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Incest Baadshah ~ The Tales of Debauchery
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Fuckingkiller23
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Awesome, Emotional & Lovely❤❤❤❤Update - 204 ~ Family Affairs
Ab tak...
*Ding*
[The active system has gone into sleep mode.]
[The host won’t be able to interact with the active system for 6 hours. The host can still access the passive system on his own.]
‘Pari, tum-!’
Veer ne apne daant meese. Woh uski baat bina sune hi 6 ghante ke liye sleep mode me jaa chuki thi. Uski awaaz me kampan tha. Shayad ro rahi thi. Magar, Veer ne apne aap ko inn emotions ke chalte apne resolve ko badalne nahi diya. Usne mann me apni wahi baat dohraayi.
‘This is the right way, Pari!’
Ab aage...
Subah ki raushni Purvi ke bedroom ke sooti pardo se dheere-dheere chhan kar daakhil hui. Baahar chidiyo ki cheh-chahahat thi aur andar, kamre me abhi bhi pichhli raat ki halki-si garmi maujood thi. Purvi hili, uska haath sehej hi bistar ke dusri taraf badha, lekin siwaaye khaalipann ke use kuchh na mila.
Aadhi neend me uski bauhe sikud gayi. Usne dheere se aankhein kholi aur chaaro orr dekha.
“Veer?” Usne dheere se pukara, uski awaaz me abhi bhi neend bhari hui thi.
Par, koi jawab nahi aaya.
Woh uth ke baithi, uska haath bedsheet ko ek taraf sarkaaya. Kamra abhi bhi shaant tha. Suhana ne Veer ko jo perfume diya tha, uski khushbu abhi bhi Purvi ke bistar par mandra rahi thi. Usne apne kandho par apna dupatta lapeta aur hall me baahar nikal kar aayi.
“Veer…?” Usne living room ki orr badhte hue phir pukara. Phir, ek sannaata chha gaya.
Lekin, jaise hi woh rasoi me pahuchi, uske seene me ek halki-si garmahat daud gayi.
Waha, dining table par, achhe se taiyar kiya hua nashta rakha tha, abhi bhi ek lid se dhaka hua. Uske bagal me Veer ki saaf-suthri likhawat me likha ek muda hua note pada tha:
“Good Morning, Maasi!”
Uske hontho par turant ek muskan daud gayi. Usne note ko aur khola.
“Bina bataye jaane ke liye, sorry! Aaj dada ji ki terhvi hai. Isliye, mein jaldi nikal aaya. Aap aaiyega zaroor. Address maine aapko message kar diya hai. ~Veer.”
Uski ungliyaan aur nazrein kaagaz par tiki rahi. Shabdo ne use yaad dilaaya ki Manorath ji ko guzre 12 din ho chuke the. Terhvi ki rasm… zaahir hai, aaj thi. Use andaza hi nahi tha ki samay itni tezi se beet gaya.
Woh baithi, lid ko kholi, aur paaya ki uska pasandeeda vyanjan uska intezar kar raha tha, bilkul waisa hi bana hua jaisa use pasand tha. Stir fry idli, wo bhi podi masala ke saath. Woh fatafat brush kar ke aayi aur baith gayi.
Usne pehla nivala liya, aur uski aankhein halki si bhar aayi, dukh se nahi, balki isliye ki khaane me ek aisi cheez thi jo koi restaurant ya chef kabhi nahi dikha sakta tha: parvah!
Yeh ladka uske haatho ka khaana khaane ke liye utsuk rehta tha, jabki khud itna behatreen khaana bana leta tha. Use ehsaas hua yeh dish woh Veer se achhi nahi bana sakti thi. Kya iska matlab Veer apni maasi ka dil rakhne ke liye, unke haath ke khaane ki tareef karta tha?
Khaate hue, uska haath dheere se apni chhaati par gaya, besudh hokar nightie ke upar se uske ek doodh par fira. Usne apne doodh ko dabaaya.
“Nnn~”
Bina sharmaaye usne apni nightie ko kheechte hue apna ek doodh nanga hawa me azaad kiya. Usne dekha ki uske nipple ke agal-bagal laal nishaan bane hue the. Veer ne raat bhar unhe zor-zor se choosa tha, kaata tha aur chooma tha. Zaahir hai, usne uske thano par kayi nishaan aur hickeys chhori thi.
Usne punah dheere se jab apne doodh ko dabaya toh use ek dard ka ehsaas hua.
“Ahhh~”
Kintu, ye dard, ek ajeeb sa dard tha. Ek aisa dard jo Purvi chaah rahi thi. Ek meetha dard. Usne apna dusra doodh bhi nanga azaad kiya. Aur, apni dono doodh ki thailiyo ko dekha. Kaise jagah-jagah hickeys aur nishaan pade hue the. Uske gaal sharm se laal ho gaye.
Kal berehmi se Veer ne unhe choosa tha. Aaj kal uske haath bhi inhe kass kar masalne se katraate nahi the aur na hi woh khud use mana karti thi. Iss baar uska haath apne hontho par fira, aur use yaad aaya.
Kaise woh aur Veer ek dusre ke hontho ko chaat rahe the aur unka rass pee rahe the. Kitne kaamuk andaaz me Veer uske honth choos raha tha aur badle me woh bhi uska saath de rahi thi. Veer ne kayi jagah uske hontho par bhi kaata tha. Uske gaalo par ek halki-si laali chha gayi. Lekin, yahi uski seema thi. Iss se adhik kuchh bhi nahi.
Usne apne thano ko dobaara dekha, uske chehre par sneh umad raha tha. Magar, ek chinta bhi.
‘Agar pata chala ki kaise mein uske bete ko bigaad rahi hu, toh Bhavna mujhe maar daalegi.’
Usne socha, phir mann hi mann hasi.
Kintu, use zara bhi sharm nahi aayi. Zara bhi nahi. Veer ke liye uska aisa sneh duniya ko samajhne ki zaroorat nahi thi. Unka pyaar shaant palo me, saajha khamoshiyo me, chhoti-chhoti khushiyo me samaya hua tha. Pyaar jataane ka uska apna tareeka tha, aur use humesha uski zaroorat thi, aise tareeko se jinhe shabdo me baya nahi kiya jaa sakta tha.
Usne apne than wapas se nightie ke andar kiye. Kuchh baato ko zor se kehne ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Kuchh rishto ko naamo ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Unhe bas mehsoos kiya jaata hai. Dil me aur khamoshi me. Aur, Purvi jaanti thi ki use kya karna tha.
Do ghante hi beete the abhi ki jab…
*Ding Dong*
Darwaze par ghanti baji.
Purvi, abhi bhi apne halke-fulke kapdo me, apne dupatte se haath pochhte hue darwaza kholi. Baahar ek naujavan delivery man ek bade se cardboard box ke saath khada apne maathe se paseena pochh raha tha.
Delivery man : Madam! AC delivery. Ye Purvi ji ka hi ghar hai na?
Usne apna phone nikaalte hue ek bill dikhaaya. Bill par Purvi ka address aur uska naam likha hua tha. Purvi chaunk kar palke jhapkayi.
Purvi : H-Haan… Mein hi hu Purvi, yeh mera hi ghar hai, lekin… maine koi AC order nahi kiya.
Delivery man ne apne haath me liye ek paper par nazar daali.
Delivery man : Iss par likha hai ki ye prepaid hai. Installation shaamil hai. Mister Veer ne payment kari hai.
Purvi ki aankhein chaudi ho gayi.
Purvi : Veer???
Usne avishvas se dohraya.
Delivery man : Ji madam! Kya mein andar le aau?
Hairan hote hue phir bhi Purvi ne sarr hilaaya aur ek taraf hat gayi, uska dimag tezi se daud raha tha. Delivery waala ladka box andar laaya aur living room me use kholne laga.
Delivery man : Madam! Kaha lagwana hai? Hall me ya…?
Purvi ne andar uske aur Arun ke bedroom ki orr ishara kiya.
Purvi : Bedroom me laga do!
Jaise hi woh kaam par laga, Purvi peechhe hat gayi aur AC unit ko ghoorne lagi, abhi bhi samajh nahi paa rahi thi abhi-abhi kya hua. Uski ungliyaan besudh hokar uske apne gaalo par firi aur uske vichar pichhli raat ki orr bhatakte chale gaye.
Kal raat woh yu hi shikayat kar rahi thi Veer se. Kuchh mazak me, kuchh narazgi me ki kaise Arun AC khareedne ke liye taal-matol kar raha tha.
“Abhi off-season hai! Saste milte hai. Abhi lagwa lenge toh garmi me araam rahega na.”
Par-
“Kya zaroorat hai? Abhi kaun lagwata hai AC? Ye sab bahut hoshiyar rehte hai. Abhi aur mehnga denge. Aur, abhi hume zaroorat bhi nahi hai. Band pada rahega. Pata chala pade-pade aur kharab ho gaya. Phir?”
Use har baar yahi jawab milta. Kal raat woh Veer ke bagal se laiti yahi sab badbadati rahi, sochti rahi ki Veer bas aivayi uski bhadaas ko sunn raha hai.
Lekin, saaf tha ki usne waqai me sunn liya tha. Chup-chap. Poori tarah se. Aur, uss par agli hi subah amal bhi kar diya. Jis kaam ke liye woh Arun ko pichhle do saalo se mana rahi thi, woh Veer ne kuchh hi palo me kar diya.
Woh ek pal ke liye wahi khadi rahi, haath kursi ke kinaare par halka sa tika hua, uske seene me ek ajeeb si jakdan ubhri. Uski aankhein achanak bhar aayi, dukh se nahi, balki komal garmahat se.
Veer ko yaad tha. Use parvah thi.
Usne apna nichla honth kaata. Yeh ladka… humesha ummeed se zyada karta tha.
Uske vichaar aage badh gaye. Pehle woh use daategi. Bina bataaye itna kharcha karne ke liye. Zaahir hai, woh Veer ko iski payment bhi karegi. Halanki, kahi na kahi woh jaanti thi ki Veer uss se ye sweekar nahi karega. Lekin, uska farz tha yeh. Woh badi thi. Aur, phir… woh uska pasandeeda khaana banayegi. Use apne haatho se khilayegi. Use pyaar karegi, galey se lagayegi aur apne seene se laga ke use khoob choomegi.
Sochte hue woh mann hi mann muskurayi. Idhar, jaise hi technician ka kaam khatam hua, Purvi ne lagbhag lag chuke AC ko dekha. Yeh sirf deewar par lagi ek machine nahi thi. Yeh prem ka ek shaant bhaav tha.
Vichaarsheelta ka. Kisi aise vyakti ka jo chhoti-chhoti baato ko yaad rakhta ho. Aur, uss pal, use bas pyaar ka ehsaas hua.
Woh phir muskurayi, uske gaalo par halki si laali chha gayi aur usne khud se phus-phusate hue bas yahi kaha, “Pagal kahi ka…”
***
Afternoon - 12:26 PM ~
Samaroh hall pehle toh shaant tha, ajeeb si khamoshi. Manch ke beecho-beech rakhi Manorath Singh ki photo frame par phulo ki maala chadhi hui thi. Dono taraf agarbattiya dheemi-deemi jal rahi thi.
Phir, kursiyo ki kataare dheere-dheere badbadate rishtedaro aur mehmano se bharne lagi. Chandan aur pakte hue khaane ki sugandh hawa me mili hui thi. Veer hall ke theek entrance ke paas khada tha, haath theek peeth ke peechhe baandhe, aankhein idhar-udhar ghoom rahi thi. Dhyan bhatakne ki wajah se nahi, balki yaado me. Woh dekh raha tha… kaun aaya tha, aur kaun nahi.
Ve uske liye sirf mehman nahi the. Har chehra ek sanket tha. Ek sandesh. Wafadari ka ek bayaan ya darr. Kuchh jaane-pehchaane chehre aaye hue the. Toh, kuchh ne apne afsos, apne bahaane, vinamra sanvedna me lipte bhej diye. Aur, kuchh ne toh shok jataane ya aane ki parvah hi nahi ki.
Shayad ye kuchh din pehle hue Hotel Prestige me hui ghatna ki parchhayi thi. Narsanhar. Visfot. Aag. Mautein. Kuchh log ab uss se sambandh rakhne se bhi katra rahe the. Veer ne unn sabko note kiya.
Har. Ek. Jann.
Woh unhe yaad rakhega.
Tabhi, uska phone baja aur Karan ka ek message aaya-
“Bhai…! Sorry! Dad bahut strict chal rahe hai. Woh mujhe aur di ko ghar se nikalne hi nahi de rahe. Meetings ke liye woh apne private guards humaare peechhe laga ke rakhe hai. Maine Jassi aur Raghu se help leke secretly aane ki koshish ki thi but dad ne unhe pakad liya. Dono ko bahut daat padi hai. Shayad maar bhi…! Unhone warn kiya hai. Di aur dad ki behas bhi hui hai. It’s insane. I hope you will understand. Mein tumse baad me milta hu. Sorry!”
Toh wahi, ek aur message tha — Kaera ka. Jisme sirf ek shabd likha hua tha : Sorry!
Aur, yeh bhi uski maid, Julia ne use bhejne ke liye kaha tha. Kyunki, Kaera bechari ko pata hi nahi tha ki kis tarah se maafi maangi jaaye? Use ye bhi nahi pata tha ki aise mauke par kya karna chahiye.
Veer ke hontho se ek halki-si aah nikli. Woh samajh gaya tha ki waha par kya hua hoga. Hotel Prestige me attack ke waqt dono Karan aur Kaera wahi maujood the. Zaahir hai, Kishore unhe ab sakht nigrani me rakhne waala tha.
Veer yeh bhi jaanta tha ki aane waale samay me Kishore uss par bhi apna shikanja kassega. Akhirkar, jo kuchh bhi hua, uske baad Kishore ke paas unn par sakhti baratne ki poori wajah thi.
Lekin, phir bhi unhone koshish ki aane ki, Veer ke liye yahi maayne rakhta tha. Dheere-dheere bheed badhne lagi. Purvi bhi aa chuki thi. Woh ek halki peeli saree me thi. Woh uske qareeb aayi toh Veer ka haath uski peeth par gaya aur uski nagn peeth ko sparsh kiya. Ek jhurjhuri uske badan me phail gayi.
Magar, Purvi ne uske gaal ko nocha aur ekdum dheemi awaaz me uss se boli.
Purvi (smirks) : AC waali baat baad me karungi tumse. Ye mat sochna bach ke nikal jaoge tum.
Veer (smiles) : Ji!
Purvi (smiles) : Kaha hai, Bhavna?
Veer : Andar hi hai. Jaiye!
Aur, Purvi ko uski peeth par haath rakh Veer ne use andar bhej diya. Purvi bhi pyaar bhari muskaan dikhaate hue uske gaal par haath ferti hui andar chali gayi.
Har koi lagbhag aa chuka tha. Brijesh se leke, Karunesh, Pranjal, Vivek, Parijaat ki aurtein, Madhuri apni maa, Lalita ke saath, lagbhag sab log hi maujood the. Siwaaye, do log ke — Ragini aur Vandna.
Ragini ghar par hi araam kar rahi thi. Woh aane ki sthiti me nahi thi. Abhi use iss tarah se logo ke beech function attend karne ke liye samay lagne waala tha. Ghar par uske saath uski maa, Rohini maujood thi.
Toh, wahi Vandna ki apni alag wajah thi.
Tabhi-
Ek chamchamati black color ki Mercedes Benz Maybach S class hall ki entrance ke saamne aa kar ruki. Darwaza khula.
Veer ki nazar baahar nikal rahi uss mahila ki nazro se takrayi. Suhana. Usne ek charcoal blazer aur light beige trouser pehen rakha tha. Formal. Clean. Aur, polished. Lekin, Veer ka dhyaan uske chehre ne kheencha.
Uska khubsurat chehra jo na jaane kitne bhaav chhipaaye hue tha. Suhana ne jaise hi use dekha, ek pal ke liye jaise… uski saansein ruk gayi.
Veer. Woh thaka hua lag raha tha. Lag raha tha jaise kayi raato se soya na ho. Aur, yeh sach bhi tha.
Suhana (mutters) : V-Veer!
Woh fusfusate hue uski orr aage badhi. Veer ne use ek halki-si muskaan di.
Veer (nods) : Aaiye!
Woh baahar uske bagal se hi khadi ho gayi. Logo se dur. Andar jaane ka koi matlab nahi tha. Woh yaha sirf Veer ke liye hi aayi thi.
Veer : Aap yaha aayi? Mujhe laga nahi tha ki aap-
Suhana : Kyu nahi aati? M-Mujhe aana hi tha. Office me bata diya ki client se meeting hai ek. That’s it.
Veer : Aapko bahaana banana pada? Shukriya… Yaha aane ke liye, aur-
Suhana : ???
Veer : Aur, uss raat ke liye.
Suhana ko yaad aaya. Woh humle waali raat. Kaise usne aur Karan ne milke sab ko ambulance aur gaadiyo me bithwa ke waha se surakshit bheja tha. Usne palkein jhapkayi. Uska gala roondh gaya.
Suhana : K-Kuchh nahi tha. Koi bhi hota yahi karta. Aur-
Par, Veer ne usko beech me hi kaat diya. Uski awaaz gehri thi.
Veer : Wahi sab kuchh tha!
Suhana : Huh!?
Veer (smiles) : Thank you!
Woh uski orr muda, ek inch aur nazdeek badhte hue, uski aankhein Suhana ki aankhon me gadi rahi.
Veer : Aap hi thi jisne meri family ko surakshit pahuchaya tha. Aap aur Karan! Bhale hi mein nahi tha waha, par mujhe sab pata hai ki kya kuchh hua tha. Hospital me sab kuchh aapne aur Karan ne hi sambhala tha. Thank you! It means a lot to me.
Suhana : I-Iski koi-
Veer : Mein aapka ehsaan-mand rahunga. Agar, aapko kabhi bhi kisi bhi cheez ki zaroorat ho, kisi bhi cheez ki, toh keh dena bas, mein haazir ho jaunga.
Usne apni awaaz me bhaari imaandari ke saath kaha. Suhana ne nazrein neechi kar li, uska dil tezi se dhadak raha tha, uski ungliyaan thodi kaanp rahi thi. Yeh ladka… kyu woh humesha use aisa mehsoos karaata tha?
Suhana : M-Maine ye kisi ehsaan ke liye nahi kiya, Vee-
Veer : I know!
Suhana : B-But-
Veer (smiles) : Remember our game?
Suhana : Huh?
Veer : Teen favors jo aapne mujhe chukaane ke liye diye the?
Suhana : Th-That-
Veer : Hmm! Aisa hi maan lijiye ki ek aur favor badh gaya usme.
Suhana ko yaad aaya. Wo teen favors jinki wajah se aaj wo dono itne qareeb the. Unme se akhiri favor ke liye usne Veer se kiss maangi thi. Ye yaad karte hi uske gaal sharm se laal pad gaye. Usne unn vichaaro ko nikaalne ki koshish ki.
Suhana : W-Well- agar tumhe bhi koi bhi kaam ho *blushes* Y-You can look for me.
Veer : Aapne pehle hi bahut kuchh kar diya hai. Ab aur nahi karne de sakta mein.
Suhana ne jawab dene ki koshish ki, magar tabhi ek guzarti hui hawa ne uske baalo ko uske chehre par dhakel diya. Veer ka haath apne aap hi aage badha aur usne baal ki latt ko uske kaano ke peechhe le jaate hue ek taraf kar diya.
*Badump*
Suhana ki aankhein fadki, saansein thami, aur dhadkane tez ho gayi. Woh jaldi se peechhe hatt gayi aur chehre par chhaayi sharm ko chhipaane ke liye sarr neeche kar li. Usne apni zindagi me bade se bade corporate diggajo, political VIPs ka saamna kiya tha, lekin ye… yeh alag tha. Usne aaj tak kabhi aisa mehsoos nahi kiya tha.
Parantu, woh akeli nahi thi.
*Badump*
Veer ki dhadkane bhi tez thi.
‘What is this…? Ye feeling?’
Suhana khush thi ki aaj kam se kam woh Veer ke saamne theek se khadi ho paa rahi thi. Warna beetein mahino me uski kya haalat thi ye woh khud jaanti thi. Shayad, Veer ke saath itna kuchh hua, uss haadse ke baad se ye sab thoda uske liye asaan ho gaya tha.
Lekin, jo bhi tha-
Kam se kam woh ab apne kamre me band nahi thi. Shayad, Veer ki madad karne ki dridhta ne uske iss darr ko door kar diya tha.
Tabhi-
“Thank you for coming.”
Ek awaaz ne unhe beech me tok diya. Tej. Woh kurta pyjama me thi, sarr par dupatta dala hua tha. Uske swar me komalta thi, lekin aankhein Veer se milne ke liye taiyaar nahi thi.
Tej (dohraate hue) : Thanks! It means a lot!
Suhana : It’s nothing!
Dono ek dusre ko dekhi. Uss din unn dono ki akeli meeting ke baad se hi dono ab ek-dusre ko behtar dhang se jaanti thi. Aur, Tej Suhana ki madad ki waqai me shukr-guzaar thi. Uss meeting ka akhiri sanvaad unn dono ko hi yaad tha.
“You care for him, right?”
“I… He’s just an acquaintance."
“Just an acquaintance. Right!"
Iss sanvaad se saaf zaahir tha ki Suhana ke andar Veer ko lekar strong feelings thi. Koi bewakoof hi hoga jo ye samjhega ki Suhana Veer ko bas ek acquaintance hi maanti thi.
Tej ne bas halki-si muskaan di, lekin uski aankhon me kuchh aisa tha jo samajh se parey tha. Aur, phir uske peechhe se-
Ek dheemi-si awaaz.
“H-Hello! Didi…!”
Kavya dheere se sharmaate hue unke qareeb aayi. Suhana ne mud kar dekha toh woh ladki sharmaate hue muskura rahi thi, uske haath ghabrahat me apni dress ko jakde hue the. Suhana ka dil turant narm pad gaya. Suhana Kavya se Holi ke waqt mili thi Veer ke ghar par. Lekin, Suhana jaisi ladki ke saamne Kavya bhi thoda hich-kichati thi.
Suhana (smiles) : Hello, Kavya! Kaisi ho?
Kavya (shyly) : A-Achhi hu!
Teeno dheere-dheere baat karne lage. Aur, Kavya bhi har baar ki tarah Suhana se jald hi phir se khul gayi. Veer, jo chup-chap khada hua tha, uski nazrein Tej par gayi. Woh uss se bach rahi thi. Har nazar dusri orr mod rahi thi. Tej, pehle kabhi aisi nahi thi.
Aur, Veer jaanta tha ki aisa kyu tha. Prestige me jo kuchh hua, uske liye woh khud ko kahi na kahi doshi maan rahi thi.
Veer ne cameras ki footage dekhi thi. Humle ki sateekta. Coordination. Koi bhi ise rok nahi sakta tha, shayad… siwaaye uske. Aur, woh waha nahi tha. Lekin, Tej khud ko maaf nahi kar paa rahi thi.
Woh toot rahi thi. Veer ise mehsoos kar sakta tha. Tej ki khamoshi ke neeche toofan chal raha tha. Uska posture akda hua tha, honth bhinche hue, aur aankhein Veer se bhaagti hui.
Aur, Veer use achhi tarah se jaanta tha. Agar, Tej ko ye laga ki uska bhai ab uss se naraaz hai, uss se dur bhaag raha hai, toh bas itni si baat hi- use tod ke rakh sakti thi.
Nahi. Balki, iss se bhi bura. Yeh use tabaah kar deti. Veer ne dheere se saans chhori. Yaha nahi. Abhi nahi.
Lekin, jald hi… woh uss se baat karega.
Dekhte hi dekhte mehmano ki bheed chhatne lagi thi. Bhavna apni saree ke dupatte ka kinaara theek kar rahi thi aur darwaaze ki orr qadam badhaane ki taiyaari kar rahi thi, tabhi ek awaaz shaanti ko cheerte hue aayi.
“Bhavna!”
Woh beech qadam rakhte hi ruk gayi. Woh awaaz. Laga jaise barso puraana bojh uske kandho par achanak se aa gaya ho. Dheere se woh mudi.
Aur, woh wahi saamne tha. Brijesh.
Woh aadmi jisne kabhi use apna guroor maana tha… aur 21-22 baras pehle, use ek anchaahi yaad ki tarah ghar se nikaal diya tha.
Bhavna ki bauhe sikudi aur uske shaant chehre par halki-si shikan ubhar aayi.
Brijesh budha prateet ho raha tha, uski aankhon ke kono par jhurriyaan, kandho me jhukaav tha. Lekin, jis tarah se woh bechaini se apne perro par hil raha tha, uss se pata chal raha tha ki uske andar sachmuch kuchh nahi badla tha.
Bhavna (frowns) : Kaho!
Brijesh (hich-kichate hue) : Mein… Kya hum baat kar sakte hai?
Bhavna ke honth ek patli rekha me sikud gaye. Use dekh kar uska mood pehle hi kharab ho chuka tha, lekin usne dheere se ek gehri saans li, jis se woh thoda shaant hui aur phir saiyyammit swar me boli.
Bhavna : Mein sunn rahi hu!
Brijesh : Y-Yaha nahi… Baahar?
Ek virham! Phir, usne halka-sa sirr hilaaya aur darwaaze ke aage badh gayi, Brijesh bhi uske peechhe-peechhe chala aaya.
Jab ve logo ki sunnane ki seema se baahar ho gaye, toh Brijesh ne apna muh khola… phir band kar liya, kuchh shabd nahi soojh rahe the.
Bhavna : Mere paas samay zaaya karne ke liye nahi hai, Brijesh! Agar, kuchh kehna hai toh saaf-saaf keh do!
Brijesh ne apna gala saaf kiya, uski awaaz thodi thar-thara rahi thi.
Brijesh : V-Veer… aur Tejal… Dono humaare bacche hai, hai na?
Bhavna : Toh?
Brijesh : Toh… Toh, kya tum, Veer aur Tejal, apne puraane ghar me waapas nahi aa sakte? Waha phir se nahi reh sakte? Sabke saath?
Bhavna ke honth haasya me mude.
Bhavna : Tumhe pata hai tum kya keh rahe ho?
Brijesh : Mein tumse mujhe maaf karne ke liye nahi keh raha, Bhavna! Mein tumse ye bhi nahi keh raha ki tum mujhse baat karo. P-Par… Kya tum bas ghar me nahi reh sakti? Kya Veer aur Tejal sabke saath reh kar khush nahi honge?
Bhavna : Mere dono bacche…! Maine unhe kabhi control nahi kiya hai. Agar, Tej aur Veer jaana chaahenge, toh tum khud unse poochh sakte ho. Lekin, agar tumhe lagta hai ki mein uss ghar me phir se qadam rakhungi, toh yeh tumhari bewakoofi hogi. Bhool jao!
Bhavna jaanti thi ki uske dono bacche Brijesh ke paas nahi jaane waale the, khaas kar Tejal. Isliye, iss baat ko lekar woh sunishchit thi.
Brijesh paas aaya, uski awaaz hatasha se ubhar rahi thi.
Brijesh : Bhavna… Tum jaanti ho na ki mein tumse kitna pyaar karta tha? Balki, aaj bhi… mein tumse pyaar karta hu. Aur, tumse itna pyaar karta tha isliye mein wo sab bardaasht nahi kar paaya tha aur-
Bhavna : Tumne mujhse kabhi pyaar kiya hi nahi, Brijesh! Tum bas mujhe paana chaahte the. Dono me farq hai. Agar, tumne mujhse pyaar kiya hota, toh mujh par bharosa hota.
Brijesh : A-Aisa nahi hai, Bhavna! Mein aaj bhi tumse pyaar karta hu! Humne… Humne kabhi talaak nahi liya. Tum aaj bhi meri patni ho, Bhavna!
Bhavna (scoffs) : Aur, phir bhi dobara shaadi kar li!? Kaisa ajeeb pyaar hai! Tumhe andaaza hai ki mein tumhe iske liye jail bhi bhijwa sakti hu?
Brijesh chup reh gaya, uska muh khula toh tha, par bol nahi nikal paaye. Akhirkar, ant me woh bola.
Brijesh : Papa ji ke jaane ke baad se mujhe samajh aa gaya hai ki kyu ve- sabhi ko ek saath jodkar rakhne ki koshish karte the. Isliye, mein… mein bas chaahta hu ki hum sab ek saath rahe. Bhale hi tum mujhe nazar-andaaz karti rehna. Bhale hi tum apni berukhi barkarar rakhna. P-Par… laut chalo.
Bhavna : Iske liye ab bahut derr ho chuki hai, Brijesh!
Brijesh : Toh, tum nahi chalogi!?
Bhavna : Tumhara koi haq nahi hai mujhse ye sawaal karne ka! Aur, agar hota bhi-! Toh, bhi mein uss ghar me dobara qadam nahi rakhti.
Brijesh : Th-Theek hai! Toh, tum nahi aaogi! L-Lekin, Veer-! Haan! *nods* Bhale hi humara rishta utna accha nahi raha. Par, mein use jaanta hu. Woh lautna zaroor chaahega. Agar, mein uss se baat karunga toh zaroor-! Haan! A-Aur, phir agar woh saath rahega toh phir tum-
Usne itna bola hi tha ki yeh sunn Bhavna ke haav-bhaav badal gaye. Abhi bhi shaant par ab uski aankhon me tej tha.
Bhavna : Khabardar!!!
Brijesh : !?
Bhavna : Khabardar! Himmat bhi mat karna, Brijesh! Mere bete ko behkaane aur mujhe apne ghar waapas laane ke bahaane ke taur par istemal karne ki himmat bhi mat karna. Warna mujhse bura koi nahi hoga.
Brijesh sann reh gaya.
Bhavna : Kya mein jaanti nahi? Veer ne tumhare adheen kitna kasht saha hai? Meri gerr-haziri me tumne uske saath kaisa sulook kiya kya mujhe pata nahi? Mein sab jaanti hu. Tej ko toh jaise-taise maine ek maa ke saath-saath baap ka pyaar bhi dene ki poori koshish ki, lekin Veer?
Brijesh : …
Bhavna : Uss bechaare ko toh baap hone ke bawajood ek baap ka pyaar nahi mila. Kya mujhe pata nahi? Ki tumne uske saath kaisa vyavhaar kiya tha? Kya mujhe pata nahi? Ki tum uss par apna gussa sirf isliye nikaalte the ki woh tumhe meri yaad dilaata tha? Ek charitra-heen patni ki!!
Brijesh : Bh-Bhavna…!
Bhavna : Marr gayi hai ye Bhavna aaj se tumhare liye. Aur, khabardar agar mere bete ko mujhse chheenane ke baare me socha bhi toh- warna mein tumhara woh hashr karungi, jo tumhari saat pushte bhi nahi dekhi hongi kabhi.
Agar, aaj Manorath ji ki terhvi na hoti, toh aaj shaayad Bhavna ke mukh se aur bhi katu shabd nikal sakte the.
Iske pehle ki woh kuchh jawab de paata—
“Maa!?”
Peechhe se jaani-pehchani awaaz aayi. Dono mude. Veer aashcharya me thodi doorie par khada hua tha. Uski bauhe bhram me sikudi hui thi.
Brijesh ke honth khule, bolne ko taiyaar—
—lekin, Bhavna pehle hi aage badh gayi. Hawa ki tarah tez, woh Brijesh ke bagal se nikli, Veer ki orr. Uska haath Veer ki kalaayi par aisi mazboot pakad ke saath kass gaya jo lagbhag atal thi.
Bhavna : Chalo Veer!!!
Bina kuchh kahe, woh Veer ko apne saath kheench kar le jaane lagi. Veer ek qadam ladkhadaya, aur peechhe khade Brijesh ko bas jaate-jaate dekhta raha. Tab tak jab tak ki wo andar nahi chale gaye.
Bhavna ne use jaane nahi diya. Uski pakad uss par sthir thi, maano jaise agar usne use chhora toh woh uski aankhon se kahi ojhal ho jaayega.
Ve darwaaze se guzre, bache hue mehmano ki dheemi vartalap ka shor maddham pad gaya. Jab dono andar pahuche, tab bhi Bhavna ne uski kalaayi nahi chhori. Veer ne apni maa ke haath ki orr dekha, phir unke chehre ki orr, chehre par teekhepann ko samajhte hi, woh bhaanp gaya ki uski maa, woh aurat jo shayad hi kabhi gussa dikhaati thi, abhi behad hi krodh me thi.
Jab wo logo ki nigaaho se door ho gaye, tabhi Bhavna ki pakad thodi dheeli hui, phir bhi usne uske haath ko apne haath me thaame rakha, maano doorie ka khayal hi use bechain kar raha ho.
Uss pal ye spasht tha. Bhavna ke liye, apne bete ko apne paas rakhne ki zaroorat se zyaada mazboot kuchh bhi nahi tha. Na ateet. Na kadvahat. Na dushmani.
Jab jaane ka samay hone laga, toh Arohi Veer ke saamne khadi hui thi, uski awaaz shaant lekin sthir thi.
Arohi : Mein… Aaj raat jaa rahi hu!
Woh boli, uski aankhein neeche zameen par gadi hui thi. Veer ki bauhe ye sunn sikudi. Use dhyaan aaya ki Arohi kaha jaane ki baat kar rahi thi.
‘Ahmedabad! MBA! Huh!’
Veer : Aaj? Itni jaldi?
Arohi uski nazro se bachte hue halka-sa sirr hilaayi.
Arohi : Dada ji ki terhvi thi, bas isliye ruki thi. Ab jaana hoga. Raat ki train hai.
Veer : Oh! Haan, toh mein-
Arohi : Nahi! Tumhe mujhe drop karne ki zaroorat nahi. Mummy aur Vivek bhaiya rahenge mere saath. Tumhari need yaha zyada hai, Veer.
Har baar ki tarah bina kuchh bole hi Arohi pehle hi samajh chuki thi ki Veer kya kehna chaah raha tha. Veer ek qadam aur paas aaya, abhi bhi use samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.
Veer : Theek hai! Par-
Uske kuchh aur kehne se pehle hi, Arohi ne apni chunri theek ki, mudne ke liye taiyaar, magar uske perr hile nahi.
Uski khamoshi… uski ungliyaan jis tarah se hil rahi thi… Veer ne use turant bhaanp liya. Bina ek aur shabd kahe, woh aage badha aur use apni baaho me bhar liya.
Ek pal ke liye, Arohi thitak ke reh gayi. Phir, utni hi betaabi se uske haath Veer ke chaaro orr lipat gaye aur usne use apni baaho me kass kar bhar liya. Uski aankhein band ho gayi, dhadkane tez, aur usne mehsoos kiya. Veer ki wahi garmahat… Uske seene me hone ka sukoon… Uska dhaal ki tarah uske saamne khade rehna… Suraksha… Aur, ghar ka ek hissa jise chhor kar woh nahi jaana chaahti thi.
Usne apne aap ko iss vidaayi ke liye kayi baar taiyaar kar ke rakha hua tha, magar jab ab jaane ki baat sachmuch me aayi toh woh khud ko shaant nahi kar paayi.
Veer : I’ll miss you!
Arohi (weakly) : M-Me too…!
Veer halke se muskuraya, bas itna peechhe hata ki uska chehra dekh sake. Bina soche-samjhe, woh jhuka aur uske gaal ko dheere se choom liya.
Arohi ki saansein tham gayi. Uske gaal laal ho gaye aur iss se pehle ki Veer uske haav-bhaav ko samajh paata, woh jaldi se peechhe hati aur apna muh pher li.
“Waah! Waah! Meri kissy kaha hai?”
Tabhi, itne me peechhe se Kavya ki awaaz aayi jise sunn Arohi ke gaalo ka taapmaan aur bhi badh gaya. Kavya phudakti hui Veer ke saamne aayi aur usne apna gaal aage kar diya jaise kehna chaah rahi ho ki dekh kya rahe ho? Do!
Veer ne kiya bhi wahi! Woh ahista se jhuka, aur Kavya ke gaal ko jaise hi choomne ke liye hua, Kavya ne badi hi chalaaki se apna chehra halka sa mod liya, jiske chalte Veer ke honth seedhe Kavya ke hontho ke theek bagal waale hisse par jaa kar sparsh ho gaye. Veer jhatke se peechhe hata. Uski aankhein hairat me faili hui thi. Agar, uske reflexes itne tez na hote toh-
Veer : You…!
Kavya : Ehehe~ Maybe… next time. Heh~
Veer : You little…
Kavya : Ehehe~
Aur, woh waise hi phudakte hue bhaag gayi. Veer baal-baal bacha. Agar, uske honth waqai me sabke saamne Kavya ke hontho se chhiv jaate toh bahut dikkat ho sakti thi.
Arohi baaki sabhi se mili aur ek antim baar-
Arohi : B-Bye-!!
Usne kaha, uski awaaz lagbhag kaanp rahi thi, aur woh tez qadam lete hue gaadi me baith gayi. Veer use jaata hua dekhta raha, uske hontho par ek maayusi bhari muskaan. Arohi ko woh bahut yaad karne waala tha.
***
Casa Belle...
Aadesh apni hotel ke private suite me aalishan recliner par araam se baitha hua tha, uski kameez ke buttons aadhe khule hue the, jis se uski chhaati aur pasliyon par gehre baingani rang ke chot ke nishaan saaf dikhaayi de rahe the.
Uski personal secretary, uske baazu par aaye gande ghaav par dheere-dheere marham laga rahi thi. Har sparsh se woh sihar uthata, lekin kuchh kehta nahi. Use dard dikhaane se nafrat thi.
Pichhli raat ki hockey stick se maar ki jhalke, use ab bhi sata rahi thi. Veer ki wo laal aankhein. Use yaad tha. Beshaq. Woh aankhein laal hi thi. Uske badan par ruye khade ho gaye.
Usne uss drishya ko bhoolte hue apne event manager, Kumar ko dekha jo kuchh doorie par khada hua tha, haath me folder aur kandho me ek ajeeb si jakdan liye.
Aadesh : Kumar! Kya update hai?
Uski awaaz shaant thi, lekin usme ek bhaaripann tha jo aadar ki maang kar raha tha. Kumar ne gala saaf kiya aur savdhani se baat shuru ki.
Kumar : Hotel ka kaam chal raha hai, Sir. Do chhote events cancel ho chuke hai. Hold waali partnerships bhi cancel ho gayi hai.
Aadesh : Cancel? Kyu?
Kumar : Sir... Y-Ye sab uss video ke kaaran ho raha hai.
Aadesh : Video?
Kumar : Aur, Sir... Ab jab aap wapas se hotel me ho, police aap se jaanch ke liye aa sakti hai.
Aadesh : Ye kya bak rahe ho? Police? Mujhe laga tha tumne police ka matter sambhaal liya hoga.
Kumar : M-Maine sambhaal liya tha, Sir. Lekin... Iss video ne sab kuchh gadbad kar di hai. Ye dekhiye.
Kumar aage aate hue ek tablet ki screen par ek video chala ke Aadesh ko dikhaane laga. Jaise hi Aadesh ne wo video dekha uski aankhein phail gayi. Gusse se usne apne daant mees liye.
Video me wahi tha. Balhaar. Mumbai ka don. Haath me whiskey ka glass liye, ek bhavya sofe par aalasya me baitha hua tha.
"Kabhi-kabhi fursat ke palo ka maza lene ke liye... Mumbai ki sabse shandar hotel me aana padta hai. Services bhi achhi. Privacy bhi. Luxury bhi. Aur, koi rok-tok karne waala nahi. Hahaha!"
Aadesh jaanta tha. Video me private suite usi ka tha. Video aisa prateet ho raha tha jaise kisi ne chupke se video banaaya ho aur leak kiya ho.
Kintu, Aadesh jaanta tha. Yeh video jaan-boojh ke banaaya gaya tha. Aur, aisa dikhaya gaya tha jaise ki video leak kiya gaya ho. Dekhte hi dekhte social media me ye video felta hi jaa raha tha.
Yahi kaaran hai ki kyu uss raat Balhaar private suite ke andar gaya tha, jab Aadesh ko ghaseeta jaa raha tha. Woh ye video banaane hi gaya tha.
Aadesh ka haath armrest par itni zor se jakad gaya ki uski ungliyaan safed pad gayi. Lagbhag tablet ko fek kar todne se usne khud ko bachaaya.
Usne apne daant peese, dheemi gurraahat me wo badbadaya.
Aadesh : Ye saale... Mujhe frame kar rahe hai. Ek don agar din-dahaade hotel me ruk sakta hai, toh zaahir hai security ko lekar kayi sawaal khade honge ki akhir Casa Belle ne ek Don ko shelter dene ki himmat kaise ki? Police shaq kar rahi hogi ki mere connections underworld se toh nahi? Damn it!
Usne ek gehri saans li.
Aadesh : Kumar! Police se deal karo. Sab kuchh legally handle karo. Unhe batao ki mujhe frame kiya gaya hai. Aur, mere shareer par lage ye ghaav bhi ek saboot hi hai. Aur, agar maamla haath se nikalta dekhe, toh paise ka istemal karo. Samajh gaye?
Kumar (nods) : Ji Sir!
Aadesh peechhe jhuk gaya, uski aankhein band ho gayi. Jeevan me pehli baar aaj use gusse ke saath-saath thoda darr bhi mehsoos ho raha tha.
***
Trisha's house,
Evening - 7:30 PM ~
Rohan ke chehre par hatasha saaf jhalak rahi thi. Drawing room ki table par aneko files padi hui thi, lekin uski nazar sirf Trisha par thi.
Rohan (frowns) : Tumhare dimaag me chal kya raha tha, Trisha? Late night, bina kisi ko inform kiye, Vasai slaughterhouse chali gayi? Tum DSP ho, koi private detective nahi! Upar se rapid action unit leke-!?
Trisha (glaani me) : Mein sirf lead follow kar rahi thi… mujhe laga-
Rohan : Laga? Kya laga, Trisha? Tumhe bas laga, isliye tumne poori operation team le jaa ke bina sanction ke raid kar di? Pata hai kitni jaan gayi hai waha? Aur, woh Ranjeet…
Trisha : Wahi Ranjeet hi tha Prestige shootout ke peechhe, Rohan. I- I confirmed it later.
Rohan : Aur, tumne use hi maar diya. Tum samajh rahi ho? Tumne ek key suspect khatam kar diya. Case ka main thread hi kat gaya.
Trisha ne apni aankhon ko neeche kar liya. Uska dil bhaari tha.
Trisha (weakly) : Mein… mein nahi chaahti thi aisa ho. It... It was an accident, Rohan.
Rohan ne gehri saans li.
Rohan : Trisha, tumne apne pehle ke failures se kuchh seekha bhi nahi. Serial killer ka pata lagaane me already tumhari performance question me thi. Aur, ab yeh… tum samajh rahi ho iska fallout? Maine tumse kaha bhi tha ki iss case par zyada focus karo. Baaki kisi par nahi. Par-
Trisha chup thi.
Rohan (hatasha me) : Transfer order lag chuka hai, Trisha. IG Crime Branch ne recommendation di hai. ADG Headquarters ne endorse bhi kar diya. Ab yeh Home Department ke paas hai. Aur, tum jaanti ho, ek baar file home secretary ke sign tak chali gayi… even a DGP like me can’t pull it back.
Trisha (desperately) : Tum DGP ho, Rohan… tum kuchh kar nahi sakte kya?
Rohan : Police System me DGP bhi ek limit tak hi intervention kar sakta hai. Police Act ke under, disciplinary action aur transfers ka final decision state government ka hota hai. Mein bas delay kar sakta tha… cancel nahi. Tumhare record me ab iss operation ka blunder bhi add ho gaya hai. Ab toh Home Minister tak baat pahunch chuki hai, Trisha.
Uski baat ka ek-ek shabd Trisha ke dil ko chubh raha tha.
Rohan (nirasha me) : Mein chaah ke bhi ab kuchh nahi kar sakta, Trisha. Kaash tumne meri baat ko seriously liya hota. Ab tum bas apni posting ka wait karo.
Itna bol, Rohan ne apna coat uthaya, aur bina peechhe dekhe waha se nikal gaya. Woh Trisha ki harqat se behad niraash tha.
Trisha (mutters) : R-Rohan...!
Ghar ka sannaata bhaari tha. Trisha ki saansein tez chal rahi thi. Uska dimag abhi bhi slaughterhouse ki tasveer se bhara hua tha. Ranjeet ki laash, uske aadmiyon ki laashe, khoon-kharaba sab uske mann me mandra raha tha.
Woh apni soch ko halka karne ke liye baahar tehelne ke liye nikli. Darwaza kholte hi uske perr thithak gaye. Usne neeche dekha.
Ek envelope.
Usne aas-paas dekha. Raasta khaali tha. Koi nazar nahi aa raha tha. Jhuk ke usne dheere se envelope uthaya. Dil tezi se dhadak raha tha. Aur, ghar ke andar aake usne cover ko phaada.
Andar se ek photo nikal kar neeche zameen par gir gayi. Jaise hi usne use dekha-
Uske chehre ka rang udd gaya. Tasveer mein woh khud thi. Apni gun ko Ranjeet par aim karte hue jo hooks se latka hua tha. Ranjeet ke seene par goliyaan dhansi hui thi, jism khoon se ekdum laal.
'Yeh… yeh kaise…?'
Uska haath kaanpne laga. Dimag me ek hi baat ghoom rahi thi.
Woh flash… woh click… koi tha waha. Koi dekh raha tha. Zaahir hai, asli murderer. Jisne use phasaaya.
Envelope ke andar photo ke saath me ek chhota note bhi tha. Usne use uthaya, aur padhna shuru kiya.
"Agar ye photo sheher bhar me ghoomti dekhna nahi chaahti, toh jaisa mein keh raha hoon waisa karo. Bihar! Go there! Ya waha ki police se contact karo. There's a conman there who loots and kills innocent people. Find him. Capture him. Tumhare paas zyada waqt nahi. Warna..."
Note yahi khatam ho gaya.
Trisha ki aankhon me gussa aur darr dono tha. Uska dimag chillane ko keh raha tha, lekin dil samajh raha tha ki yeh koi chhota khel nahi tha. Transfer ki talwar pehle hi uske sirr pe latak rahi thi… aur, ab yeh blackmail bhara note.
Ek baat spasht thi. Jo bhi tha, uski har harqat par nazar rakh raha tha. Ab agar usne yeh kaam nahi kiya… toh uska career, uska naam, sab barbaad ho sakta tha.
***
Parijaat ke ghar raat me Veer Suman aur Aabha ko lekar aaya hua tha. Vandna se Suman ki bhaint karwana zaroori tha. Sabhi aurtein baahar hall me baatein kar rahi thi toh wahi Veer andar bedroom me laita apne system me vyast tha.
Aur, tabhi uske mann me-
[S-Sorry...!]
'...!?'
[I... I'm sorry!]
Pari ki ruwasi awaaz uske mann me goonji. Subah se woh sleep mode me thi. Manorath ji ki terhvi ke waqt jab Veer emotional feel kar raha tha tab bhi woh baahar nahi aayi thi.
Aur, isliye ab use apne upar glaani mehsoos ho rahi thi. Veer ne kuchh na kaha. Bas khamosh laita raha.
Yaha aane se pehle usne hi Trisha ke ghar me woh photo aur note envelope me rakh ke bheja tha. Vandna ne jo kuchh bhi bataya tha, uss se ye spasht tha ki wo baba hi kuchh gadbad tha. Dhongiyo ko lekar Veer kaafi chaukanna rehta tha, khaas kar Slogan ka past dekhne ke baad se.
Aur, agar waqai me kuchh gadbad thi- toh, Trisha ko waha bhej ko uss se waha ka sach nikalwana sabse uchit tareeka tha.
Kyunki, yaha par uske haath waise hi bandhe hue the.
*Ding*
[Mission : The Devil is in the details.
Description : Find the culprit who messed with Hotel Prestige, Yarnia, and host's family. Find the plotter.
Rewards : 10,000 points.
Time limit : 1 month.
Mission failure penalty : Unknown for now.]
Pehla mission toh yahi tha jo Veer ke liye mushqil hone waala tha.
Toh, wahi dusra tha-
[Mission : Deal breaker (1)
Description : Find the truth about Pushkar, Gaurav and Nik.
Rewards :
1) 10,000 points.
2) Favourability increase of Divya and Suhana.
Time limit : 9 days.
Mission failure penalty : Losing Suhana and Divya.]
Ye tha jo uske liye sabse mehatvpoorn hone waala tha. Samay seema kam thi. Sirf 9 din.
[H-Hey! I-I'm sorry! *sniff*]
'Hmm!'
Iss baar Veer ne bas haami bhari, jo Pari ko bilkul bhi pasand nahi aayi.
[Bol toh diya maine sorry. Wh-Why are you behaving like this now?]
'Behaving like what?'
[L-Like... *sniff* Like this.]
'Kya?'
[Argh! Forget it. *sniff*]
'Show me the favorabilities, Pari!'
[Mmm!]
*Ding*
Agle hi kshan Veer ke saamne favorabilities ka panel khul gaya. Usne dekha ki sabhi ki favorabilities me baddhotri hui thi siwaaye-
Ragini ke. Favourability ghat chuki thi. Aur, uski wajah Veer bakhubi jaanta tha.
Usne dekha ki Vandna ki favourability halki-si badhi thi. Shayad baahar Parijaat ki aurtein use samjhaane me lagi hui thi.
Usne Skill Shop ki orr apna dhyaan kiya. Skill Shop humesha hi har ek hafte me refresh hoti thi. Har system holder keval aur keval unhi skills ko khareed sakta tha jo uss waqt Skill Shop me maujood rehti thi.
Aisa nahi tha ki jo mann me aaya wo skill khareed li. Isliye, Veer ne kabhi Skill Shop par zyada dhyaan nahi diya tha. Kyunki, adhiktar samay jo skills use chahiye hoti thi, waisi koi shop me hoti hi nahi thi.
'Pari! Open the skill shop.'
[Hmm!]
*Ding*
Veer ke saamne system ki neeli screen par skill shop khul gayi. Har hafte 10 random skills shop me available hoti thi. System level jab se 10 par aaya tha tab se kaafi kuchh badlaav aa chuke the system me.
Unse skills ko dekha...
[Skill : Steel Focus
Description : Enhances the host's concentration to hyper-human levels for short bursts. Multitasking becomes effortless, distractions fade away, and time seems to slow during execution. Ideal for high-stress environments or performance-critical tasks.
Price : 3000 points
Tier : Silver Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'Hmm? Silver Tier huh! For multitasking!?'
[Master! Mein suggest karungi ki aap ye skill na le.]
'Ohh? Aur, kyu?'
[Kyunki, points ko invest karne ke liye aur bhi achhi-achhi skills hai.]
Veer ne haami bhar agli skill ko dekha.
[Skill : Reflex Override
Description : Temporarily boosts the host’s reflexes to their absolute peak. Dodging punches, catching falling objects, reacting to sudden threats, all become second nature.
Price : 4500 points
Tier : Gold Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
[Again, aapke reflexes pehle hi fast hai. Upar se Beowulf's Blessings aapke senses, reflexes, speed, agility sab increase kar deta hai. So, a useless skill for you.]
'I agree. What's the next one?'
[Skill : Mind Mirror
Description : Enables the host to instantly analyze micro-expressions, tone, and body language to deduce emotions and possible intentions. Acts like a real-time psychological mirror.
Price : 6000 points
Tier : Gold Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
'Huh?'
Iss baar Veer uth ke baith gaya.
'This skill...!'
[It's a good skill. But again, kya aapko iski zaroorat hai?]
'It might come in handy in Pushkar's mission. Lekin, non upgradable hai. Aur, bas yahi reason hai jo mein hesitate kar raha hu.'
[Exactly, master. Pehle saari skills dekh lijiye. Then, ise dekhte hai.]
'Hmm!'
[Skill : Shadow Memory
Description : The host can recall anything they’ve seen or heard in the past 7 days with absolute clarity, as if replaying a recording. Useful for surveillance, investigations, or sharp decision-making.
Price: 7000 points
Tier: Gold Tier Skill]
'Ohhh!'
[Kya aapko iski need hai?]
'Well, ye skill exams ke liye mast hai, haha! Oh fuck!'
[Hmm?]
'Mujhe abhi yaad aaya ki... Shayad college me exams aane waale the. Pragya! I remember she told me exams would come soon!'
Usne apna phone check kiya. Dekha toh paaya ki Pragya ka number uski blocked list me dala hua tha.
'What the...!?'
Use ye pata nahi tha ki Pragya ka contact number Kavya ne uss din uske phone me block kar diya tha.
'Shit...!'
Ab jab usne Pragya ko wapas se ping kiya toh dhada-dhad ek saath kayi messages aane shuru ho gaye.
Pragya : Veer!!! Are you there? Literally! Maine kitne calls kiye tumhe do you even know? Par, call lag hi nahi raha tha. Did you block me or something?
Veer : Ah! Let's just say I was very busy. Aur, tumne news to dekhi hi hogi.
Pragya : Ah! Right! Right! Kaise ho tum? Is everything fine?
Veer : Better than before.
Pragya : Right. I'll cut to the chase. Tumne apna pehla exam miss kar diya hai.
Veer (sighs) : I see...!
Pragya : But still... It's not too late. Ye finals nahi hai. But don't take them lightly.
Veer : Mein nahi aa paunga.
Pragya : Wait! What?
Veer : Dada ji expire ho gaye hai toh- I won't be attending the college.
Pragya : Ahh! My condolences. B-But... Exams-!?
Veer : Mein dekh lunga. See ya!
Pragya : Ah! O-Ok!
Veer ne apna phone side me rakha. Uske paas ab inn college ke shenanigans ke liye samay nahi tha. Wo kayi guna bade matters se deal kar raha tha life me. Pehle inhe handle karna zaroori tha.
'Pari! Continue karo.'
[Ok!]
[Skill : Ambidex Mastery
Description : Grants perfect control over both hands and legs allowing the host to perform complex tasks with either or both simultaneously. Perfect for combat, surgery, or multitasking environments.
Price: 2500 points
Tier: Silver Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'Hmm! Mera right hand dominant hai. Left hand weak. Lekin, sirf 2500 points ke liye mein-! Abhi nahi. I don't need that right now.'
[That's right.]
Woh aage badha.
[Skill : Lion’s Voice
Description : Modulates the host’s voice to command attention, induce trust, or inspire fear, based on intent. Especially effective in negotiations, speeches, or interrogations.
Price: 8000 points
Tier: Platinum Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
[Ise buy karna bewakoofi hogi, Master.]
'Right! Already mere paas Intimidating Presence hai. It's useless for me.'
[Exactly, Master.]
'Next!'
[Skill : Urban Ghost
Description : Makes the host's movement nearly undetectable in populated areas, blending with crowds, avoiding cameras, and leaving minimal trace. Doesn’t make you invisible, just invisible enough.
Price : 9000 points
Tier : Platinum Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'This...!'
Veer ki bauhe sikudi. Ye skill kamaal ki thi. Upar se Platinum Tier skill thi aur upgradable bhi.
Veer raat me slaughterhouse me apni stealth ka istemal isliye kar paaya tha kyunki, samay raat ka tha. Andhera tha. Aur, uske khilaaf aam aadmi the. Na ki system holders.
Agar, yahi stealth infiltration wo kisi system holders ke base me jaake karta toh woh beshaq nakaam ho jaata.
'Pari! Kitne points bache hai total?'
[29,000 points.]
'Tch!'
Skill mehngi thi. Waqai. Lekin, Veer ko iski zaroorat thi. Garofano aur Erica dono ke paas 'Dead Silence' thi. Erica ke paas 'Chameleon' bhi thi jo use stealth me maahir banaati thi.
Kintu, uske paas aisi koi si bhi skill nahi thi. Aur, jaise-jaise wo aage badh raha tha. Use lagne laga tha ki infiltration sjr stealth ke liye kisi ek skill ka hona behad zaroori tha.
'Pari! Buy this skill.'
[Huh? Are you sure, Master?]
'Hmm!'
[Okay!]
*Ding*
[9000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
['Urban Ghost' skill has been added to the skills.]
[Total points left : 20,000.]
Veer ne ek santushti bhari haami bhari. Usne fir 'Quest Hunt' ki orr dekha. Na jaane kitna samay ho chuka tha use iska istemal kiye.
'I feel like playing today. Kitne points use honge ek draw me, Pari?'
[1000 points for 1 pull.]
'Fuckin' hell!!'
Veer ka dimaag price sunte hi kharab ho gaya. Shuruat me kaha 200 points lagte the aur ab-
'Maybe? I might get lucky!? Draw one pull.'
[Are you sure, Master?]
'Yeah!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations for getting nothing at all.]
'Fucking...!!!'
Veer ke muh se gaali nikalte-nikalte reh gayi. Usne chaadar ko kass kar bheencha.
'D-Draw one more time.'
[Are you really sure, Master?]
'Yeah! Zyada se zyada kya hoga? Ya toh kuchh nahi milega ya phir ek legendary card, right?'
[O-Okay!]
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations for being an idiot again. You get nothing at all.]
'Motherfucke-!!!'
[Umm! M-Master! Quest Hunt aisa hi hota hai. It's all based on luck. D-Do you want to continue?]
'Y-Yeah! Points hai bahut mere paas. Agar, kuchh achha mil gaya toh-'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Woohoo! Hatrick! Congratulations for being the same idiot for the third time.]
'What the hell is wrong with these notifications? Huh?'
[Ah! I don't know, Master. Wait! K-Kahi!? Huh? Is it you? Ah! Damn it! She might be doing this...!]
'What the hell? Kaun? Kiski baat kar rahi ho tum, Pari?'
[Remember the first Pari? She...! Argh! It's hard to explain now, Master. B-But... Abhi notifications ko bhool jaaiye. I can't do anything about it. Do you want me to continue?]
'Yeah! Go on!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[How can someone be so dumb? Congratulations for being the absolute disgrace.]
'Madar-!!! I swear, I'll kill her! Is she messing with me? Wo system ko beech me kaise influence kar sakti hai? I guess tum mujhe bataane se rahi. Mere jawaab agar mujhe chahiye toh sirf intezar ke alawa mere paas koi aur choice nahi, right?'
[Yes. Thank you for understanding, Master. Do you still want to play? You are now left with 16,000 points.]
'One last time.'
[Sure?]
'Do it!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations! You have gained 'Beowulf's Blessings II Legendary Card.]
'What the-!! No! No! No! No! Don't tell me mujhe wahi card phir se mil gaya!'
Veer phir se usi card ke milne par pareshan ho raha tha ki tabhi-
*Ding*
[Do you want to fuse the card? Or sell it?]
'Huh? Wait! M-Mein card fuse kar sakta hu?'
Veer ka dimaag chakra raha tha. Uske badan par rue khade ho chuke the.
[Yes Master. Some cards can be fused. You got very lucky. Aapko Beowulf's Blessings II mila hai. It's the final form. Don't sell it. Fuse it.]
'Then do it!'
Aur, agle hi kshan usne dekha ki uska puraana Beowulf's Blessings ka card iss naye Beowulf's Blessings II ke card ke saath fuse hone laga.
Dono card ek dusre se takra ke ek mishran me badal rahe the. Ek naya card.
Aur, jaise hi woh naya card Veer ke saamne aaya, Veer ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi.
*Ding*
[Congratulations! You have gained 'Eternal Beowulf' the final form of 'Beowulf's Blessings.']
Veer maun reh gaya.
[You are now left with 15,000 points.]
'Fuckkk!!'
Woh khush hoke sab kuchh padh paata ki tabhi uska phone punah baj utha aur message tha — Suhana ka.
"Veer! I need your help. ICONGLOBE kuchh hi dino me aane waali hai. Sonu wants to get this deal. But Kaera would be there as well. I... I need your help. C-Can you... Can you help Sonu get this deal? Don't consider this as a repayment of any favor. I... I'm just asking you as a close friend. W-Will you help me?"
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This update consists of 9k words. Isme bahut kuchh aur hona tha but maine ant me ise thoda light hi rakha because of the fever I was having. I could only write this much. But ye bhi ek shocker rahega ju logo ke liye ki cards fuse bhi ho sakte hai. You didn't see that coming now, do you? Thoda system lore me aur deeply ghuse hai hum iss update me. ICONGLOBE is here. You know now what's coming. Aaj ke liye itna hi. Target wahi hai. 250. Reviews rakhne ka aur likes thokne ka.
Dhanyavad.
Extremely superb bhaiUpdate - 204 ~ Family Affairs
Ab tak...
*Ding*
[The active system has gone into sleep mode.]
[The host won’t be able to interact with the active system for 6 hours. The host can still access the passive system on his own.]
‘Pari, tum-!’
Veer ne apne daant meese. Woh uski baat bina sune hi 6 ghante ke liye sleep mode me jaa chuki thi. Uski awaaz me kampan tha. Shayad ro rahi thi. Magar, Veer ne apne aap ko inn emotions ke chalte apne resolve ko badalne nahi diya. Usne mann me apni wahi baat dohraayi.
‘This is the right way, Pari!’
Ab aage...
Subah ki raushni Purvi ke bedroom ke sooti pardo se dheere-dheere chhan kar daakhil hui. Baahar chidiyo ki cheh-chahahat thi aur andar, kamre me abhi bhi pichhli raat ki halki-si garmi maujood thi. Purvi hili, uska haath sehej hi bistar ke dusri taraf badha, lekin siwaaye khaalipann ke use kuchh na mila.
Aadhi neend me uski bauhe sikud gayi. Usne dheere se aankhein kholi aur chaaro orr dekha.
“Veer?” Usne dheere se pukara, uski awaaz me abhi bhi neend bhari hui thi.
Par, koi jawab nahi aaya.
Woh uth ke baithi, uska haath bedsheet ko ek taraf sarkaaya. Kamra abhi bhi shaant tha. Suhana ne Veer ko jo perfume diya tha, uski khushbu abhi bhi Purvi ke bistar par mandra rahi thi. Usne apne kandho par apna dupatta lapeta aur hall me baahar nikal kar aayi.
“Veer…?” Usne living room ki orr badhte hue phir pukara. Phir, ek sannaata chha gaya.
Lekin, jaise hi woh rasoi me pahuchi, uske seene me ek halki-si garmahat daud gayi.
Waha, dining table par, achhe se taiyar kiya hua nashta rakha tha, abhi bhi ek lid se dhaka hua. Uske bagal me Veer ki saaf-suthri likhawat me likha ek muda hua note pada tha:
“Good Morning, Maasi!”
Uske hontho par turant ek muskan daud gayi. Usne note ko aur khola.
“Bina bataye jaane ke liye, sorry! Aaj dada ji ki terhvi hai. Isliye, mein jaldi nikal aaya. Aap aaiyega zaroor. Address maine aapko message kar diya hai. ~Veer.”
Uski ungliyaan aur nazrein kaagaz par tiki rahi. Shabdo ne use yaad dilaaya ki Manorath ji ko guzre 12 din ho chuke the. Terhvi ki rasm… zaahir hai, aaj thi. Use andaza hi nahi tha ki samay itni tezi se beet gaya.
Woh baithi, lid ko kholi, aur paaya ki uska pasandeeda vyanjan uska intezar kar raha tha, bilkul waisa hi bana hua jaisa use pasand tha. Stir fry idli, wo bhi podi masala ke saath. Woh fatafat brush kar ke aayi aur baith gayi.
Usne pehla nivala liya, aur uski aankhein halki si bhar aayi, dukh se nahi, balki isliye ki khaane me ek aisi cheez thi jo koi restaurant ya chef kabhi nahi dikha sakta tha: parvah!
Yeh ladka uske haatho ka khaana khaane ke liye utsuk rehta tha, jabki khud itna behatreen khaana bana leta tha. Use ehsaas hua yeh dish woh Veer se achhi nahi bana sakti thi. Kya iska matlab Veer apni maasi ka dil rakhne ke liye, unke haath ke khaane ki tareef karta tha?
Khaate hue, uska haath dheere se apni chhaati par gaya, besudh hokar nightie ke upar se uske ek doodh par fira. Usne apne doodh ko dabaaya.
“Nnn~”
Bina sharmaaye usne apni nightie ko kheechte hue apna ek doodh nanga hawa me azaad kiya. Usne dekha ki uske nipple ke agal-bagal laal nishaan bane hue the. Veer ne raat bhar unhe zor-zor se choosa tha, kaata tha aur chooma tha. Zaahir hai, usne uske thano par kayi nishaan aur hickeys chhori thi.
Usne punah dheere se jab apne doodh ko dabaya toh use ek dard ka ehsaas hua.
“Ahhh~”
Kintu, ye dard, ek ajeeb sa dard tha. Ek aisa dard jo Purvi chaah rahi thi. Ek meetha dard. Usne apna dusra doodh bhi nanga azaad kiya. Aur, apni dono doodh ki thailiyo ko dekha. Kaise jagah-jagah hickeys aur nishaan pade hue the. Uske gaal sharm se laal ho gaye.
Kal berehmi se Veer ne unhe choosa tha. Aaj kal uske haath bhi inhe kass kar masalne se katraate nahi the aur na hi woh khud use mana karti thi. Iss baar uska haath apne hontho par fira, aur use yaad aaya.
Kaise woh aur Veer ek dusre ke hontho ko chaat rahe the aur unka rass pee rahe the. Kitne kaamuk andaaz me Veer uske honth choos raha tha aur badle me woh bhi uska saath de rahi thi. Veer ne kayi jagah uske hontho par bhi kaata tha. Uske gaalo par ek halki-si laali chha gayi. Lekin, yahi uski seema thi. Iss se adhik kuchh bhi nahi.
Usne apne thano ko dobaara dekha, uske chehre par sneh umad raha tha. Magar, ek chinta bhi.
‘Agar pata chala ki kaise mein uske bete ko bigaad rahi hu, toh Bhavna mujhe maar daalegi.’
Usne socha, phir mann hi mann hasi.
Kintu, use zara bhi sharm nahi aayi. Zara bhi nahi. Veer ke liye uska aisa sneh duniya ko samajhne ki zaroorat nahi thi. Unka pyaar shaant palo me, saajha khamoshiyo me, chhoti-chhoti khushiyo me samaya hua tha. Pyaar jataane ka uska apna tareeka tha, aur use humesha uski zaroorat thi, aise tareeko se jinhe shabdo me baya nahi kiya jaa sakta tha.
Usne apne than wapas se nightie ke andar kiye. Kuchh baato ko zor se kehne ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Kuchh rishto ko naamo ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Unhe bas mehsoos kiya jaata hai. Dil me aur khamoshi me. Aur, Purvi jaanti thi ki use kya karna tha.
Do ghante hi beete the abhi ki jab…
*Ding Dong*
Darwaze par ghanti baji.
Purvi, abhi bhi apne halke-fulke kapdo me, apne dupatte se haath pochhte hue darwaza kholi. Baahar ek naujavan delivery man ek bade se cardboard box ke saath khada apne maathe se paseena pochh raha tha.
Delivery man : Madam! AC delivery. Ye Purvi ji ka hi ghar hai na?
Usne apna phone nikaalte hue ek bill dikhaaya. Bill par Purvi ka address aur uska naam likha hua tha. Purvi chaunk kar palke jhapkayi.
Purvi : H-Haan… Mein hi hu Purvi, yeh mera hi ghar hai, lekin… maine koi AC order nahi kiya.
Delivery man ne apne haath me liye ek paper par nazar daali.
Delivery man : Iss par likha hai ki ye prepaid hai. Installation shaamil hai. Mister Veer ne payment kari hai.
Purvi ki aankhein chaudi ho gayi.
Purvi : Veer???
Usne avishvas se dohraya.
Delivery man : Ji madam! Kya mein andar le aau?
Hairan hote hue phir bhi Purvi ne sarr hilaaya aur ek taraf hat gayi, uska dimag tezi se daud raha tha. Delivery waala ladka box andar laaya aur living room me use kholne laga.
Delivery man : Madam! Kaha lagwana hai? Hall me ya…?
Purvi ne andar uske aur Arun ke bedroom ki orr ishara kiya.
Purvi : Bedroom me laga do!
Jaise hi woh kaam par laga, Purvi peechhe hat gayi aur AC unit ko ghoorne lagi, abhi bhi samajh nahi paa rahi thi abhi-abhi kya hua. Uski ungliyaan besudh hokar uske apne gaalo par firi aur uske vichar pichhli raat ki orr bhatakte chale gaye.
Kal raat woh yu hi shikayat kar rahi thi Veer se. Kuchh mazak me, kuchh narazgi me ki kaise Arun AC khareedne ke liye taal-matol kar raha tha.
“Abhi off-season hai! Saste milte hai. Abhi lagwa lenge toh garmi me araam rahega na.”
Par-
“Kya zaroorat hai? Abhi kaun lagwata hai AC? Ye sab bahut hoshiyar rehte hai. Abhi aur mehnga denge. Aur, abhi hume zaroorat bhi nahi hai. Band pada rahega. Pata chala pade-pade aur kharab ho gaya. Phir?”
Use har baar yahi jawab milta. Kal raat woh Veer ke bagal se laiti yahi sab badbadati rahi, sochti rahi ki Veer bas aivayi uski bhadaas ko sunn raha hai.
Lekin, saaf tha ki usne waqai me sunn liya tha. Chup-chap. Poori tarah se. Aur, uss par agli hi subah amal bhi kar diya. Jis kaam ke liye woh Arun ko pichhle do saalo se mana rahi thi, woh Veer ne kuchh hi palo me kar diya.
Woh ek pal ke liye wahi khadi rahi, haath kursi ke kinaare par halka sa tika hua, uske seene me ek ajeeb si jakdan ubhri. Uski aankhein achanak bhar aayi, dukh se nahi, balki komal garmahat se.
Veer ko yaad tha. Use parvah thi.
Usne apna nichla honth kaata. Yeh ladka… humesha ummeed se zyada karta tha.
Uske vichaar aage badh gaye. Pehle woh use daategi. Bina bataaye itna kharcha karne ke liye. Zaahir hai, woh Veer ko iski payment bhi karegi. Halanki, kahi na kahi woh jaanti thi ki Veer uss se ye sweekar nahi karega. Lekin, uska farz tha yeh. Woh badi thi. Aur, phir… woh uska pasandeeda khaana banayegi. Use apne haatho se khilayegi. Use pyaar karegi, galey se lagayegi aur apne seene se laga ke use khoob choomegi.
Sochte hue woh mann hi mann muskurayi. Idhar, jaise hi technician ka kaam khatam hua, Purvi ne lagbhag lag chuke AC ko dekha. Yeh sirf deewar par lagi ek machine nahi thi. Yeh prem ka ek shaant bhaav tha.
Vichaarsheelta ka. Kisi aise vyakti ka jo chhoti-chhoti baato ko yaad rakhta ho. Aur, uss pal, use bas pyaar ka ehsaas hua.
Woh phir muskurayi, uske gaalo par halki si laali chha gayi aur usne khud se phus-phusate hue bas yahi kaha, “Pagal kahi ka…”
***
Afternoon - 12:26 PM ~
Samaroh hall pehle toh shaant tha, ajeeb si khamoshi. Manch ke beecho-beech rakhi Manorath Singh ki photo frame par phulo ki maala chadhi hui thi. Dono taraf agarbattiya dheemi-deemi jal rahi thi.
Phir, kursiyo ki kataare dheere-dheere badbadate rishtedaro aur mehmano se bharne lagi. Chandan aur pakte hue khaane ki sugandh hawa me mili hui thi. Veer hall ke theek entrance ke paas khada tha, haath theek peeth ke peechhe baandhe, aankhein idhar-udhar ghoom rahi thi. Dhyan bhatakne ki wajah se nahi, balki yaado me. Woh dekh raha tha… kaun aaya tha, aur kaun nahi.
Ve uske liye sirf mehman nahi the. Har chehra ek sanket tha. Ek sandesh. Wafadari ka ek bayaan ya darr. Kuchh jaane-pehchaane chehre aaye hue the. Toh, kuchh ne apne afsos, apne bahaane, vinamra sanvedna me lipte bhej diye. Aur, kuchh ne toh shok jataane ya aane ki parvah hi nahi ki.
Shayad ye kuchh din pehle hue Hotel Prestige me hui ghatna ki parchhayi thi. Narsanhar. Visfot. Aag. Mautein. Kuchh log ab uss se sambandh rakhne se bhi katra rahe the. Veer ne unn sabko note kiya.
Har. Ek. Jann.
Woh unhe yaad rakhega.
Tabhi, uska phone baja aur Karan ka ek message aaya-
“Bhai…! Sorry! Dad bahut strict chal rahe hai. Woh mujhe aur di ko ghar se nikalne hi nahi de rahe. Meetings ke liye woh apne private guards humaare peechhe laga ke rakhe hai. Maine Jassi aur Raghu se help leke secretly aane ki koshish ki thi but dad ne unhe pakad liya. Dono ko bahut daat padi hai. Shayad maar bhi…! Unhone warn kiya hai. Di aur dad ki behas bhi hui hai. It’s insane. I hope you will understand. Mein tumse baad me milta hu. Sorry!”
Toh wahi, ek aur message tha — Kaera ka. Jisme sirf ek shabd likha hua tha : Sorry!
Aur, yeh bhi uski maid, Julia ne use bhejne ke liye kaha tha. Kyunki, Kaera bechari ko pata hi nahi tha ki kis tarah se maafi maangi jaaye? Use ye bhi nahi pata tha ki aise mauke par kya karna chahiye.
Veer ke hontho se ek halki-si aah nikli. Woh samajh gaya tha ki waha par kya hua hoga. Hotel Prestige me attack ke waqt dono Karan aur Kaera wahi maujood the. Zaahir hai, Kishore unhe ab sakht nigrani me rakhne waala tha.
Veer yeh bhi jaanta tha ki aane waale samay me Kishore uss par bhi apna shikanja kassega. Akhirkar, jo kuchh bhi hua, uske baad Kishore ke paas unn par sakhti baratne ki poori wajah thi.
Lekin, phir bhi unhone koshish ki aane ki, Veer ke liye yahi maayne rakhta tha. Dheere-dheere bheed badhne lagi. Purvi bhi aa chuki thi. Woh ek halki peeli saree me thi. Woh uske qareeb aayi toh Veer ka haath uski peeth par gaya aur uski nagn peeth ko sparsh kiya. Ek jhurjhuri uske badan me phail gayi.
Magar, Purvi ne uske gaal ko nocha aur ekdum dheemi awaaz me uss se boli.
Purvi (smirks) : AC waali baat baad me karungi tumse. Ye mat sochna bach ke nikal jaoge tum.
Veer (smiles) : Ji!
Purvi (smiles) : Kaha hai, Bhavna?
Veer : Andar hi hai. Jaiye!
Aur, Purvi ko uski peeth par haath rakh Veer ne use andar bhej diya. Purvi bhi pyaar bhari muskaan dikhaate hue uske gaal par haath ferti hui andar chali gayi.
Har koi lagbhag aa chuka tha. Brijesh se leke, Karunesh, Pranjal, Vivek, Parijaat ki aurtein, Madhuri apni maa, Lalita ke saath, lagbhag sab log hi maujood the. Siwaaye, do log ke — Ragini aur Vandna.
Ragini ghar par hi araam kar rahi thi. Woh aane ki sthiti me nahi thi. Abhi use iss tarah se logo ke beech function attend karne ke liye samay lagne waala tha. Ghar par uske saath uski maa, Rohini maujood thi.
Toh, wahi Vandna ki apni alag wajah thi.
Tabhi-
Ek chamchamati black color ki Mercedes Benz Maybach S class hall ki entrance ke saamne aa kar ruki. Darwaza khula.
Veer ki nazar baahar nikal rahi uss mahila ki nazro se takrayi. Suhana. Usne ek charcoal blazer aur light beige trouser pehen rakha tha. Formal. Clean. Aur, polished. Lekin, Veer ka dhyaan uske chehre ne kheencha.
Uska khubsurat chehra jo na jaane kitne bhaav chhipaaye hue tha. Suhana ne jaise hi use dekha, ek pal ke liye jaise… uski saansein ruk gayi.
Veer. Woh thaka hua lag raha tha. Lag raha tha jaise kayi raato se soya na ho. Aur, yeh sach bhi tha.
Suhana (mutters) : V-Veer!
Woh fusfusate hue uski orr aage badhi. Veer ne use ek halki-si muskaan di.
Veer (nods) : Aaiye!
Woh baahar uske bagal se hi khadi ho gayi. Logo se dur. Andar jaane ka koi matlab nahi tha. Woh yaha sirf Veer ke liye hi aayi thi.
Veer : Aap yaha aayi? Mujhe laga nahi tha ki aap-
Suhana : Kyu nahi aati? M-Mujhe aana hi tha. Office me bata diya ki client se meeting hai ek. That’s it.
Veer : Aapko bahaana banana pada? Shukriya… Yaha aane ke liye, aur-
Suhana : ???
Veer : Aur, uss raat ke liye.
Suhana ko yaad aaya. Woh humle waali raat. Kaise usne aur Karan ne milke sab ko ambulance aur gaadiyo me bithwa ke waha se surakshit bheja tha. Usne palkein jhapkayi. Uska gala roondh gaya.
Suhana : K-Kuchh nahi tha. Koi bhi hota yahi karta. Aur-
Par, Veer ne usko beech me hi kaat diya. Uski awaaz gehri thi.
Veer : Wahi sab kuchh tha!
Suhana : Huh!?
Veer (smiles) : Thank you!
Woh uski orr muda, ek inch aur nazdeek badhte hue, uski aankhein Suhana ki aankhon me gadi rahi.
Veer : Aap hi thi jisne meri family ko surakshit pahuchaya tha. Aap aur Karan! Bhale hi mein nahi tha waha, par mujhe sab pata hai ki kya kuchh hua tha. Hospital me sab kuchh aapne aur Karan ne hi sambhala tha. Thank you! It means a lot to me.
Suhana : I-Iski koi-
Veer : Mein aapka ehsaan-mand rahunga. Agar, aapko kabhi bhi kisi bhi cheez ki zaroorat ho, kisi bhi cheez ki, toh keh dena bas, mein haazir ho jaunga.
Usne apni awaaz me bhaari imaandari ke saath kaha. Suhana ne nazrein neechi kar li, uska dil tezi se dhadak raha tha, uski ungliyaan thodi kaanp rahi thi. Yeh ladka… kyu woh humesha use aisa mehsoos karaata tha?
Suhana : M-Maine ye kisi ehsaan ke liye nahi kiya, Vee-
Veer : I know!
Suhana : B-But-
Veer (smiles) : Remember our game?
Suhana : Huh?
Veer : Teen favors jo aapne mujhe chukaane ke liye diye the?
Suhana : Th-That-
Veer : Hmm! Aisa hi maan lijiye ki ek aur favor badh gaya usme.
Suhana ko yaad aaya. Wo teen favors jinki wajah se aaj wo dono itne qareeb the. Unme se akhiri favor ke liye usne Veer se kiss maangi thi. Ye yaad karte hi uske gaal sharm se laal pad gaye. Usne unn vichaaro ko nikaalne ki koshish ki.
Suhana : W-Well- agar tumhe bhi koi bhi kaam ho *blushes* Y-You can look for me.
Veer : Aapne pehle hi bahut kuchh kar diya hai. Ab aur nahi karne de sakta mein.
Suhana ne jawab dene ki koshish ki, magar tabhi ek guzarti hui hawa ne uske baalo ko uske chehre par dhakel diya. Veer ka haath apne aap hi aage badha aur usne baal ki latt ko uske kaano ke peechhe le jaate hue ek taraf kar diya.
*Badump*
Suhana ki aankhein fadki, saansein thami, aur dhadkane tez ho gayi. Woh jaldi se peechhe hatt gayi aur chehre par chhaayi sharm ko chhipaane ke liye sarr neeche kar li. Usne apni zindagi me bade se bade corporate diggajo, political VIPs ka saamna kiya tha, lekin ye… yeh alag tha. Usne aaj tak kabhi aisa mehsoos nahi kiya tha.
Parantu, woh akeli nahi thi.
*Badump*
Veer ki dhadkane bhi tez thi.
‘What is this…? Ye feeling?’
Suhana khush thi ki aaj kam se kam woh Veer ke saamne theek se khadi ho paa rahi thi. Warna beetein mahino me uski kya haalat thi ye woh khud jaanti thi. Shayad, Veer ke saath itna kuchh hua, uss haadse ke baad se ye sab thoda uske liye asaan ho gaya tha.
Lekin, jo bhi tha-
Kam se kam woh ab apne kamre me band nahi thi. Shayad, Veer ki madad karne ki dridhta ne uske iss darr ko door kar diya tha.
Tabhi-
“Thank you for coming.”
Ek awaaz ne unhe beech me tok diya. Tej. Woh kurta pyjama me thi, sarr par dupatta dala hua tha. Uske swar me komalta thi, lekin aankhein Veer se milne ke liye taiyaar nahi thi.
Tej (dohraate hue) : Thanks! It means a lot!
Suhana : It’s nothing!
Dono ek dusre ko dekhi. Uss din unn dono ki akeli meeting ke baad se hi dono ab ek-dusre ko behtar dhang se jaanti thi. Aur, Tej Suhana ki madad ki waqai me shukr-guzaar thi. Uss meeting ka akhiri sanvaad unn dono ko hi yaad tha.
“You care for him, right?”
“I… He’s just an acquaintance."
“Just an acquaintance. Right!"
Iss sanvaad se saaf zaahir tha ki Suhana ke andar Veer ko lekar strong feelings thi. Koi bewakoof hi hoga jo ye samjhega ki Suhana Veer ko bas ek acquaintance hi maanti thi.
Tej ne bas halki-si muskaan di, lekin uski aankhon me kuchh aisa tha jo samajh se parey tha. Aur, phir uske peechhe se-
Ek dheemi-si awaaz.
“H-Hello! Didi…!”
Kavya dheere se sharmaate hue unke qareeb aayi. Suhana ne mud kar dekha toh woh ladki sharmaate hue muskura rahi thi, uske haath ghabrahat me apni dress ko jakde hue the. Suhana ka dil turant narm pad gaya. Suhana Kavya se Holi ke waqt mili thi Veer ke ghar par. Lekin, Suhana jaisi ladki ke saamne Kavya bhi thoda hich-kichati thi.
Suhana (smiles) : Hello, Kavya! Kaisi ho?
Kavya (shyly) : A-Achhi hu!
Teeno dheere-dheere baat karne lage. Aur, Kavya bhi har baar ki tarah Suhana se jald hi phir se khul gayi. Veer, jo chup-chap khada hua tha, uski nazrein Tej par gayi. Woh uss se bach rahi thi. Har nazar dusri orr mod rahi thi. Tej, pehle kabhi aisi nahi thi.
Aur, Veer jaanta tha ki aisa kyu tha. Prestige me jo kuchh hua, uske liye woh khud ko kahi na kahi doshi maan rahi thi.
Veer ne cameras ki footage dekhi thi. Humle ki sateekta. Coordination. Koi bhi ise rok nahi sakta tha, shayad… siwaaye uske. Aur, woh waha nahi tha. Lekin, Tej khud ko maaf nahi kar paa rahi thi.
Woh toot rahi thi. Veer ise mehsoos kar sakta tha. Tej ki khamoshi ke neeche toofan chal raha tha. Uska posture akda hua tha, honth bhinche hue, aur aankhein Veer se bhaagti hui.
Aur, Veer use achhi tarah se jaanta tha. Agar, Tej ko ye laga ki uska bhai ab uss se naraaz hai, uss se dur bhaag raha hai, toh bas itni si baat hi- use tod ke rakh sakti thi.
Nahi. Balki, iss se bhi bura. Yeh use tabaah kar deti. Veer ne dheere se saans chhori. Yaha nahi. Abhi nahi.
Lekin, jald hi… woh uss se baat karega.
Dekhte hi dekhte mehmano ki bheed chhatne lagi thi. Bhavna apni saree ke dupatte ka kinaara theek kar rahi thi aur darwaaze ki orr qadam badhaane ki taiyaari kar rahi thi, tabhi ek awaaz shaanti ko cheerte hue aayi.
“Bhavna!”
Woh beech qadam rakhte hi ruk gayi. Woh awaaz. Laga jaise barso puraana bojh uske kandho par achanak se aa gaya ho. Dheere se woh mudi.
Aur, woh wahi saamne tha. Brijesh.
Woh aadmi jisne kabhi use apna guroor maana tha… aur 21-22 baras pehle, use ek anchaahi yaad ki tarah ghar se nikaal diya tha.
Bhavna ki bauhe sikudi aur uske shaant chehre par halki-si shikan ubhar aayi.
Brijesh budha prateet ho raha tha, uski aankhon ke kono par jhurriyaan, kandho me jhukaav tha. Lekin, jis tarah se woh bechaini se apne perro par hil raha tha, uss se pata chal raha tha ki uske andar sachmuch kuchh nahi badla tha.
Bhavna (frowns) : Kaho!
Brijesh (hich-kichate hue) : Mein… Kya hum baat kar sakte hai?
Bhavna ke honth ek patli rekha me sikud gaye. Use dekh kar uska mood pehle hi kharab ho chuka tha, lekin usne dheere se ek gehri saans li, jis se woh thoda shaant hui aur phir saiyyammit swar me boli.
Bhavna : Mein sunn rahi hu!
Brijesh : Y-Yaha nahi… Baahar?
Ek virham! Phir, usne halka-sa sirr hilaaya aur darwaaze ke aage badh gayi, Brijesh bhi uske peechhe-peechhe chala aaya.
Jab ve logo ki sunnane ki seema se baahar ho gaye, toh Brijesh ne apna muh khola… phir band kar liya, kuchh shabd nahi soojh rahe the.
Bhavna : Mere paas samay zaaya karne ke liye nahi hai, Brijesh! Agar, kuchh kehna hai toh saaf-saaf keh do!
Brijesh ne apna gala saaf kiya, uski awaaz thodi thar-thara rahi thi.
Brijesh : V-Veer… aur Tejal… Dono humaare bacche hai, hai na?
Bhavna : Toh?
Brijesh : Toh… Toh, kya tum, Veer aur Tejal, apne puraane ghar me waapas nahi aa sakte? Waha phir se nahi reh sakte? Sabke saath?
Bhavna ke honth haasya me mude.
Bhavna : Tumhe pata hai tum kya keh rahe ho?
Brijesh : Mein tumse mujhe maaf karne ke liye nahi keh raha, Bhavna! Mein tumse ye bhi nahi keh raha ki tum mujhse baat karo. P-Par… Kya tum bas ghar me nahi reh sakti? Kya Veer aur Tejal sabke saath reh kar khush nahi honge?
Bhavna : Mere dono bacche…! Maine unhe kabhi control nahi kiya hai. Agar, Tej aur Veer jaana chaahenge, toh tum khud unse poochh sakte ho. Lekin, agar tumhe lagta hai ki mein uss ghar me phir se qadam rakhungi, toh yeh tumhari bewakoofi hogi. Bhool jao!
Bhavna jaanti thi ki uske dono bacche Brijesh ke paas nahi jaane waale the, khaas kar Tejal. Isliye, iss baat ko lekar woh sunishchit thi.
Brijesh paas aaya, uski awaaz hatasha se ubhar rahi thi.
Brijesh : Bhavna… Tum jaanti ho na ki mein tumse kitna pyaar karta tha? Balki, aaj bhi… mein tumse pyaar karta hu. Aur, tumse itna pyaar karta tha isliye mein wo sab bardaasht nahi kar paaya tha aur-
Bhavna : Tumne mujhse kabhi pyaar kiya hi nahi, Brijesh! Tum bas mujhe paana chaahte the. Dono me farq hai. Agar, tumne mujhse pyaar kiya hota, toh mujh par bharosa hota.
Brijesh : A-Aisa nahi hai, Bhavna! Mein aaj bhi tumse pyaar karta hu! Humne… Humne kabhi talaak nahi liya. Tum aaj bhi meri patni ho, Bhavna!
Bhavna (scoffs) : Aur, phir bhi dobara shaadi kar li!? Kaisa ajeeb pyaar hai! Tumhe andaaza hai ki mein tumhe iske liye jail bhi bhijwa sakti hu?
Brijesh chup reh gaya, uska muh khula toh tha, par bol nahi nikal paaye. Akhirkar, ant me woh bola.
Brijesh : Papa ji ke jaane ke baad se mujhe samajh aa gaya hai ki kyu ve- sabhi ko ek saath jodkar rakhne ki koshish karte the. Isliye, mein… mein bas chaahta hu ki hum sab ek saath rahe. Bhale hi tum mujhe nazar-andaaz karti rehna. Bhale hi tum apni berukhi barkarar rakhna. P-Par… laut chalo.
Bhavna : Iske liye ab bahut derr ho chuki hai, Brijesh!
Brijesh : Toh, tum nahi chalogi!?
Bhavna : Tumhara koi haq nahi hai mujhse ye sawaal karne ka! Aur, agar hota bhi-! Toh, bhi mein uss ghar me dobara qadam nahi rakhti.
Brijesh : Th-Theek hai! Toh, tum nahi aaogi! L-Lekin, Veer-! Haan! *nods* Bhale hi humara rishta utna accha nahi raha. Par, mein use jaanta hu. Woh lautna zaroor chaahega. Agar, mein uss se baat karunga toh zaroor-! Haan! A-Aur, phir agar woh saath rahega toh phir tum-
Usne itna bola hi tha ki yeh sunn Bhavna ke haav-bhaav badal gaye. Abhi bhi shaant par ab uski aankhon me tej tha.
Bhavna : Khabardar!!!
Brijesh : !?
Bhavna : Khabardar! Himmat bhi mat karna, Brijesh! Mere bete ko behkaane aur mujhe apne ghar waapas laane ke bahaane ke taur par istemal karne ki himmat bhi mat karna. Warna mujhse bura koi nahi hoga.
Brijesh sann reh gaya.
Bhavna : Kya mein jaanti nahi? Veer ne tumhare adheen kitna kasht saha hai? Meri gerr-haziri me tumne uske saath kaisa sulook kiya kya mujhe pata nahi? Mein sab jaanti hu. Tej ko toh jaise-taise maine ek maa ke saath-saath baap ka pyaar bhi dene ki poori koshish ki, lekin Veer?
Brijesh : …
Bhavna : Uss bechaare ko toh baap hone ke bawajood ek baap ka pyaar nahi mila. Kya mujhe pata nahi? Ki tumne uske saath kaisa vyavhaar kiya tha? Kya mujhe pata nahi? Ki tum uss par apna gussa sirf isliye nikaalte the ki woh tumhe meri yaad dilaata tha? Ek charitra-heen patni ki!!
Brijesh : Bh-Bhavna…!
Bhavna : Marr gayi hai ye Bhavna aaj se tumhare liye. Aur, khabardar agar mere bete ko mujhse chheenane ke baare me socha bhi toh- warna mein tumhara woh hashr karungi, jo tumhari saat pushte bhi nahi dekhi hongi kabhi.
Agar, aaj Manorath ji ki terhvi na hoti, toh aaj shaayad Bhavna ke mukh se aur bhi katu shabd nikal sakte the.
Iske pehle ki woh kuchh jawab de paata—
“Maa!?”
Peechhe se jaani-pehchani awaaz aayi. Dono mude. Veer aashcharya me thodi doorie par khada hua tha. Uski bauhe bhram me sikudi hui thi.
Brijesh ke honth khule, bolne ko taiyaar—
—lekin, Bhavna pehle hi aage badh gayi. Hawa ki tarah tez, woh Brijesh ke bagal se nikli, Veer ki orr. Uska haath Veer ki kalaayi par aisi mazboot pakad ke saath kass gaya jo lagbhag atal thi.
Bhavna : Chalo Veer!!!
Bina kuchh kahe, woh Veer ko apne saath kheench kar le jaane lagi. Veer ek qadam ladkhadaya, aur peechhe khade Brijesh ko bas jaate-jaate dekhta raha. Tab tak jab tak ki wo andar nahi chale gaye.
Bhavna ne use jaane nahi diya. Uski pakad uss par sthir thi, maano jaise agar usne use chhora toh woh uski aankhon se kahi ojhal ho jaayega.
Ve darwaaze se guzre, bache hue mehmano ki dheemi vartalap ka shor maddham pad gaya. Jab dono andar pahuche, tab bhi Bhavna ne uski kalaayi nahi chhori. Veer ne apni maa ke haath ki orr dekha, phir unke chehre ki orr, chehre par teekhepann ko samajhte hi, woh bhaanp gaya ki uski maa, woh aurat jo shayad hi kabhi gussa dikhaati thi, abhi behad hi krodh me thi.
Jab wo logo ki nigaaho se door ho gaye, tabhi Bhavna ki pakad thodi dheeli hui, phir bhi usne uske haath ko apne haath me thaame rakha, maano doorie ka khayal hi use bechain kar raha ho.
Uss pal ye spasht tha. Bhavna ke liye, apne bete ko apne paas rakhne ki zaroorat se zyaada mazboot kuchh bhi nahi tha. Na ateet. Na kadvahat. Na dushmani.
Jab jaane ka samay hone laga, toh Arohi Veer ke saamne khadi hui thi, uski awaaz shaant lekin sthir thi.
Arohi : Mein… Aaj raat jaa rahi hu!
Woh boli, uski aankhein neeche zameen par gadi hui thi. Veer ki bauhe ye sunn sikudi. Use dhyaan aaya ki Arohi kaha jaane ki baat kar rahi thi.
‘Ahmedabad! MBA! Huh!’
Veer : Aaj? Itni jaldi?
Arohi uski nazro se bachte hue halka-sa sirr hilaayi.
Arohi : Dada ji ki terhvi thi, bas isliye ruki thi. Ab jaana hoga. Raat ki train hai.
Veer : Oh! Haan, toh mein-
Arohi : Nahi! Tumhe mujhe drop karne ki zaroorat nahi. Mummy aur Vivek bhaiya rahenge mere saath. Tumhari need yaha zyada hai, Veer.
Har baar ki tarah bina kuchh bole hi Arohi pehle hi samajh chuki thi ki Veer kya kehna chaah raha tha. Veer ek qadam aur paas aaya, abhi bhi use samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.
Veer : Theek hai! Par-
Uske kuchh aur kehne se pehle hi, Arohi ne apni chunri theek ki, mudne ke liye taiyaar, magar uske perr hile nahi.
Uski khamoshi… uski ungliyaan jis tarah se hil rahi thi… Veer ne use turant bhaanp liya. Bina ek aur shabd kahe, woh aage badha aur use apni baaho me bhar liya.
Ek pal ke liye, Arohi thitak ke reh gayi. Phir, utni hi betaabi se uske haath Veer ke chaaro orr lipat gaye aur usne use apni baaho me kass kar bhar liya. Uski aankhein band ho gayi, dhadkane tez, aur usne mehsoos kiya. Veer ki wahi garmahat… Uske seene me hone ka sukoon… Uska dhaal ki tarah uske saamne khade rehna… Suraksha… Aur, ghar ka ek hissa jise chhor kar woh nahi jaana chaahti thi.
Usne apne aap ko iss vidaayi ke liye kayi baar taiyaar kar ke rakha hua tha, magar jab ab jaane ki baat sachmuch me aayi toh woh khud ko shaant nahi kar paayi.
Veer : I’ll miss you!
Arohi (weakly) : M-Me too…!
Veer halke se muskuraya, bas itna peechhe hata ki uska chehra dekh sake. Bina soche-samjhe, woh jhuka aur uske gaal ko dheere se choom liya.
Arohi ki saansein tham gayi. Uske gaal laal ho gaye aur iss se pehle ki Veer uske haav-bhaav ko samajh paata, woh jaldi se peechhe hati aur apna muh pher li.
“Waah! Waah! Meri kissy kaha hai?”
Tabhi, itne me peechhe se Kavya ki awaaz aayi jise sunn Arohi ke gaalo ka taapmaan aur bhi badh gaya. Kavya phudakti hui Veer ke saamne aayi aur usne apna gaal aage kar diya jaise kehna chaah rahi ho ki dekh kya rahe ho? Do!
Veer ne kiya bhi wahi! Woh ahista se jhuka, aur Kavya ke gaal ko jaise hi choomne ke liye hua, Kavya ne badi hi chalaaki se apna chehra halka sa mod liya, jiske chalte Veer ke honth seedhe Kavya ke hontho ke theek bagal waale hisse par jaa kar sparsh ho gaye. Veer jhatke se peechhe hata. Uski aankhein hairat me faili hui thi. Agar, uske reflexes itne tez na hote toh-
Veer : You…!
Kavya : Ehehe~ Maybe… next time. Heh~
Veer : You little…
Kavya : Ehehe~
Aur, woh waise hi phudakte hue bhaag gayi. Veer baal-baal bacha. Agar, uske honth waqai me sabke saamne Kavya ke hontho se chhiv jaate toh bahut dikkat ho sakti thi.
Arohi baaki sabhi se mili aur ek antim baar-
Arohi : B-Bye-!!
Usne kaha, uski awaaz lagbhag kaanp rahi thi, aur woh tez qadam lete hue gaadi me baith gayi. Veer use jaata hua dekhta raha, uske hontho par ek maayusi bhari muskaan. Arohi ko woh bahut yaad karne waala tha.
***
Casa Belle...
Aadesh apni hotel ke private suite me aalishan recliner par araam se baitha hua tha, uski kameez ke buttons aadhe khule hue the, jis se uski chhaati aur pasliyon par gehre baingani rang ke chot ke nishaan saaf dikhaayi de rahe the.
Uski personal secretary, uske baazu par aaye gande ghaav par dheere-dheere marham laga rahi thi. Har sparsh se woh sihar uthata, lekin kuchh kehta nahi. Use dard dikhaane se nafrat thi.
Pichhli raat ki hockey stick se maar ki jhalke, use ab bhi sata rahi thi. Veer ki wo laal aankhein. Use yaad tha. Beshaq. Woh aankhein laal hi thi. Uske badan par ruye khade ho gaye.
Usne uss drishya ko bhoolte hue apne event manager, Kumar ko dekha jo kuchh doorie par khada hua tha, haath me folder aur kandho me ek ajeeb si jakdan liye.
Aadesh : Kumar! Kya update hai?
Uski awaaz shaant thi, lekin usme ek bhaaripann tha jo aadar ki maang kar raha tha. Kumar ne gala saaf kiya aur savdhani se baat shuru ki.
Kumar : Hotel ka kaam chal raha hai, Sir. Do chhote events cancel ho chuke hai. Hold waali partnerships bhi cancel ho gayi hai.
Aadesh : Cancel? Kyu?
Kumar : Sir... Y-Ye sab uss video ke kaaran ho raha hai.
Aadesh : Video?
Kumar : Aur, Sir... Ab jab aap wapas se hotel me ho, police aap se jaanch ke liye aa sakti hai.
Aadesh : Ye kya bak rahe ho? Police? Mujhe laga tha tumne police ka matter sambhaal liya hoga.
Kumar : M-Maine sambhaal liya tha, Sir. Lekin... Iss video ne sab kuchh gadbad kar di hai. Ye dekhiye.
Kumar aage aate hue ek tablet ki screen par ek video chala ke Aadesh ko dikhaane laga. Jaise hi Aadesh ne wo video dekha uski aankhein phail gayi. Gusse se usne apne daant mees liye.
Video me wahi tha. Balhaar. Mumbai ka don. Haath me whiskey ka glass liye, ek bhavya sofe par aalasya me baitha hua tha.
"Kabhi-kabhi fursat ke palo ka maza lene ke liye... Mumbai ki sabse shandar hotel me aana padta hai. Services bhi achhi. Privacy bhi. Luxury bhi. Aur, koi rok-tok karne waala nahi. Hahaha!"
Aadesh jaanta tha. Video me private suite usi ka tha. Video aisa prateet ho raha tha jaise kisi ne chupke se video banaaya ho aur leak kiya ho.
Kintu, Aadesh jaanta tha. Yeh video jaan-boojh ke banaaya gaya tha. Aur, aisa dikhaya gaya tha jaise ki video leak kiya gaya ho. Dekhte hi dekhte social media me ye video felta hi jaa raha tha.
Yahi kaaran hai ki kyu uss raat Balhaar private suite ke andar gaya tha, jab Aadesh ko ghaseeta jaa raha tha. Woh ye video banaane hi gaya tha.
Aadesh ka haath armrest par itni zor se jakad gaya ki uski ungliyaan safed pad gayi. Lagbhag tablet ko fek kar todne se usne khud ko bachaaya.
Usne apne daant peese, dheemi gurraahat me wo badbadaya.
Aadesh : Ye saale... Mujhe frame kar rahe hai. Ek don agar din-dahaade hotel me ruk sakta hai, toh zaahir hai security ko lekar kayi sawaal khade honge ki akhir Casa Belle ne ek Don ko shelter dene ki himmat kaise ki? Police shaq kar rahi hogi ki mere connections underworld se toh nahi? Damn it!
Usne ek gehri saans li.
Aadesh : Kumar! Police se deal karo. Sab kuchh legally handle karo. Unhe batao ki mujhe frame kiya gaya hai. Aur, mere shareer par lage ye ghaav bhi ek saboot hi hai. Aur, agar maamla haath se nikalta dekhe, toh paise ka istemal karo. Samajh gaye?
Kumar (nods) : Ji Sir!
Aadesh peechhe jhuk gaya, uski aankhein band ho gayi. Jeevan me pehli baar aaj use gusse ke saath-saath thoda darr bhi mehsoos ho raha tha.
***
Trisha's house,
Evening - 7:30 PM ~
Rohan ke chehre par hatasha saaf jhalak rahi thi. Drawing room ki table par aneko files padi hui thi, lekin uski nazar sirf Trisha par thi.
Rohan (frowns) : Tumhare dimaag me chal kya raha tha, Trisha? Late night, bina kisi ko inform kiye, Vasai slaughterhouse chali gayi? Tum DSP ho, koi private detective nahi! Upar se rapid action unit leke-!?
Trisha (glaani me) : Mein sirf lead follow kar rahi thi… mujhe laga-
Rohan : Laga? Kya laga, Trisha? Tumhe bas laga, isliye tumne poori operation team le jaa ke bina sanction ke raid kar di? Pata hai kitni jaan gayi hai waha? Aur, woh Ranjeet…
Trisha : Wahi Ranjeet hi tha Prestige shootout ke peechhe, Rohan. I- I confirmed it later.
Rohan : Aur, tumne use hi maar diya. Tum samajh rahi ho? Tumne ek key suspect khatam kar diya. Case ka main thread hi kat gaya.
Trisha ne apni aankhon ko neeche kar liya. Uska dil bhaari tha.
Trisha (weakly) : Mein… mein nahi chaahti thi aisa ho. It... It was an accident, Rohan.
Rohan ne gehri saans li.
Rohan : Trisha, tumne apne pehle ke failures se kuchh seekha bhi nahi. Serial killer ka pata lagaane me already tumhari performance question me thi. Aur, ab yeh… tum samajh rahi ho iska fallout? Maine tumse kaha bhi tha ki iss case par zyada focus karo. Baaki kisi par nahi. Par-
Trisha chup thi.
Rohan (hatasha me) : Transfer order lag chuka hai, Trisha. IG Crime Branch ne recommendation di hai. ADG Headquarters ne endorse bhi kar diya. Ab yeh Home Department ke paas hai. Aur, tum jaanti ho, ek baar file home secretary ke sign tak chali gayi… even a DGP like me can’t pull it back.
Trisha (desperately) : Tum DGP ho, Rohan… tum kuchh kar nahi sakte kya?
Rohan : Police System me DGP bhi ek limit tak hi intervention kar sakta hai. Police Act ke under, disciplinary action aur transfers ka final decision state government ka hota hai. Mein bas delay kar sakta tha… cancel nahi. Tumhare record me ab iss operation ka blunder bhi add ho gaya hai. Ab toh Home Minister tak baat pahunch chuki hai, Trisha.
Uski baat ka ek-ek shabd Trisha ke dil ko chubh raha tha.
Rohan (nirasha me) : Mein chaah ke bhi ab kuchh nahi kar sakta, Trisha. Kaash tumne meri baat ko seriously liya hota. Ab tum bas apni posting ka wait karo.
Itna bol, Rohan ne apna coat uthaya, aur bina peechhe dekhe waha se nikal gaya. Woh Trisha ki harqat se behad niraash tha.
Trisha (mutters) : R-Rohan...!
Ghar ka sannaata bhaari tha. Trisha ki saansein tez chal rahi thi. Uska dimag abhi bhi slaughterhouse ki tasveer se bhara hua tha. Ranjeet ki laash, uske aadmiyon ki laashe, khoon-kharaba sab uske mann me mandra raha tha.
Woh apni soch ko halka karne ke liye baahar tehelne ke liye nikli. Darwaza kholte hi uske perr thithak gaye. Usne neeche dekha.
Ek envelope.
Usne aas-paas dekha. Raasta khaali tha. Koi nazar nahi aa raha tha. Jhuk ke usne dheere se envelope uthaya. Dil tezi se dhadak raha tha. Aur, ghar ke andar aake usne cover ko phaada.
Andar se ek photo nikal kar neeche zameen par gir gayi. Jaise hi usne use dekha-
Uske chehre ka rang udd gaya. Tasveer mein woh khud thi. Apni gun ko Ranjeet par aim karte hue jo hooks se latka hua tha. Ranjeet ke seene par goliyaan dhansi hui thi, jism khoon se ekdum laal.
'Yeh… yeh kaise…?'
Uska haath kaanpne laga. Dimag me ek hi baat ghoom rahi thi.
Woh flash… woh click… koi tha waha. Koi dekh raha tha. Zaahir hai, asli murderer. Jisne use phasaaya.
Envelope ke andar photo ke saath me ek chhota note bhi tha. Usne use uthaya, aur padhna shuru kiya.
"Agar ye photo sheher bhar me ghoomti dekhna nahi chaahti, toh jaisa mein keh raha hoon waisa karo. Bihar! Go there! Ya waha ki police se contact karo. There's a conman there who loots and kills innocent people. Find him. Capture him. Tumhare paas zyada waqt nahi. Warna..."
Note yahi khatam ho gaya.
Trisha ki aankhon me gussa aur darr dono tha. Uska dimag chillane ko keh raha tha, lekin dil samajh raha tha ki yeh koi chhota khel nahi tha. Transfer ki talwar pehle hi uske sirr pe latak rahi thi… aur, ab yeh blackmail bhara note.
Ek baat spasht thi. Jo bhi tha, uski har harqat par nazar rakh raha tha. Ab agar usne yeh kaam nahi kiya… toh uska career, uska naam, sab barbaad ho sakta tha.
***
Parijaat ke ghar raat me Veer Suman aur Aabha ko lekar aaya hua tha. Vandna se Suman ki bhaint karwana zaroori tha. Sabhi aurtein baahar hall me baatein kar rahi thi toh wahi Veer andar bedroom me laita apne system me vyast tha.
Aur, tabhi uske mann me-
[S-Sorry...!]
'...!?'
[I... I'm sorry!]
Pari ki ruwasi awaaz uske mann me goonji. Subah se woh sleep mode me thi. Manorath ji ki terhvi ke waqt jab Veer emotional feel kar raha tha tab bhi woh baahar nahi aayi thi.
Aur, isliye ab use apne upar glaani mehsoos ho rahi thi. Veer ne kuchh na kaha. Bas khamosh laita raha.
Yaha aane se pehle usne hi Trisha ke ghar me woh photo aur note envelope me rakh ke bheja tha. Vandna ne jo kuchh bhi bataya tha, uss se ye spasht tha ki wo baba hi kuchh gadbad tha. Dhongiyo ko lekar Veer kaafi chaukanna rehta tha, khaas kar Slogan ka past dekhne ke baad se.
Aur, agar waqai me kuchh gadbad thi- toh, Trisha ko waha bhej ko uss se waha ka sach nikalwana sabse uchit tareeka tha.
Kyunki, yaha par uske haath waise hi bandhe hue the.
*Ding*
[Mission : The Devil is in the details.
Description : Find the culprit who messed with Hotel Prestige, Yarnia, and host's family. Find the plotter.
Rewards : 10,000 points.
Time limit : 1 month.
Mission failure penalty : Unknown for now.]
Pehla mission toh yahi tha jo Veer ke liye mushqil hone waala tha.
Toh, wahi dusra tha-
[Mission : Deal breaker (1)
Description : Find the truth about Pushkar, Gaurav and Nik.
Rewards :
1) 10,000 points.
2) Favourability increase of Divya and Suhana.
Time limit : 9 days.
Mission failure penalty : Losing Suhana and Divya.]
Ye tha jo uske liye sabse mehatvpoorn hone waala tha. Samay seema kam thi. Sirf 9 din.
[H-Hey! I-I'm sorry! *sniff*]
'Hmm!'
Iss baar Veer ne bas haami bhari, jo Pari ko bilkul bhi pasand nahi aayi.
[Bol toh diya maine sorry. Wh-Why are you behaving like this now?]
'Behaving like what?'
[L-Like... *sniff* Like this.]
'Kya?'
[Argh! Forget it. *sniff*]
'Show me the favorabilities, Pari!'
[Mmm!]
*Ding*
Agle hi kshan Veer ke saamne favorabilities ka panel khul gaya. Usne dekha ki sabhi ki favorabilities me baddhotri hui thi siwaaye-
Ragini ke. Favourability ghat chuki thi. Aur, uski wajah Veer bakhubi jaanta tha.
Usne dekha ki Vandna ki favourability halki-si badhi thi. Shayad baahar Parijaat ki aurtein use samjhaane me lagi hui thi.
Usne Skill Shop ki orr apna dhyaan kiya. Skill Shop humesha hi har ek hafte me refresh hoti thi. Har system holder keval aur keval unhi skills ko khareed sakta tha jo uss waqt Skill Shop me maujood rehti thi.
Aisa nahi tha ki jo mann me aaya wo skill khareed li. Isliye, Veer ne kabhi Skill Shop par zyada dhyaan nahi diya tha. Kyunki, adhiktar samay jo skills use chahiye hoti thi, waisi koi shop me hoti hi nahi thi.
'Pari! Open the skill shop.'
[Hmm!]
*Ding*
Veer ke saamne system ki neeli screen par skill shop khul gayi. Har hafte 10 random skills shop me available hoti thi. System level jab se 10 par aaya tha tab se kaafi kuchh badlaav aa chuke the system me.
Unse skills ko dekha...
[Skill : Steel Focus
Description : Enhances the host's concentration to hyper-human levels for short bursts. Multitasking becomes effortless, distractions fade away, and time seems to slow during execution. Ideal for high-stress environments or performance-critical tasks.
Price : 3000 points
Tier : Silver Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'Hmm? Silver Tier huh! For multitasking!?'
[Master! Mein suggest karungi ki aap ye skill na le.]
'Ohh? Aur, kyu?'
[Kyunki, points ko invest karne ke liye aur bhi achhi-achhi skills hai.]
Veer ne haami bhar agli skill ko dekha.
[Skill : Reflex Override
Description : Temporarily boosts the host’s reflexes to their absolute peak. Dodging punches, catching falling objects, reacting to sudden threats, all become second nature.
Price : 4500 points
Tier : Gold Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
[Again, aapke reflexes pehle hi fast hai. Upar se Beowulf's Blessings aapke senses, reflexes, speed, agility sab increase kar deta hai. So, a useless skill for you.]
'I agree. What's the next one?'
[Skill : Mind Mirror
Description : Enables the host to instantly analyze micro-expressions, tone, and body language to deduce emotions and possible intentions. Acts like a real-time psychological mirror.
Price : 6000 points
Tier : Gold Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
'Huh?'
Iss baar Veer uth ke baith gaya.
'This skill...!'
[It's a good skill. But again, kya aapko iski zaroorat hai?]
'It might come in handy in Pushkar's mission. Lekin, non upgradable hai. Aur, bas yahi reason hai jo mein hesitate kar raha hu.'
[Exactly, master. Pehle saari skills dekh lijiye. Then, ise dekhte hai.]
'Hmm!'
[Skill : Shadow Memory
Description : The host can recall anything they’ve seen or heard in the past 7 days with absolute clarity, as if replaying a recording. Useful for surveillance, investigations, or sharp decision-making.
Price: 7000 points
Tier: Gold Tier Skill]
'Ohhh!'
[Kya aapko iski need hai?]
'Well, ye skill exams ke liye mast hai, haha! Oh fuck!'
[Hmm?]
'Mujhe abhi yaad aaya ki... Shayad college me exams aane waale the. Pragya! I remember she told me exams would come soon!'
Usne apna phone check kiya. Dekha toh paaya ki Pragya ka number uski blocked list me dala hua tha.
'What the...!?'
Use ye pata nahi tha ki Pragya ka contact number Kavya ne uss din uske phone me block kar diya tha.
'Shit...!'
Ab jab usne Pragya ko wapas se ping kiya toh dhada-dhad ek saath kayi messages aane shuru ho gaye.
Pragya : Veer!!! Are you there? Literally! Maine kitne calls kiye tumhe do you even know? Par, call lag hi nahi raha tha. Did you block me or something?
Veer : Ah! Let's just say I was very busy. Aur, tumne news to dekhi hi hogi.
Pragya : Ah! Right! Right! Kaise ho tum? Is everything fine?
Veer : Better than before.
Pragya : Right. I'll cut to the chase. Tumne apna pehla exam miss kar diya hai.
Veer (sighs) : I see...!
Pragya : But still... It's not too late. Ye finals nahi hai. But don't take them lightly.
Veer : Mein nahi aa paunga.
Pragya : Wait! What?
Veer : Dada ji expire ho gaye hai toh- I won't be attending the college.
Pragya : Ahh! My condolences. B-But... Exams-!?
Veer : Mein dekh lunga. See ya!
Pragya : Ah! O-Ok!
Veer ne apna phone side me rakha. Uske paas ab inn college ke shenanigans ke liye samay nahi tha. Wo kayi guna bade matters se deal kar raha tha life me. Pehle inhe handle karna zaroori tha.
'Pari! Continue karo.'
[Ok!]
[Skill : Ambidex Mastery
Description : Grants perfect control over both hands and legs allowing the host to perform complex tasks with either or both simultaneously. Perfect for combat, surgery, or multitasking environments.
Price: 2500 points
Tier: Silver Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'Hmm! Mera right hand dominant hai. Left hand weak. Lekin, sirf 2500 points ke liye mein-! Abhi nahi. I don't need that right now.'
[That's right.]
Woh aage badha.
[Skill : Lion’s Voice
Description : Modulates the host’s voice to command attention, induce trust, or inspire fear, based on intent. Especially effective in negotiations, speeches, or interrogations.
Price: 8000 points
Tier: Platinum Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
[Ise buy karna bewakoofi hogi, Master.]
'Right! Already mere paas Intimidating Presence hai. It's useless for me.'
[Exactly, Master.]
'Next!'
[Skill : Urban Ghost
Description : Makes the host's movement nearly undetectable in populated areas, blending with crowds, avoiding cameras, and leaving minimal trace. Doesn’t make you invisible, just invisible enough.
Price : 9000 points
Tier : Platinum Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'This...!'
Veer ki bauhe sikudi. Ye skill kamaal ki thi. Upar se Platinum Tier skill thi aur upgradable bhi.
Veer raat me slaughterhouse me apni stealth ka istemal isliye kar paaya tha kyunki, samay raat ka tha. Andhera tha. Aur, uske khilaaf aam aadmi the. Na ki system holders.
Agar, yahi stealth infiltration wo kisi system holders ke base me jaake karta toh woh beshaq nakaam ho jaata.
'Pari! Kitne points bache hai total?'
[29,000 points.]
'Tch!'
Skill mehngi thi. Waqai. Lekin, Veer ko iski zaroorat thi. Garofano aur Erica dono ke paas 'Dead Silence' thi. Erica ke paas 'Chameleon' bhi thi jo use stealth me maahir banaati thi.
Kintu, uske paas aisi koi si bhi skill nahi thi. Aur, jaise-jaise wo aage badh raha tha. Use lagne laga tha ki infiltration sjr stealth ke liye kisi ek skill ka hona behad zaroori tha.
'Pari! Buy this skill.'
[Huh? Are you sure, Master?]
'Hmm!'
[Okay!]
*Ding*
[9000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
['Urban Ghost' skill has been added to the skills.]
[Total points left : 20,000.]
Veer ne ek santushti bhari haami bhari. Usne fir 'Quest Hunt' ki orr dekha. Na jaane kitna samay ho chuka tha use iska istemal kiye.
'I feel like playing today. Kitne points use honge ek draw me, Pari?'
[1000 points for 1 pull.]
'Fuckin' hell!!'
Veer ka dimaag price sunte hi kharab ho gaya. Shuruat me kaha 200 points lagte the aur ab-
'Maybe? I might get lucky!? Draw one pull.'
[Are you sure, Master?]
'Yeah!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations for getting nothing at all.]
'Fucking...!!!'
Veer ke muh se gaali nikalte-nikalte reh gayi. Usne chaadar ko kass kar bheencha.
'D-Draw one more time.'
[Are you really sure, Master?]
'Yeah! Zyada se zyada kya hoga? Ya toh kuchh nahi milega ya phir ek legendary card, right?'
[O-Okay!]
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations for being an idiot again. You get nothing at all.]
'Motherfucke-!!!'
[Umm! M-Master! Quest Hunt aisa hi hota hai. It's all based on luck. D-Do you want to continue?]
'Y-Yeah! Points hai bahut mere paas. Agar, kuchh achha mil gaya toh-'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Woohoo! Hatrick! Congratulations for being the same idiot for the third time.]
'What the hell is wrong with these notifications? Huh?'
[Ah! I don't know, Master. Wait! K-Kahi!? Huh? Is it you? Ah! Damn it! She might be doing this...!]
'What the hell? Kaun? Kiski baat kar rahi ho tum, Pari?'
[Remember the first Pari? She...! Argh! It's hard to explain now, Master. B-But... Abhi notifications ko bhool jaaiye. I can't do anything about it. Do you want me to continue?]
'Yeah! Go on!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[How can someone be so dumb? Congratulations for being the absolute disgrace.]
'Madar-!!! I swear, I'll kill her! Is she messing with me? Wo system ko beech me kaise influence kar sakti hai? I guess tum mujhe bataane se rahi. Mere jawaab agar mujhe chahiye toh sirf intezar ke alawa mere paas koi aur choice nahi, right?'
[Yes. Thank you for understanding, Master. Do you still want to play? You are now left with 16,000 points.]
'One last time.'
[Sure?]
'Do it!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations! You have gained 'Beowulf's Blessings II Legendary Card.]
'What the-!! No! No! No! No! Don't tell me mujhe wahi card phir se mil gaya!'
Veer phir se usi card ke milne par pareshan ho raha tha ki tabhi-
*Ding*
[Do you want to fuse the card? Or sell it?]
'Huh? Wait! M-Mein card fuse kar sakta hu?'
Veer ka dimaag chakra raha tha. Uske badan par rue khade ho chuke the.
[Yes Master. Some cards can be fused. You got very lucky. Aapko Beowulf's Blessings II mila hai. It's the final form. Don't sell it. Fuse it.]
'Then do it!'
Aur, agle hi kshan usne dekha ki uska puraana Beowulf's Blessings ka card iss naye Beowulf's Blessings II ke card ke saath fuse hone laga.
Dono card ek dusre se takra ke ek mishran me badal rahe the. Ek naya card.
Aur, jaise hi woh naya card Veer ke saamne aaya, Veer ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi.
*Ding*
[Congratulations! You have gained 'Eternal Beowulf' the final form of 'Beowulf's Blessings.']
Veer maun reh gaya.
[You are now left with 15,000 points.]
'Fuckkk!!'
Woh khush hoke sab kuchh padh paata ki tabhi uska phone punah baj utha aur message tha — Suhana ka.
"Veer! I need your help. ICONGLOBE kuchh hi dino me aane waali hai. Sonu wants to get this deal. But Kaera would be there as well. I... I need your help. C-Can you... Can you help Sonu get this deal? Don't consider this as a repayment of any favor. I... I'm just asking you as a close friend. W-Will you help me?"
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This update consists of 9k words. Isme bahut kuchh aur hona tha but maine ant me ise thoda light hi rakha because of the fever I was having. I could only write this much. But ye bhi ek shocker rahega ju logo ke liye ki cards fuse bhi ho sakte hai. You didn't see that coming now, do you? Thoda system lore me aur deeply ghuse hai hum iss update me. ICONGLOBE is here. You know now what's coming. Aaj ke liye itna hi. Target wahi hai. 250. Reviews rakhne ka aur likes thokne ka.
Dhanyavad.
S M H R
TERE DAR PE SANAM CHALE AYE HUM
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Amazing updateUpdate - 204 ~ Family Affairs
Ab tak...
*Ding*
[The active system has gone into sleep mode.]
[The host won’t be able to interact with the active system for 6 hours. The host can still access the passive system on his own.]
‘Pari, tum-!’
Veer ne apne daant meese. Woh uski baat bina sune hi 6 ghante ke liye sleep mode me jaa chuki thi. Uski awaaz me kampan tha. Shayad ro rahi thi. Magar, Veer ne apne aap ko inn emotions ke chalte apne resolve ko badalne nahi diya. Usne mann me apni wahi baat dohraayi.
‘This is the right way, Pari!’
Ab aage...
Subah ki raushni Purvi ke bedroom ke sooti pardo se dheere-dheere chhan kar daakhil hui. Baahar chidiyo ki cheh-chahahat thi aur andar, kamre me abhi bhi pichhli raat ki halki-si garmi maujood thi. Purvi hili, uska haath sehej hi bistar ke dusri taraf badha, lekin siwaaye khaalipann ke use kuchh na mila.
Aadhi neend me uski bauhe sikud gayi. Usne dheere se aankhein kholi aur chaaro orr dekha.
“Veer?” Usne dheere se pukara, uski awaaz me abhi bhi neend bhari hui thi.
Par, koi jawab nahi aaya.
Woh uth ke baithi, uska haath bedsheet ko ek taraf sarkaaya. Kamra abhi bhi shaant tha. Suhana ne Veer ko jo perfume diya tha, uski khushbu abhi bhi Purvi ke bistar par mandra rahi thi. Usne apne kandho par apna dupatta lapeta aur hall me baahar nikal kar aayi.
“Veer…?” Usne living room ki orr badhte hue phir pukara. Phir, ek sannaata chha gaya.
Lekin, jaise hi woh rasoi me pahuchi, uske seene me ek halki-si garmahat daud gayi.
Waha, dining table par, achhe se taiyar kiya hua nashta rakha tha, abhi bhi ek lid se dhaka hua. Uske bagal me Veer ki saaf-suthri likhawat me likha ek muda hua note pada tha:
“Good Morning, Maasi!”
Uske hontho par turant ek muskan daud gayi. Usne note ko aur khola.
“Bina bataye jaane ke liye, sorry! Aaj dada ji ki terhvi hai. Isliye, mein jaldi nikal aaya. Aap aaiyega zaroor. Address maine aapko message kar diya hai. ~Veer.”
Uski ungliyaan aur nazrein kaagaz par tiki rahi. Shabdo ne use yaad dilaaya ki Manorath ji ko guzre 12 din ho chuke the. Terhvi ki rasm… zaahir hai, aaj thi. Use andaza hi nahi tha ki samay itni tezi se beet gaya.
Woh baithi, lid ko kholi, aur paaya ki uska pasandeeda vyanjan uska intezar kar raha tha, bilkul waisa hi bana hua jaisa use pasand tha. Stir fry idli, wo bhi podi masala ke saath. Woh fatafat brush kar ke aayi aur baith gayi.
Usne pehla nivala liya, aur uski aankhein halki si bhar aayi, dukh se nahi, balki isliye ki khaane me ek aisi cheez thi jo koi restaurant ya chef kabhi nahi dikha sakta tha: parvah!
Yeh ladka uske haatho ka khaana khaane ke liye utsuk rehta tha, jabki khud itna behatreen khaana bana leta tha. Use ehsaas hua yeh dish woh Veer se achhi nahi bana sakti thi. Kya iska matlab Veer apni maasi ka dil rakhne ke liye, unke haath ke khaane ki tareef karta tha?
Khaate hue, uska haath dheere se apni chhaati par gaya, besudh hokar nightie ke upar se uske ek doodh par fira. Usne apne doodh ko dabaaya.
“Nnn~”
Bina sharmaaye usne apni nightie ko kheechte hue apna ek doodh nanga hawa me azaad kiya. Usne dekha ki uske nipple ke agal-bagal laal nishaan bane hue the. Veer ne raat bhar unhe zor-zor se choosa tha, kaata tha aur chooma tha. Zaahir hai, usne uske thano par kayi nishaan aur hickeys chhori thi.
Usne punah dheere se jab apne doodh ko dabaya toh use ek dard ka ehsaas hua.
“Ahhh~”
Kintu, ye dard, ek ajeeb sa dard tha. Ek aisa dard jo Purvi chaah rahi thi. Ek meetha dard. Usne apna dusra doodh bhi nanga azaad kiya. Aur, apni dono doodh ki thailiyo ko dekha. Kaise jagah-jagah hickeys aur nishaan pade hue the. Uske gaal sharm se laal ho gaye.
Kal berehmi se Veer ne unhe choosa tha. Aaj kal uske haath bhi inhe kass kar masalne se katraate nahi the aur na hi woh khud use mana karti thi. Iss baar uska haath apne hontho par fira, aur use yaad aaya.
Kaise woh aur Veer ek dusre ke hontho ko chaat rahe the aur unka rass pee rahe the. Kitne kaamuk andaaz me Veer uske honth choos raha tha aur badle me woh bhi uska saath de rahi thi. Veer ne kayi jagah uske hontho par bhi kaata tha. Uske gaalo par ek halki-si laali chha gayi. Lekin, yahi uski seema thi. Iss se adhik kuchh bhi nahi.
Usne apne thano ko dobaara dekha, uske chehre par sneh umad raha tha. Magar, ek chinta bhi.
‘Agar pata chala ki kaise mein uske bete ko bigaad rahi hu, toh Bhavna mujhe maar daalegi.’
Usne socha, phir mann hi mann hasi.
Kintu, use zara bhi sharm nahi aayi. Zara bhi nahi. Veer ke liye uska aisa sneh duniya ko samajhne ki zaroorat nahi thi. Unka pyaar shaant palo me, saajha khamoshiyo me, chhoti-chhoti khushiyo me samaya hua tha. Pyaar jataane ka uska apna tareeka tha, aur use humesha uski zaroorat thi, aise tareeko se jinhe shabdo me baya nahi kiya jaa sakta tha.
Usne apne than wapas se nightie ke andar kiye. Kuchh baato ko zor se kehne ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Kuchh rishto ko naamo ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Unhe bas mehsoos kiya jaata hai. Dil me aur khamoshi me. Aur, Purvi jaanti thi ki use kya karna tha.
Do ghante hi beete the abhi ki jab…
*Ding Dong*
Darwaze par ghanti baji.
Purvi, abhi bhi apne halke-fulke kapdo me, apne dupatte se haath pochhte hue darwaza kholi. Baahar ek naujavan delivery man ek bade se cardboard box ke saath khada apne maathe se paseena pochh raha tha.
Delivery man : Madam! AC delivery. Ye Purvi ji ka hi ghar hai na?
Usne apna phone nikaalte hue ek bill dikhaaya. Bill par Purvi ka address aur uska naam likha hua tha. Purvi chaunk kar palke jhapkayi.
Purvi : H-Haan… Mein hi hu Purvi, yeh mera hi ghar hai, lekin… maine koi AC order nahi kiya.
Delivery man ne apne haath me liye ek paper par nazar daali.
Delivery man : Iss par likha hai ki ye prepaid hai. Installation shaamil hai. Mister Veer ne payment kari hai.
Purvi ki aankhein chaudi ho gayi.
Purvi : Veer???
Usne avishvas se dohraya.
Delivery man : Ji madam! Kya mein andar le aau?
Hairan hote hue phir bhi Purvi ne sarr hilaaya aur ek taraf hat gayi, uska dimag tezi se daud raha tha. Delivery waala ladka box andar laaya aur living room me use kholne laga.
Delivery man : Madam! Kaha lagwana hai? Hall me ya…?
Purvi ne andar uske aur Arun ke bedroom ki orr ishara kiya.
Purvi : Bedroom me laga do!
Jaise hi woh kaam par laga, Purvi peechhe hat gayi aur AC unit ko ghoorne lagi, abhi bhi samajh nahi paa rahi thi abhi-abhi kya hua. Uski ungliyaan besudh hokar uske apne gaalo par firi aur uske vichar pichhli raat ki orr bhatakte chale gaye.
Kal raat woh yu hi shikayat kar rahi thi Veer se. Kuchh mazak me, kuchh narazgi me ki kaise Arun AC khareedne ke liye taal-matol kar raha tha.
“Abhi off-season hai! Saste milte hai. Abhi lagwa lenge toh garmi me araam rahega na.”
Par-
“Kya zaroorat hai? Abhi kaun lagwata hai AC? Ye sab bahut hoshiyar rehte hai. Abhi aur mehnga denge. Aur, abhi hume zaroorat bhi nahi hai. Band pada rahega. Pata chala pade-pade aur kharab ho gaya. Phir?”
Use har baar yahi jawab milta. Kal raat woh Veer ke bagal se laiti yahi sab badbadati rahi, sochti rahi ki Veer bas aivayi uski bhadaas ko sunn raha hai.
Lekin, saaf tha ki usne waqai me sunn liya tha. Chup-chap. Poori tarah se. Aur, uss par agli hi subah amal bhi kar diya. Jis kaam ke liye woh Arun ko pichhle do saalo se mana rahi thi, woh Veer ne kuchh hi palo me kar diya.
Woh ek pal ke liye wahi khadi rahi, haath kursi ke kinaare par halka sa tika hua, uske seene me ek ajeeb si jakdan ubhri. Uski aankhein achanak bhar aayi, dukh se nahi, balki komal garmahat se.
Veer ko yaad tha. Use parvah thi.
Usne apna nichla honth kaata. Yeh ladka… humesha ummeed se zyada karta tha.
Uske vichaar aage badh gaye. Pehle woh use daategi. Bina bataaye itna kharcha karne ke liye. Zaahir hai, woh Veer ko iski payment bhi karegi. Halanki, kahi na kahi woh jaanti thi ki Veer uss se ye sweekar nahi karega. Lekin, uska farz tha yeh. Woh badi thi. Aur, phir… woh uska pasandeeda khaana banayegi. Use apne haatho se khilayegi. Use pyaar karegi, galey se lagayegi aur apne seene se laga ke use khoob choomegi.
Sochte hue woh mann hi mann muskurayi. Idhar, jaise hi technician ka kaam khatam hua, Purvi ne lagbhag lag chuke AC ko dekha. Yeh sirf deewar par lagi ek machine nahi thi. Yeh prem ka ek shaant bhaav tha.
Vichaarsheelta ka. Kisi aise vyakti ka jo chhoti-chhoti baato ko yaad rakhta ho. Aur, uss pal, use bas pyaar ka ehsaas hua.
Woh phir muskurayi, uske gaalo par halki si laali chha gayi aur usne khud se phus-phusate hue bas yahi kaha, “Pagal kahi ka…”
***
Afternoon - 12:26 PM ~
Samaroh hall pehle toh shaant tha, ajeeb si khamoshi. Manch ke beecho-beech rakhi Manorath Singh ki photo frame par phulo ki maala chadhi hui thi. Dono taraf agarbattiya dheemi-deemi jal rahi thi.
Phir, kursiyo ki kataare dheere-dheere badbadate rishtedaro aur mehmano se bharne lagi. Chandan aur pakte hue khaane ki sugandh hawa me mili hui thi. Veer hall ke theek entrance ke paas khada tha, haath theek peeth ke peechhe baandhe, aankhein idhar-udhar ghoom rahi thi. Dhyan bhatakne ki wajah se nahi, balki yaado me. Woh dekh raha tha… kaun aaya tha, aur kaun nahi.
Ve uske liye sirf mehman nahi the. Har chehra ek sanket tha. Ek sandesh. Wafadari ka ek bayaan ya darr. Kuchh jaane-pehchaane chehre aaye hue the. Toh, kuchh ne apne afsos, apne bahaane, vinamra sanvedna me lipte bhej diye. Aur, kuchh ne toh shok jataane ya aane ki parvah hi nahi ki.
Shayad ye kuchh din pehle hue Hotel Prestige me hui ghatna ki parchhayi thi. Narsanhar. Visfot. Aag. Mautein. Kuchh log ab uss se sambandh rakhne se bhi katra rahe the. Veer ne unn sabko note kiya.
Har. Ek. Jann.
Woh unhe yaad rakhega.
Tabhi, uska phone baja aur Karan ka ek message aaya-
“Bhai…! Sorry! Dad bahut strict chal rahe hai. Woh mujhe aur di ko ghar se nikalne hi nahi de rahe. Meetings ke liye woh apne private guards humaare peechhe laga ke rakhe hai. Maine Jassi aur Raghu se help leke secretly aane ki koshish ki thi but dad ne unhe pakad liya. Dono ko bahut daat padi hai. Shayad maar bhi…! Unhone warn kiya hai. Di aur dad ki behas bhi hui hai. It’s insane. I hope you will understand. Mein tumse baad me milta hu. Sorry!”
Toh wahi, ek aur message tha — Kaera ka. Jisme sirf ek shabd likha hua tha : Sorry!
Aur, yeh bhi uski maid, Julia ne use bhejne ke liye kaha tha. Kyunki, Kaera bechari ko pata hi nahi tha ki kis tarah se maafi maangi jaaye? Use ye bhi nahi pata tha ki aise mauke par kya karna chahiye.
Veer ke hontho se ek halki-si aah nikli. Woh samajh gaya tha ki waha par kya hua hoga. Hotel Prestige me attack ke waqt dono Karan aur Kaera wahi maujood the. Zaahir hai, Kishore unhe ab sakht nigrani me rakhne waala tha.
Veer yeh bhi jaanta tha ki aane waale samay me Kishore uss par bhi apna shikanja kassega. Akhirkar, jo kuchh bhi hua, uske baad Kishore ke paas unn par sakhti baratne ki poori wajah thi.
Lekin, phir bhi unhone koshish ki aane ki, Veer ke liye yahi maayne rakhta tha. Dheere-dheere bheed badhne lagi. Purvi bhi aa chuki thi. Woh ek halki peeli saree me thi. Woh uske qareeb aayi toh Veer ka haath uski peeth par gaya aur uski nagn peeth ko sparsh kiya. Ek jhurjhuri uske badan me phail gayi.
Magar, Purvi ne uske gaal ko nocha aur ekdum dheemi awaaz me uss se boli.
Purvi (smirks) : AC waali baat baad me karungi tumse. Ye mat sochna bach ke nikal jaoge tum.
Veer (smiles) : Ji!
Purvi (smiles) : Kaha hai, Bhavna?
Veer : Andar hi hai. Jaiye!
Aur, Purvi ko uski peeth par haath rakh Veer ne use andar bhej diya. Purvi bhi pyaar bhari muskaan dikhaate hue uske gaal par haath ferti hui andar chali gayi.
Har koi lagbhag aa chuka tha. Brijesh se leke, Karunesh, Pranjal, Vivek, Parijaat ki aurtein, Madhuri apni maa, Lalita ke saath, lagbhag sab log hi maujood the. Siwaaye, do log ke — Ragini aur Vandna.
Ragini ghar par hi araam kar rahi thi. Woh aane ki sthiti me nahi thi. Abhi use iss tarah se logo ke beech function attend karne ke liye samay lagne waala tha. Ghar par uske saath uski maa, Rohini maujood thi.
Toh, wahi Vandna ki apni alag wajah thi.
Tabhi-
Ek chamchamati black color ki Mercedes Benz Maybach S class hall ki entrance ke saamne aa kar ruki. Darwaza khula.
Veer ki nazar baahar nikal rahi uss mahila ki nazro se takrayi. Suhana. Usne ek charcoal blazer aur light beige trouser pehen rakha tha. Formal. Clean. Aur, polished. Lekin, Veer ka dhyaan uske chehre ne kheencha.
Uska khubsurat chehra jo na jaane kitne bhaav chhipaaye hue tha. Suhana ne jaise hi use dekha, ek pal ke liye jaise… uski saansein ruk gayi.
Veer. Woh thaka hua lag raha tha. Lag raha tha jaise kayi raato se soya na ho. Aur, yeh sach bhi tha.
Suhana (mutters) : V-Veer!
Woh fusfusate hue uski orr aage badhi. Veer ne use ek halki-si muskaan di.
Veer (nods) : Aaiye!
Woh baahar uske bagal se hi khadi ho gayi. Logo se dur. Andar jaane ka koi matlab nahi tha. Woh yaha sirf Veer ke liye hi aayi thi.
Veer : Aap yaha aayi? Mujhe laga nahi tha ki aap-
Suhana : Kyu nahi aati? M-Mujhe aana hi tha. Office me bata diya ki client se meeting hai ek. That’s it.
Veer : Aapko bahaana banana pada? Shukriya… Yaha aane ke liye, aur-
Suhana : ???
Veer : Aur, uss raat ke liye.
Suhana ko yaad aaya. Woh humle waali raat. Kaise usne aur Karan ne milke sab ko ambulance aur gaadiyo me bithwa ke waha se surakshit bheja tha. Usne palkein jhapkayi. Uska gala roondh gaya.
Suhana : K-Kuchh nahi tha. Koi bhi hota yahi karta. Aur-
Par, Veer ne usko beech me hi kaat diya. Uski awaaz gehri thi.
Veer : Wahi sab kuchh tha!
Suhana : Huh!?
Veer (smiles) : Thank you!
Woh uski orr muda, ek inch aur nazdeek badhte hue, uski aankhein Suhana ki aankhon me gadi rahi.
Veer : Aap hi thi jisne meri family ko surakshit pahuchaya tha. Aap aur Karan! Bhale hi mein nahi tha waha, par mujhe sab pata hai ki kya kuchh hua tha. Hospital me sab kuchh aapne aur Karan ne hi sambhala tha. Thank you! It means a lot to me.
Suhana : I-Iski koi-
Veer : Mein aapka ehsaan-mand rahunga. Agar, aapko kabhi bhi kisi bhi cheez ki zaroorat ho, kisi bhi cheez ki, toh keh dena bas, mein haazir ho jaunga.
Usne apni awaaz me bhaari imaandari ke saath kaha. Suhana ne nazrein neechi kar li, uska dil tezi se dhadak raha tha, uski ungliyaan thodi kaanp rahi thi. Yeh ladka… kyu woh humesha use aisa mehsoos karaata tha?
Suhana : M-Maine ye kisi ehsaan ke liye nahi kiya, Vee-
Veer : I know!
Suhana : B-But-
Veer (smiles) : Remember our game?
Suhana : Huh?
Veer : Teen favors jo aapne mujhe chukaane ke liye diye the?
Suhana : Th-That-
Veer : Hmm! Aisa hi maan lijiye ki ek aur favor badh gaya usme.
Suhana ko yaad aaya. Wo teen favors jinki wajah se aaj wo dono itne qareeb the. Unme se akhiri favor ke liye usne Veer se kiss maangi thi. Ye yaad karte hi uske gaal sharm se laal pad gaye. Usne unn vichaaro ko nikaalne ki koshish ki.
Suhana : W-Well- agar tumhe bhi koi bhi kaam ho *blushes* Y-You can look for me.
Veer : Aapne pehle hi bahut kuchh kar diya hai. Ab aur nahi karne de sakta mein.
Suhana ne jawab dene ki koshish ki, magar tabhi ek guzarti hui hawa ne uske baalo ko uske chehre par dhakel diya. Veer ka haath apne aap hi aage badha aur usne baal ki latt ko uske kaano ke peechhe le jaate hue ek taraf kar diya.
*Badump*
Suhana ki aankhein fadki, saansein thami, aur dhadkane tez ho gayi. Woh jaldi se peechhe hatt gayi aur chehre par chhaayi sharm ko chhipaane ke liye sarr neeche kar li. Usne apni zindagi me bade se bade corporate diggajo, political VIPs ka saamna kiya tha, lekin ye… yeh alag tha. Usne aaj tak kabhi aisa mehsoos nahi kiya tha.
Parantu, woh akeli nahi thi.
*Badump*
Veer ki dhadkane bhi tez thi.
‘What is this…? Ye feeling?’
Suhana khush thi ki aaj kam se kam woh Veer ke saamne theek se khadi ho paa rahi thi. Warna beetein mahino me uski kya haalat thi ye woh khud jaanti thi. Shayad, Veer ke saath itna kuchh hua, uss haadse ke baad se ye sab thoda uske liye asaan ho gaya tha.
Lekin, jo bhi tha-
Kam se kam woh ab apne kamre me band nahi thi. Shayad, Veer ki madad karne ki dridhta ne uske iss darr ko door kar diya tha.
Tabhi-
“Thank you for coming.”
Ek awaaz ne unhe beech me tok diya. Tej. Woh kurta pyjama me thi, sarr par dupatta dala hua tha. Uske swar me komalta thi, lekin aankhein Veer se milne ke liye taiyaar nahi thi.
Tej (dohraate hue) : Thanks! It means a lot!
Suhana : It’s nothing!
Dono ek dusre ko dekhi. Uss din unn dono ki akeli meeting ke baad se hi dono ab ek-dusre ko behtar dhang se jaanti thi. Aur, Tej Suhana ki madad ki waqai me shukr-guzaar thi. Uss meeting ka akhiri sanvaad unn dono ko hi yaad tha.
“You care for him, right?”
“I… He’s just an acquaintance."
“Just an acquaintance. Right!"
Iss sanvaad se saaf zaahir tha ki Suhana ke andar Veer ko lekar strong feelings thi. Koi bewakoof hi hoga jo ye samjhega ki Suhana Veer ko bas ek acquaintance hi maanti thi.
Tej ne bas halki-si muskaan di, lekin uski aankhon me kuchh aisa tha jo samajh se parey tha. Aur, phir uske peechhe se-
Ek dheemi-si awaaz.
“H-Hello! Didi…!”
Kavya dheere se sharmaate hue unke qareeb aayi. Suhana ne mud kar dekha toh woh ladki sharmaate hue muskura rahi thi, uske haath ghabrahat me apni dress ko jakde hue the. Suhana ka dil turant narm pad gaya. Suhana Kavya se Holi ke waqt mili thi Veer ke ghar par. Lekin, Suhana jaisi ladki ke saamne Kavya bhi thoda hich-kichati thi.
Suhana (smiles) : Hello, Kavya! Kaisi ho?
Kavya (shyly) : A-Achhi hu!
Teeno dheere-dheere baat karne lage. Aur, Kavya bhi har baar ki tarah Suhana se jald hi phir se khul gayi. Veer, jo chup-chap khada hua tha, uski nazrein Tej par gayi. Woh uss se bach rahi thi. Har nazar dusri orr mod rahi thi. Tej, pehle kabhi aisi nahi thi.
Aur, Veer jaanta tha ki aisa kyu tha. Prestige me jo kuchh hua, uske liye woh khud ko kahi na kahi doshi maan rahi thi.
Veer ne cameras ki footage dekhi thi. Humle ki sateekta. Coordination. Koi bhi ise rok nahi sakta tha, shayad… siwaaye uske. Aur, woh waha nahi tha. Lekin, Tej khud ko maaf nahi kar paa rahi thi.
Woh toot rahi thi. Veer ise mehsoos kar sakta tha. Tej ki khamoshi ke neeche toofan chal raha tha. Uska posture akda hua tha, honth bhinche hue, aur aankhein Veer se bhaagti hui.
Aur, Veer use achhi tarah se jaanta tha. Agar, Tej ko ye laga ki uska bhai ab uss se naraaz hai, uss se dur bhaag raha hai, toh bas itni si baat hi- use tod ke rakh sakti thi.
Nahi. Balki, iss se bhi bura. Yeh use tabaah kar deti. Veer ne dheere se saans chhori. Yaha nahi. Abhi nahi.
Lekin, jald hi… woh uss se baat karega.
Dekhte hi dekhte mehmano ki bheed chhatne lagi thi. Bhavna apni saree ke dupatte ka kinaara theek kar rahi thi aur darwaaze ki orr qadam badhaane ki taiyaari kar rahi thi, tabhi ek awaaz shaanti ko cheerte hue aayi.
“Bhavna!”
Woh beech qadam rakhte hi ruk gayi. Woh awaaz. Laga jaise barso puraana bojh uske kandho par achanak se aa gaya ho. Dheere se woh mudi.
Aur, woh wahi saamne tha. Brijesh.
Woh aadmi jisne kabhi use apna guroor maana tha… aur 21-22 baras pehle, use ek anchaahi yaad ki tarah ghar se nikaal diya tha.
Bhavna ki bauhe sikudi aur uske shaant chehre par halki-si shikan ubhar aayi.
Brijesh budha prateet ho raha tha, uski aankhon ke kono par jhurriyaan, kandho me jhukaav tha. Lekin, jis tarah se woh bechaini se apne perro par hil raha tha, uss se pata chal raha tha ki uske andar sachmuch kuchh nahi badla tha.
Bhavna (frowns) : Kaho!
Brijesh (hich-kichate hue) : Mein… Kya hum baat kar sakte hai?
Bhavna ke honth ek patli rekha me sikud gaye. Use dekh kar uska mood pehle hi kharab ho chuka tha, lekin usne dheere se ek gehri saans li, jis se woh thoda shaant hui aur phir saiyyammit swar me boli.
Bhavna : Mein sunn rahi hu!
Brijesh : Y-Yaha nahi… Baahar?
Ek virham! Phir, usne halka-sa sirr hilaaya aur darwaaze ke aage badh gayi, Brijesh bhi uske peechhe-peechhe chala aaya.
Jab ve logo ki sunnane ki seema se baahar ho gaye, toh Brijesh ne apna muh khola… phir band kar liya, kuchh shabd nahi soojh rahe the.
Bhavna : Mere paas samay zaaya karne ke liye nahi hai, Brijesh! Agar, kuchh kehna hai toh saaf-saaf keh do!
Brijesh ne apna gala saaf kiya, uski awaaz thodi thar-thara rahi thi.
Brijesh : V-Veer… aur Tejal… Dono humaare bacche hai, hai na?
Bhavna : Toh?
Brijesh : Toh… Toh, kya tum, Veer aur Tejal, apne puraane ghar me waapas nahi aa sakte? Waha phir se nahi reh sakte? Sabke saath?
Bhavna ke honth haasya me mude.
Bhavna : Tumhe pata hai tum kya keh rahe ho?
Brijesh : Mein tumse mujhe maaf karne ke liye nahi keh raha, Bhavna! Mein tumse ye bhi nahi keh raha ki tum mujhse baat karo. P-Par… Kya tum bas ghar me nahi reh sakti? Kya Veer aur Tejal sabke saath reh kar khush nahi honge?
Bhavna : Mere dono bacche…! Maine unhe kabhi control nahi kiya hai. Agar, Tej aur Veer jaana chaahenge, toh tum khud unse poochh sakte ho. Lekin, agar tumhe lagta hai ki mein uss ghar me phir se qadam rakhungi, toh yeh tumhari bewakoofi hogi. Bhool jao!
Bhavna jaanti thi ki uske dono bacche Brijesh ke paas nahi jaane waale the, khaas kar Tejal. Isliye, iss baat ko lekar woh sunishchit thi.
Brijesh paas aaya, uski awaaz hatasha se ubhar rahi thi.
Brijesh : Bhavna… Tum jaanti ho na ki mein tumse kitna pyaar karta tha? Balki, aaj bhi… mein tumse pyaar karta hu. Aur, tumse itna pyaar karta tha isliye mein wo sab bardaasht nahi kar paaya tha aur-
Bhavna : Tumne mujhse kabhi pyaar kiya hi nahi, Brijesh! Tum bas mujhe paana chaahte the. Dono me farq hai. Agar, tumne mujhse pyaar kiya hota, toh mujh par bharosa hota.
Brijesh : A-Aisa nahi hai, Bhavna! Mein aaj bhi tumse pyaar karta hu! Humne… Humne kabhi talaak nahi liya. Tum aaj bhi meri patni ho, Bhavna!
Bhavna (scoffs) : Aur, phir bhi dobara shaadi kar li!? Kaisa ajeeb pyaar hai! Tumhe andaaza hai ki mein tumhe iske liye jail bhi bhijwa sakti hu?
Brijesh chup reh gaya, uska muh khula toh tha, par bol nahi nikal paaye. Akhirkar, ant me woh bola.
Brijesh : Papa ji ke jaane ke baad se mujhe samajh aa gaya hai ki kyu ve- sabhi ko ek saath jodkar rakhne ki koshish karte the. Isliye, mein… mein bas chaahta hu ki hum sab ek saath rahe. Bhale hi tum mujhe nazar-andaaz karti rehna. Bhale hi tum apni berukhi barkarar rakhna. P-Par… laut chalo.
Bhavna : Iske liye ab bahut derr ho chuki hai, Brijesh!
Brijesh : Toh, tum nahi chalogi!?
Bhavna : Tumhara koi haq nahi hai mujhse ye sawaal karne ka! Aur, agar hota bhi-! Toh, bhi mein uss ghar me dobara qadam nahi rakhti.
Brijesh : Th-Theek hai! Toh, tum nahi aaogi! L-Lekin, Veer-! Haan! *nods* Bhale hi humara rishta utna accha nahi raha. Par, mein use jaanta hu. Woh lautna zaroor chaahega. Agar, mein uss se baat karunga toh zaroor-! Haan! A-Aur, phir agar woh saath rahega toh phir tum-
Usne itna bola hi tha ki yeh sunn Bhavna ke haav-bhaav badal gaye. Abhi bhi shaant par ab uski aankhon me tej tha.
Bhavna : Khabardar!!!
Brijesh : !?
Bhavna : Khabardar! Himmat bhi mat karna, Brijesh! Mere bete ko behkaane aur mujhe apne ghar waapas laane ke bahaane ke taur par istemal karne ki himmat bhi mat karna. Warna mujhse bura koi nahi hoga.
Brijesh sann reh gaya.
Bhavna : Kya mein jaanti nahi? Veer ne tumhare adheen kitna kasht saha hai? Meri gerr-haziri me tumne uske saath kaisa sulook kiya kya mujhe pata nahi? Mein sab jaanti hu. Tej ko toh jaise-taise maine ek maa ke saath-saath baap ka pyaar bhi dene ki poori koshish ki, lekin Veer?
Brijesh : …
Bhavna : Uss bechaare ko toh baap hone ke bawajood ek baap ka pyaar nahi mila. Kya mujhe pata nahi? Ki tumne uske saath kaisa vyavhaar kiya tha? Kya mujhe pata nahi? Ki tum uss par apna gussa sirf isliye nikaalte the ki woh tumhe meri yaad dilaata tha? Ek charitra-heen patni ki!!
Brijesh : Bh-Bhavna…!
Bhavna : Marr gayi hai ye Bhavna aaj se tumhare liye. Aur, khabardar agar mere bete ko mujhse chheenane ke baare me socha bhi toh- warna mein tumhara woh hashr karungi, jo tumhari saat pushte bhi nahi dekhi hongi kabhi.
Agar, aaj Manorath ji ki terhvi na hoti, toh aaj shaayad Bhavna ke mukh se aur bhi katu shabd nikal sakte the.
Iske pehle ki woh kuchh jawab de paata—
“Maa!?”
Peechhe se jaani-pehchani awaaz aayi. Dono mude. Veer aashcharya me thodi doorie par khada hua tha. Uski bauhe bhram me sikudi hui thi.
Brijesh ke honth khule, bolne ko taiyaar—
—lekin, Bhavna pehle hi aage badh gayi. Hawa ki tarah tez, woh Brijesh ke bagal se nikli, Veer ki orr. Uska haath Veer ki kalaayi par aisi mazboot pakad ke saath kass gaya jo lagbhag atal thi.
Bhavna : Chalo Veer!!!
Bina kuchh kahe, woh Veer ko apne saath kheench kar le jaane lagi. Veer ek qadam ladkhadaya, aur peechhe khade Brijesh ko bas jaate-jaate dekhta raha. Tab tak jab tak ki wo andar nahi chale gaye.
Bhavna ne use jaane nahi diya. Uski pakad uss par sthir thi, maano jaise agar usne use chhora toh woh uski aankhon se kahi ojhal ho jaayega.
Ve darwaaze se guzre, bache hue mehmano ki dheemi vartalap ka shor maddham pad gaya. Jab dono andar pahuche, tab bhi Bhavna ne uski kalaayi nahi chhori. Veer ne apni maa ke haath ki orr dekha, phir unke chehre ki orr, chehre par teekhepann ko samajhte hi, woh bhaanp gaya ki uski maa, woh aurat jo shayad hi kabhi gussa dikhaati thi, abhi behad hi krodh me thi.
Jab wo logo ki nigaaho se door ho gaye, tabhi Bhavna ki pakad thodi dheeli hui, phir bhi usne uske haath ko apne haath me thaame rakha, maano doorie ka khayal hi use bechain kar raha ho.
Uss pal ye spasht tha. Bhavna ke liye, apne bete ko apne paas rakhne ki zaroorat se zyaada mazboot kuchh bhi nahi tha. Na ateet. Na kadvahat. Na dushmani.
Jab jaane ka samay hone laga, toh Arohi Veer ke saamne khadi hui thi, uski awaaz shaant lekin sthir thi.
Arohi : Mein… Aaj raat jaa rahi hu!
Woh boli, uski aankhein neeche zameen par gadi hui thi. Veer ki bauhe ye sunn sikudi. Use dhyaan aaya ki Arohi kaha jaane ki baat kar rahi thi.
‘Ahmedabad! MBA! Huh!’
Veer : Aaj? Itni jaldi?
Arohi uski nazro se bachte hue halka-sa sirr hilaayi.
Arohi : Dada ji ki terhvi thi, bas isliye ruki thi. Ab jaana hoga. Raat ki train hai.
Veer : Oh! Haan, toh mein-
Arohi : Nahi! Tumhe mujhe drop karne ki zaroorat nahi. Mummy aur Vivek bhaiya rahenge mere saath. Tumhari need yaha zyada hai, Veer.
Har baar ki tarah bina kuchh bole hi Arohi pehle hi samajh chuki thi ki Veer kya kehna chaah raha tha. Veer ek qadam aur paas aaya, abhi bhi use samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.
Veer : Theek hai! Par-
Uske kuchh aur kehne se pehle hi, Arohi ne apni chunri theek ki, mudne ke liye taiyaar, magar uske perr hile nahi.
Uski khamoshi… uski ungliyaan jis tarah se hil rahi thi… Veer ne use turant bhaanp liya. Bina ek aur shabd kahe, woh aage badha aur use apni baaho me bhar liya.
Ek pal ke liye, Arohi thitak ke reh gayi. Phir, utni hi betaabi se uske haath Veer ke chaaro orr lipat gaye aur usne use apni baaho me kass kar bhar liya. Uski aankhein band ho gayi, dhadkane tez, aur usne mehsoos kiya. Veer ki wahi garmahat… Uske seene me hone ka sukoon… Uska dhaal ki tarah uske saamne khade rehna… Suraksha… Aur, ghar ka ek hissa jise chhor kar woh nahi jaana chaahti thi.
Usne apne aap ko iss vidaayi ke liye kayi baar taiyaar kar ke rakha hua tha, magar jab ab jaane ki baat sachmuch me aayi toh woh khud ko shaant nahi kar paayi.
Veer : I’ll miss you!
Arohi (weakly) : M-Me too…!
Veer halke se muskuraya, bas itna peechhe hata ki uska chehra dekh sake. Bina soche-samjhe, woh jhuka aur uske gaal ko dheere se choom liya.
Arohi ki saansein tham gayi. Uske gaal laal ho gaye aur iss se pehle ki Veer uske haav-bhaav ko samajh paata, woh jaldi se peechhe hati aur apna muh pher li.
“Waah! Waah! Meri kissy kaha hai?”
Tabhi, itne me peechhe se Kavya ki awaaz aayi jise sunn Arohi ke gaalo ka taapmaan aur bhi badh gaya. Kavya phudakti hui Veer ke saamne aayi aur usne apna gaal aage kar diya jaise kehna chaah rahi ho ki dekh kya rahe ho? Do!
Veer ne kiya bhi wahi! Woh ahista se jhuka, aur Kavya ke gaal ko jaise hi choomne ke liye hua, Kavya ne badi hi chalaaki se apna chehra halka sa mod liya, jiske chalte Veer ke honth seedhe Kavya ke hontho ke theek bagal waale hisse par jaa kar sparsh ho gaye. Veer jhatke se peechhe hata. Uski aankhein hairat me faili hui thi. Agar, uske reflexes itne tez na hote toh-
Veer : You…!
Kavya : Ehehe~ Maybe… next time. Heh~
Veer : You little…
Kavya : Ehehe~
Aur, woh waise hi phudakte hue bhaag gayi. Veer baal-baal bacha. Agar, uske honth waqai me sabke saamne Kavya ke hontho se chhiv jaate toh bahut dikkat ho sakti thi.
Arohi baaki sabhi se mili aur ek antim baar-
Arohi : B-Bye-!!
Usne kaha, uski awaaz lagbhag kaanp rahi thi, aur woh tez qadam lete hue gaadi me baith gayi. Veer use jaata hua dekhta raha, uske hontho par ek maayusi bhari muskaan. Arohi ko woh bahut yaad karne waala tha.
***
Casa Belle...
Aadesh apni hotel ke private suite me aalishan recliner par araam se baitha hua tha, uski kameez ke buttons aadhe khule hue the, jis se uski chhaati aur pasliyon par gehre baingani rang ke chot ke nishaan saaf dikhaayi de rahe the.
Uski personal secretary, uske baazu par aaye gande ghaav par dheere-dheere marham laga rahi thi. Har sparsh se woh sihar uthata, lekin kuchh kehta nahi. Use dard dikhaane se nafrat thi.
Pichhli raat ki hockey stick se maar ki jhalke, use ab bhi sata rahi thi. Veer ki wo laal aankhein. Use yaad tha. Beshaq. Woh aankhein laal hi thi. Uske badan par ruye khade ho gaye.
Usne uss drishya ko bhoolte hue apne event manager, Kumar ko dekha jo kuchh doorie par khada hua tha, haath me folder aur kandho me ek ajeeb si jakdan liye.
Aadesh : Kumar! Kya update hai?
Uski awaaz shaant thi, lekin usme ek bhaaripann tha jo aadar ki maang kar raha tha. Kumar ne gala saaf kiya aur savdhani se baat shuru ki.
Kumar : Hotel ka kaam chal raha hai, Sir. Do chhote events cancel ho chuke hai. Hold waali partnerships bhi cancel ho gayi hai.
Aadesh : Cancel? Kyu?
Kumar : Sir... Y-Ye sab uss video ke kaaran ho raha hai.
Aadesh : Video?
Kumar : Aur, Sir... Ab jab aap wapas se hotel me ho, police aap se jaanch ke liye aa sakti hai.
Aadesh : Ye kya bak rahe ho? Police? Mujhe laga tha tumne police ka matter sambhaal liya hoga.
Kumar : M-Maine sambhaal liya tha, Sir. Lekin... Iss video ne sab kuchh gadbad kar di hai. Ye dekhiye.
Kumar aage aate hue ek tablet ki screen par ek video chala ke Aadesh ko dikhaane laga. Jaise hi Aadesh ne wo video dekha uski aankhein phail gayi. Gusse se usne apne daant mees liye.
Video me wahi tha. Balhaar. Mumbai ka don. Haath me whiskey ka glass liye, ek bhavya sofe par aalasya me baitha hua tha.
"Kabhi-kabhi fursat ke palo ka maza lene ke liye... Mumbai ki sabse shandar hotel me aana padta hai. Services bhi achhi. Privacy bhi. Luxury bhi. Aur, koi rok-tok karne waala nahi. Hahaha!"
Aadesh jaanta tha. Video me private suite usi ka tha. Video aisa prateet ho raha tha jaise kisi ne chupke se video banaaya ho aur leak kiya ho.
Kintu, Aadesh jaanta tha. Yeh video jaan-boojh ke banaaya gaya tha. Aur, aisa dikhaya gaya tha jaise ki video leak kiya gaya ho. Dekhte hi dekhte social media me ye video felta hi jaa raha tha.
Yahi kaaran hai ki kyu uss raat Balhaar private suite ke andar gaya tha, jab Aadesh ko ghaseeta jaa raha tha. Woh ye video banaane hi gaya tha.
Aadesh ka haath armrest par itni zor se jakad gaya ki uski ungliyaan safed pad gayi. Lagbhag tablet ko fek kar todne se usne khud ko bachaaya.
Usne apne daant peese, dheemi gurraahat me wo badbadaya.
Aadesh : Ye saale... Mujhe frame kar rahe hai. Ek don agar din-dahaade hotel me ruk sakta hai, toh zaahir hai security ko lekar kayi sawaal khade honge ki akhir Casa Belle ne ek Don ko shelter dene ki himmat kaise ki? Police shaq kar rahi hogi ki mere connections underworld se toh nahi? Damn it!
Usne ek gehri saans li.
Aadesh : Kumar! Police se deal karo. Sab kuchh legally handle karo. Unhe batao ki mujhe frame kiya gaya hai. Aur, mere shareer par lage ye ghaav bhi ek saboot hi hai. Aur, agar maamla haath se nikalta dekhe, toh paise ka istemal karo. Samajh gaye?
Kumar (nods) : Ji Sir!
Aadesh peechhe jhuk gaya, uski aankhein band ho gayi. Jeevan me pehli baar aaj use gusse ke saath-saath thoda darr bhi mehsoos ho raha tha.
***
Trisha's house,
Evening - 7:30 PM ~
Rohan ke chehre par hatasha saaf jhalak rahi thi. Drawing room ki table par aneko files padi hui thi, lekin uski nazar sirf Trisha par thi.
Rohan (frowns) : Tumhare dimaag me chal kya raha tha, Trisha? Late night, bina kisi ko inform kiye, Vasai slaughterhouse chali gayi? Tum DSP ho, koi private detective nahi! Upar se rapid action unit leke-!?
Trisha (glaani me) : Mein sirf lead follow kar rahi thi… mujhe laga-
Rohan : Laga? Kya laga, Trisha? Tumhe bas laga, isliye tumne poori operation team le jaa ke bina sanction ke raid kar di? Pata hai kitni jaan gayi hai waha? Aur, woh Ranjeet…
Trisha : Wahi Ranjeet hi tha Prestige shootout ke peechhe, Rohan. I- I confirmed it later.
Rohan : Aur, tumne use hi maar diya. Tum samajh rahi ho? Tumne ek key suspect khatam kar diya. Case ka main thread hi kat gaya.
Trisha ne apni aankhon ko neeche kar liya. Uska dil bhaari tha.
Trisha (weakly) : Mein… mein nahi chaahti thi aisa ho. It... It was an accident, Rohan.
Rohan ne gehri saans li.
Rohan : Trisha, tumne apne pehle ke failures se kuchh seekha bhi nahi. Serial killer ka pata lagaane me already tumhari performance question me thi. Aur, ab yeh… tum samajh rahi ho iska fallout? Maine tumse kaha bhi tha ki iss case par zyada focus karo. Baaki kisi par nahi. Par-
Trisha chup thi.
Rohan (hatasha me) : Transfer order lag chuka hai, Trisha. IG Crime Branch ne recommendation di hai. ADG Headquarters ne endorse bhi kar diya. Ab yeh Home Department ke paas hai. Aur, tum jaanti ho, ek baar file home secretary ke sign tak chali gayi… even a DGP like me can’t pull it back.
Trisha (desperately) : Tum DGP ho, Rohan… tum kuchh kar nahi sakte kya?
Rohan : Police System me DGP bhi ek limit tak hi intervention kar sakta hai. Police Act ke under, disciplinary action aur transfers ka final decision state government ka hota hai. Mein bas delay kar sakta tha… cancel nahi. Tumhare record me ab iss operation ka blunder bhi add ho gaya hai. Ab toh Home Minister tak baat pahunch chuki hai, Trisha.
Uski baat ka ek-ek shabd Trisha ke dil ko chubh raha tha.
Rohan (nirasha me) : Mein chaah ke bhi ab kuchh nahi kar sakta, Trisha. Kaash tumne meri baat ko seriously liya hota. Ab tum bas apni posting ka wait karo.
Itna bol, Rohan ne apna coat uthaya, aur bina peechhe dekhe waha se nikal gaya. Woh Trisha ki harqat se behad niraash tha.
Trisha (mutters) : R-Rohan...!
Ghar ka sannaata bhaari tha. Trisha ki saansein tez chal rahi thi. Uska dimag abhi bhi slaughterhouse ki tasveer se bhara hua tha. Ranjeet ki laash, uske aadmiyon ki laashe, khoon-kharaba sab uske mann me mandra raha tha.
Woh apni soch ko halka karne ke liye baahar tehelne ke liye nikli. Darwaza kholte hi uske perr thithak gaye. Usne neeche dekha.
Ek envelope.
Usne aas-paas dekha. Raasta khaali tha. Koi nazar nahi aa raha tha. Jhuk ke usne dheere se envelope uthaya. Dil tezi se dhadak raha tha. Aur, ghar ke andar aake usne cover ko phaada.
Andar se ek photo nikal kar neeche zameen par gir gayi. Jaise hi usne use dekha-
Uske chehre ka rang udd gaya. Tasveer mein woh khud thi. Apni gun ko Ranjeet par aim karte hue jo hooks se latka hua tha. Ranjeet ke seene par goliyaan dhansi hui thi, jism khoon se ekdum laal.
'Yeh… yeh kaise…?'
Uska haath kaanpne laga. Dimag me ek hi baat ghoom rahi thi.
Woh flash… woh click… koi tha waha. Koi dekh raha tha. Zaahir hai, asli murderer. Jisne use phasaaya.
Envelope ke andar photo ke saath me ek chhota note bhi tha. Usne use uthaya, aur padhna shuru kiya.
"Agar ye photo sheher bhar me ghoomti dekhna nahi chaahti, toh jaisa mein keh raha hoon waisa karo. Bihar! Go there! Ya waha ki police se contact karo. There's a conman there who loots and kills innocent people. Find him. Capture him. Tumhare paas zyada waqt nahi. Warna..."
Note yahi khatam ho gaya.
Trisha ki aankhon me gussa aur darr dono tha. Uska dimag chillane ko keh raha tha, lekin dil samajh raha tha ki yeh koi chhota khel nahi tha. Transfer ki talwar pehle hi uske sirr pe latak rahi thi… aur, ab yeh blackmail bhara note.
Ek baat spasht thi. Jo bhi tha, uski har harqat par nazar rakh raha tha. Ab agar usne yeh kaam nahi kiya… toh uska career, uska naam, sab barbaad ho sakta tha.
***
Parijaat ke ghar raat me Veer Suman aur Aabha ko lekar aaya hua tha. Vandna se Suman ki bhaint karwana zaroori tha. Sabhi aurtein baahar hall me baatein kar rahi thi toh wahi Veer andar bedroom me laita apne system me vyast tha.
Aur, tabhi uske mann me-
[S-Sorry...!]
'...!?'
[I... I'm sorry!]
Pari ki ruwasi awaaz uske mann me goonji. Subah se woh sleep mode me thi. Manorath ji ki terhvi ke waqt jab Veer emotional feel kar raha tha tab bhi woh baahar nahi aayi thi.
Aur, isliye ab use apne upar glaani mehsoos ho rahi thi. Veer ne kuchh na kaha. Bas khamosh laita raha.
Yaha aane se pehle usne hi Trisha ke ghar me woh photo aur note envelope me rakh ke bheja tha. Vandna ne jo kuchh bhi bataya tha, uss se ye spasht tha ki wo baba hi kuchh gadbad tha. Dhongiyo ko lekar Veer kaafi chaukanna rehta tha, khaas kar Slogan ka past dekhne ke baad se.
Aur, agar waqai me kuchh gadbad thi- toh, Trisha ko waha bhej ko uss se waha ka sach nikalwana sabse uchit tareeka tha.
Kyunki, yaha par uske haath waise hi bandhe hue the.
*Ding*
[Mission : The Devil is in the details.
Description : Find the culprit who messed with Hotel Prestige, Yarnia, and host's family. Find the plotter.
Rewards : 10,000 points.
Time limit : 1 month.
Mission failure penalty : Unknown for now.]
Pehla mission toh yahi tha jo Veer ke liye mushqil hone waala tha.
Toh, wahi dusra tha-
[Mission : Deal breaker (1)
Description : Find the truth about Pushkar, Gaurav and Nik.
Rewards :
1) 10,000 points.
2) Favourability increase of Divya and Suhana.
Time limit : 9 days.
Mission failure penalty : Losing Suhana and Divya.]
Ye tha jo uske liye sabse mehatvpoorn hone waala tha. Samay seema kam thi. Sirf 9 din.
[H-Hey! I-I'm sorry! *sniff*]
'Hmm!'
Iss baar Veer ne bas haami bhari, jo Pari ko bilkul bhi pasand nahi aayi.
[Bol toh diya maine sorry. Wh-Why are you behaving like this now?]
'Behaving like what?'
[L-Like... *sniff* Like this.]
'Kya?'
[Argh! Forget it. *sniff*]
'Show me the favorabilities, Pari!'
[Mmm!]
*Ding*
Agle hi kshan Veer ke saamne favorabilities ka panel khul gaya. Usne dekha ki sabhi ki favorabilities me baddhotri hui thi siwaaye-
Ragini ke. Favourability ghat chuki thi. Aur, uski wajah Veer bakhubi jaanta tha.
Usne dekha ki Vandna ki favourability halki-si badhi thi. Shayad baahar Parijaat ki aurtein use samjhaane me lagi hui thi.
Usne Skill Shop ki orr apna dhyaan kiya. Skill Shop humesha hi har ek hafte me refresh hoti thi. Har system holder keval aur keval unhi skills ko khareed sakta tha jo uss waqt Skill Shop me maujood rehti thi.
Aisa nahi tha ki jo mann me aaya wo skill khareed li. Isliye, Veer ne kabhi Skill Shop par zyada dhyaan nahi diya tha. Kyunki, adhiktar samay jo skills use chahiye hoti thi, waisi koi shop me hoti hi nahi thi.
'Pari! Open the skill shop.'
[Hmm!]
*Ding*
Veer ke saamne system ki neeli screen par skill shop khul gayi. Har hafte 10 random skills shop me available hoti thi. System level jab se 10 par aaya tha tab se kaafi kuchh badlaav aa chuke the system me.
Unse skills ko dekha...
[Skill : Steel Focus
Description : Enhances the host's concentration to hyper-human levels for short bursts. Multitasking becomes effortless, distractions fade away, and time seems to slow during execution. Ideal for high-stress environments or performance-critical tasks.
Price : 3000 points
Tier : Silver Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'Hmm? Silver Tier huh! For multitasking!?'
[Master! Mein suggest karungi ki aap ye skill na le.]
'Ohh? Aur, kyu?'
[Kyunki, points ko invest karne ke liye aur bhi achhi-achhi skills hai.]
Veer ne haami bhar agli skill ko dekha.
[Skill : Reflex Override
Description : Temporarily boosts the host’s reflexes to their absolute peak. Dodging punches, catching falling objects, reacting to sudden threats, all become second nature.
Price : 4500 points
Tier : Gold Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
[Again, aapke reflexes pehle hi fast hai. Upar se Beowulf's Blessings aapke senses, reflexes, speed, agility sab increase kar deta hai. So, a useless skill for you.]
'I agree. What's the next one?'
[Skill : Mind Mirror
Description : Enables the host to instantly analyze micro-expressions, tone, and body language to deduce emotions and possible intentions. Acts like a real-time psychological mirror.
Price : 6000 points
Tier : Gold Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
'Huh?'
Iss baar Veer uth ke baith gaya.
'This skill...!'
[It's a good skill. But again, kya aapko iski zaroorat hai?]
'It might come in handy in Pushkar's mission. Lekin, non upgradable hai. Aur, bas yahi reason hai jo mein hesitate kar raha hu.'
[Exactly, master. Pehle saari skills dekh lijiye. Then, ise dekhte hai.]
'Hmm!'
[Skill : Shadow Memory
Description : The host can recall anything they’ve seen or heard in the past 7 days with absolute clarity, as if replaying a recording. Useful for surveillance, investigations, or sharp decision-making.
Price: 7000 points
Tier: Gold Tier Skill]
'Ohhh!'
[Kya aapko iski need hai?]
'Well, ye skill exams ke liye mast hai, haha! Oh fuck!'
[Hmm?]
'Mujhe abhi yaad aaya ki... Shayad college me exams aane waale the. Pragya! I remember she told me exams would come soon!'
Usne apna phone check kiya. Dekha toh paaya ki Pragya ka number uski blocked list me dala hua tha.
'What the...!?'
Use ye pata nahi tha ki Pragya ka contact number Kavya ne uss din uske phone me block kar diya tha.
'Shit...!'
Ab jab usne Pragya ko wapas se ping kiya toh dhada-dhad ek saath kayi messages aane shuru ho gaye.
Pragya : Veer!!! Are you there? Literally! Maine kitne calls kiye tumhe do you even know? Par, call lag hi nahi raha tha. Did you block me or something?
Veer : Ah! Let's just say I was very busy. Aur, tumne news to dekhi hi hogi.
Pragya : Ah! Right! Right! Kaise ho tum? Is everything fine?
Veer : Better than before.
Pragya : Right. I'll cut to the chase. Tumne apna pehla exam miss kar diya hai.
Veer (sighs) : I see...!
Pragya : But still... It's not too late. Ye finals nahi hai. But don't take them lightly.
Veer : Mein nahi aa paunga.
Pragya : Wait! What?
Veer : Dada ji expire ho gaye hai toh- I won't be attending the college.
Pragya : Ahh! My condolences. B-But... Exams-!?
Veer : Mein dekh lunga. See ya!
Pragya : Ah! O-Ok!
Veer ne apna phone side me rakha. Uske paas ab inn college ke shenanigans ke liye samay nahi tha. Wo kayi guna bade matters se deal kar raha tha life me. Pehle inhe handle karna zaroori tha.
'Pari! Continue karo.'
[Ok!]
[Skill : Ambidex Mastery
Description : Grants perfect control over both hands and legs allowing the host to perform complex tasks with either or both simultaneously. Perfect for combat, surgery, or multitasking environments.
Price: 2500 points
Tier: Silver Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'Hmm! Mera right hand dominant hai. Left hand weak. Lekin, sirf 2500 points ke liye mein-! Abhi nahi. I don't need that right now.'
[That's right.]
Woh aage badha.
[Skill : Lion’s Voice
Description : Modulates the host’s voice to command attention, induce trust, or inspire fear, based on intent. Especially effective in negotiations, speeches, or interrogations.
Price: 8000 points
Tier: Platinum Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
[Ise buy karna bewakoofi hogi, Master.]
'Right! Already mere paas Intimidating Presence hai. It's useless for me.'
[Exactly, Master.]
'Next!'
[Skill : Urban Ghost
Description : Makes the host's movement nearly undetectable in populated areas, blending with crowds, avoiding cameras, and leaving minimal trace. Doesn’t make you invisible, just invisible enough.
Price : 9000 points
Tier : Platinum Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'This...!'
Veer ki bauhe sikudi. Ye skill kamaal ki thi. Upar se Platinum Tier skill thi aur upgradable bhi.
Veer raat me slaughterhouse me apni stealth ka istemal isliye kar paaya tha kyunki, samay raat ka tha. Andhera tha. Aur, uske khilaaf aam aadmi the. Na ki system holders.
Agar, yahi stealth infiltration wo kisi system holders ke base me jaake karta toh woh beshaq nakaam ho jaata.
'Pari! Kitne points bache hai total?'
[29,000 points.]
'Tch!'
Skill mehngi thi. Waqai. Lekin, Veer ko iski zaroorat thi. Garofano aur Erica dono ke paas 'Dead Silence' thi. Erica ke paas 'Chameleon' bhi thi jo use stealth me maahir banaati thi.
Kintu, uske paas aisi koi si bhi skill nahi thi. Aur, jaise-jaise wo aage badh raha tha. Use lagne laga tha ki infiltration sjr stealth ke liye kisi ek skill ka hona behad zaroori tha.
'Pari! Buy this skill.'
[Huh? Are you sure, Master?]
'Hmm!'
[Okay!]
*Ding*
[9000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
['Urban Ghost' skill has been added to the skills.]
[Total points left : 20,000.]
Veer ne ek santushti bhari haami bhari. Usne fir 'Quest Hunt' ki orr dekha. Na jaane kitna samay ho chuka tha use iska istemal kiye.
'I feel like playing today. Kitne points use honge ek draw me, Pari?'
[1000 points for 1 pull.]
'Fuckin' hell!!'
Veer ka dimaag price sunte hi kharab ho gaya. Shuruat me kaha 200 points lagte the aur ab-
'Maybe? I might get lucky!? Draw one pull.'
[Are you sure, Master?]
'Yeah!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations for getting nothing at all.]
'Fucking...!!!'
Veer ke muh se gaali nikalte-nikalte reh gayi. Usne chaadar ko kass kar bheencha.
'D-Draw one more time.'
[Are you really sure, Master?]
'Yeah! Zyada se zyada kya hoga? Ya toh kuchh nahi milega ya phir ek legendary card, right?'
[O-Okay!]
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations for being an idiot again. You get nothing at all.]
'Motherfucke-!!!'
[Umm! M-Master! Quest Hunt aisa hi hota hai. It's all based on luck. D-Do you want to continue?]
'Y-Yeah! Points hai bahut mere paas. Agar, kuchh achha mil gaya toh-'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Woohoo! Hatrick! Congratulations for being the same idiot for the third time.]
'What the hell is wrong with these notifications? Huh?'
[Ah! I don't know, Master. Wait! K-Kahi!? Huh? Is it you? Ah! Damn it! She might be doing this...!]
'What the hell? Kaun? Kiski baat kar rahi ho tum, Pari?'
[Remember the first Pari? She...! Argh! It's hard to explain now, Master. B-But... Abhi notifications ko bhool jaaiye. I can't do anything about it. Do you want me to continue?]
'Yeah! Go on!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[How can someone be so dumb? Congratulations for being the absolute disgrace.]
'Madar-!!! I swear, I'll kill her! Is she messing with me? Wo system ko beech me kaise influence kar sakti hai? I guess tum mujhe bataane se rahi. Mere jawaab agar mujhe chahiye toh sirf intezar ke alawa mere paas koi aur choice nahi, right?'
[Yes. Thank you for understanding, Master. Do you still want to play? You are now left with 16,000 points.]
'One last time.'
[Sure?]
'Do it!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations! You have gained 'Beowulf's Blessings II Legendary Card.]
'What the-!! No! No! No! No! Don't tell me mujhe wahi card phir se mil gaya!'
Veer phir se usi card ke milne par pareshan ho raha tha ki tabhi-
*Ding*
[Do you want to fuse the card? Or sell it?]
'Huh? Wait! M-Mein card fuse kar sakta hu?'
Veer ka dimaag chakra raha tha. Uske badan par rue khade ho chuke the.
[Yes Master. Some cards can be fused. You got very lucky. Aapko Beowulf's Blessings II mila hai. It's the final form. Don't sell it. Fuse it.]
'Then do it!'
Aur, agle hi kshan usne dekha ki uska puraana Beowulf's Blessings ka card iss naye Beowulf's Blessings II ke card ke saath fuse hone laga.
Dono card ek dusre se takra ke ek mishran me badal rahe the. Ek naya card.
Aur, jaise hi woh naya card Veer ke saamne aaya, Veer ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi.
*Ding*
[Congratulations! You have gained 'Eternal Beowulf' the final form of 'Beowulf's Blessings.']
Veer maun reh gaya.
[You are now left with 15,000 points.]
'Fuckkk!!'
Woh khush hoke sab kuchh padh paata ki tabhi uska phone punah baj utha aur message tha — Suhana ka.
"Veer! I need your help. ICONGLOBE kuchh hi dino me aane waali hai. Sonu wants to get this deal. But Kaera would be there as well. I... I need your help. C-Can you... Can you help Sonu get this deal? Don't consider this as a repayment of any favor. I... I'm just asking you as a close friend. W-Will you help me?"
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This update consists of 9k words. Isme bahut kuchh aur hona tha but maine ant me ise thoda light hi rakha because of the fever I was having. I could only write this much. But ye bhi ek shocker rahega ju logo ke liye ki cards fuse bhi ho sakte hai. You didn't see that coming now, do you? Thoda system lore me aur deeply ghuse hai hum iss update me. ICONGLOBE is here. You know now what's coming. Aaj ke liye itna hi. Target wahi hai. 250. Reviews rakhne ka aur likes thokne ka.
Dhanyavad.
Shuhana
Tej
Or Aarohi k sath Veer ki kuch hichkichat bhari mulakat
Wahi Purvi or Veer k bich badhta bond
Trisha ki badhti mushkil or shayad aane wala waqt or mushkil hone wale hai
Veer got 2 naye missions
& Bought 1 new skill and got another skill for playing a game
Last mein Shuhana ka woh msg jo ki aane wale updates mein shayad Veer or Kishor k bich or tanaav badhye agar Veer ne Shuhana ka sath diya tho
Devil46775
New Member
- 2
- 2
- 3
SuperbUpdate - 204 ~ Family Affairs
Ab tak...
*Ding*
[The active system has gone into sleep mode.]
[The host won’t be able to interact with the active system for 6 hours. The host can still access the passive system on his own.]
‘Pari, tum-!’
Veer ne apne daant meese. Woh uski baat bina sune hi 6 ghante ke liye sleep mode me jaa chuki thi. Uski awaaz me kampan tha. Shayad ro rahi thi. Magar, Veer ne apne aap ko inn emotions ke chalte apne resolve ko badalne nahi diya. Usne mann me apni wahi baat dohraayi.
‘This is the right way, Pari!’
Ab aage...
Subah ki raushni Purvi ke bedroom ke sooti pardo se dheere-dheere chhan kar daakhil hui. Baahar chidiyo ki cheh-chahahat thi aur andar, kamre me abhi bhi pichhli raat ki halki-si garmi maujood thi. Purvi hili, uska haath sehej hi bistar ke dusri taraf badha, lekin siwaaye khaalipann ke use kuchh na mila.
Aadhi neend me uski bauhe sikud gayi. Usne dheere se aankhein kholi aur chaaro orr dekha.
“Veer?” Usne dheere se pukara, uski awaaz me abhi bhi neend bhari hui thi.
Par, koi jawab nahi aaya.
Woh uth ke baithi, uska haath bedsheet ko ek taraf sarkaaya. Kamra abhi bhi shaant tha. Suhana ne Veer ko jo perfume diya tha, uski khushbu abhi bhi Purvi ke bistar par mandra rahi thi. Usne apne kandho par apna dupatta lapeta aur hall me baahar nikal kar aayi.
“Veer…?” Usne living room ki orr badhte hue phir pukara. Phir, ek sannaata chha gaya.
Lekin, jaise hi woh rasoi me pahuchi, uske seene me ek halki-si garmahat daud gayi.
Waha, dining table par, achhe se taiyar kiya hua nashta rakha tha, abhi bhi ek lid se dhaka hua. Uske bagal me Veer ki saaf-suthri likhawat me likha ek muda hua note pada tha:
“Good Morning, Maasi!”
Uske hontho par turant ek muskan daud gayi. Usne note ko aur khola.
“Bina bataye jaane ke liye, sorry! Aaj dada ji ki terhvi hai. Isliye, mein jaldi nikal aaya. Aap aaiyega zaroor. Address maine aapko message kar diya hai. ~Veer.”
Uski ungliyaan aur nazrein kaagaz par tiki rahi. Shabdo ne use yaad dilaaya ki Manorath ji ko guzre 12 din ho chuke the. Terhvi ki rasm… zaahir hai, aaj thi. Use andaza hi nahi tha ki samay itni tezi se beet gaya.
Woh baithi, lid ko kholi, aur paaya ki uska pasandeeda vyanjan uska intezar kar raha tha, bilkul waisa hi bana hua jaisa use pasand tha. Stir fry idli, wo bhi podi masala ke saath. Woh fatafat brush kar ke aayi aur baith gayi.
Usne pehla nivala liya, aur uski aankhein halki si bhar aayi, dukh se nahi, balki isliye ki khaane me ek aisi cheez thi jo koi restaurant ya chef kabhi nahi dikha sakta tha: parvah!
Yeh ladka uske haatho ka khaana khaane ke liye utsuk rehta tha, jabki khud itna behatreen khaana bana leta tha. Use ehsaas hua yeh dish woh Veer se achhi nahi bana sakti thi. Kya iska matlab Veer apni maasi ka dil rakhne ke liye, unke haath ke khaane ki tareef karta tha?
Khaate hue, uska haath dheere se apni chhaati par gaya, besudh hokar nightie ke upar se uske ek doodh par fira. Usne apne doodh ko dabaaya.
“Nnn~”
Bina sharmaaye usne apni nightie ko kheechte hue apna ek doodh nanga hawa me azaad kiya. Usne dekha ki uske nipple ke agal-bagal laal nishaan bane hue the. Veer ne raat bhar unhe zor-zor se choosa tha, kaata tha aur chooma tha. Zaahir hai, usne uske thano par kayi nishaan aur hickeys chhori thi.
Usne punah dheere se jab apne doodh ko dabaya toh use ek dard ka ehsaas hua.
“Ahhh~”
Kintu, ye dard, ek ajeeb sa dard tha. Ek aisa dard jo Purvi chaah rahi thi. Ek meetha dard. Usne apna dusra doodh bhi nanga azaad kiya. Aur, apni dono doodh ki thailiyo ko dekha. Kaise jagah-jagah hickeys aur nishaan pade hue the. Uske gaal sharm se laal ho gaye.
Kal berehmi se Veer ne unhe choosa tha. Aaj kal uske haath bhi inhe kass kar masalne se katraate nahi the aur na hi woh khud use mana karti thi. Iss baar uska haath apne hontho par fira, aur use yaad aaya.
Kaise woh aur Veer ek dusre ke hontho ko chaat rahe the aur unka rass pee rahe the. Kitne kaamuk andaaz me Veer uske honth choos raha tha aur badle me woh bhi uska saath de rahi thi. Veer ne kayi jagah uske hontho par bhi kaata tha. Uske gaalo par ek halki-si laali chha gayi. Lekin, yahi uski seema thi. Iss se adhik kuchh bhi nahi.
Usne apne thano ko dobaara dekha, uske chehre par sneh umad raha tha. Magar, ek chinta bhi.
‘Agar pata chala ki kaise mein uske bete ko bigaad rahi hu, toh Bhavna mujhe maar daalegi.’
Usne socha, phir mann hi mann hasi.
Kintu, use zara bhi sharm nahi aayi. Zara bhi nahi. Veer ke liye uska aisa sneh duniya ko samajhne ki zaroorat nahi thi. Unka pyaar shaant palo me, saajha khamoshiyo me, chhoti-chhoti khushiyo me samaya hua tha. Pyaar jataane ka uska apna tareeka tha, aur use humesha uski zaroorat thi, aise tareeko se jinhe shabdo me baya nahi kiya jaa sakta tha.
Usne apne than wapas se nightie ke andar kiye. Kuchh baato ko zor se kehne ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Kuchh rishto ko naamo ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Unhe bas mehsoos kiya jaata hai. Dil me aur khamoshi me. Aur, Purvi jaanti thi ki use kya karna tha.
Do ghante hi beete the abhi ki jab…
*Ding Dong*
Darwaze par ghanti baji.
Purvi, abhi bhi apne halke-fulke kapdo me, apne dupatte se haath pochhte hue darwaza kholi. Baahar ek naujavan delivery man ek bade se cardboard box ke saath khada apne maathe se paseena pochh raha tha.
Delivery man : Madam! AC delivery. Ye Purvi ji ka hi ghar hai na?
Usne apna phone nikaalte hue ek bill dikhaaya. Bill par Purvi ka address aur uska naam likha hua tha. Purvi chaunk kar palke jhapkayi.
Purvi : H-Haan… Mein hi hu Purvi, yeh mera hi ghar hai, lekin… maine koi AC order nahi kiya.
Delivery man ne apne haath me liye ek paper par nazar daali.
Delivery man : Iss par likha hai ki ye prepaid hai. Installation shaamil hai. Mister Veer ne payment kari hai.
Purvi ki aankhein chaudi ho gayi.
Purvi : Veer???
Usne avishvas se dohraya.
Delivery man : Ji madam! Kya mein andar le aau?
Hairan hote hue phir bhi Purvi ne sarr hilaaya aur ek taraf hat gayi, uska dimag tezi se daud raha tha. Delivery waala ladka box andar laaya aur living room me use kholne laga.
Delivery man : Madam! Kaha lagwana hai? Hall me ya…?
Purvi ne andar uske aur Arun ke bedroom ki orr ishara kiya.
Purvi : Bedroom me laga do!
Jaise hi woh kaam par laga, Purvi peechhe hat gayi aur AC unit ko ghoorne lagi, abhi bhi samajh nahi paa rahi thi abhi-abhi kya hua. Uski ungliyaan besudh hokar uske apne gaalo par firi aur uske vichar pichhli raat ki orr bhatakte chale gaye.
Kal raat woh yu hi shikayat kar rahi thi Veer se. Kuchh mazak me, kuchh narazgi me ki kaise Arun AC khareedne ke liye taal-matol kar raha tha.
“Abhi off-season hai! Saste milte hai. Abhi lagwa lenge toh garmi me araam rahega na.”
Par-
“Kya zaroorat hai? Abhi kaun lagwata hai AC? Ye sab bahut hoshiyar rehte hai. Abhi aur mehnga denge. Aur, abhi hume zaroorat bhi nahi hai. Band pada rahega. Pata chala pade-pade aur kharab ho gaya. Phir?”
Use har baar yahi jawab milta. Kal raat woh Veer ke bagal se laiti yahi sab badbadati rahi, sochti rahi ki Veer bas aivayi uski bhadaas ko sunn raha hai.
Lekin, saaf tha ki usne waqai me sunn liya tha. Chup-chap. Poori tarah se. Aur, uss par agli hi subah amal bhi kar diya. Jis kaam ke liye woh Arun ko pichhle do saalo se mana rahi thi, woh Veer ne kuchh hi palo me kar diya.
Woh ek pal ke liye wahi khadi rahi, haath kursi ke kinaare par halka sa tika hua, uske seene me ek ajeeb si jakdan ubhri. Uski aankhein achanak bhar aayi, dukh se nahi, balki komal garmahat se.
Veer ko yaad tha. Use parvah thi.
Usne apna nichla honth kaata. Yeh ladka… humesha ummeed se zyada karta tha.
Uske vichaar aage badh gaye. Pehle woh use daategi. Bina bataaye itna kharcha karne ke liye. Zaahir hai, woh Veer ko iski payment bhi karegi. Halanki, kahi na kahi woh jaanti thi ki Veer uss se ye sweekar nahi karega. Lekin, uska farz tha yeh. Woh badi thi. Aur, phir… woh uska pasandeeda khaana banayegi. Use apne haatho se khilayegi. Use pyaar karegi, galey se lagayegi aur apne seene se laga ke use khoob choomegi.
Sochte hue woh mann hi mann muskurayi. Idhar, jaise hi technician ka kaam khatam hua, Purvi ne lagbhag lag chuke AC ko dekha. Yeh sirf deewar par lagi ek machine nahi thi. Yeh prem ka ek shaant bhaav tha.
Vichaarsheelta ka. Kisi aise vyakti ka jo chhoti-chhoti baato ko yaad rakhta ho. Aur, uss pal, use bas pyaar ka ehsaas hua.
Woh phir muskurayi, uske gaalo par halki si laali chha gayi aur usne khud se phus-phusate hue bas yahi kaha, “Pagal kahi ka…”
***
Afternoon - 12:26 PM ~
Samaroh hall pehle toh shaant tha, ajeeb si khamoshi. Manch ke beecho-beech rakhi Manorath Singh ki photo frame par phulo ki maala chadhi hui thi. Dono taraf agarbattiya dheemi-deemi jal rahi thi.
Phir, kursiyo ki kataare dheere-dheere badbadate rishtedaro aur mehmano se bharne lagi. Chandan aur pakte hue khaane ki sugandh hawa me mili hui thi. Veer hall ke theek entrance ke paas khada tha, haath theek peeth ke peechhe baandhe, aankhein idhar-udhar ghoom rahi thi. Dhyan bhatakne ki wajah se nahi, balki yaado me. Woh dekh raha tha… kaun aaya tha, aur kaun nahi.
Ve uske liye sirf mehman nahi the. Har chehra ek sanket tha. Ek sandesh. Wafadari ka ek bayaan ya darr. Kuchh jaane-pehchaane chehre aaye hue the. Toh, kuchh ne apne afsos, apne bahaane, vinamra sanvedna me lipte bhej diye. Aur, kuchh ne toh shok jataane ya aane ki parvah hi nahi ki.
Shayad ye kuchh din pehle hue Hotel Prestige me hui ghatna ki parchhayi thi. Narsanhar. Visfot. Aag. Mautein. Kuchh log ab uss se sambandh rakhne se bhi katra rahe the. Veer ne unn sabko note kiya.
Har. Ek. Jann.
Woh unhe yaad rakhega.
Tabhi, uska phone baja aur Karan ka ek message aaya-
“Bhai…! Sorry! Dad bahut strict chal rahe hai. Woh mujhe aur di ko ghar se nikalne hi nahi de rahe. Meetings ke liye woh apne private guards humaare peechhe laga ke rakhe hai. Maine Jassi aur Raghu se help leke secretly aane ki koshish ki thi but dad ne unhe pakad liya. Dono ko bahut daat padi hai. Shayad maar bhi…! Unhone warn kiya hai. Di aur dad ki behas bhi hui hai. It’s insane. I hope you will understand. Mein tumse baad me milta hu. Sorry!”
Toh wahi, ek aur message tha — Kaera ka. Jisme sirf ek shabd likha hua tha : Sorry!
Aur, yeh bhi uski maid, Julia ne use bhejne ke liye kaha tha. Kyunki, Kaera bechari ko pata hi nahi tha ki kis tarah se maafi maangi jaaye? Use ye bhi nahi pata tha ki aise mauke par kya karna chahiye.
Veer ke hontho se ek halki-si aah nikli. Woh samajh gaya tha ki waha par kya hua hoga. Hotel Prestige me attack ke waqt dono Karan aur Kaera wahi maujood the. Zaahir hai, Kishore unhe ab sakht nigrani me rakhne waala tha.
Veer yeh bhi jaanta tha ki aane waale samay me Kishore uss par bhi apna shikanja kassega. Akhirkar, jo kuchh bhi hua, uske baad Kishore ke paas unn par sakhti baratne ki poori wajah thi.
Lekin, phir bhi unhone koshish ki aane ki, Veer ke liye yahi maayne rakhta tha. Dheere-dheere bheed badhne lagi. Purvi bhi aa chuki thi. Woh ek halki peeli saree me thi. Woh uske qareeb aayi toh Veer ka haath uski peeth par gaya aur uski nagn peeth ko sparsh kiya. Ek jhurjhuri uske badan me phail gayi.
Magar, Purvi ne uske gaal ko nocha aur ekdum dheemi awaaz me uss se boli.
Purvi (smirks) : AC waali baat baad me karungi tumse. Ye mat sochna bach ke nikal jaoge tum.
Veer (smiles) : Ji!
Purvi (smiles) : Kaha hai, Bhavna?
Veer : Andar hi hai. Jaiye!
Aur, Purvi ko uski peeth par haath rakh Veer ne use andar bhej diya. Purvi bhi pyaar bhari muskaan dikhaate hue uske gaal par haath ferti hui andar chali gayi.
Har koi lagbhag aa chuka tha. Brijesh se leke, Karunesh, Pranjal, Vivek, Parijaat ki aurtein, Madhuri apni maa, Lalita ke saath, lagbhag sab log hi maujood the. Siwaaye, do log ke — Ragini aur Vandna.
Ragini ghar par hi araam kar rahi thi. Woh aane ki sthiti me nahi thi. Abhi use iss tarah se logo ke beech function attend karne ke liye samay lagne waala tha. Ghar par uske saath uski maa, Rohini maujood thi.
Toh, wahi Vandna ki apni alag wajah thi.
Tabhi-
Ek chamchamati black color ki Mercedes Benz Maybach S class hall ki entrance ke saamne aa kar ruki. Darwaza khula.
Veer ki nazar baahar nikal rahi uss mahila ki nazro se takrayi. Suhana. Usne ek charcoal blazer aur light beige trouser pehen rakha tha. Formal. Clean. Aur, polished. Lekin, Veer ka dhyaan uske chehre ne kheencha.
Uska khubsurat chehra jo na jaane kitne bhaav chhipaaye hue tha. Suhana ne jaise hi use dekha, ek pal ke liye jaise… uski saansein ruk gayi.
Veer. Woh thaka hua lag raha tha. Lag raha tha jaise kayi raato se soya na ho. Aur, yeh sach bhi tha.
Suhana (mutters) : V-Veer!
Woh fusfusate hue uski orr aage badhi. Veer ne use ek halki-si muskaan di.
Veer (nods) : Aaiye!
Woh baahar uske bagal se hi khadi ho gayi. Logo se dur. Andar jaane ka koi matlab nahi tha. Woh yaha sirf Veer ke liye hi aayi thi.
Veer : Aap yaha aayi? Mujhe laga nahi tha ki aap-
Suhana : Kyu nahi aati? M-Mujhe aana hi tha. Office me bata diya ki client se meeting hai ek. That’s it.
Veer : Aapko bahaana banana pada? Shukriya… Yaha aane ke liye, aur-
Suhana : ???
Veer : Aur, uss raat ke liye.
Suhana ko yaad aaya. Woh humle waali raat. Kaise usne aur Karan ne milke sab ko ambulance aur gaadiyo me bithwa ke waha se surakshit bheja tha. Usne palkein jhapkayi. Uska gala roondh gaya.
Suhana : K-Kuchh nahi tha. Koi bhi hota yahi karta. Aur-
Par, Veer ne usko beech me hi kaat diya. Uski awaaz gehri thi.
Veer : Wahi sab kuchh tha!
Suhana : Huh!?
Veer (smiles) : Thank you!
Woh uski orr muda, ek inch aur nazdeek badhte hue, uski aankhein Suhana ki aankhon me gadi rahi.
Veer : Aap hi thi jisne meri family ko surakshit pahuchaya tha. Aap aur Karan! Bhale hi mein nahi tha waha, par mujhe sab pata hai ki kya kuchh hua tha. Hospital me sab kuchh aapne aur Karan ne hi sambhala tha. Thank you! It means a lot to me.
Suhana : I-Iski koi-
Veer : Mein aapka ehsaan-mand rahunga. Agar, aapko kabhi bhi kisi bhi cheez ki zaroorat ho, kisi bhi cheez ki, toh keh dena bas, mein haazir ho jaunga.
Usne apni awaaz me bhaari imaandari ke saath kaha. Suhana ne nazrein neechi kar li, uska dil tezi se dhadak raha tha, uski ungliyaan thodi kaanp rahi thi. Yeh ladka… kyu woh humesha use aisa mehsoos karaata tha?
Suhana : M-Maine ye kisi ehsaan ke liye nahi kiya, Vee-
Veer : I know!
Suhana : B-But-
Veer (smiles) : Remember our game?
Suhana : Huh?
Veer : Teen favors jo aapne mujhe chukaane ke liye diye the?
Suhana : Th-That-
Veer : Hmm! Aisa hi maan lijiye ki ek aur favor badh gaya usme.
Suhana ko yaad aaya. Wo teen favors jinki wajah se aaj wo dono itne qareeb the. Unme se akhiri favor ke liye usne Veer se kiss maangi thi. Ye yaad karte hi uske gaal sharm se laal pad gaye. Usne unn vichaaro ko nikaalne ki koshish ki.
Suhana : W-Well- agar tumhe bhi koi bhi kaam ho *blushes* Y-You can look for me.
Veer : Aapne pehle hi bahut kuchh kar diya hai. Ab aur nahi karne de sakta mein.
Suhana ne jawab dene ki koshish ki, magar tabhi ek guzarti hui hawa ne uske baalo ko uske chehre par dhakel diya. Veer ka haath apne aap hi aage badha aur usne baal ki latt ko uske kaano ke peechhe le jaate hue ek taraf kar diya.
*Badump*
Suhana ki aankhein fadki, saansein thami, aur dhadkane tez ho gayi. Woh jaldi se peechhe hatt gayi aur chehre par chhaayi sharm ko chhipaane ke liye sarr neeche kar li. Usne apni zindagi me bade se bade corporate diggajo, political VIPs ka saamna kiya tha, lekin ye… yeh alag tha. Usne aaj tak kabhi aisa mehsoos nahi kiya tha.
Parantu, woh akeli nahi thi.
*Badump*
Veer ki dhadkane bhi tez thi.
‘What is this…? Ye feeling?’
Suhana khush thi ki aaj kam se kam woh Veer ke saamne theek se khadi ho paa rahi thi. Warna beetein mahino me uski kya haalat thi ye woh khud jaanti thi. Shayad, Veer ke saath itna kuchh hua, uss haadse ke baad se ye sab thoda uske liye asaan ho gaya tha.
Lekin, jo bhi tha-
Kam se kam woh ab apne kamre me band nahi thi. Shayad, Veer ki madad karne ki dridhta ne uske iss darr ko door kar diya tha.
Tabhi-
“Thank you for coming.”
Ek awaaz ne unhe beech me tok diya. Tej. Woh kurta pyjama me thi, sarr par dupatta dala hua tha. Uske swar me komalta thi, lekin aankhein Veer se milne ke liye taiyaar nahi thi.
Tej (dohraate hue) : Thanks! It means a lot!
Suhana : It’s nothing!
Dono ek dusre ko dekhi. Uss din unn dono ki akeli meeting ke baad se hi dono ab ek-dusre ko behtar dhang se jaanti thi. Aur, Tej Suhana ki madad ki waqai me shukr-guzaar thi. Uss meeting ka akhiri sanvaad unn dono ko hi yaad tha.
“You care for him, right?”
“I… He’s just an acquaintance."
“Just an acquaintance. Right!"
Iss sanvaad se saaf zaahir tha ki Suhana ke andar Veer ko lekar strong feelings thi. Koi bewakoof hi hoga jo ye samjhega ki Suhana Veer ko bas ek acquaintance hi maanti thi.
Tej ne bas halki-si muskaan di, lekin uski aankhon me kuchh aisa tha jo samajh se parey tha. Aur, phir uske peechhe se-
Ek dheemi-si awaaz.
“H-Hello! Didi…!”
Kavya dheere se sharmaate hue unke qareeb aayi. Suhana ne mud kar dekha toh woh ladki sharmaate hue muskura rahi thi, uske haath ghabrahat me apni dress ko jakde hue the. Suhana ka dil turant narm pad gaya. Suhana Kavya se Holi ke waqt mili thi Veer ke ghar par. Lekin, Suhana jaisi ladki ke saamne Kavya bhi thoda hich-kichati thi.
Suhana (smiles) : Hello, Kavya! Kaisi ho?
Kavya (shyly) : A-Achhi hu!
Teeno dheere-dheere baat karne lage. Aur, Kavya bhi har baar ki tarah Suhana se jald hi phir se khul gayi. Veer, jo chup-chap khada hua tha, uski nazrein Tej par gayi. Woh uss se bach rahi thi. Har nazar dusri orr mod rahi thi. Tej, pehle kabhi aisi nahi thi.
Aur, Veer jaanta tha ki aisa kyu tha. Prestige me jo kuchh hua, uske liye woh khud ko kahi na kahi doshi maan rahi thi.
Veer ne cameras ki footage dekhi thi. Humle ki sateekta. Coordination. Koi bhi ise rok nahi sakta tha, shayad… siwaaye uske. Aur, woh waha nahi tha. Lekin, Tej khud ko maaf nahi kar paa rahi thi.
Woh toot rahi thi. Veer ise mehsoos kar sakta tha. Tej ki khamoshi ke neeche toofan chal raha tha. Uska posture akda hua tha, honth bhinche hue, aur aankhein Veer se bhaagti hui.
Aur, Veer use achhi tarah se jaanta tha. Agar, Tej ko ye laga ki uska bhai ab uss se naraaz hai, uss se dur bhaag raha hai, toh bas itni si baat hi- use tod ke rakh sakti thi.
Nahi. Balki, iss se bhi bura. Yeh use tabaah kar deti. Veer ne dheere se saans chhori. Yaha nahi. Abhi nahi.
Lekin, jald hi… woh uss se baat karega.
Dekhte hi dekhte mehmano ki bheed chhatne lagi thi. Bhavna apni saree ke dupatte ka kinaara theek kar rahi thi aur darwaaze ki orr qadam badhaane ki taiyaari kar rahi thi, tabhi ek awaaz shaanti ko cheerte hue aayi.
“Bhavna!”
Woh beech qadam rakhte hi ruk gayi. Woh awaaz. Laga jaise barso puraana bojh uske kandho par achanak se aa gaya ho. Dheere se woh mudi.
Aur, woh wahi saamne tha. Brijesh.
Woh aadmi jisne kabhi use apna guroor maana tha… aur 21-22 baras pehle, use ek anchaahi yaad ki tarah ghar se nikaal diya tha.
Bhavna ki bauhe sikudi aur uske shaant chehre par halki-si shikan ubhar aayi.
Brijesh budha prateet ho raha tha, uski aankhon ke kono par jhurriyaan, kandho me jhukaav tha. Lekin, jis tarah se woh bechaini se apne perro par hil raha tha, uss se pata chal raha tha ki uske andar sachmuch kuchh nahi badla tha.
Bhavna (frowns) : Kaho!
Brijesh (hich-kichate hue) : Mein… Kya hum baat kar sakte hai?
Bhavna ke honth ek patli rekha me sikud gaye. Use dekh kar uska mood pehle hi kharab ho chuka tha, lekin usne dheere se ek gehri saans li, jis se woh thoda shaant hui aur phir saiyyammit swar me boli.
Bhavna : Mein sunn rahi hu!
Brijesh : Y-Yaha nahi… Baahar?
Ek virham! Phir, usne halka-sa sirr hilaaya aur darwaaze ke aage badh gayi, Brijesh bhi uske peechhe-peechhe chala aaya.
Jab ve logo ki sunnane ki seema se baahar ho gaye, toh Brijesh ne apna muh khola… phir band kar liya, kuchh shabd nahi soojh rahe the.
Bhavna : Mere paas samay zaaya karne ke liye nahi hai, Brijesh! Agar, kuchh kehna hai toh saaf-saaf keh do!
Brijesh ne apna gala saaf kiya, uski awaaz thodi thar-thara rahi thi.
Brijesh : V-Veer… aur Tejal… Dono humaare bacche hai, hai na?
Bhavna : Toh?
Brijesh : Toh… Toh, kya tum, Veer aur Tejal, apne puraane ghar me waapas nahi aa sakte? Waha phir se nahi reh sakte? Sabke saath?
Bhavna ke honth haasya me mude.
Bhavna : Tumhe pata hai tum kya keh rahe ho?
Brijesh : Mein tumse mujhe maaf karne ke liye nahi keh raha, Bhavna! Mein tumse ye bhi nahi keh raha ki tum mujhse baat karo. P-Par… Kya tum bas ghar me nahi reh sakti? Kya Veer aur Tejal sabke saath reh kar khush nahi honge?
Bhavna : Mere dono bacche…! Maine unhe kabhi control nahi kiya hai. Agar, Tej aur Veer jaana chaahenge, toh tum khud unse poochh sakte ho. Lekin, agar tumhe lagta hai ki mein uss ghar me phir se qadam rakhungi, toh yeh tumhari bewakoofi hogi. Bhool jao!
Bhavna jaanti thi ki uske dono bacche Brijesh ke paas nahi jaane waale the, khaas kar Tejal. Isliye, iss baat ko lekar woh sunishchit thi.
Brijesh paas aaya, uski awaaz hatasha se ubhar rahi thi.
Brijesh : Bhavna… Tum jaanti ho na ki mein tumse kitna pyaar karta tha? Balki, aaj bhi… mein tumse pyaar karta hu. Aur, tumse itna pyaar karta tha isliye mein wo sab bardaasht nahi kar paaya tha aur-
Bhavna : Tumne mujhse kabhi pyaar kiya hi nahi, Brijesh! Tum bas mujhe paana chaahte the. Dono me farq hai. Agar, tumne mujhse pyaar kiya hota, toh mujh par bharosa hota.
Brijesh : A-Aisa nahi hai, Bhavna! Mein aaj bhi tumse pyaar karta hu! Humne… Humne kabhi talaak nahi liya. Tum aaj bhi meri patni ho, Bhavna!
Bhavna (scoffs) : Aur, phir bhi dobara shaadi kar li!? Kaisa ajeeb pyaar hai! Tumhe andaaza hai ki mein tumhe iske liye jail bhi bhijwa sakti hu?
Brijesh chup reh gaya, uska muh khula toh tha, par bol nahi nikal paaye. Akhirkar, ant me woh bola.
Brijesh : Papa ji ke jaane ke baad se mujhe samajh aa gaya hai ki kyu ve- sabhi ko ek saath jodkar rakhne ki koshish karte the. Isliye, mein… mein bas chaahta hu ki hum sab ek saath rahe. Bhale hi tum mujhe nazar-andaaz karti rehna. Bhale hi tum apni berukhi barkarar rakhna. P-Par… laut chalo.
Bhavna : Iske liye ab bahut derr ho chuki hai, Brijesh!
Brijesh : Toh, tum nahi chalogi!?
Bhavna : Tumhara koi haq nahi hai mujhse ye sawaal karne ka! Aur, agar hota bhi-! Toh, bhi mein uss ghar me dobara qadam nahi rakhti.
Brijesh : Th-Theek hai! Toh, tum nahi aaogi! L-Lekin, Veer-! Haan! *nods* Bhale hi humara rishta utna accha nahi raha. Par, mein use jaanta hu. Woh lautna zaroor chaahega. Agar, mein uss se baat karunga toh zaroor-! Haan! A-Aur, phir agar woh saath rahega toh phir tum-
Usne itna bola hi tha ki yeh sunn Bhavna ke haav-bhaav badal gaye. Abhi bhi shaant par ab uski aankhon me tej tha.
Bhavna : Khabardar!!!
Brijesh : !?
Bhavna : Khabardar! Himmat bhi mat karna, Brijesh! Mere bete ko behkaane aur mujhe apne ghar waapas laane ke bahaane ke taur par istemal karne ki himmat bhi mat karna. Warna mujhse bura koi nahi hoga.
Brijesh sann reh gaya.
Bhavna : Kya mein jaanti nahi? Veer ne tumhare adheen kitna kasht saha hai? Meri gerr-haziri me tumne uske saath kaisa sulook kiya kya mujhe pata nahi? Mein sab jaanti hu. Tej ko toh jaise-taise maine ek maa ke saath-saath baap ka pyaar bhi dene ki poori koshish ki, lekin Veer?
Brijesh : …
Bhavna : Uss bechaare ko toh baap hone ke bawajood ek baap ka pyaar nahi mila. Kya mujhe pata nahi? Ki tumne uske saath kaisa vyavhaar kiya tha? Kya mujhe pata nahi? Ki tum uss par apna gussa sirf isliye nikaalte the ki woh tumhe meri yaad dilaata tha? Ek charitra-heen patni ki!!
Brijesh : Bh-Bhavna…!
Bhavna : Marr gayi hai ye Bhavna aaj se tumhare liye. Aur, khabardar agar mere bete ko mujhse chheenane ke baare me socha bhi toh- warna mein tumhara woh hashr karungi, jo tumhari saat pushte bhi nahi dekhi hongi kabhi.
Agar, aaj Manorath ji ki terhvi na hoti, toh aaj shaayad Bhavna ke mukh se aur bhi katu shabd nikal sakte the.
Iske pehle ki woh kuchh jawab de paata—
“Maa!?”
Peechhe se jaani-pehchani awaaz aayi. Dono mude. Veer aashcharya me thodi doorie par khada hua tha. Uski bauhe bhram me sikudi hui thi.
Brijesh ke honth khule, bolne ko taiyaar—
—lekin, Bhavna pehle hi aage badh gayi. Hawa ki tarah tez, woh Brijesh ke bagal se nikli, Veer ki orr. Uska haath Veer ki kalaayi par aisi mazboot pakad ke saath kass gaya jo lagbhag atal thi.
Bhavna : Chalo Veer!!!
Bina kuchh kahe, woh Veer ko apne saath kheench kar le jaane lagi. Veer ek qadam ladkhadaya, aur peechhe khade Brijesh ko bas jaate-jaate dekhta raha. Tab tak jab tak ki wo andar nahi chale gaye.
Bhavna ne use jaane nahi diya. Uski pakad uss par sthir thi, maano jaise agar usne use chhora toh woh uski aankhon se kahi ojhal ho jaayega.
Ve darwaaze se guzre, bache hue mehmano ki dheemi vartalap ka shor maddham pad gaya. Jab dono andar pahuche, tab bhi Bhavna ne uski kalaayi nahi chhori. Veer ne apni maa ke haath ki orr dekha, phir unke chehre ki orr, chehre par teekhepann ko samajhte hi, woh bhaanp gaya ki uski maa, woh aurat jo shayad hi kabhi gussa dikhaati thi, abhi behad hi krodh me thi.
Jab wo logo ki nigaaho se door ho gaye, tabhi Bhavna ki pakad thodi dheeli hui, phir bhi usne uske haath ko apne haath me thaame rakha, maano doorie ka khayal hi use bechain kar raha ho.
Uss pal ye spasht tha. Bhavna ke liye, apne bete ko apne paas rakhne ki zaroorat se zyaada mazboot kuchh bhi nahi tha. Na ateet. Na kadvahat. Na dushmani.
Jab jaane ka samay hone laga, toh Arohi Veer ke saamne khadi hui thi, uski awaaz shaant lekin sthir thi.
Arohi : Mein… Aaj raat jaa rahi hu!
Woh boli, uski aankhein neeche zameen par gadi hui thi. Veer ki bauhe ye sunn sikudi. Use dhyaan aaya ki Arohi kaha jaane ki baat kar rahi thi.
‘Ahmedabad! MBA! Huh!’
Veer : Aaj? Itni jaldi?
Arohi uski nazro se bachte hue halka-sa sirr hilaayi.
Arohi : Dada ji ki terhvi thi, bas isliye ruki thi. Ab jaana hoga. Raat ki train hai.
Veer : Oh! Haan, toh mein-
Arohi : Nahi! Tumhe mujhe drop karne ki zaroorat nahi. Mummy aur Vivek bhaiya rahenge mere saath. Tumhari need yaha zyada hai, Veer.
Har baar ki tarah bina kuchh bole hi Arohi pehle hi samajh chuki thi ki Veer kya kehna chaah raha tha. Veer ek qadam aur paas aaya, abhi bhi use samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.
Veer : Theek hai! Par-
Uske kuchh aur kehne se pehle hi, Arohi ne apni chunri theek ki, mudne ke liye taiyaar, magar uske perr hile nahi.
Uski khamoshi… uski ungliyaan jis tarah se hil rahi thi… Veer ne use turant bhaanp liya. Bina ek aur shabd kahe, woh aage badha aur use apni baaho me bhar liya.
Ek pal ke liye, Arohi thitak ke reh gayi. Phir, utni hi betaabi se uske haath Veer ke chaaro orr lipat gaye aur usne use apni baaho me kass kar bhar liya. Uski aankhein band ho gayi, dhadkane tez, aur usne mehsoos kiya. Veer ki wahi garmahat… Uske seene me hone ka sukoon… Uska dhaal ki tarah uske saamne khade rehna… Suraksha… Aur, ghar ka ek hissa jise chhor kar woh nahi jaana chaahti thi.
Usne apne aap ko iss vidaayi ke liye kayi baar taiyaar kar ke rakha hua tha, magar jab ab jaane ki baat sachmuch me aayi toh woh khud ko shaant nahi kar paayi.
Veer : I’ll miss you!
Arohi (weakly) : M-Me too…!
Veer halke se muskuraya, bas itna peechhe hata ki uska chehra dekh sake. Bina soche-samjhe, woh jhuka aur uske gaal ko dheere se choom liya.
Arohi ki saansein tham gayi. Uske gaal laal ho gaye aur iss se pehle ki Veer uske haav-bhaav ko samajh paata, woh jaldi se peechhe hati aur apna muh pher li.
“Waah! Waah! Meri kissy kaha hai?”
Tabhi, itne me peechhe se Kavya ki awaaz aayi jise sunn Arohi ke gaalo ka taapmaan aur bhi badh gaya. Kavya phudakti hui Veer ke saamne aayi aur usne apna gaal aage kar diya jaise kehna chaah rahi ho ki dekh kya rahe ho? Do!
Veer ne kiya bhi wahi! Woh ahista se jhuka, aur Kavya ke gaal ko jaise hi choomne ke liye hua, Kavya ne badi hi chalaaki se apna chehra halka sa mod liya, jiske chalte Veer ke honth seedhe Kavya ke hontho ke theek bagal waale hisse par jaa kar sparsh ho gaye. Veer jhatke se peechhe hata. Uski aankhein hairat me faili hui thi. Agar, uske reflexes itne tez na hote toh-
Veer : You…!
Kavya : Ehehe~ Maybe… next time. Heh~
Veer : You little…
Kavya : Ehehe~
Aur, woh waise hi phudakte hue bhaag gayi. Veer baal-baal bacha. Agar, uske honth waqai me sabke saamne Kavya ke hontho se chhiv jaate toh bahut dikkat ho sakti thi.
Arohi baaki sabhi se mili aur ek antim baar-
Arohi : B-Bye-!!
Usne kaha, uski awaaz lagbhag kaanp rahi thi, aur woh tez qadam lete hue gaadi me baith gayi. Veer use jaata hua dekhta raha, uske hontho par ek maayusi bhari muskaan. Arohi ko woh bahut yaad karne waala tha.
***
Casa Belle...
Aadesh apni hotel ke private suite me aalishan recliner par araam se baitha hua tha, uski kameez ke buttons aadhe khule hue the, jis se uski chhaati aur pasliyon par gehre baingani rang ke chot ke nishaan saaf dikhaayi de rahe the.
Uski personal secretary, uske baazu par aaye gande ghaav par dheere-dheere marham laga rahi thi. Har sparsh se woh sihar uthata, lekin kuchh kehta nahi. Use dard dikhaane se nafrat thi.
Pichhli raat ki hockey stick se maar ki jhalke, use ab bhi sata rahi thi. Veer ki wo laal aankhein. Use yaad tha. Beshaq. Woh aankhein laal hi thi. Uske badan par ruye khade ho gaye.
Usne uss drishya ko bhoolte hue apne event manager, Kumar ko dekha jo kuchh doorie par khada hua tha, haath me folder aur kandho me ek ajeeb si jakdan liye.
Aadesh : Kumar! Kya update hai?
Uski awaaz shaant thi, lekin usme ek bhaaripann tha jo aadar ki maang kar raha tha. Kumar ne gala saaf kiya aur savdhani se baat shuru ki.
Kumar : Hotel ka kaam chal raha hai, Sir. Do chhote events cancel ho chuke hai. Hold waali partnerships bhi cancel ho gayi hai.
Aadesh : Cancel? Kyu?
Kumar : Sir... Y-Ye sab uss video ke kaaran ho raha hai.
Aadesh : Video?
Kumar : Aur, Sir... Ab jab aap wapas se hotel me ho, police aap se jaanch ke liye aa sakti hai.
Aadesh : Ye kya bak rahe ho? Police? Mujhe laga tha tumne police ka matter sambhaal liya hoga.
Kumar : M-Maine sambhaal liya tha, Sir. Lekin... Iss video ne sab kuchh gadbad kar di hai. Ye dekhiye.
Kumar aage aate hue ek tablet ki screen par ek video chala ke Aadesh ko dikhaane laga. Jaise hi Aadesh ne wo video dekha uski aankhein phail gayi. Gusse se usne apne daant mees liye.
Video me wahi tha. Balhaar. Mumbai ka don. Haath me whiskey ka glass liye, ek bhavya sofe par aalasya me baitha hua tha.
"Kabhi-kabhi fursat ke palo ka maza lene ke liye... Mumbai ki sabse shandar hotel me aana padta hai. Services bhi achhi. Privacy bhi. Luxury bhi. Aur, koi rok-tok karne waala nahi. Hahaha!"
Aadesh jaanta tha. Video me private suite usi ka tha. Video aisa prateet ho raha tha jaise kisi ne chupke se video banaaya ho aur leak kiya ho.
Kintu, Aadesh jaanta tha. Yeh video jaan-boojh ke banaaya gaya tha. Aur, aisa dikhaya gaya tha jaise ki video leak kiya gaya ho. Dekhte hi dekhte social media me ye video felta hi jaa raha tha.
Yahi kaaran hai ki kyu uss raat Balhaar private suite ke andar gaya tha, jab Aadesh ko ghaseeta jaa raha tha. Woh ye video banaane hi gaya tha.
Aadesh ka haath armrest par itni zor se jakad gaya ki uski ungliyaan safed pad gayi. Lagbhag tablet ko fek kar todne se usne khud ko bachaaya.
Usne apne daant peese, dheemi gurraahat me wo badbadaya.
Aadesh : Ye saale... Mujhe frame kar rahe hai. Ek don agar din-dahaade hotel me ruk sakta hai, toh zaahir hai security ko lekar kayi sawaal khade honge ki akhir Casa Belle ne ek Don ko shelter dene ki himmat kaise ki? Police shaq kar rahi hogi ki mere connections underworld se toh nahi? Damn it!
Usne ek gehri saans li.
Aadesh : Kumar! Police se deal karo. Sab kuchh legally handle karo. Unhe batao ki mujhe frame kiya gaya hai. Aur, mere shareer par lage ye ghaav bhi ek saboot hi hai. Aur, agar maamla haath se nikalta dekhe, toh paise ka istemal karo. Samajh gaye?
Kumar (nods) : Ji Sir!
Aadesh peechhe jhuk gaya, uski aankhein band ho gayi. Jeevan me pehli baar aaj use gusse ke saath-saath thoda darr bhi mehsoos ho raha tha.
***
Trisha's house,
Evening - 7:30 PM ~
Rohan ke chehre par hatasha saaf jhalak rahi thi. Drawing room ki table par aneko files padi hui thi, lekin uski nazar sirf Trisha par thi.
Rohan (frowns) : Tumhare dimaag me chal kya raha tha, Trisha? Late night, bina kisi ko inform kiye, Vasai slaughterhouse chali gayi? Tum DSP ho, koi private detective nahi! Upar se rapid action unit leke-!?
Trisha (glaani me) : Mein sirf lead follow kar rahi thi… mujhe laga-
Rohan : Laga? Kya laga, Trisha? Tumhe bas laga, isliye tumne poori operation team le jaa ke bina sanction ke raid kar di? Pata hai kitni jaan gayi hai waha? Aur, woh Ranjeet…
Trisha : Wahi Ranjeet hi tha Prestige shootout ke peechhe, Rohan. I- I confirmed it later.
Rohan : Aur, tumne use hi maar diya. Tum samajh rahi ho? Tumne ek key suspect khatam kar diya. Case ka main thread hi kat gaya.
Trisha ne apni aankhon ko neeche kar liya. Uska dil bhaari tha.
Trisha (weakly) : Mein… mein nahi chaahti thi aisa ho. It... It was an accident, Rohan.
Rohan ne gehri saans li.
Rohan : Trisha, tumne apne pehle ke failures se kuchh seekha bhi nahi. Serial killer ka pata lagaane me already tumhari performance question me thi. Aur, ab yeh… tum samajh rahi ho iska fallout? Maine tumse kaha bhi tha ki iss case par zyada focus karo. Baaki kisi par nahi. Par-
Trisha chup thi.
Rohan (hatasha me) : Transfer order lag chuka hai, Trisha. IG Crime Branch ne recommendation di hai. ADG Headquarters ne endorse bhi kar diya. Ab yeh Home Department ke paas hai. Aur, tum jaanti ho, ek baar file home secretary ke sign tak chali gayi… even a DGP like me can’t pull it back.
Trisha (desperately) : Tum DGP ho, Rohan… tum kuchh kar nahi sakte kya?
Rohan : Police System me DGP bhi ek limit tak hi intervention kar sakta hai. Police Act ke under, disciplinary action aur transfers ka final decision state government ka hota hai. Mein bas delay kar sakta tha… cancel nahi. Tumhare record me ab iss operation ka blunder bhi add ho gaya hai. Ab toh Home Minister tak baat pahunch chuki hai, Trisha.
Uski baat ka ek-ek shabd Trisha ke dil ko chubh raha tha.
Rohan (nirasha me) : Mein chaah ke bhi ab kuchh nahi kar sakta, Trisha. Kaash tumne meri baat ko seriously liya hota. Ab tum bas apni posting ka wait karo.
Itna bol, Rohan ne apna coat uthaya, aur bina peechhe dekhe waha se nikal gaya. Woh Trisha ki harqat se behad niraash tha.
Trisha (mutters) : R-Rohan...!
Ghar ka sannaata bhaari tha. Trisha ki saansein tez chal rahi thi. Uska dimag abhi bhi slaughterhouse ki tasveer se bhara hua tha. Ranjeet ki laash, uske aadmiyon ki laashe, khoon-kharaba sab uske mann me mandra raha tha.
Woh apni soch ko halka karne ke liye baahar tehelne ke liye nikli. Darwaza kholte hi uske perr thithak gaye. Usne neeche dekha.
Ek envelope.
Usne aas-paas dekha. Raasta khaali tha. Koi nazar nahi aa raha tha. Jhuk ke usne dheere se envelope uthaya. Dil tezi se dhadak raha tha. Aur, ghar ke andar aake usne cover ko phaada.
Andar se ek photo nikal kar neeche zameen par gir gayi. Jaise hi usne use dekha-
Uske chehre ka rang udd gaya. Tasveer mein woh khud thi. Apni gun ko Ranjeet par aim karte hue jo hooks se latka hua tha. Ranjeet ke seene par goliyaan dhansi hui thi, jism khoon se ekdum laal.
'Yeh… yeh kaise…?'
Uska haath kaanpne laga. Dimag me ek hi baat ghoom rahi thi.
Woh flash… woh click… koi tha waha. Koi dekh raha tha. Zaahir hai, asli murderer. Jisne use phasaaya.
Envelope ke andar photo ke saath me ek chhota note bhi tha. Usne use uthaya, aur padhna shuru kiya.
"Agar ye photo sheher bhar me ghoomti dekhna nahi chaahti, toh jaisa mein keh raha hoon waisa karo. Bihar! Go there! Ya waha ki police se contact karo. There's a conman there who loots and kills innocent people. Find him. Capture him. Tumhare paas zyada waqt nahi. Warna..."
Note yahi khatam ho gaya.
Trisha ki aankhon me gussa aur darr dono tha. Uska dimag chillane ko keh raha tha, lekin dil samajh raha tha ki yeh koi chhota khel nahi tha. Transfer ki talwar pehle hi uske sirr pe latak rahi thi… aur, ab yeh blackmail bhara note.
Ek baat spasht thi. Jo bhi tha, uski har harqat par nazar rakh raha tha. Ab agar usne yeh kaam nahi kiya… toh uska career, uska naam, sab barbaad ho sakta tha.
***
Parijaat ke ghar raat me Veer Suman aur Aabha ko lekar aaya hua tha. Vandna se Suman ki bhaint karwana zaroori tha. Sabhi aurtein baahar hall me baatein kar rahi thi toh wahi Veer andar bedroom me laita apne system me vyast tha.
Aur, tabhi uske mann me-
[S-Sorry...!]
'...!?'
[I... I'm sorry!]
Pari ki ruwasi awaaz uske mann me goonji. Subah se woh sleep mode me thi. Manorath ji ki terhvi ke waqt jab Veer emotional feel kar raha tha tab bhi woh baahar nahi aayi thi.
Aur, isliye ab use apne upar glaani mehsoos ho rahi thi. Veer ne kuchh na kaha. Bas khamosh laita raha.
Yaha aane se pehle usne hi Trisha ke ghar me woh photo aur note envelope me rakh ke bheja tha. Vandna ne jo kuchh bhi bataya tha, uss se ye spasht tha ki wo baba hi kuchh gadbad tha. Dhongiyo ko lekar Veer kaafi chaukanna rehta tha, khaas kar Slogan ka past dekhne ke baad se.
Aur, agar waqai me kuchh gadbad thi- toh, Trisha ko waha bhej ko uss se waha ka sach nikalwana sabse uchit tareeka tha.
Kyunki, yaha par uske haath waise hi bandhe hue the.
*Ding*
[Mission : The Devil is in the details.
Description : Find the culprit who messed with Hotel Prestige, Yarnia, and host's family. Find the plotter.
Rewards : 10,000 points.
Time limit : 1 month.
Mission failure penalty : Unknown for now.]
Pehla mission toh yahi tha jo Veer ke liye mushqil hone waala tha.
Toh, wahi dusra tha-
[Mission : Deal breaker (1)
Description : Find the truth about Pushkar, Gaurav and Nik.
Rewards :
1) 10,000 points.
2) Favourability increase of Divya and Suhana.
Time limit : 9 days.
Mission failure penalty : Losing Suhana and Divya.]
Ye tha jo uske liye sabse mehatvpoorn hone waala tha. Samay seema kam thi. Sirf 9 din.
[H-Hey! I-I'm sorry! *sniff*]
'Hmm!'
Iss baar Veer ne bas haami bhari, jo Pari ko bilkul bhi pasand nahi aayi.
[Bol toh diya maine sorry. Wh-Why are you behaving like this now?]
'Behaving like what?'
[L-Like... *sniff* Like this.]
'Kya?'
[Argh! Forget it. *sniff*]
'Show me the favorabilities, Pari!'
[Mmm!]
*Ding*
Agle hi kshan Veer ke saamne favorabilities ka panel khul gaya. Usne dekha ki sabhi ki favorabilities me baddhotri hui thi siwaaye-
Ragini ke. Favourability ghat chuki thi. Aur, uski wajah Veer bakhubi jaanta tha.
Usne dekha ki Vandna ki favourability halki-si badhi thi. Shayad baahar Parijaat ki aurtein use samjhaane me lagi hui thi.
Usne Skill Shop ki orr apna dhyaan kiya. Skill Shop humesha hi har ek hafte me refresh hoti thi. Har system holder keval aur keval unhi skills ko khareed sakta tha jo uss waqt Skill Shop me maujood rehti thi.
Aisa nahi tha ki jo mann me aaya wo skill khareed li. Isliye, Veer ne kabhi Skill Shop par zyada dhyaan nahi diya tha. Kyunki, adhiktar samay jo skills use chahiye hoti thi, waisi koi shop me hoti hi nahi thi.
'Pari! Open the skill shop.'
[Hmm!]
*Ding*
Veer ke saamne system ki neeli screen par skill shop khul gayi. Har hafte 10 random skills shop me available hoti thi. System level jab se 10 par aaya tha tab se kaafi kuchh badlaav aa chuke the system me.
Unse skills ko dekha...
[Skill : Steel Focus
Description : Enhances the host's concentration to hyper-human levels for short bursts. Multitasking becomes effortless, distractions fade away, and time seems to slow during execution. Ideal for high-stress environments or performance-critical tasks.
Price : 3000 points
Tier : Silver Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'Hmm? Silver Tier huh! For multitasking!?'
[Master! Mein suggest karungi ki aap ye skill na le.]
'Ohh? Aur, kyu?'
[Kyunki, points ko invest karne ke liye aur bhi achhi-achhi skills hai.]
Veer ne haami bhar agli skill ko dekha.
[Skill : Reflex Override
Description : Temporarily boosts the host’s reflexes to their absolute peak. Dodging punches, catching falling objects, reacting to sudden threats, all become second nature.
Price : 4500 points
Tier : Gold Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
[Again, aapke reflexes pehle hi fast hai. Upar se Beowulf's Blessings aapke senses, reflexes, speed, agility sab increase kar deta hai. So, a useless skill for you.]
'I agree. What's the next one?'
[Skill : Mind Mirror
Description : Enables the host to instantly analyze micro-expressions, tone, and body language to deduce emotions and possible intentions. Acts like a real-time psychological mirror.
Price : 6000 points
Tier : Gold Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
'Huh?'
Iss baar Veer uth ke baith gaya.
'This skill...!'
[It's a good skill. But again, kya aapko iski zaroorat hai?]
'It might come in handy in Pushkar's mission. Lekin, non upgradable hai. Aur, bas yahi reason hai jo mein hesitate kar raha hu.'
[Exactly, master. Pehle saari skills dekh lijiye. Then, ise dekhte hai.]
'Hmm!'
[Skill : Shadow Memory
Description : The host can recall anything they’ve seen or heard in the past 7 days with absolute clarity, as if replaying a recording. Useful for surveillance, investigations, or sharp decision-making.
Price: 7000 points
Tier: Gold Tier Skill]
'Ohhh!'
[Kya aapko iski need hai?]
'Well, ye skill exams ke liye mast hai, haha! Oh fuck!'
[Hmm?]
'Mujhe abhi yaad aaya ki... Shayad college me exams aane waale the. Pragya! I remember she told me exams would come soon!'
Usne apna phone check kiya. Dekha toh paaya ki Pragya ka number uski blocked list me dala hua tha.
'What the...!?'
Use ye pata nahi tha ki Pragya ka contact number Kavya ne uss din uske phone me block kar diya tha.
'Shit...!'
Ab jab usne Pragya ko wapas se ping kiya toh dhada-dhad ek saath kayi messages aane shuru ho gaye.
Pragya : Veer!!! Are you there? Literally! Maine kitne calls kiye tumhe do you even know? Par, call lag hi nahi raha tha. Did you block me or something?
Veer : Ah! Let's just say I was very busy. Aur, tumne news to dekhi hi hogi.
Pragya : Ah! Right! Right! Kaise ho tum? Is everything fine?
Veer : Better than before.
Pragya : Right. I'll cut to the chase. Tumne apna pehla exam miss kar diya hai.
Veer (sighs) : I see...!
Pragya : But still... It's not too late. Ye finals nahi hai. But don't take them lightly.
Veer : Mein nahi aa paunga.
Pragya : Wait! What?
Veer : Dada ji expire ho gaye hai toh- I won't be attending the college.
Pragya : Ahh! My condolences. B-But... Exams-!?
Veer : Mein dekh lunga. See ya!
Pragya : Ah! O-Ok!
Veer ne apna phone side me rakha. Uske paas ab inn college ke shenanigans ke liye samay nahi tha. Wo kayi guna bade matters se deal kar raha tha life me. Pehle inhe handle karna zaroori tha.
'Pari! Continue karo.'
[Ok!]
[Skill : Ambidex Mastery
Description : Grants perfect control over both hands and legs allowing the host to perform complex tasks with either or both simultaneously. Perfect for combat, surgery, or multitasking environments.
Price: 2500 points
Tier: Silver Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'Hmm! Mera right hand dominant hai. Left hand weak. Lekin, sirf 2500 points ke liye mein-! Abhi nahi. I don't need that right now.'
[That's right.]
Woh aage badha.
[Skill : Lion’s Voice
Description : Modulates the host’s voice to command attention, induce trust, or inspire fear, based on intent. Especially effective in negotiations, speeches, or interrogations.
Price: 8000 points
Tier: Platinum Tier Skill (Non upgradable)]
[Ise buy karna bewakoofi hogi, Master.]
'Right! Already mere paas Intimidating Presence hai. It's useless for me.'
[Exactly, Master.]
'Next!'
[Skill : Urban Ghost
Description : Makes the host's movement nearly undetectable in populated areas, blending with crowds, avoiding cameras, and leaving minimal trace. Doesn’t make you invisible, just invisible enough.
Price : 9000 points
Tier : Platinum Tier Skill (Upgradable)]
'This...!'
Veer ki bauhe sikudi. Ye skill kamaal ki thi. Upar se Platinum Tier skill thi aur upgradable bhi.
Veer raat me slaughterhouse me apni stealth ka istemal isliye kar paaya tha kyunki, samay raat ka tha. Andhera tha. Aur, uske khilaaf aam aadmi the. Na ki system holders.
Agar, yahi stealth infiltration wo kisi system holders ke base me jaake karta toh woh beshaq nakaam ho jaata.
'Pari! Kitne points bache hai total?'
[29,000 points.]
'Tch!'
Skill mehngi thi. Waqai. Lekin, Veer ko iski zaroorat thi. Garofano aur Erica dono ke paas 'Dead Silence' thi. Erica ke paas 'Chameleon' bhi thi jo use stealth me maahir banaati thi.
Kintu, uske paas aisi koi si bhi skill nahi thi. Aur, jaise-jaise wo aage badh raha tha. Use lagne laga tha ki infiltration sjr stealth ke liye kisi ek skill ka hona behad zaroori tha.
'Pari! Buy this skill.'
[Huh? Are you sure, Master?]
'Hmm!'
[Okay!]
*Ding*
[9000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
['Urban Ghost' skill has been added to the skills.]
[Total points left : 20,000.]
Veer ne ek santushti bhari haami bhari. Usne fir 'Quest Hunt' ki orr dekha. Na jaane kitna samay ho chuka tha use iska istemal kiye.
'I feel like playing today. Kitne points use honge ek draw me, Pari?'
[1000 points for 1 pull.]
'Fuckin' hell!!'
Veer ka dimaag price sunte hi kharab ho gaya. Shuruat me kaha 200 points lagte the aur ab-
'Maybe? I might get lucky!? Draw one pull.'
[Are you sure, Master?]
'Yeah!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations for getting nothing at all.]
'Fucking...!!!'
Veer ke muh se gaali nikalte-nikalte reh gayi. Usne chaadar ko kass kar bheencha.
'D-Draw one more time.'
[Are you really sure, Master?]
'Yeah! Zyada se zyada kya hoga? Ya toh kuchh nahi milega ya phir ek legendary card, right?'
[O-Okay!]
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations for being an idiot again. You get nothing at all.]
'Motherfucke-!!!'
[Umm! M-Master! Quest Hunt aisa hi hota hai. It's all based on luck. D-Do you want to continue?]
'Y-Yeah! Points hai bahut mere paas. Agar, kuchh achha mil gaya toh-'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Woohoo! Hatrick! Congratulations for being the same idiot for the third time.]
'What the hell is wrong with these notifications? Huh?'
[Ah! I don't know, Master. Wait! K-Kahi!? Huh? Is it you? Ah! Damn it! She might be doing this...!]
'What the hell? Kaun? Kiski baat kar rahi ho tum, Pari?'
[Remember the first Pari? She...! Argh! It's hard to explain now, Master. B-But... Abhi notifications ko bhool jaaiye. I can't do anything about it. Do you want me to continue?]
'Yeah! Go on!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[How can someone be so dumb? Congratulations for being the absolute disgrace.]
'Madar-!!! I swear, I'll kill her! Is she messing with me? Wo system ko beech me kaise influence kar sakti hai? I guess tum mujhe bataane se rahi. Mere jawaab agar mujhe chahiye toh sirf intezar ke alawa mere paas koi aur choice nahi, right?'
[Yes. Thank you for understanding, Master. Do you still want to play? You are now left with 16,000 points.]
'One last time.'
[Sure?]
'Do it!'
*Ding*
[1000 points have been used.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations! You have gained 'Beowulf's Blessings II Legendary Card.]
'What the-!! No! No! No! No! Don't tell me mujhe wahi card phir se mil gaya!'
Veer phir se usi card ke milne par pareshan ho raha tha ki tabhi-
*Ding*
[Do you want to fuse the card? Or sell it?]
'Huh? Wait! M-Mein card fuse kar sakta hu?'
Veer ka dimaag chakra raha tha. Uske badan par rue khade ho chuke the.
[Yes Master. Some cards can be fused. You got very lucky. Aapko Beowulf's Blessings II mila hai. It's the final form. Don't sell it. Fuse it.]
'Then do it!'
Aur, agle hi kshan usne dekha ki uska puraana Beowulf's Blessings ka card iss naye Beowulf's Blessings II ke card ke saath fuse hone laga.
Dono card ek dusre se takra ke ek mishran me badal rahe the. Ek naya card.
Aur, jaise hi woh naya card Veer ke saamne aaya, Veer ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi.
*Ding*
[Congratulations! You have gained 'Eternal Beowulf' the final form of 'Beowulf's Blessings.']
Veer maun reh gaya.
[You are now left with 15,000 points.]
'Fuckkk!!'
Woh khush hoke sab kuchh padh paata ki tabhi uska phone punah baj utha aur message tha — Suhana ka.
"Veer! I need your help. ICONGLOBE kuchh hi dino me aane waali hai. Sonu wants to get this deal. But Kaera would be there as well. I... I need your help. C-Can you... Can you help Sonu get this deal? Don't consider this as a repayment of any favor. I... I'm just asking you as a close friend. W-Will you help me?"
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This update consists of 9k words. Isme bahut kuchh aur hona tha but maine ant me ise thoda light hi rakha because of the fever I was having. I could only write this much. But ye bhi ek shocker rahega ju logo ke liye ki cards fuse bhi ho sakte hai. You didn't see that coming now, do you? Thoda system lore me aur deeply ghuse hai hum iss update me. ICONGLOBE is here. You know now what's coming. Aaj ke liye itna hi. Target wahi hai. 250. Reviews rakhne ka aur likes thokne ka.
Dhanyavad.
fantastic fabulous awesome update