guzri.

Peechhe khadi Erica ye dekh dang reh gayi. Uske muh se ek ghuti hui cheenkh nikli. Kya tha ye? Kya hua?

Wo dono abhi toh baatein kar rahe the. Fir achanak se ye kya?

Garofano ki aankhon me hari chamak bikhri. Usne ek qadam aage badhaaya.

Idhar, Veer ka perr wapas se zameen par land hua aur land hote hi-

*Ding*

HAWKEYE

Usne apni aedi ke jhatke se ek patthar ko seedha Renshu ki aankh ki orr uchhaal diya.

Renshu ne ek jhatke me apna haath aage kar uss patthar ko pakda. Magar, aankh ki orr aa rahe uss patthar ne ek blind spot bana diya.

Baayi orr se, Veer ka ek mukka tezi se aaya. Lagbhag adrishya.

Renshu ne use pakadne ke liye haath badhaaya.

Lekin,

'Huh?'

Wo nahi aaya.

'Nahi!'

Renshu ki aankhein chaudi ho gayi. Wo ek feint attack tha. Asli humla-

Daayi orr se aa raha mukka. Par, derr ho chuki thi.

Lekin, iske pehle ki Veer apna blow land kar paata, uski kalaayi kisi ne kass kar thaam li.

Garofano.

Garofano (yells) : VEER!!! KYA HO GAYA HAI, TUMHE?

Veer ne dheere se apna sarr ghumaya. Pehli baar usne use dekha. Garofano ne dekha ki uski aankhon me krodh tha.

Veer (yells) : Puchho Renshu se Violet. Isne mujhe bataaya tha. Kitne system holders zinda bache hue hai. Aur, sansaar me total kitne the. Isne mujhe bataaya tha...! Total 30 the. Aur, uss waqt 18! Jaw Long aur Crimson ke jaane ke baad ab shayad 16.

Garofano : ???

Veer : Par, mujhe ye batao...! Kaun si skills system holders ki ginti kar ke deti hai? Iske paas aisi koi si bhi skill nahi hai, Violet.

Garofano ka chehra peela pad gaya. Use bhi iska ehsaas hua. Woh tezi se Renshu ki orr mudi.

Erica vichlit unke paas bhaagte hue aayi.

Erica (panicked) : Rukoooo! Bas, ruk jaaaoo!! Pleeaasee!! Aap dono kyu ladd rahe ho? K-Kya hua??? Dad-!!!

Bechaari ki awaaz fatt rahi thi. Lekin, unme se koi bhi nahi hila. Garofano ne abhi bhi Veer ke haath ko jakda hua tha. Toh wahi, Renshu sthir khada hua tha.

Veer ke haath ne dheere dheere apni mazbooti dheeli ki.

Veer (yells) : JAWAAB DO, RENSHU!

Ek bhaari virham.

Renshu ne ek gehri saans li.

Renshu : Mere paas aisi koi skill nahi hai jo ye kar sakti hai.

Sab wahi jamm ke reh gaye. Siwae, Erica ke. Jisne nazrein glaani ke chalte ferr li.

Garofano : T-To, fir... kaise?

Renshu ke honth sikude. Usne ek pal ke liye apni aankhein band kar li. Fir, unhe firse khol kuchh soch vichaar kar bas ek hi shabd bola.

Ek aisa shabd jisne unke aas-paas ki duniyaa ko thaam kar rakh diya.

Garofano : Bolo bhi!!!

Renshu : ...

Garofano : ???

Renshu : X!

Hawa jaise rukne ko ho gayi. Garofano ka jabda sakht ho gaya. Veer... bas ghoorta raha.

Ab gusse se nahi. Balki, sandeh se.
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This update consists of 9.2k words. Jo kuchh bikhra hua tha, use sameta jayega. Ek ek karke saare puzzles ke pieces ko lagaya jayega. Kuchh leftovers rahenge jinhe aage ke arcs me lagaya jayega. Lekin, kaafi hadd tak clarity mil jayegi iss arc me. Post Disembowler shuru ho chuka hai. Next update bhi isi month ke end me aa jayega. Target mein ab halka sa ghata raha hu, because I know inme zyada kuchh action nahi hai aur na hi ye peak updates hai. So, target is 280 for now. Baaki, keep supporting.
Dhanyavad.

Bhai kya ho ager in sab ka mastermind mr x ho kyu ki use sab ki full of Jan kari hai par in sab ko nhi so dekhte hi age kya hota hi

 

[sonu paba]

Update - 197 ~ Despondency ​

Ab tak...

Veer ko kuchh samajh aata ki tabhi-

"Although, Miss Ragini ki situation kaafi critical thi. But, doctor ne mujhe khabar de di hai."

'Ragini' naam sunn woh wapas se hosh me aaya.

"She's out of danger now."

Raahat bamushqil ek kshan ke liye hi thi.

"But there's only one problem. I'm sorry to say but — woh ab pehle ki tarah kabhi nahi chal payengi."

Aur, aspatal ko ek gehre sannaate ne dhak liya.

Ab aage...

Mukhya hall safed chaadron se dhaka hua tha. Pooja ki samagri aur phoolo ki mehek ek mishran me hawa me ghuli hui thi.

Beech me Manorath ji ka shav aise pada hua tha jaise maano wo bas kisi gehri neend me so rahe ho. Koi shikan nahi. Bas bejaan.

"Papaaaaaaa jiiiii!"

Brijesh rota hua unki chhaati se lipatne ki koshish kiya, magar Arun aur Shyaam ne use pakad kar peechhe kheench liya.

Karunesh, Pranjal aur Vivek bhi wahi the. Teeno ke sirr neeche jhuke hue the. Hairani ki baat yeh thi ki Karunesh ki aankhon me bhi aasu the.

Aur, kone me khadi Bhavna ki aankhein bhi namm thi. Manorath ji jaise bhi the, unhone kabhi bhi uska bura nahi chaaha tha. Isliye, humesha se hi uske mann me unke liye aadar aur sammaan hi tha. Unhe iss tarah se jaata dekh, aaj uska dil bhi chotil tha.

“Mummaaa-!”

Kavya sisakte hue apni maa, Sumitra se lipat gayi jiski khud ki aankhein aasuon se bheegi hui thi. Sumitra ne bhi kass ke use apne aalingan me bhar liya.

Shweta khud kuchh kehne laayak nahi thi. Bhale hi Manorath se uska rishta behad mazboot nahi tha par itne saal se ek chhat ke neeche hi wo sab ke saath rehti aayi thi. Kahi na kahi Manorath ji ki mrityu ka asar uss par bhi pada tha. Bhumika ki bhi haalat yahi thi — niraasha se paripoorn.

Purvi wahi thoda door baithi sab kuchh dekh rahi thi. Bauhe sikudi hui thi aur mann vichlit.

Shyaam, Gauri, aur Parijaat ki aurtein, ye sabhi gaanv ki aatma the. Uski reedh. Ve ekjut, maun khade the, toofan ke khilaf puraane pedo ki tarah dard ko sehte hue. Aane waali zimmedariyon ke liye poori tarah se taiyaar.

Suhana apni behan Sonia ke saath thi, dono ke ird-gird suit pehne unke bodyguards khade hue the. Apne haath baandhe, sunglasses pehne, Sonia ek kursi par wahi baahar baithi hui thi. Itna gamgeen mahaul dekh wo sehem si gayi thi.

Toh wahi, Suhana thoda kaanp rahi thi. Raat bhar ke jaagne se uski aankhein laal ho rakhi thi. Apne phone par nazre gadaaye wo sandesho ko padhti jaa rahi thi.

Usne andar hall me baithe Veer ko dekha. Uske honth khule, par fir thar-thara ke band ho gaye.

Kya use haq tha uske paas jaane ka? Aise waqt par? Wo wahi khadi yeh sochti rahi.

Idhar Kaera kuchh feet door khadi thi, uska bhai Karan kuchh logo se baat-cheet kar raha tha. Shuru se ant tak, Kaera ki nazrein ek hi shaks par tiki hui thi — Veer.

Woh uske paas jaana chaahti thi. Use galey se lagaana chaahti thi. Use samjhaana chaahti thi. Lekin, uske perr hilne me asamarth reh gaye.

Uski bhavnaaye jo haal hi me jaagrit hui thi — aaj ek aur nayi anubhooti se guzar rahi thi. Aaj wo wahi mehsoos kar paa rahi thi jo usne tab mehsoos kiya tha jab usne apni maa, Archana ko khoya tha.

Dukh. Peeda. Udaasi.

Wo saare bhoole gaye emotions waapas sateh par aa rahe the.

Aabha bhi ek jagah apna ghoonghat odhe dheere-dheere ro rahi thi. Manorath se uska lagaav nahi tha. Ye aansu kal raat jo bhayanak drishya hue aur jis tarah se sab kuchh ujda, uske liye the. Apne maalik ko iss tarah dekh uska dil andar hi andar dehel raha tha.

Sonali use apne se laga ke sambhaalne ki koshish kar rahi thi, kintu woh swayam hi bheetar se ghabrayi hui thi.

Magar, Veer ka kya-!?

Tej ne use dekha. Wo chup-chaap Manorath ke saamne baitha hua tha. Jaise maano uss se abhi bhi ye khabar nahi pachaayi jaa rahi thi. Par, wo uss se kuchh na boli. Balki, wo to nazrein hi nahi mila paa rahi thi.

Ek chhota sa kaam tha. Apne bhai ki gerr-maujoodgi me Yarnia ka udhghatan karna. Bas! Iss ek chhote se kaam ko karne me wo naqamyab thi. Na sirf hotel ko nuksaan pahucha, balki Yarnia ka sampoorn karyakram bhi barbaad ho gaya. Logo ki jaane chali gayi aur upar se humle me gharwalo ne bhi apni jaan gawa di.

Aur, ye sab kuchh hua — Naye saal ki lagne waali raat me. Naya saal unke liye khushiyaan nahi, balki barbaadiyaan leke aaya. To aise me Tej akhir kaise apne bhai se nazrein mila sakti thi?

Veer ke bagal se hi Arohi bhi thi. Honth thar-thara rahe the aur bechaari ka poora chehra aansuon se bheega hua tha.

Wo uski orr jhuki. Usne Veer ke kandhe par haath rakha-

Arohi : V-Veer!

Par, koi jawab nahi.

Bas — khamoshi.

Arohi ne uske haath ko apne haath me lete hue baandha aur ek baar fir se use jhunjhlaaya.

Arohi : V-Veeeer! *sniff*

Kintu, punah koi jawab nahi. Wo hila hi nahi. Ekdum sthir — bina koi palke jhapkaaye. Jaise samay sirf uske liye ruk gaya ho. Arohi ne ek baar aur koshish ki.

Arohi : Veeeeer! M-Mujhe aise darao mat, please. *sniff* Kuchh bolo. Veeeer?

Magar, abhi bhi koi pratikriya nahi.

---

Kuchh der pehle...

Yeh woh waqt tha jab Veer Juhi aur Pihu ko apne badan par laade Disembowler ki lair se baahar nikla tha.

Uski har saans fool rahi thi, drishti dhundhli pad rahi thi, lekin woh rukne ko taiyaar nahi tha.

Juhi uski chhaati se bandhi hui thi, uska kamzor shareer thakaan ke chalte neend me upar-neeche ho raha tha. To, wahi Pihu peechhe uski peeth par behosh thi.

Baah me bhayanak tez dard uthne ke bawajood Veer use thaam ke rakha hua tha — ekdum adig.

Pari ki awaaz tabhi uske dimaag me goonji.

[Master! Aapka haath. You need to rest right now. 'Limb Substitution' ki madad se kaafi hadd tak uss waqt haath position me aa gaya tha, lekin aapne-]

Pari shikayat kar rahi thi. Veer ka haath 'Limb Substitution' ke equip karte hi sahi dhang se position me aa chuka tha. Zaroorat thi toh bas kuchh dino ke araam ki, jiske chalte uska haath wapas se pehle ki tarah ho jaane waala tha.

Magar, usne kya kiya-!?

Disembowler se bhidte waqt, usne jhatke se liquid nitrogen ke cylinder ko kheencha tha, jiske parinam swaroop uska haath wapas se lachakte hue ukhad chuka tha.

Na keval dobara use jodne ke liye shareer ki urja ka istemal hua, balki haath ke ukhadte hi ek baar fir use bloodloss se guzarna pada.

Ab agar samay rehte haath ko araam nahi diya gaya, to ye samasya aur bhi gambheer mod le sakti thi. Aur, isliye Pari chintit thi. Kyunki, iss waqt bhi — Veer ka haath Pihu ko peechhe se thaame hue tha. Haath par zor pad raha tha.

Veer ne bamushqil hi koi pratikriya di. Uska dimag ek hi cheez par kendrit tha — kaise bhi karke dono bacchiyo ko surakshit unke apno tak pahuchaaya jaaye.

Woh waha se bhaaga. Pari ki baat par usne kuchh derr baad jawab diya.

'Yeah! I- I know, Pari. Lekin, mere paas rukne ka koi option nahi hai. I must move on.'

Sadke street lights aur aasmaan aatishbaziyo se jagmaga raha tha. Police ki jeeps sadko par daud rahi thi, adhikaari hatyaare aur laapata ladkiyon ki talaash me har kone, har gali ko chhaan rahe the.

Aur, unhi jeep me se ek jeep me — Trisha thi.

Uski aankhein sooji hui thi, dashboard ko pakde hue uske haath kaanp rahe the.

"Tez chalo!!!"

Usne driver ko aadesh diya, ghanto chillaane se uski ab awaaz bhi fatt rahi thi. Bahut lamba samay ho gaya tha. Bahut saare ghante guzar chuke the — koi suraag nahi, koi sanket nahi, koi ummeed nahi. Bebasi ka bojh ab use ghutan de raha tha, magar usne tootne se inkaar kar diya.

Woh iss tarah, iss samay nahi toot sakti thi. Apni beti ko dhundhne se pehle to hargiz nahi.

Rohan, uska pati bhi wahi kahi sadko par tha. Beti ki khoj me paagalo ki tarah sheher me bhaag raha tha. Parantu, ye sab vyarth jaane waala tha agar unhe unki beti na mili toh.

Fir, jeep ne ek mod liya.

Aur, koi waha par tha.

Sadak ke beech me ek akela shaks, khoon se lathpath. Uski shirt fati hui thi, chehra ghaavo aur khoon ke kaaran bamushqil se pehchaana jaa sakta tha.

Woh waha khada tha, haanf raha tha, kaanp raha tha — lekin, sirf wahi nahi tha.

Uske seene se kuchh bandha hua tha. Koi tha. Nahi! Sirf seene se hi nahi, peeth par bhi koi tha.

Trisha ke dil ki dhadkane maano wahi tham gayi.

"Rukooooo!" Veh chillaayi.

Jeep ghisatate hue achanak ruk gayi. Jaise hi usne darwaza khola, kaanpte haatho se usne turant bandook nikaali aur seedhe saamne khade shaks par nishaana saadh diya.

"Theher jao!"

Woh chillaayi. Uski awaaz teekhi thi, ghabrahat ke bawajood usne apne aap ko sthir rakha hua tha. Jeep ki headlights jaise hi uss shaks ke peechhe ladi nanhi si bacchi ke chehre par padi, to Trisha ki aankhein bhay ke maare fel gayi.

Pihu!

Uski aankhein khoon se saney uss shaks ke chehre par ghoomi aur fir apni bacchi par.

Kaun tha ye vyakti?

Aur, uski beti uski peeth par?

Upar se wo kahi se bhi dara hua nahi prateet ho raha tha.

Idhar, Veer ne Trisha ko dekh apni gati dheemi nahi ki, balki woh chalta raha — seedhe uski orr.

Trisha ki pakad trigger par mazboot ho gayi.

"Maine kaha ruk jao!"

Woh darr rahi thi. Kya yahi wo serial killer tha? Kya isi ne uski bacchi aur Juhi ko agwa kiya tha?

Kya kare woh? Kahi woh vyakti uski chetavni ka bura maan bacchiyo ko kuchh kar diya to? Kya use bandook neeche kar leni chahiye? Kya kare? Use kuchh nahi soojh raha tha.

Lekin, tabhi veh bola.

"Tumhari beti... Surakshit hai!"

'Huh?'

Uski awaaz halanki karkash thi, lekin usme koi darr nahi tha. Koi hich-kichaahat nahi. Keval nishchitata.

Trisha ki saansein atakne lagi. Uska dimaag kaam karna band kar raha tha.

Jaise hi Veer ne uske aur apne beech doori kam ki, jeep me baithe baaki police karmiyo ne turant hi qadam uthaaya, apne-apne hathyaar liye unn sabhi ne Veer par bandooke taan di. Unki ungliyaan bhi trigger par mandra rahi thi, thodi si bhi galat harqat par goliyaan chalaane ke liye ekdum taiyaar.

Lekin, Trisha abhi bhi Veer ko ghoor rahi thi. Usne apna haath ghabraate hue uthaaya.

"Nahiiiiii!"

Woh chillaayi aur usne sabhi police karmiyo ko goli chalaane se rok diya.

Woh nahi jaanti thi ki usne aisa kyu kiya. Kya ye darr tha? Ya fir kuchh aur? Lekin, use itna zaroor samajh aaya ki bandook ko iss shaks par taanana iss sthiti ka hal nahi tha.

Veer ahista-ahista uske paas aaya. Aur, fir apne badan par gathaan bandhi, khoon se sani chaadar ko usne dheere se khola.

Pihu.

Uske nanhe se chehre par shaanti ke bhaav the. Na koi chot, na koi ghaav. Ekdum achhoot.

Trisha ki bandook uske kaanpte haatho se chhoot kar fisal gayi. Woh dhadalle se bina koi parvah kiye aage badhi-

"Madam!!!"

Police karmiyo ne use savdhan karne ki koshish ki, parantu Trisha ko apni bacchi ke siwa aur koi nazar na aaya.

Usne Pihu ko apne dono haatho me lete hue sambhaala aur apne seene se lagaaya aur apni beti ko galey se lagaate hi uski rulaayi chhoot gayi.

"Woh sirf behosh hai. Thaki hui hai. Aur, kuchh nahi. Use kuchh derr me hosh aa jaayega." Veer ne samjhaate hue kaha.

Trisha bilakhte hue apni beti ke chehre ko bas choomti chali gayi. Use saans bhi badi mushqil se aa rahi thi. Uski ungliyaan Pihu ke komal chehre par daud gayi.

Veer, jiska kaam abhi bhi aadha-adhoora tha, thoda sa Trisha se alag hua. Woh waha se nikalne ke liye hua.

"Ab mujhe Juhi ko ma'am ke paas le jaana hoga. Aur, tum..."

"Huh?" Trisha use hairat me dekhi.

"Jaldi! Shamshaan ke neeche. Akele nahi. Poori force leke jao. Jaldi! Warna woh- *huff*"

"K-Kya?" Trisha ne sarr uthaate hue use aashcharya me ghoora.

"Samay kam hai. J-Jaldi- *huff* Iske pehle ki derr ho jaaye."

Uske perr mushqil se seedhe khade ho paa rahe the. Woh jaanta tha ki Disembowler buri tarah ghaayal tha. Police ki full force use takedown kar sakti thi. SHB ka raaz khul paana bhi lagbhag namumkin tha kyunki, woh hawa ke sampark me aate hi oxidise ho jaata tha.

Aur to aur, police ko Disembowler jaise serial killer aur uske kaale karnaamo se avgat karaana bhi zaroori tha. Yahi soch ke usne ye nirnay liya.

Trisha kuchh soch-samajh nahi paa rahi thi. Lekin, uski sahej pravatti Veer ki baat maanane ke liye chillaa rahi thi.

Wahi iss orr, Veer ne apna muh fera. Usne Juhi ko kass kar pakda aur ek qadam aage badha jab-

"R-Ruko! K-Kaun ho tum? Kaha jaa rahe ho? Mein tumhe yaha se kahi nahi jaane dungi."

Veer ne koi jawab nahi diya.

Trisha ne dekha ki Veer ke harr qadam me thakavat thi, blood loss use har pal kamzor kar raha tha. Magar, iske bawajood — woh aage badhne ke liye tatpar tha.

"Nidhi ma'am... Juhi ko unke paas pahuchaana hoga."

'Nidhi' ka naam uske muh se sunte hi Trisha chaunk uthi. Aur, kuchh ghante pehle ki kuchh baatein use yaad aa gayi. Gift shop par Nidhi ke sang uski pehli mulaqat aur wo baatein—

'Meri beti ki dost ka janmdin hai. Aur, aapka-!?'

'Mere bhi... Mere student ne naya business shuru kiya hai. Uske launch ke liye event rakha hai.'

"T-Tum..." Trisha bhauchakki apna muh khole avaak Veer ko ghoori.

Yeh ladka.

Veer ke ek aur qadam aage lete hi police karmiyo ne uska raasta rok liya.

"Wahi ruk jao!" Unme se ek ne aadesh diya.

Veer ne mushqil se unn par koi nazar daali. Uska shareer bhalayi iss samay kamzor tha, lekin uska sankalp atal tha. Wo ab kisi bhi haalat me nahi ruk sakta tha.

Iske pehle ki police waale kuchh kar paate, Trisha ki awaaz ne unhe hairangi me daal diya.

"Jaane do use!" Woh ahista se boli.

Ve sab chaunkte hue uski orr mude.

"M-Madam?" Unme se ek hich-kichaaya. "M-Madam, aap ye kya keh rahi hai? Hum iss anjaan ko aise kaise jaane de sakte hai? Hum ise bilkul bhi-"

"Maine kaha na use jaane do!!!" Usne iss baar aur bhi dridhta se dohraaya.

Police karmiyo me sankoch bana raha, lekin Trisha apne nirnay par dagmagayi nahi.

Dheere-dheere wo sabhi ek taraf hatt gaye.

Agar, koi Nidhi ko jaanta tha, bacchiyo ko apne shareer par laad kar unhe bina chotil hue wapas leke aaya tha, to isme koi shaq nahi tha ki woh insaan koi serial killer nahi, balki ek shubhchintak tha.

Veer Trisha ke bagal se nikalte hue aage badha. Trisha ne ek akhiri sawaal uss se poochha—

"Kaun ho tum?"

Veer iss baar ruka. Woh peechhe muda. Uski nazar Trisha par tiki.

Ek pal ki khamoshi.

Aur, fir usne jawaab diya-

"Veer Singh!!!"

Trisha ke badan me sihran daud gayi. Veer bas itna bol, waha se chal diya.

Yeh naam. Inn beetein dino me woh iss naam se bhali bhaanti parichit thi. Yahi toh woh naam tha. Yahi wo insaan tha jiski use talaash thi. Wo aadmi jiske peechhe wo na jaane kab se padi hui thi.

Lekin, kabhi uss tak thos saboot ke saath pahuch na saki.

Aur, aaj wahi insaan-

Uski beti ko bacha ke uske paas laaya tha. Dimaag sawaalo ke bawandar me fassta jaa raha tha. Lekin, usne khud ko iss bawandar se baahar nikaala.

Abhi jo maayne rakhta tha — wo tha uski beti ka surakshit hona.

Usne apne mann me chal rahe toofan ko door karte hue, apna radio uthaaya.

"Rohan!!!"

Aur, bas... Wo punah toot ke reh gayi. Uss orr se Rohan ki bhi raahat ki saans lene ki awaaz use sunaayi di. Upar waale ko dhanyavad dete hue usne gaadi Trisha ke ilaake ki orr ghuma di.

Aur, aise hi Veer Pihu ko surakshit haatho me pahuchaate hue Nidhi ke paas pahucha tha.

Yahi woh waqt bhi tha jab Renshu aur Erica Disembowler ki lair me jaa kar, chhaan-been kar ke waha se nikal chuke the. Aur, unke nikalte hi police force ne poore shamshan ko under surveillance rakh liya tha.

Yahi woh waqt tha jab Renshu ne Erica ko ishaara kiya, Erica Veer ko Nidhi ke kamre se apne kandho par utha kar leke aayi. Wahi thi, jisne Nidhi aur Shreya dono ko neutralise kiya tha.

Renshu ne fir behosh Veer ko apne kandhe par uthaaya aur seedha Garofano ke paas le gaya.

Use car me hi Ava ke bagal se litaate hue usne Garofano ki orr dekha.

Behosh Veer aur Ava dono ek dusre ke bagal se laite hue the. Behoshi me bhi dono ke haath ek dusre se lage hue the.

Ek pal ke liye Garofano ki bauhe sikudi. Usne kuchh sochte hue Veer ka haath Ava ke haath se dur kar diya aur uske ghaavo ka ilaaj karne me jutt gayi.

Na sirf usne Veer ko apna ek vitality serum aur antiserum diya, balki uske ghaavo ka ilaaj kar uske haatho ko chains se azaad bhi kar diya.

Renshu, Erica aur Garofano, fir Veer ko leke hospital pahuche jaha parivar jann Veer ko iss awastha me dekh hakke-bakke reh gaye the.

Aur, fir Veer ka hosh aana aur use Manorath ki mrityu ki khabar ka praapt hona. Yahi sab toh hua tha.

Uske baad Garofano hospital se seedhe wapas car par pahuchi jaha Ava pehle se hi hosh me baithi hui thi.

Garofano : You are awake!

Ava : ...

Garofano : !!? Kuchh nahi kehna?

Ava : V-Veer! K-Kaha hai woh?

Garofano (smiles) : Kuchh derr pehle tumhare bagal se hi tha.

Ava : K-Kyaaaaa??

Wo hadbadaate hue idhar-udhar dekhi.

Ava : K-Kaha? Kaha hai woh? No! Wait!

Agle hi pal jaise use khud hi Veer ki location 'Death Flag' ke zariye maalum pad gayi.

Ava (mutters) : H-Hospital!

Garofano : Hmm! Uske dada ji nahi rahe. The other lady... What was her name again? Ragini! Hmm! Wo out of danger hai, lekin ab chal nahi sakti.

Ava ka sarr ye sunte hi neeche jhuk gaya. Usne apne dono perr mod apna chehra ghutno ke peechhe chhupa liya. Woh apne aap ko dosh de rahi thi. Use ek zimmedari di gayi thi. Aur, woh bhi wo theek se nahi nibha paayi.

Garofano (glances) : You don't have to feel bad about it. Although, mein waha nahi thi, aur mujhe nahi pata exactly kya hua tha lekin-

Ava : ???

Garofano : Erica ne sab kuchh bata diya hai. You took a bullet for someone else. Aur, agar tum nahi hoti- there was no way that girl would have survived that shot.

Ava : M-Mein- *sniff*

Garofano ne aage kuchh na kaha. Kuchh derr baad Ava ne uss se sawaal kiya.

Ava : Tumne aisa kyu kaha tha?

Garofano : Hmm? Kya?

Ava : Yahi ki... You are hiding your cards. Just like him.

Garofano : Woh? *smiles* Well, kya ye sach nahi? Tum apne cards chhipaaye hue ho. Just like him. Usne bhi mujhe apne saare cards ke baare me nahi bataaya. Hey! Now, I feel really bad you know.

Ava : ??

Garofano : Mein akeli hi hu jisne apne saare cards ke baare me tum sabko bataya hua hai. Aur, tum sab ho ki-

Ava : I don't feel the need to tell you.

Garofano : Wow! So, much for the help, right?

Ava : Kisi na kisi din mein ye favor chuka dungi. Cards ki details share karne ki koi zaroorat nahi mujhe.

Garofano : Chill, pretty girl. So cold, damn! *sighs* To kya mein wo favor abhi maang sakti hu?

Ava : Huh?

Garofano : Bolo?

Ava (nods) : Ask!

Garofano (grins) : Apne aap ko Veer se door kar do!

Ava (yells) : KABHI BHI NAHIIIIII-!!!

Wo itni zorr se chillaayi ki Garofano khud aashcharya me reh gayi. Ava ke gaal agle hi pal fir gulaabi ho chale. Aur, Garofano ke hontho par ek muskaan bikhar gayi. Woh bina kuchh kahe, waha se nikal gayi par jaate-jaate uske shabd Ava ke kaano tak pahuchne se na choonke.

"Tumhare favor chukaane ka intezar rahega, mujhe."

Kehte hue wo waha se chali gayi aur Ava pichhli ghatit vardaato ke baare me soch-vichaar kar leen ho gayi.

---

Veer's old house...

Antim sanskar ki taiyaari shuru ho chuki thi. Ghar ki mahilaaye, bagal se khadi ho kar sab dekh rahi thi. Aankhein laal thi aur sarr dhake hue.

Purush shaiyaa ki samagri ka prabandhan karne me lage hue the. Bhaar sirf Manorath ji ke shareer ka nahi uthaana tha, uske saath unki yaadon ka bhi bhaar juda hua tha.

Shaiyaa ko taiyaar karne ke liye baans ki lakdiyaan, rassiyaan aur safed kapda aa chuka tha.

Karunesh, Vivek aur Brijesh mil kar lakdiyaan baandhne ka kaam kar rahe the.

Ghar ke ird-gird aas-pados ki bheed-bhaad bhi jama ho chuki thi. Log aapas me charcha kar rahe the.

"Kaise? Ghatna kaise hui ye?"

"News me aaya to raha. Humla ho gaya na."

"Haan? Kaha?"

"Wai apna... Prestige hotel. Bahut bada humla tha."

"To humle me maare gaye?"

"Haan! Abhi poora clear nahi pata chala hai, par baaki log to yahi bata rahe ki humle me jaan chali gayi."

"Accha! Tch! Tch! Tch! Bechaare buzurg hoke aisi ghatna ka shikaar ho gaye."

"Kya kar sakte hai ab."

Veer Manorath ji ke perr ke paas hi baitha hua tha. Peeth jhuki, haath ghutno par tike hue, aur aankhein khaali.

Kavya aur Arohi use awaaz deti rahi, magar usne ek baar bhi nahi suna. Shyaam ne jab use paani ka glass diya tab bhi usne apni palkein tak nahi jhapkayi.

Uski nazrein sirf apne dada ji ke chehre par tiki hui thi. Aur, jaise hi Manorath ji ke shareer ko farsh se uthaaya gaya, Veer ki tandra bhang ho gayi.

'Huh?'

Usne mud ke dekha. Ek baar palak jhapki. Fir, dobaara.

Qadmo ki chehel-pehel, shorgul, sab kuchh ek saath uss par toot pada. Wo bina kuchh samjhe khada hua, dheere-dheere uske perr dada ji ke shav ki disha ki orr badhne lage.

Manorath ji ke shav ko baahar laa kar rakh diya gaya tha.

Rassi baandhte hue Brijesh ne sarr upar kar Veer ko dekha. Uske haath me bhi rassi thi.

Wo baans ke dhaanche ko aise dekh raha tha jaise maano wo koi suljhaane waali paheli ho. Kabhi uski nazrein apne haath me li hui rassi par tikti to kabhi baans ke dhaanche par.

Jeevan me pehli baar wo apne kisi qareebi ki maut me iss tarah se shaamil ho raha tha. Inn reeti-rivaaz me itna sammilit hone ka avsar use pehle kabhi praapt nahi hua tha.

Ek khamoshi kuchh derr chhaayi rahi.

Fir, aaj saalo me pehli baar-

"Ise iss tarah se baandho, Veer. Meri tarah...!"

Brijesh ne Veer se kaha. Awaaz naram thi. Na hi aagya se bhari hui aur na hi katu. Ekdum — vinamra.

Veer ne use dekha. Wo chup-chaap neeche baitha, apne pita ko dekhte hue usne rassi ko baandhna seekha, aur baans ki lakdiyo me wo rassi ki gathaane lagaane laga.

Ek pal ke liye — saara gussa, saare gile-shikve, sab kuchh ek taraf ho gaya. Dono baap-bete ke haath shaiyaa banaane me chal rahe the. Karunesh aur Vivek ne jab ye dekha to dono hi ahista se unn dono ke beech se alag ho gaye.

Ek ke baad ek gaanth.
Ek ke baad ek saans.
Saath-saath.

Kuchh door khadi, Bhavna ne jab yeh dekha to usne apne haath se apne muh ko dhak liya. Bagal se khadi, Purvi ne uske kandhe ko thaama.

Brijesh ko tabhi, apne pita ji ke akhir bol yaad aa gaye.

Wo Yarnia ke udhghatan me nahi gaya tha. Parantu, jab TV par samachar se use khabar lagi. Uske perr apne aap chal pade.

Use wo drishya yaad aaya. Wo pal jab uske pita ji use Hotel Prestige me chalne ke liye anurodh kar rahe the. Use nahi pata tha ki wo uska apne pita ke saath akhiri sanvaad hone waala tha —

---

"Toh tum nahi chaloge??"

"Jab mujhe bulaya hi nahi gaya toh bhala mein kaise jaa sakta hu, papa ji?"

"Murkh ho kya tum? Veer ne ek nyota bheja hai. Kya itni bhi samajh nahi tumhe ki ye sabke liye hai?"

"Aapko Veer ka phone aaya tha?"

"Haan!"

"Sumitra ko bhi aaya tha. Usne bataya mujhe. Lekin, mujhe nahi! Iska kya matlab hua? Kya aap samjhe nahi? Ya aap samajhna nahi chaahte?"

"Tum paagal ho sach me, Brijesh! Tumne jo kuchh bhi kiya hai uske baad bhala woh kaise tumse aake upat ke baat kar sakta hai? Jaise tum hich-kicha rahe ho waise hi toh woh bhi hich-kicha raha hoga na?"

"Kya waqai, papa ji? Mujhe nahi lagta! Balki, mujhe waha na paa kar use khushi hi hogi."

"Tum bawle ho gaye ho, Brijesh! Beta hai tumhara! Aur, tum baap ho uske. Ek baap apne bete ke sukh me uske nyota dene ka intezar nahi karta."

"Ye uss baap ke liye hai jo dukh me bhi apne bete ke saath khada rahe, jo mein nibha na saka. Mujhe waha paa ke sab uncomfortable ho jayenge. Rehne dijiye! Aap bhuliye mat ki Shweta aur... Bhavna bhi waha hongi. Aapke liye kehna asaan hai. Par, mere liye waha jaana itna asaan nahi."

"Tumhari dikkat kya hai tumhe pata hai Brijesh? Tum log kya sochenge iss baare me zyada sochte ho aur iss baare me kam ki kya karna chahiye. Arey bhai ye toh zahir si baat hai ki tumhare waha hone se baatein pehle ki tarah nahi hongi. Par, kya Veer ko iss se farq padega?"

"???"

"Nahi! Maayne ye rakhega ki uska baap jisne use ghar se baahar nikaal diya tha, aaj woh waha uske saamne uske liye khada hai."

"Nahi! Nahi papa ji! Ye toh wahi baat ho gayi ki sukh me sab kaam aate hai par dukh me-? Koi nahi! Mein ab maafi ke laayak nahi papa ji! Ab bahut bigaad liya maine apna aur baakiyo ka jeevan. Ab aur nahi-!"

"Tumne sahi kaha. Tum maafi ke laayak nahi! Lekin, maafi ke laayak koi bhi nahi hota, Brijesh!"

"???"

"Maafi ke laayak koi nahi hota. Use ye kamaana padta hai. Uss laayak banana padta hai ki vyakti aap ko maaf kar sake. Aur, tumhara waha pahuchna maafi maangne ka pehla qadam hoga."

"N-Nahi, papa ji! M-Mein-"

"Tum iss liye nahi jaana chaahte kyunki tumhe lagta hai ki woh log kya sochenge? Tum unse aankh se aankh milaane par ghabra rahe ho. Par, yahi toh pehla padaav hai, Brijesh. Chalo! Ghabrao nahi! Ek baar samay haath se nikal gaya toh dobaara nahi aata."

"Papa ji, samajhiye baat ko-"

"Tumhe pata hai? Kabhi-kabhi ek baap apne bacche ko jo sabse bada tohfa de sakta hai woh kya hai? Woh hai uski - maujoodgi! Agar, Veer ka phone nahi aaya toh kya hua? Woh toh chhota hai, par tum toh bade ho na? Pehel toh tumhe hi karni hogi na? Bhale hi tumhe kaisa bhi mehsoos ho par chalo, kyunki iss sthiti me andar se har baccha yahi chaahega ki uske pita saamne aaye. Veer bhi-!"

"M-Mein... Mein sochunga, Papa ji! Par, aaj mujhe apni mann-maani kar lene dijiye! Jaiye aap! Samay ho raha hai!"

Manorath ke lakh manaane par bhi jab Brijesh na maana toh woh narazgi me waha se jaane lage. Unke qadam darwaze ki dehleez par aake ruke.

"Meri seekh yaad rakhna Brijesh! Samay ek baar haath se nikal gaya, toh dobaara nahi aata."

Aur, woh waha se nikal gaye.

---

Akhiri lapte ek ajeeb si shaanti ke saath naach rahi thi — dheemi, aur bhasm karne waali.

Veer jalti hui chita se kuchh hi feet door khada hua tha. Manorath ji ka shav agni me sama chuka tha. Hawa ne rukh badla aur dhue ko ek taraf uda diya, apne saath na keval raakh, balki unki kahaniyaan, gyaan, aur uss vyakti ki antim garmjoshi bhi le gaya jisne kabhi Veer ko uska ekmaatra surakshit aashray diya tha.

Uski mutthiyaan bandhi rahi. Saansein kamzor. Aur, aankhein — bina moonde ek jagah sthir.

Mann shaant tha. Bahut derr tak. Jab tak ki-

[Master...]

Pari ki awaaz na goonj gayi.

Kintu, koi pratikriya nahi.

Uski aankhein abhi bhi aag ki lapto par tiki hui thi, maano jaise uske sawaalo ka jawaab ye laptein hi dene waali thi.

Lekin, Pari kahi nahi gayi.

[Master... I'm here.]

Veh jhijhki. Fir, aage boli. Uski awaaz dheemi thi, ek asamaanya komalta se bhari hui. Aur, fir kuchh sochte hue usne-

*Ding*

['Mission : A Knight's Stand' failed.]

System ki window ne Veer ki chetna me roop liya. Usme se aani waali neeli raushni tim-tima rahi thi. Iss baar, Veer ne dhyaan diya.

*Ding*

[The host was not able to get rid of the Disembowler.]

[The host did succeed in rescuing Juhi and Pihu.]

[The host also succeeded in keeping the experiment’s secret a secret from the general public.]

[The host will not be penalized for the secret being publicized.]

[The host will not be placed under police surveillance.]

[The mission failed because not all the conditions were fulfilled.]

[Mission failure penalty applied.]

[Penalty : Loss of loved ones.]

[Rewards have been granted.]

*Ding*

[You have been rewarded 20,000 Points.]

[You have been rewarded 5000 Fame Points.]

[Since the mission wasn’t completed, Perk Hunt will not be activated. Hence, no perks can be selected.]

Khamoshi.

Veer ne unn notifications ko suna. Magar, uska dhyaan abhi bhi kahi aur hi tha.

Usne ek gehri saans li. Aur, fir-

'M-Maine unhe kho diya, Pari. Mein unhe bacha nahi saka. Mere karan wo-'

Wo ek qadam aage badha. Aankhein ekdum laal.

'Maine maut ko dekha hai. Mere inn haatho ne logo ko maut bhi di hai. P-Par, kabhi bhi... kabhi bhi maine iss tarah mehsoos nahi kiya. Ye mujhe andar se jala raha hai, Pari.'

[...]

'Wo sirf mere dada ji nahi the. Wo mera ghar the. Uss puraane ghar se agar koi mujhe jod ke rakhe hue tha to woh wahi the... W-Wahi...!'

Uski mutthiyaan dheeli pad gayi.

'I was too late, Pari. Too weak. Too distracted. Aur, ab mere paas kuchh bacha hai toh woh hai — ye dhua, ye raakh, aur ye... glaani. Asahaneeya glaani.'

'Agar, mein aur taqatvar hota, hoshiyar hota, toh shayad mein-'

[Maaasterrrr, Nooooo-!]

'???'

[Master! Aapne wo kiya jo aur koi nahi kar sakta tha. Aapne uss Disembowler se do bacchiyon ki jaan bachaayi. Aapne SHB ke rehesya ko duniyaa ke saamne aane se roka.]

'M-Mein-'

[Aap unprepared the. Aap uski territory me the. Aur, fir bhi aapne haar nahi maani. Kya aapko lagta hai aap kamzor ho???]

Uski awaaz kaanp uthi. Aur, fir-

Dusri baar. Veer ko apne mann me wahi anubhooti mehsoos hui.

Aansu. Lekin, uske nahi. Pari ke.

'Pari, tum-'

Pari ki chetna se uski chetna me ek udaasi ki jhalak.

[Aap bhool kyu jaate ho ki mein wo sab kuchh mehsoos kar sakti hu jo aap karte ho. *sniff* Aapki har dhadkan... Mujhe goonjti hui sunaayi deti hai. Har aansu jo aap girne nahi dete... Unhe mein andar se mehsoos karti hu.]

'!!?'

[You didn't fail him, Master. You carried his name through fire. Through war. Through hell.]

'Pari!'

[Aur, ab bhi aap mazbooti se khade hue ho. Tab bhi jab aap andar se toot rahe ho. They can't see it. But I can. I can feel it.]

Veer wahi chita ke paas dhool bhari zameen par apne ghutno ke bal gir pada.

*Sniff*

Usne apni chhaati ko kass ke jakda. Dard se nahi, balki apne andar bachi hui cheezon ko sambhaalne ki ek betaab koshish me.

Usne ghutate hue kaha,

'P-Par, unhone mujhpe vishvas kiya tha, Pari. Kitne bharose se wo aaye honge aur unke saath- Ek akhiri baar mein unhe dekh tak na saka. I-'

[Aap humesha unke pasandeeda rahoge, Master. Humesha.]

Ek lambi khamoshi chhaa gayi. Veer ke aansu akhirkar gir pade.

'Itna dard kyu ho raha hai, Pari? *sniff*'

[Kyunki, aap unse itna pyaar karte the jitna aap khud nahi jaante the, Master.]

'!!!'

[And love, Master… is the only thing in this world more powerful than death.]

Woh muda. Uske peechhe ki aag ek antim baar bhadak uthi aur fir dheere-dheere feeki padne lagi.

Aur, aaj mann ki gehraayi me, jaha aam taur par notifications aur pari ke bol goonjte rehte the, ek durlabh tarah ki khamoshi chhaa gayi — khaalipann se nahi, balki do chetnao se, jo ek saath shok mana rahi thi.

***

Antim sanskar samapt hua hi tha, aag abhi bujh hi rahi thi, jab-

Baahar ek alag tarah ki aag ne apna janm le liya.

Veer, apne parivar sang jaise hi mukti dham se baahar nikla, toh uska swagat khamoshi se nahi, balki shor se hua.

Ek toofan.

Cameras chamak uthe. Microphones kinhi bhaale ki tarah aage badhe. Awaazein — unme se hazaaron — jwaar ki leher ki tarah aake uske kaano me takraayi.

"Mister, Veer Singh! Kya Hotel Prestige ki tragedy aapki zimmedari thi?"

"Humle ke dauran aap kaha the? Aapko kahi dekha hi nahi gaya."

"Aapki nigraani me bekasoor security guards maare gaye. Iska dosh kis par hai?"

"Kya aap ye soch rahe hai kya ki fame hone se aap inn sab se bach sakte hai?"

"Kya aap aaj raat so bhi paayenge? Ye jaante hue ki aapki sampatti ki suraksha karte hue nirdosh log maare gaye?"

"Jawab dijiye, Mister Veer!"

"Tune mere bhai ko maar daala, haram khor!! Mein tujhe chhorunga nahi!"

"Khooni!! Khooni ho tum!"

"Tumhare hotel ne mere pita ji ko zinda kha liya."

"Kya hoga humaara?"

Mratak security guards ke parivar ke kuchh sadasya bhi journalists ki bheed me ghus gaye. Wo barricades ko dukh, gusse aur aakrosh me paar kar gaye.

Unme se ek Veer par lagbhag jhapatne hi waala tha, lekin kuchh dayaalu ajnabiyon ne use rok liya.

Veer wahi khada raha. Uska shareer jamm sa gaya. Isliye, nahi ki woh darr gaya tha, balki isliye kyunki Hotel Prestige ka samachar ab vistaar se use sunane mil raha tha.

Wo jaanta tha humla hua tha. Hospital me hosh aane ke baad, Arohi ne use zaroori khabar de di thi. Yahi ki Hotel Prestige me humla hua tha. Golibaari. Jisme uske dada ji chal base.

Manorath ji ki maut bloodloss aur pain se hi hui thi. Sniper ki bullet koi aam bullet nahi hoti thi. Aur, na hi sniper koi aam bandook thi.

Manorath ji ke kandhe par bullet lagi thi. Jab tak ve hospital pahuche, unka ilaaj shuru hua, tab tak unhone dum tod diya tha.

Veer yeh jaanta tha. Magar, ye sab kya tha? Security guards ki jaan jaana? Arohi ne uske bhale ke liye poori sachaayi nahi bataayi thi.

Uski aankhein chaudi ho gayi. Glaani, sadma, aur kuchh agyaat anubhutiyaan uske andar toofan ki tarah ghoomne lagi.

Aur, fir-

Bheed ke beech se.

"VEEEEEEER!!!"

Ek awaaz. Ek cheenkh. Ek pukaar — iss araajakta ko cheerti hui.

Tej. Wo aayi.

Uske baal bikhre hue the. Chehra aasuon se bheega hua tha. Bheed uske liye alag nahi hui — lekin, usne sangharsh kar ke apna raasta banaaya.

Logo ki kohniyaan use lagi, dhakke lage, cameras use lage, woh lagbhag girte-girte bachi, lekin ruki nahi.

Wo bhaagi. Tezi se. Jaise uska dil fatne ko aa gaya ho-

Aur, tamaam bheed ko alag karte hue wo uske paas pahuchi. Waha khadi ho gayi — Veer aur saari duniyaa ke madhya.

Wo haanf rahi thi. Uske baal, paseene se geele ho chuke uske gaalo se chipke hue the.

Tej (screams) : BAS KAROOOOO!!!!

Shor kam ho gaya. Awaazein shaant pad gayi.

Tej ne mud kar media ka saamne kiya, uske kandhe kaanp rahe the, lekin uski awaaz bheed ke shor se bhi zyada tez thi.

Tej : Aap logo ko jawaab chaahiye na??? Mein dungi jawaab! Kyunki, hotel prestige ko sambhaalne waale Mister Veer nahi. Mein thi.

Ek virham. Ek sannaata sa chhaa gaya.

Tej (shaking but firm) : Mein Tejal Singh. Mister Veer Singh ki badi behan. Mein hi in charge thi. Mein hi thi jo new year eve ko sambhaal rahi thi.

Journalists : !!?

Tej : Aur, mein... Mein hu doshi. Haan, mein galat hu. Maine khatre par dhyaan nahi diya. Mein galat hu jo guests par dhyaan de rahi thi aur hazar saalo me kabhi ye khayal mujhe nahi aane waala tha ki koi sarfira uss waqt humari hotel ke andar bomb fek sakta hai.

Journalists : *mutters*

Tej (eyes flaring) : Haan, mein galat hu. Par, kya aap me se kisi ko aisi ummeed ho sakti thi? Kya aapko ummeed thi ki celebration ki raat me bandook liye naqab-posh gunde logo par goliyaan barsaane lagenge?

Kisi ne jawaab nahi diya. Microphones dheere-dheere neeche ho gaye. Kuchh cameras bhi neeche jhuk gaye.

Tej : Mein ise rok nahi saki. Mein iska anumaan bhi nahi laga saki...! Lekin, mein ise jitna ho sakta hai, utna theek karne ki koshish karungi. Har parivar jisne kisi ko khoya hai, mein unse milungi. Jo kuchh bhi bann padega, wo mein karungi. Wo sab humari hotel ke sadasya the.

Door khadi, Bhumika ki aankhon me ye sab dekh aansu umad aaye. Hotel uski thi. Magar, kavach bann ke Tej unhe inn sab se bacha rahi thi.

'T-Tejal, tum-!!'

Ho na ho, aaj Bhumika ke mann se Tejal ko leke saare berr samapt ho chuke the.

Tej : Madad, chaahe aarthik ho, ya kaisi bhi. Mein sab karungi. Guzre hue logo ko waapas nahi laaya jaa sakta. M-Mein jaanti hu ki ye sab ek jaan ke badle kisi kaam ke nahi-! M-Magar, fir bhi-! Mein har wo koshish karungi, jo cheezein theek kar sakti hai.

Journalists : *nods*

Tej : But don't you dare... DON'T YOU DARE come after him.

Wo ek pal ke liye mudi. Veer ko dekhi, ko aashcharya me use hi ghoor raha tha. Aur, fir waapas bheed ka saamna karne me lag gayi.

Tej : Usne bhi aaj kisi ko khoya hai. Maine bhi. Humaare poore parivar ne. Aap sab akele nahi ho. Humaare parivaar ka kya? H-Humaare nuksaan ki bharpaayi kaun karega? *sniff* Huh? Jawaab do!!!

*Silence*

Tej : Sirf, isliye ki mera bhai chup hai, use kamzor samajhna aur kisi dushman ki tarah treat karna band karo! *sniff* Sirf, isliye ki wo famous hai. Sirf isliye ki wo umr me adhiktar logo se chhota hai. Aur, sirf isliye kyunki aap sab mann marzi muh chala sakte ho...! BAND KAR DO!!

*Silence*

Veer ka haath utha. Aur, dheere se usne apna haath — kaanpte hue — Tej ke kandhe par rakh diya.

Woh chaunki. Fir, palti.

Unki aankhein mili.

Koi shabd nahi.

Sirf wo bandhan. Unke beech ka — ankaha aur achal.

Veer (mutters) : Thank you! Teju di!

Aur, wo bechaari toot gayi. Uske gaalo se aasu behte hue girne lage, magar honth muskura uthe.

Uss ek pal, Veer ko ehsaas ho gaya ki-

Yeh... Yeh ek badi behan thi.

Sansaar agar talwaar liye tha to woh kavach thi.

Khud ki awaaz na ho to woh uski awaaz thi.

Doobta hua toofan me ho to woh uska kinaara thi.

Aur, girte hue ko ek haath ka sahaara.

Veer ne apni ungliyaan Tej ki ungliyon me ird-gird lapeti. Use kass kar pakda. Aur, fir use door le jaane laga. Bheed, shor aur sawaalo se door.

Ek bhai. Ek behan. Ek dard. Ek vaada.

Tej ne na sirf fir saari vardaat ka vishleshan diya, balki apni chintaaye aur aane waale jokhim ke baare me bhi vyakt kiya.

Jiski wajah se, Veer ko ek aur shaks ka dhyaan aaya. Akhir, wo use akela chhor ke kaise aa sakta tha?

***

Baahar sheher abhi bhi araajakta me tha. Lekin, Veer ki manzil filhal ek hi thi — hospital.

Tej ke bataane par wo ek shabd bhi nahi bola. Bas, mukti dham se car uthaata hua seedhe yaha chala aaya.

Kaise naye saal ka jashn narsanhaar me badal gaya.

Kaise naqab-posh bandook-dhaariyo ne Hotel Prestige me pravesh kiya.

Kaise ek sniper ki goli, jo darasal Kavya ke liye thi — Ragini ko jaa kar lagi.

Veer ki saans ukhdi-ukhdi aa rahi thi. Woh bas bhaagta raha. Bheed ke beech se. Dukh ke beech se. Pagalpann ke beech se.

Uske joote farsh par shor macha rahe the, pattiyaan uski pasliyon par dabi hui thi, jo abhi bhi khoon se sani hui thi.

"Ragini...!"

Wo ICU me daakhil hua. Nurses ko dhakka dete hue aage badha — jab tak ki ek doctor ne use rok na diya.

Doctor : Sir! Rukiye, ek minute. Ragini ji abhi-abhi surgery se baahar aayi hai. Aur, hum unhe jald hi shift bhi kar denge. Tab tak ke liye please aap baahar hi rahiye.

Veer : R-Ragini...!

Veer ki haalat dekh, doctor haami bhar aage aaya.

Doctor : Dekhiye! Woh theek hai. Gambheer khatre se woh baahar hai, lekin-

Veer : !!?

Lekin, kya? Veer jaanta tha. Magar, dobara sunana nahi chaahta tha.

Usne Ragini ko dekha. Wo wahi laiti hui thi. Haatho me alag-alag naliyaan lagi hui thi. Ek perr thoda upar utha hua tha aur jatil surgical braces se bandha hua tha.

Uski saansein kamzor thi, lekin wo jeevit thi. Yahi! Uske paas.

Veer uske nazdeek aaya. Har qadam pehle se adhik bhaari. Uska haath bistar ki steel ki railing ko chhua aur Ragini ke chehre ko dekha.

Uske honth sookhe hue the. Maathe par halki si jhurriyaan jo shikan ko darsha rahi thi.

Doctor chalte hue Veer ke paas aaya.

Doctor : Mujhe sab pata chala. Dekhiye, mein jaanta hu ye kaafi mushqil hai. Par, aap sabko ye hazam karna padega.

Veer ne doctor ko na dekha. Wo bas Ragini ko dekhta raha.

Doctor : Ragini ji ko sniper round se nikli high velocity bullet ne chotil kiya tha. Goli ne femur ko chaknachoor kar diya aur tibial nerve bhi damage ho chuki hai. Aap samajh rahe hai na?

Veer : ???

Doctor : Humne femur ko reconstruct karne ke liye rods aur bone grafts ka istemal kiya hai. Lekin, nerve damage irreversible hai.

Veer : M-Matlab...

Doctor : Matlab, ye ki- unka perr to theek hai, lekin wo firse nahi chal payengi. Kam se kam, pehle ki tarah to nahi.

*Silence*

Doctor (continuing) : Intensive rehab ke chalte unhe thodi mobility mil sakti hai. Lekin, neuromuscular ka jo ek coordination hota hai, woh jaa chuka hai. Brain se signals nichle ang tak pehle ki tarah nahi pahuchenge.

Veer : ...

Doctor : Dekhiye, humne wo sab kiya jo hum kar sakte the. Fracture ko stabilise kiya, nerve pressure ko decompress kiya, haemorrhage ko roka. Par, aghaat bahut gehra tha, Mister Veer. Bahut sateek. Isliye- *sighs* Anyways, this is the best outcome.

Shabd Veer ke dimaag me mandraane lage. Laga jaise woh abhi yahi ladkhada ke gir jayega.

Ragini pehle jaise nahi chal paayegi. Kabhi bhi nahi.

Doctor to chala gaya, magar Veer wahi ghutno ke bal Ragini ke bagal se baith gaya. Uska haath ahista se aage badha.

Komalta se usne Ragini ke baalon ka ek dheela latka hua latt kaan ke peechhe kiya. Ungliyaan Ragini ki twacha se sparsh hote hi kaanp rahi thi.

Aur, fir uske jaane bina-

Uske aansu punah binn marzi beh chale.

'Kyu???'

'Mein tumhe kabhi sahi jawab na de saka.'

Ragini ne use panaah di thi jab uske paas koi thikaana nahi tha. Jab woh khud ke liye muskura nahi sakta tha tab woh uske liye muskuraati thi. Usne uski raksha ki, uss se pyaar kiya. Apne poore astitva ke saath.

Usne kabhi kuchh nahi maanga — siwae uske dil ke.

Par, Veer humesha use intezar karwaata raha. Aur, aaj woh yaha iss haal me laiti thi. Chotil. Tooti hui. Apahij. Uski wajah se.

Veer ne uska haath thaama.

'Tumne mujhe kya kuchh nahi diya, Ragini. Pyaar, Panaah, Khushiyaan. Tumne mujhe apna tann, mann, dhan sab kuchh luta diya. Aur, badle me maine tumhe kya diya? Sirf, mera maun jawaab.'

Usne apna haath, uske maathe par rakha.

'Mein... tumhe deserve nahi karta, Ragini.'

Woh jhuka. Aur, uske maathe ko usne dheere se choom liya.

'But, I'll earn you now.'

'Mein yahi rahunga. Ab kahi nahi bhaagunga. Ab aur koi chuppi nahi.'

'I'll be your legs... Your strength... Your everything.'

'Bas jaag jao. Please... Ragini! Jaag jao.'

Akhiri guhaar par uski awaaz andar hi andar toot gayi. Aaj pehli baar, use andar se mazbooti mehsoos nahi hui. Ek system holder jaisa mehsoos nahi hua. Bas, ek sadharan aadmi. Jo duniyaa se pareshan ho chuka tha.

Woh khada hua. Usne apne aansu pochhe. Ragini ke sote chehre par ek akhiri nazar daali. Fir, muda...

Aur, darwaaze ki orr chal diya.

Jaane se pehle — usne peechhe mud kar dekha.

'I promise, Ragini. When you wake up... You won't find me missing again.'

Aur, wo chala gaya.

ICU se baahar aate hi uski nazar ek aur ward me padi, jaha Suman laiti hui so rahi thi. Uske haath me bandage lagi hui thi. Veer ko samajhne me derr na lagi ki Suman hi thi — jisne Ragini ko khoon diya tha.

***

Aspataal se neeche aate waqt, Veer ke mann me Tej ke bol goonj rahe the.

"Mein shayad nahi bachti, Veer- A-Agar woh na hoti. Wo lady. Mask pehni hui. Pata nahi kaun thi. Usne mujhe dhakela aur fir- wo apna pait pakad ke dard se karaah rahi thi. Lekin, iss se pehle ki mein use pakad paati wo hotel ke baahar bhaag gayi. Kasam se...! Agar, wo na hoti to shayad aaj mein yaha tumhare saamne nahi hoti, Veeru."

A masked woman?

Veer samajh chuka tha.

Ava.

Uske dimag ke chalne se pehle hi uske perr chal diye. Hospital ki parking ke paas — mukhya dwaar ke theek baahar.

Do jaani pehchaani aakritiya ek kaali badi si SUV ke paas khadi thi.

Renshu aur Erica.

Erica ne use sabse pehle dekha.

'V-Veer!'

Woh ladka jisne Jaw Long ke maidaan me ghus ke poore yuddh ko apne paksh me kar liya tha.

Wahi Veer jis se dobaara milne ke liye wo itna lalcha rahi thi. Woh uske saamne tha.

Par, Veer kuchh bhi kehne ke liye nahi ruka. Renshu ne use dekh saath chalne ka ishaara kiya. Woh aage badha.

Ava car me peechhe ki foldable seat par baithi hui thi. Wo baahar hi dekh rahi thi jab kisi ke aane ka use ehsaas hua. Uska sarr uss disha ki orr muda aur-

Woh waha tha.

Veer.

Ava ki saans atak gayi. Uska badan kaanp gaya.

Veer ne hi use zimmedari saunpi thi. Hotel Prestige aur parivar ko surakshit rakhne ki.

Aur, wo vifal rahi.

Veer ke dada ji jaa chuke the. Hotel par humla hua. Ragini ghaayal hui. Sab kuchh bikhar gaya.

Ava ka dil baith gaya.

Glaani ka bhaar itna badh gaya ki veh khud ko rok na paayi. Aasu behne lage. Pehle to chupke se... Fir lagatar.

Ava : M-Mein... V-Veer...

Usne uthne ki koshish ki-

Ava : I-I'm... I'm sorry, Veer. I-

Parantu, iske pehle ki woh aur kuchh bolti, Veer aage ki aur dauda. Aur, usne Ava ko apni baahon me bhar liya.

Kass kar. Poori tarah se.

Uski mazboot pakad se Ava ke ghaav dabb gaye, woh halka sa karaah uthi.

Lekin, ye dard kuchh bhi nahi tha. Tab nahi jab woh uski baahon me thi.

Tab nahi, jab woh apne aap se use apne aalingan me bhar raha tha. Fir, bhale hi uski chot kyu na dukhe, aise hazaro dard uthaane ke liye khushi-khushi raazi thi woh.

Ava ne apna chehra uske seene me daba liya. Uske haath dheere-dheere Veer ki shirt ke peechhe kass gaye. Uski awaaz siskiyon me badal gayi.

Ava (barely breathing) : V-Veer, mein-

Veer (softly) : I know...

Ava : ??

Veer : Tumne Teju di ko bachaaya. Tumne wo bullet apne upar li. Mujhe sab pata hai.

Ava jamm ke reh gayi. Uske aasu behna dheeme ho gaye.

Ava (confused) : B-But, I failed... Tumhare dada ji...

Veer : Nahi!

Ava : Huh!!?

Veer : You fulfilled your duty, Ava. Bhale hi tum na maano. Par, mein maan gaya hu.

Woh stabdh thi.

Veer (smiles) : Thank you, Ava!

Ava : Ahh!!!?

Aur, Veer ne use apne gale se laga liya. Ava ke aasu jhar-jhar kar behne lage.

Kuchh qadam door, ye drishya dekh kar Garofano ki haath mutthi me simat gaya. Uske honth ek patli rekha samaan dabb gaye. Woh aalingan... Jis tarah se Veer ne Ava ko pakad rakha tha.

Usne Garofano ke andar kuchh jala kar rakh diya.

Woh mudi aur bina kuchh kahe waha se door chali gayi.

Renshu : Huh? Kya hua tumhe?

Erica ka haal bhi kuchh aisa hi tha. Use ehsaas hua ki sirf wahi nahi thi. Ek ajeeb sa dard uske seene me utha aur woh bhi Garofano ki taraf chal di.

Renshu : Huh? Erica???

***

SUV ke baahar Veer dheere se aaya.

Ava andar hi thi. Laal aankhein liye use dekh rahi thi. Woh hug abhi bhi uske mann me ghoom rahi thi, saath hi Veer ke seene ki garmahat.

Veer ka sarr jhuka hua tha, aankhein uske kaale baalon ke parde ke peechhe chhipi hui thi.

Woh aage badha — Erica ya Garofano ki orr nahi, balki Renshu ki orr.

Koi greetings nahi. Koi emotions nahi.

Bas... Sannaata.

Uske ird-gird ka aura badla hua tha. Thanda. Mapa hua. Ab dard nahi jhalak raha tha. Ek toofan ke pehle ki shaanti.

Garofano ne sabse pehle notice kiya. Veer ki ungliyon ki halki si thar-tharahat. Erica ne uske baad dekha — Veer ke chalne ka ek alag dhang.

Veer ruka. Renshu se bas ek qadam ki doori par.

Veer (without raising head) : Renshu! Tumhare paas kitni aur kaun-kaun si skills hai?

'Huh?'

Prashn aise aaya jaise maano shaant jheel me kisi ne bahut bada patthar fek diya ho. Renshu ki bauhe sikud gayi.

Hawa ke chalte Veer ke kapde aise fadfada rahe the jaise maano koi khamosh toofan paida hone ka intezar kar raha tha.

'Ye Veer... Iss tarah ka sawaal kyu kar raha hai achanak se?'

[Apni skills, kisi aur ko bataana. Ye khatarnak hai, Renshu.]

'Lloyd!'

[Kya hoga agar wo hume dhoka dede?]

'Mujhe nahi lagta.'

Veer ne dheere se apna sarr uthaaya. Ab uski aankhon me dard nahi jhalak raha tha. Kuchh aur hi tha. Koi uddeshya.

Veer : Aura Vision, Hawkeye, advanced martial arts, limbo, basic enemy tracker, detoxification, copycat, radio protective, aquatic breathing, tracer. Ye meri kuchh important skills hai. The rest are pretty much useless.

'Huh?'

Renshu ne apni aankhein sikodi. Skills kaafi thi. Sab ki sab ek se badh ke ek. Aur, Veer ne use iske baare me aise bata diya jaise maano woh mausam ka haal-chaal bata raha ho.

Kuchh badla hua tha. Ye Veer ko kya ho gaya tha achanak?

Renshu ne ek aah bhari.

Renshu (nods) : Theek hai. To suno. Lance of Blaze, Prime Venture Specialist, Rapid Reaction, Commando, Strong Core, Chi Perception, Wushu, Toxin Sleuth, Pigeon Whisperer. Ye hai meri kuchh important skills.

Veer : Are you sure?

Renshu : Kya matlab?

Veer : Kya bas itni hi hai?

Renshu (nods) : Haan! Zaroori waali yahi hai.

Veer : Koi lengendary skill nahi?

Renshu : Nahi!

Ek sannaata chhaa gaya.

Aur, fir bina kisi chetaavni ke-

*Whoooooooooooshhh*

'???'

Bijli ki raftaar se ek tez roundhouse kick, Renshu ke chehre ki orr aayi.

Agle hi pal, Renshu ki Rapid Reaction activate hui aur uska shareer sahaj roop se peechhe ki orr jhuk gaya. Veer ki laat ki hawa uski naak pe paas se guzri.

Peechhe khadi Erica ye dekh dang reh gayi. Uske muh se ek ghuti hui cheenkh nikli. Kya tha ye? Kya hua?

Wo dono abhi toh baatein kar rahe the. Fir achanak se ye kya?

Garofano ki aankhon me hari chamak bikhri. Usne ek qadam aage badhaaya.

Idhar, Veer ka perr wapas se zameen par land hua aur land hote hi-

*Ding*

HAWKEYE

Usne apni aedi ke jhatke se ek patthar ko seedha Renshu ki aankh ki orr uchhaal diya.

Renshu ne ek jhatke me apna haath aage kar uss patthar ko pakda. Magar, aankh ki orr aa rahe uss patthar ne ek blind spot bana diya.

Baayi orr se, Veer ka ek mukka tezi se aaya. Lagbhag adrishya.

Renshu ne use pakadne ke liye haath badhaaya.

Lekin,

'Huh?'

Wo nahi aaya.

'Nahi!'

Renshu ki aankhein chaudi ho gayi. Wo ek feint attack tha. Asli humla-

Daayi orr se aa raha mukka. Par, derr ho chuki thi.

Lekin, iske pehle ki Veer apna blow land kar paata, uski kalaayi kisi ne kass kar thaam li.

Garofano.

Garofano (yells) : VEER!!! KYA HO GAYA HAI, TUMHE?

Veer ne dheere se apna sarr ghumaya. Pehli baar usne use dekha. Garofano ne dekha ki uski aankhon me krodh tha.

Veer (yells) : Puchho Renshu se Violet. Isne mujhe bataaya tha. Kitne system holders zinda bache hue hai. Aur, sansaar me total kitne the. Isne mujhe bataaya tha...! Total 30 the. Aur, uss waqt 18! Jaw Long aur Crimson ke jaane ke baad ab shayad 16.

Garofano : ???

Veer : Par, mujhe ye batao...! Kaun si skills system holders ki ginti kar ke deti hai? Iske paas aisi koi si bhi skill nahi hai, Violet.

Garofano ka chehra peela pad gaya. Use bhi iska ehsaas hua. Woh tezi se Renshu ki orr mudi.

Erica vichlit unke paas bhaagte hue aayi.

Erica (panicked) : Rukoooo! Bas, ruk jaaaoo!! Pleeaasee!! Aap dono kyu ladd rahe ho? K-Kya hua??? Dad-!!!

Bechaari ki awaaz fatt rahi thi. Lekin, unme se koi bhi nahi hila. Garofano ne abhi bhi Veer ke haath ko jakda hua tha. Toh wahi, Renshu sthir khada hua tha.

Veer ke haath ne dheere dheere apni mazbooti dheeli ki.

Veer (yells) : JAWAAB DO, RENSHU!

Ek bhaari virham.

Renshu ne ek gehri saans li.

Renshu : Mere paas aisi koi skill nahi hai jo ye kar sakti hai.

Sab wahi jamm ke reh gaye. Siwae, Erica ke. Jisne nazrein glaani ke chalte ferr li.

Garofano : T-To, fir... kaise?

Renshu ke honth sikude. Usne ek pal ke liye apni aankhein band kar li. Fir, unhe firse khol kuchh soch vichaar kar bas ek hi shabd bola.

Ek aisa shabd jisne unke aas-paas ki duniyaa ko thaam kar rakh diya.

Garofano : Bolo bhi!!!

Renshu : ...

Garofano : ???

Renshu : X!

Hawa jaise rukne ko ho gayi. Garofano ka jabda sakht ho gaya. Veer... bas ghoorta raha.

Ab gusse se nahi. Balki, sandeh se.
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This update consists of 9.2k words. Jo kuchh bikhra hua tha, use sameta jayega. Ek ek karke saare puzzles ke pieces ko lagaya jayega. Kuchh leftovers rahenge jinhe aage ke arcs me lagaya jayega. Lekin, kaafi hadd tak clarity mil jayegi iss arc me. Post Disembowler shuru ho chuka hai. Next update bhi isi month ke end me aa jayega. Target mein ab halka sa ghata raha hu, because I know inme zyada kuchh action nahi hai aur na hi ye peak updates hai. So, target is 280 for now. Baaki, keep supporting.
Dhanyavad.

hamesha ki tarha dil ko chu lena wala
Emotion se bra hua update bro
thanks