Incest Baadshah ~ The Tales of Debauchery

[Werewolf]

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Latest Update - Update 208 ​

 

[Gmlove]

Bhai yeh update kahan end kar dia...
Veer bechara yeh kahan haseenaon me phanss gaya...

Yar kia khoob likhty ho...pata hi nahi chala kab 9k words complete ho gaye aur halat aisi hai ke dil mange more...

Tej ke reaction ka mujhy besabri se intezar tha aur mujhy laga tha wo gussey me koi blunder mary gi aur us ne wohi kia over react kar gayi aur bhomika ko wo pata chal gaya jo us ko nahi pata chalna chahiye tha...

Udhar ghar me ab sub behno ko kahin na kahin raghni se jealousy ho rahi per jo un ke andar hai wo bhi khul kar nazar aagya hai..veer se ladky ladki wala pyar..

Veer ki mehnat rang layi hai kaera ne ab emotions ko pehchanna start kar dia hai..

Yahan casa belle me veer ko yeh samajh nahi aa rahi thi kaera , sonia aur suhana ko kaisey sambhaly aur us ki kismat ki kharabi baki 3haseenain bhi aagyai hain...

Ab kia bany ga..veeer ka
In teeno ko kaisey sambhaly ga..sonia ko kaisey deal dalwaye ga..kaera ka kaisey samna karey ga...
Yeh time us k liye bohat mushkil hone wala..
Aur agar ava ka kaera aur sonia ko pata lag gaya to kia ho ga .

 

[Rexd]

Update - 208 ~ The Corporate Gala — ICONGLOBE (1)​

Ab tak...

10 billion dollars ki deal.

Jise haasil karne ke liye kataar me log toh bahut the, magar do hi sabse mazboot pratidwandi the : NEXACOM aur ELITE MOTORS.

Aur, Prestige ke reparation ke chalte, ye corporate gala ki hosting jaa chuki thi : Casa Belle ko.

Kyunki, ICONGLOBE-

Kal hi apne qadam Bharat par rakhne waali thi.

Ab aage...

Mid-January,
Casa Belle, Mumbai,
Evening - 7:15 PM ~

Hotel ka driveway raushni se jagmaga raha tha, luxury sedan cars bhavya hotel ke parking area me pravesh karti jaa rahi thi. Casa Belle aaj shaan se chamak rahi thi. Orchid, lavendar ke phool jagah-jagah par lage apni khushboo bikher rahe the.

Raat me halki-si thandak bhi maujood thi. Aane waale ek se badh ke ek VIPs ke liye photographers bhi apni kataar lagaaye khade hue the. Baahar ka ilaaka unki flash lights se chamak raha tha.

Inn VIPs me na keval businessmen aur badi-badi companies ke log, balki celebrities bhi shaamil the.

Aur, Veer...

Woh thodi dur khada tha, uski nigaahein sateek, adh khuli aankhein, shaant, veh iss drishya ko aise dekh raha tha maano jaise wo inn sab cheezon se anjaan ho.

Use ab bhi yaad tha ki pichhli baar woh kab yaha aaya tha. Aadesh Jaisinghani ki hasi isi hotel ke hall me goonj rahi thi kabhi, aur uske dwara woh apmaan. Use sab yaad tha.

Kintu, woh aaj shauharat paane nahi aaya tha. Woh yaha tha sirf ek vyakti ki wajah se : Suhana!

"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?"

Yahi shabd the Suhana ke. Agar, Suhana ne na kaha hota, toh aaj woh yaha aaya hi na hota. Par, uss ladki ne uske liye jo kuchh bhi kiya tha, uske saamne itni-si madad kuchh bhi nahi thi.

[Master! Kya plan hai aapka? Kaise aap Kaera ke against jaa kar ye deal Sonia ko dilwaoge? Bhale hi mujhe Sonia pasand nahi, lekin-! Suhana ne maang ki hai aur mein jaanti hu ki aap use mana nahi karoge.]

Pari chaahti toh Veer ke mann ko padh sakti thi. Lekin, bina anumati ke woh ab yeh kaarya nahi karti thi aur na hi karna chaahti thi.

'I don't know!'

Veer ne sarr hilaate hue jawaab diya.

[What? I... I thought aapne kuchh plan kar ke rakha hoga.]

'Dekhte hai! Genuinely dekha jaaye toh mujhe yaha hona hi nahi chahiye. I'm not invited after all.'

[So, what? Aap- Ek din dekhna sab aapke aage-peechhe ghoomenge. Beetein palon ko dekhiye, Master. Aap kaha se kaha aa gaye. Humein aur aage badhna hai. Don't get disheartened. Our journey has just begun.]

Veer dheere-se muskuraya. Woh jaanta tha ki Pari uska dil behlaane ke liye yeh sab keh rahi thi.

Usne dekha...

Kaise Casa Belle ke ird-gird hawa aiyyaashi, vilaasita aur ahankar se gulzar thi. Tuxedo aur suits pehne purush apni ghadiya dekh rahe the, aage badh rahe the, haath mila rahe the.

Toh wahi, chaandi, sone, heere, aur makhmali reshmi kapdo me lipti mahilaaye apni muskaan sawaar rahi thi, photos click karwa rahi thi.

Usne dekha ki foreign delegates aur vibhinn CEOs bhi apni-apni mehngi gaadiyon se utar rahe the, ek-dusre ka abhivadan sirr hila kar aur idhar-udhar ki baatein kar rahe the. Harr kuchh kshano me cameras click ho rahe the aur inn palo ko qaid kar rahe the.

Usne ek gehri saans li aur aage badha.

Navy blue suit uss par aise janch raha tha jaise maano uske liye hi bana ho aur ek prakaar se bana bhi tha. Yeh Yarnia ki Louis dwara ek khaas peshkash thi. Bhale hi bahut kuchh dhwast ho chuka tha, lekin abhi bhi kuchh resources storage me bache hue the.

White shirt ke saath pair kar ke uska suit uss par aaj bahut lubha raha tha. Crisp and clean. Apne jeb me haath daale, nishchint, woh aise aage badh raha tha jaise raat maano uski hi ho.

Usne dekha, apni daayi orr, ek chhote start-up company ke kuchh log display table par apne eco-engine ka ek prototype dikha rahe the. Sirf wahi nahi, aur bhi chhoti companies isi tarah apne-apne prototypes ko baahar gallery me saaj-sajja aur naveenta ke tehet prastut kar rahi thi. Ye corporate gala ke anokhe aakarshano me se ek tha.

Woh VIP logon ke jhund ke beech se guzra. Kuchh ne mudkar uski taraf dekha, yeh soch kar ki kya ve use jaante the? Toh, kuchh ne dekhne ki zehmat hi na uthaayi. Kintu, use iss se koi farq nahi pada.

Woh aaj pehchaane jaane ke liye nahi chal raha tha. Woh aise chal raha tha jaise use pata tha ki ek na ek din use pehchaan to milegi hi... Ek din, jab duniya ghutne tekne ko taiyyar rahegi.

Jaise hi woh mukhya dwaar ke paas pahucha, kaale suit pehne do security guards scanner ke paas khade the. Veer dheere-se ruka, ummeed thi ki humesha ki tarah koi sawaal poochhega.

Usne apni jeb se Suhana dwara diya gaya ek card nikaala, jo ki Casa Belle ka Unicard tha, lekin-

Uski zaroorat hi na padi. Koi aage hi nahi aaya. Scanner se nikli laal kiran uski chhaati par se guzri aur phir hari ho gayi.

Veer ne bauhe chadhaate hue unn gaurds ko dekha.

Veer : Oh? Kya rokna nahi hai mujhe?

Usne chidhaate hue poochha. Tabhi, ek guard aage badha aur ahista se jawab diya.

Guard : Aapko entry allowed hai, Sir!

Veer ke honth halke se mude.

Veer (smirks) : Bina invitation ke?

Guard (nods) : Humaare Sir ka order hai. Aap andar jaa sakte hai.

Usne nazrein neeche karte hue jawab diya.

Ek pal ke liye Veer kuchh nahi bola. Uske chehre par ek halki muskaan thi. Lagta hai uske dwara Aadesh ko diya gaya wo dose kaafi prabhavshali tha. Usne dheere-se sarr hilaaya aur Unicard ko apni jeb me daalte hue aage badh gaya.

Woh mukhya dwaar se andar pravesh kiya. Sangeet, hasi, baaton ka halka shor, kaanch ke pyaalo ke takraane ki khan-khan ki dhwaniyaan mil kar bhavyata ka saboot de rahi thi.

Uski aakriti neeche cham-chamaate polished floor par reflect ho rahi thi. Aur, uski nazrein apne kaam par lag gayi.

'Check!'

*Ding*

'Check'

*Ding*

Filhaal, aam aadmiyo ke alawa udhar koi na tha. Usne ye jaan ek raahat ki saans li.

***

Wahi iss orr ghar par mahaul thoda garm tha. Pratyek kshan dhadkan ki tarah prateet ho raha tha jaise kisi hone waali ghatna ki orr ulti ginti gin raha ho.

Kamre me Tej murti ki tarah jami hui baithi thi, aankhein pheli, saansein tez.

"K-Kya kaha aapne??"

Uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi. Avishwas se nahi, balki kisi aparichit vishvasghaat se.

Bhavna : Shh! Dheere-!

Bhavna ne dheere-se aah bhari. Uski shaant aankhon me bhi kahi na kahi ashaanti jhalak rahi thi.

Bhavna : Dekh ke yahi lag raha hai, Tej. Ragini Veer se pyaar karti hai. Pata nahi ye sab kab aur kaise hua- kahi na kahi mujhe thoda shaq toh tha, lekin-

Tej ki chhaati ekdum se phooli maano jaise uska dum ghut raha ho.

Tej : -Aur, aap mujhe yeh ab bata rahi ho? Aapne mujhe yeh sab usi waqt kyu nahi bataaya? Itna intezar kyu-!?

Wahi kamre ke dusri orr Bhumika bhi khadi hui thi, baahein dheeli magar dimaag vichlit. Bhavna aur Shweta ne unn dono ko abhi-abhi sab kuchh bata diya tha. Uski bauhe apne vichaaro ko soch sikudi, usne mann hi mann kuchh drishya daudaaye.

Veer ki taraf dekhte hue Ragini ki wo aankhein, usne unn par dhyaan diya tha magar nazarandaz bhi kar diya tha. Lekin, ab ye sab saamne aane ke baad-

Use apne seene me ek bhaaripann sa mehsoos hua.

Ragini kyu??? Aur, abhi hi kyu?

Tej ekdum se khadi hui, uski kursi zameen par zorr se ragad kar peechhe dhakil gayi.

Tej : N-Nahi!

Usne sirr hilaate hue budbudaya.

Tej : A-Aisa nahi ho sakta. Mein aisa nahi hone dungi.

Bhavna : Tej...

Lekin, Tej ka gussa bhala kaha shaant hone waala tha.

Tej (yells) : Woh uski BHABHI hai mom!!! Aur, ab... ab woh Veer se pyaar-!?

Uski awaaz beech me hi toot gayi, dard chhalak utha.

Tej : A-Aapko pata bhi hai na ki iska kya matlab hai, mom?

Kintu, Bhavna ki khamoshi hi uska jawab thi.

Shweta : Yahi sach hai. Jitna hairan tum ho uss se kayi zyada hairan mein hu, kyunki mein Ragini ko kaafi samay se jaanti hu.

Tej (grits teeth) : Tch!

Shweta : Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki- *frowns* Ragini aisa kuchh karegi. Ye delicate matter hai. Thoda sambhal ke iss par discuss karna hoga.

Tej : Sambhal ke? Toh, aap kya karengi? Unhe pyaar se samjhayengi? Ki beta ye sab galat hai! Aur, wo maan jaayengi?

Shweta : Jo bhi ho, lekin zorr se cheenkh ke, chillaa ke iss topic par baat karna iska solution toh nahi na.

Bhumika (nods) : Tejal! Shaant ho jao!

Tej : Mujhe shaant hone ke liye mat kahiye aap!

Bhumika kuchh na boli. Woh abhi bhi apni soch me doobi hui thi.

"I don't understand..." Woh budbudayi. "Ragini bhabhi ko itne saalo me maine kabhi kisi aadmi se easily judte dekha nahi. Woh toh humesha se ek deewar bana ke rakhti thi apne beech. Aur, ab wo-!? Veer se pyaar kar baithi-?"

Par, tabhi use dhyaan aaya ki shayad-

Ragini akeli nahi thi. Inn beetein dino me wo bhi toh thi, jo Veer ko lekar pareshaan thi. Uske dil me na jaane kaisi-kaisi tarangein uth rahi thi.

Bhumika ne sheeshe me se apna chehra pher liya, uski dhadkan tez thi. Uska mann bhi toh hafto se chup-chap ladd raha tha. Veer se harr churaayi gayi nazar, uske nazdeek hone se uske dil me paida ho rahi halchalein, usne unn bhavnao ko tarq ki parto ke saath neeche daba diya tha.

Lekin, ab Ragini ki bhavnao ke khulaase ke baad, wo dabi hui bhavnaaye phir se bechain aur binn bulaaye ubhar rahi thi.

Toh wahi Tej ka gussa alag tha. Uska krodh tezi se bhadak raha tha. Irshya ne uske dil me gehrayi tak pakad bana li thi, aur usne iss baar use chhipaane ki koshish bhi nahi ki. Ya yu kahe ki uska dhyaan hi nahi gaya.

Tej : Veer!!! Kaha hai, Veeru???

Bhavna : Pata nahi. Keh ke gaya ki kuchh zaroori kaam hai. Raat me derr se aayega.

Tej : Aur, aapne poochha bhi nahi ki kaha jaa rahe ho??? OH GOOODD!!

Woh achanak mudi, uske baal lehraaye, aur seedhe wo Ragini ke kamre ki orr chal padi.

Bhavna (yells) : TEJ-!!!

Parantu, Tej ne ek na suni. Uske qadam bhaari the, goonj rahe the jab tak ki woh Ragini ke kamre ke paas tak nahi pahuch gayi.

*Thud*

Darwaaze ko usne dhadam se khola aur dekha ki-

Ragini bistar par takiye se tek lagaaye laiti hui thi, uski wheelchair uske bistar ke bagal se rakhi hui thi, aur Kavya uske bagal se laiti, uss se chipki hui thi.

Dono ne chaukte hue upar dekha. Ve dono uth baithi.

Tej khud bhi stabdh thi. Drishya dekh woh yeh bhool gayi ki woh yaha kisliye aayi thi. Ragini, bhramit aur shaant, Kavya jigyasu magar kisi suraksha kavach ki tarah Ragini ke saamne baithi hui.

Tej ke honth bolne ke liye khule, lekin ek bhi shabd nikalne se pehle hi ek haath ne uski kalaayi pakad li.

“Idhar aao-”

Bhumika ki awaaz peechhe se aayi. Tej ne mud apne kandhe ke upar se use dekha.

“Ch-Chhorro-!”

“Nahi!” Lekin, Bhumika ne dridhta se use waha se kheencha aur le gayi. Darwaza band ho gaya.

Kamre ke andar, Kavya ne apni bauhe sikod aashcharya prakat kiya.

Kavya : K-Kya hua?

Ragini : Pata nahi!

Kavya : Umm… Bhabhi, shayad Tejal didi ko bhi wo baat pata lag gayi. Isliye, woh aayi hongi.

Ragini : Oh!? Shayad… Tumne theek kaha.

Baahar, Tej zorr-zorr se saans le rahi thi. Bhumika se baat karte hue uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.

Tej : Chhoriye, mujhe! Mein- Mein ise bardaasht nahi kar sakti. Hargiz nahi! Woh… Woh Veeru ko nahi rakh sakti. B-Bilkul bhi nahi.

Bhumika ki pakad uske haath par thodi aur mazboot ho gayi.

Bhumika : Toh, phir hungama mat karo. Kyunki, iss se baat aur bhi bigad jayegi.

Tej ke honth aapas me chipak gaye, uska gala bhavnao se bhar gaya. Uski aankhein bhaavuk ho uthi, lekin usne aansu girne nahi diye.

Bhumika : Akhir, tumhe ho kya gaya hai? Tum waha andar jaa kar ladaayi shuru karne waali thi, tumhe pata hai?

Tej : Ladaayi? You think I care about that right now? Look at her. Kaise innocent bann rahi hai woh. She’s lying there, crying… and all he can think of is running to her every time she falls apart. Every single time.

Bhumika : Veer bas unki madad kar raha tha, Tejal. Ragini bhabhi injured hai, bhulo mat. Unhe chot lagi hai.

Tej ne halki-si hasi chhori. Thodi kadwi aur thodi ladkhadati hui.

Tej : Bilkul! Zaahir hai woh unki madad kar raha tha. Veeru aisa hi toh hai. Woh unki madad sabse pehle karta hai jo sabse zyada zorr se rote hai. Jo khud ko khoob lachaar dikhaate hai. Mein galat nahi hu, hai na? See, I get it ki wo injured hai par ye pyaar vyaar? Isme kiski galti hai?

Gusse aur niraasha ke beech kaanpti uski awaaz phus-phusahat me badal gayi.

Tej : He never sees what’s right in front of him.

Bhumika (frowns) : Kya matlab?

Tej ne nazrein pher li, apne baalo me haath pherte hue, bhaari saansein lete hue woh boli.

Tej : K-Kuchh nahi…!

Magar, uski bud-budahat phir se Bhumika ne sunn li.

Tej (mutters) : Woh Veeru ke laayak nahi hai. Woh kabhi thi hi nahi. Koi bhi nahi.

Bhumika thitak ke reh gayi. Woh dheere-se Tej ki orr mudi aur use gaur se dekhne lagi. Tej ne dhyaan hi nahi diya, woh apni hi uljhan me khoyi hui thi, halke-halke hil rahi thi aur uski ungliyaan kaanp rahi thi.

Tej (mutters) : Woh unhe ek baar dekhta hai aur sab kuchh bhool jaata hai. Hmph! Kya mein notice nahi karti? Sab dikhta hai mujhe bhi. As if she’s the only one that matters. As if she’s the only one he’s ever cared for…

Uski awaaz bud-budaate hue toot gayi aur phir woh achanak hi chup ho gayi. Uske baad jo sannaata chhaaya, woh gehra tha.

Bhumika ki aankhein kuchh jaan ke chaudi ho gayi. Tej ka yeh lehza, ye shabd, ye kadwahat, sab kuchh ek hi cheez ki orr ishaara kar raha tha. Jis tarah Tej kabhi-kabhi Veer ko dekhti hai, kaise woh humesha uske prati kuchh protective si rehti hai, kuchh zyada hi protective. Yeh sab kuchh ek hi cheez batla raha tha.

Bhumika ke chehre par hairat bhare bhaav dekh Tej uski orr mudi.

Tej : What?

Bhumika ne dheere-se apna sirr hilaaya aur ek halki, bechain muskaan bikher boli.

Bhumika : N-Nothing!

Usne dheere-se kaha, halanki uska mann bilkul bhi shaant nahi tha.

Jaise ve dono khadi thi, ek gusse me, dusri shaant aur hairaan. Bhumika ko kuchh naya pata lag chuka tha. Tej sirf gusse me hi nahi thi. Woh shayad… kisi aur cheez me bhi thi. Jo ki bahut galat tha. Ragini ke Veer ko pyaar karne se bhi zyada galat.

Aur, woh tha-

Sage bhai behan ka mard-aurat waala pyaar.

---

Toh wahi, idhar andar Kavya aur Ragini poori tarah se anjaan thi ki Bhumika aur Tej ke beech akhir kya baatein hui.

Unhe woh kshan yaad aaya jab Veer Ragini ko goad me utha ke uske room me le gaya tha aur do ghante tak Kavya, woh aur Veer andar maujood the.

Tab, kamre me hawa bhaari thi. Na gussa, na hasi, bas shabdo ke bole jaane ki deri thi.

Kavya ne akhirkar sannaata toda, uski awaaz dheemi aur jhijhak bhari thi.

Kavya : Umm- Bh-Bhabhi? Y-Ye sab kab hua? Kya waqai aap Veer bhaiya se-?

Ragini ne sharmindagi aur ek ajeeb-si raahat ke beech fasi apni palkein jhapkayi. Uske honth ek halki, thaki hui muskaan me khule.

Ragini : H-Haan! *blushes* Y-Ye kab hua? Ye pehle se toh tay nahi tha, Kavya. Ye bas… *Veer ko dekhte hue* ho gaya.

Veer ki nazar ek pal Ragini se mili aur woh dheere-se muskuraaya.

Kavya : Umm… phir bhi- I mean, koi aisa moment toh raha hoga na jaha aapko realise hua hoga ki aap bhaiya se-

Ragini : Moment ki baat karu toh- uss raat, tumhe yaad hai jab mere mummy papa kidnap ho gaye the? Mein bhi fass gayi thi? Tumhara bada bhai Vivek bhi tha. Yaad hai na?

Kavya (nods) : H-Haan! Uske baad se hi aap aur Vivek bhaiya ka divorce-

Ragini : Right! Uss raat, unn aadmiyon ne humein bandhi bana kar rakha tha. Unhone Vivek ke saamne ek choice rakhi thi. Ya toh apni jaan bacha lo, ya phir apni biwi ki, aur tumhare bhai ne-

Kavya (neeche sarr karte hue) : Unhone apni jaan ki parvah ki thi.

Ragini : Hmm! Aur, tabhi Veer aaya tha. Jab maine saari ummeedein chhor di thi. Tab, woh aaya tha. Uss raat se hi mere andar uske liye sab kuchh badal chuka tha. Shayad tab se hi mein-

Usne phir se Veer ko dekha aur uske gaal par haath phera.

Ragini : Tab se mein Veer ko aur bhi zyada notice karne lagi aur dheere-dheere ye kab pyaar me badal gaya, mujhe khud bhi pata nahi chala.

Kavya sunti rahi, honth bhinche hue, dil ajeeb tarah se dhadak raha tha.

Ragini : Uske baad se hi, maine Veer ko alag nazariye se dekhna shuru kar diya tha. Har baar jab-jab woh bolta tha, har baar jab woh muskuraata tha, aisa lagta tha jaise mein use pehli baar dekh rahi hu. Woh wo insaan bann gaya jis par mein bharosa karne lagi, jab mujhe khud apne par bharosa nahi rehta tha. And, I knew… I have fallen for him.

Kavya ki mutthi kasi, woh muskurana chaahti thi, apni bhabhi ke liye khush hona chaahti thi, lekin uske andar kuchh dard kar raha tha. Ek shaant anjaan dard.

Usne Veer ki taraf dekha jo abhi bhi shaant tha.

Kavya : So… So, you really love him huh!?

Woh lagbhag khudse hi budbudaayi. Ragini ka jawab bhi seedha tha.

Ragini : Yes! I love him! I do! A lot!

Ek halki-si khamoshi chhaa gayi.

Veer : Aur, mein bhi nahi chaahta tha ki kisi ko bhi koi bhi prakaar ki thes pahuche.

Woh jaanta tha ki Kavya iss waqt kaisa mehsoos kar rahi thi. Akhir, Kavya ne apne dil ka haal bhi use bataaya hua tha. Kavya ki nazrein uss par padi. Ek pal ke liye usne socha ki kuchh kahe, shayad unhe bataaye ki uske andar bhi kuchh feelings hai, ya yeh ki wo bhi Veer se-

-Lekin, uski awaaz hi nahi nikli. Usne bas sirr hilaaya. Ragini ne uska haath thaama.

Ragini : Tumhe toh koi dikkat nahi na, Kavya? I’m sorry. Tumhe lag raha hoga ki kaisi bhabhi hai ye. Pehle mere bade bhaiya ke saath shadi rachaayi aur ab mere Veer bhaiya ke saath-

Kavya : N-Nahi! Aisa nahi hai, bhabhi. I- I understand. Balki, aapki jagah mein bhi hoti toh yahi karti.

Ragini : Oh thank you so much, dear~ Baaki log jo bhi maane mujhe farq nahi padta, Lekin, tum bura maanti toh- I would have been affected, you know. Thank you dear~

Kavya ne jhatse sarr hilaaya aur halki-si muskaan bikheri.

Kavya : Nahi! Mujhe pareshani nahi, bhabhi! Mein toh bas- bas surprised hu. I didn’t think…

Woh ruki aur dheere-se hasi.

Kavya : It’s weird, you know? Ki ab meri bhabhi… mere cousin bhaiya se pyaar karti hai. It feels unreal.

Ragini dheere-se hasi aur apne gaal se aansu pochhi.

Ragini : It feels unreal for me too, dear!

Kavya muskura zaroor rahi thi par andar hi andar wahi jaanti thi ki use ye baat kitni chubh rahi thi.

Isne Veer aur Ragini ko gaur se dekha. Veer ki khamoshi me shaant nishchay, Ragini ki aankhon me aseem pyaar, aur use kuchh ehsaas hua.

Shayad pyaar kabhi sahi ya galat ke baare me tha hi nahi. Veer aur Ragini dono devar aur bhabhi the, uske bawajood unme pyaar ho gaya aur sab saamne bhi aa gaya aur abhi bhi ve dono ek dusre ke paas the.

Toh, kya iska matlab woh bhi-!? Ek behan hone ke baad bhi Veer se-!?

Uski aankhein ye sab soch ke hairat me phel gayi. Usne Ragini ki orr dekha, uske hontho par ek halki, sacchi muskaan tair gayi.

Kavya (nods) : Haan! Shayad... Shayad yahi sahi hai. Shayad kabhi mein bhi-

Ragini ne uska haath haule se dabaya.

Ragini : Oh thank you Kavya~ Kya hua? Tum bhi kya, Kavya?

Kavya : Kuchh nahi, bhabhi!

Ghadi chalti rahi, baahar iss ghoshna ke baad mahaul garm tha aur baatein dabi awaazon me ho rahi thi, lekin idhar kamre ke andar samay tham sa gaya tha.

Kavya peechhe jhuki, uska dil ajeeb tarah se tarangein fela raha tha. Kabhi shaant toh kabhi vichlit. Uske mann me darjano vichaar umad rahe the. Uski apni bhavnaaye, apni uljhan, lekin abhi usne unhe daba kar rakh rakha tha. Shayad kisi din, woh unhe bataaye. Shayad kisi din, Ragini samajh jaaye.

Magar, aaj ke liye, woh unn dono ki baatein sunti rahi, unhe dekhti rahi, jinhe wo cheez mil chuki thi jiski talaash me woh khud bhi thi.

Pyaar.

***

Wapas, idhar hotel me, Veer ki nazar andar aate hue upar lage jhoomaro par padi, bade-bade, haath se taraashe hue crystals, latke hue taramandal ki tarah jhilmila rahe the. Shayad Aadesh ne aaj koi kami nahi chhori thi saaj-sajja me.




Casa Belle humesha se hi aalishaan raha tha, lekin aaj raat wo poora daulat se nahaaya hua lag raha tha. Har kona chamak raha tha. Har sateh par kisi taqatvar insaan ki jhalak dikh rahi thi.

Woh wahi ek pillar ke paas khada hua tha, haath jebo me daale, bina kisi se mile bas dekh raha tha. Suhana ka anurodh uske mann me kisi kone me goonj raha tha, use yaad dila raha tha ki usne iss jagah par qadam kyu rakha tha jisne kabhi use apmaanit kiya tha. Woh yaha tha. Apne liye nahi. Sonia ke liye nahi. Suhana ke liye.

Uske chaaro orr alag-alag companies ke prototypes lage hue the. AI driven chassis models, micro engine blocks, next-gen battery casings aur wagarah wagarah.

Chhoti se lekar badi companies apne-apne products ki pratibha ka pradarshan kar rahi thi. Unki bhookhi nigaahein har dilchaspi dikhaane waali companies par nazar rakh rahi thi.

Deals me mol-bhaav kiya jaa raha tha, baat-cheet chal rahi thi, alag-alag vartalap jaise equity, timelines, patents par na jaane kitne samooh aapas me charcha kar rahe the. Kinhi ko deals mil rahi thi toh kuchh the jo khaali haath bas kisi partner ka intezar kar rahe the.

Veer shaant bhaav se sab dekh raha tha, apne mann me kuchh potential companies ko rakh raha tha. Kuchh businessmen ne use guzarte hue dekha. Kisi ne use pehchaana nahi. Kisi ne koshish bhi nahi ki.

Ghadi me shaam ke 7:45 baje.

Aur, tabhi-

Hall ka shor badal gaya. Pehle thoda-sa, phir samudra me aayi leher ki tarah badhta chala gaya.

*Click* *Click* *Click*

Tasveerein dhadalle se khichne lagi. Janta ke beech apne aap hi ek raasta khul gaya.

Kaera... aa chuki thi.




Lag raha tha jaise woh khud Casa Belle ki maalkin thi. Aatmvishvas uske chaaro orr aise lipta hua tha jaise maano kisi ne use saleeke se silvaaya ho.

Uske theek peechhe Ruchika bhi ek kaale blazer me chal rahi thi. Aur, wahi nahi, yaha tak ki uski maid, Julia bhi ek designer dress me maujood thi. Aur, akhir me, Karan apni tie ko theek karte hue, andar daakhil hua.




Kaera photographs khichwaane me lagi hui thi. Usne paparazzi ko kuchh samay diya aur phir andar daakhil ho gayi. Uska swagat badi hi sehejta ke saath hua, usne business giants se haath milaaya aur nakli muskaan liye woh unse baaton me lag gayi.

Rupaya. Dollar. Desi. Videshi. Sab uski orr jhuke hue the.




Laal dress me aaj woh alag hi qayamat dha rahi thi. Use andar aate hue Veer ne dekha. Ek pal ke liye uski dhadkane ruk gayi. Woh jaha tha wahi khada raha.

Karan ne sabse pehle nazrein ghumaate hue use dekha. Uski aankhein aashcharya me chaudi ho gayi.

Woh turant hi bheed me se nikalte hue uske paas aaya jaise usne maano itni janta ke beech koi apna dhundh liya ho.

Karan : What the hell, Veer!? Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?

Veer (smiles) : Sightseeing!

Karan : Hey! Tumhe nahi bataana toh seedhe-seedhe keh do, man.

Veer (smiles) : Mein waqai sightseeing ke liye aaya hu.

Karan : Like hell I'll believe that...!

Veer bas badle me muskuraaya.

Karan : Tum bhi kisi deal ke liye aaye ho kya? Looking for business partners?

Veer ne na toh pushti ki aur na hi inkaar kiya aur Karan ne iss sannaate ko achhi tarah se samajh liya.

Phir, woh glaani ke bhaav liye dheere-se bola.

Karan : H-Hey! I'm... I'm sorry. Mein tumhare dada ji ki terhvi me nahi aa paaya. Dad ne kaafi dino tak-

Veer : It's okay! I understand!

Karan : Nahi, par mujhe waha-

Veer : It's okay! Koi baat nahi!

Veer ne uska kandha thap-thapaya. Karan ne ek lambi saans li aur thodi raahat mehsoos ki.

Karan : Well, thank god! Mujhe laga tha kahi tum mere khilaaf badle ki planning vlanning toh nahi banaane lage.

Veer (smiles) : Ho bhi sakta hai!

Karan : Huh? Wait! You serious dude? Fucking hell Veer-

Veer : Hahaha!

Badle me Karan bhi muskuraya.

Karan : Hotel kaisa chal raha hai? Recovery abhi bhi ho rahi hai?

Veer (nods) : Hmm! Thoda time lagega.

Karan : As expected.

Tabhi, Kaera jo baat karne ke baad apni seat tak pahuchi, uski nazrein apne bhai ko dhundh rahi thi. Usne aas-paas dekha aur tabhi, use Karan nazar aaya.

Magar-

Uske theek bagal se khade hue ek aur shaks ki orr uski nigaahein daudi.

Veer.

Jab Karan ne bhi apni nazrein daudaayi toh usne dekha ki uski behan janta se hatt kar jaa chuki thi. Usne dekha ki-




Woh unhe hi ghoor rahi thi. Uski nazar sirf aur sirf Veer par tiki hui thi.

'Huh!?'

Dono me se koi bhi nahi hila. Aur, agle hi pal-

Kaera ne uski orr ek qadam badhaaya. Phir, dusra aur woh seedhe unki orr aane lagi.

Veer ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Karan bhi apni behan ko iss orr aata dekha thoda thitak gaya.

Karan : Huh? Why is she-

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh bol paata, Kaera unke saamne thi. Woh unke saamne ruki aur ek pal ke liye Veer saans lena bhool gaya.

Nazdeek se, Kaera ki maujoodgi raushniyo se bhi zyada raushan, hall me goonjte shor aur Casa Belle ki daulat se bhi zyada zordaar lag rahi thi. Dhyaan aakarshit karne ke liye use bolne ki zaroorat nahi thi.

Kaera ke perfume ki sugandh uss tak pahuchi. Manmohak, sundar aur mehngi. Ek nayi khushbu.

Uski aankhein Veer par tiki rahi, bina palak jhapkaaye, use padhna mushqil tha. Usne Karan ki taraf ek baar bhi nahi dekha.

Kaera : This suit... looks good on you.

Veer : Oh!? Thanks!

Kaera : Why are you here?

Usne poochha. Saral, seedha sawaal.

Ruchika uske peechhe-peechhe parchhaayi ki tarah aayi, jigyasu aankhein liye Veer ko dekhne lagi.

Julia bhi unke paas aayi, Veer ko dekhte hi uski muskurahat sharaarat se khil uthi.

Kaera : Tell me! Why are you here?

Veer : Mein- Mein yaha kisi zaroori kaam se tha.

Kaera : Kaun sa zaroori kaam?

Veer be-mann se muskuraaya. Ab kaise bataata ki woh yaha uski hi deal cancel karwa ke Sonia ko deal dilwane ke liye aaya tha.

Iske pehle ki woh jawab de paata, Julia ne halke-se Kaera ki baah thaami aur uske kaan me phus-phusate hue boli.

Julia : Young Miss, it's rude to ask someone something they don't want to tell you.

Kaera ne iss nayi jaankaari ko kisi formulae ki tarah samajhte hue haami bhari.

Kaera : Oh!?

Julia : Yes!

Magar, woh phir Veer ki orr mudi aur poochhi.

Kaera : Then, what is it that you're hiding from me?

Julia ne apna chehra sharm se dhak liya. Toh wahi, Ruchika sharmindagi me idhar-udhar dekhne lagi. Karan hassne laga. Veer ki bauhein Karan ki hasi sunn fadki. Usne Veer ki peeth thap-thapayi.

Karan : Hahaha! Di, yeh baat toh ye mujhe bhi nahi bata raha, lekin it's evident ki Veer yaha kisi invitation ki wajah se aaya hai, right? After all, without invitation entry allowed nahi hai. Maybe some secret deal? Hehe!

Veer ne Karan ko khaa jaane waali nazro se taada. Aur, Karan iska poora lutf utha raha tha.

Aur, ab tak, kayi mehmaan waha unki orr dekhne lage the. Akhir, Kaera kis se baat kar rahi thi? Kaun tha yeh naujavan? Bas, yahi utsukta jagaane ke liye kaafi tha. Phones pehle se hi aadhe uthe hue the, besharmi se recording karte hue messages dekhne ka naatak kar rahe the.

Kaera ne na hi dhyaan diya aur na hi parvah ki. Uski nazar Veer par hi thi.

Kaera : What is it? Tell me!

Veer ne apna muh khola, kuchh aisa soch raha tha jo sach ki tarah prateet ho sake. Iske pehle ki woh kuchh bol paata, Kaera phir bol padi.

Kaera : If there's nothing to tell. Come and sit with ME.

Karan ne use dekha. Hairaan.

Karan : Excuse me, di? Umm, Veer mera friend hai. Obviously, woh mere saath baithega. Kyu hai na, Veer?

Parantu, Kaera ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh mudi aur apni seat ki orr chal padi, bheed uske saamne paani ki tarah chhat gayi.

Veer ne ek aah chhori. Aur, woh uske peechhe-peechhe chal pada. Julia uske bagal se chalte hue uske qareeb aayi.

Julia (smiles) : Good evening young master, Veer!

Veer : Huh? *glances* Good evening!

Julia (smiles) : You look great today.

Veer : Oh? Thank you! You are looking wonderful yourself.

Jaise hi ve Kaera ka nazdeek pahuche, Julia muskuraati hui Veer se peechhe ho gayi. Karan uske bagal se chalta hua dheere-se budbudaya.

Karan : Di is insane, you know. Mujhe baithne ke liye poochha tak nahi aur tumhe VIP treatment? Waah! Someone tell her that I'm her brother.

Veer khamosh raha. Uska dhyaan Kaera par tha jo pehle se hi baithi hui thi. Woh Karan ke bagal waali seat ki orr badha, usme baithne ke liye taiyaar ki-

"Veer???"

Kaera ki awaaz ne use tok diya. Usne apne bagal ki seat par haath thap-thapaya. Aankhein poori tarah se Veer par kendrit.

Kaera : Maine tumse kya kaha?

Veer : !!?

Kaera : Idhar! *Pats* Idhar baitho!

Uski awaaz tez nahi thi, lekin samjhaute ki bhi koi gunjaish nahi thi.

Veer ek kshan ke liye stabdh reh gaya. Karan ka haal bhi yahi tha. Julia mand-mand muskuraayi toh wahi Ruchika bhi hairani me Veer ko ab dekh rahi thi.

Aur, Veer majbooran, uljhan aur bechaini bhari dhadkan ke beech fasa, akhirkar uss seat ki orr badha jaha Kaera ne use baithne ke liye kaha tha.

Woh uske bagal se baith gaya.

Kaera ki nazrein thodi narm pad gayi. Lekin, woh muskuraayi nahi. Usne bas iss prakaar se dekha jaise maano usne koi cheez theek usi jagah rakh di ho jaha woh honi chaahiye.

Aur, samast log unhe bas dekhte rahe.

Tabhi, Julia Kaera ki orr jhuki aur uske kaan me dheere-se boli.

Julia : Yahi sahi time hai, miss.

Kaera achanak hi tann gayi. Usne apna ek haath peechhe kiya, hatheli kholi. Julia ne ek chhota-sa, badi hi sundarta se pack kiya gaya box uske haath me thama diya.

Kaera ne box ko table ke upar unke saamne rakha. Veer, Ruchika aur Karan sabhi ne ek hi bhaav se uski orr dekha. Bhramit aur utsuk.

Veer toh pehle hi check kar chuka tha. Aur, woh jaan gaya tha ki andar kya tha.

Kaera uski taraf mudi, apna muh kholi, phir thitak ke band kar li. Uski ungliyaan box ke kinaare par kasi hui thi.

Veer uske bolne ka intezar karta raha. Julia ek baar phir jhuki aur ahista se Kaera se boli.

Julia (mutters) : Sorry se start kijiye, miss.

Kaera (nods) : Right! Veer...!

Veer : Hmm?

Kaera : I'm... I'm sorry! Mein uss din tumhare dada ji ki ceremony me nahi aa paayi. Terhvi waale din.

Veer : Oh? *smiles* It's fine, miss Kaera. I don't mind.

Kaera : BUT I DO MIND! And, call me... Kaera!

Veer : Huh???

Kaera ne woh box Veer ki orr khiskaaya. Jab Veer maun bana raha toh usne khud Veer ka haath pakadte hue woh box uske haath me hi thama diya.

Kaera : It's an apology gift. Take it. Open it.

Uske tohfe dene ka tareeka vichitra tha. Na koi 'please' na 'thank you'.

Bas, seedhe-

Rakhne ka aadesh. Aur, kholne ka aadesh.

Veer ne akhirkar uss box ko khola aur dhakkan hataaya. Andar ek Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G, white gold, deep blue dial ke saath maujood thi, jiski keemat lagbhag ₹1.5 crore thi.

Veer jaanta toh tha ki andar kya tha, magar uska dimaag ghadi ke daam ko check karne ke baad chakraaya. Usne Kaera ko tezi se mud ke dekha.

Jaise hi usne muh kholna chaaha, mana karne ke liye, Kaera ne ghadi uthaayi aur khud hi uski kalaayi par baandh di.

Kaera : Mujhe naa sunana pasand nahi, Veer.

Veer : This... Itna mehnga gift?

Kaera : Mehnga? Hmm? I didn't check the price. Mujhe bas ye dikhne me achhi lagi. I thought it would look good on your wrist. So, I bought it.

Veer use dekhta raha. Woh yeh bhala kaise le sakta tha? Yeh jaante hue ki woh yaha deal cancel karwaane ke liye aaya tha.

[Master?]

'Nahi! Mujhse ye nahi ho paayega, Pari!'

[??]

'Na hi mein Kaera ko mana kar sakta hu. Aur, na hi uske saath vishvasghat kar sakta hu.'

[Then?]

'I... I won't act.'

[Toh, phir? Aap Suhana ki madad nahi karenge?]

'Not like this. Mein Suhana se baad me baat kar lunga. But I can't betray Kaera.'

Veer ghadi dekh dheere-se muskuraaya. Isliye, nahi ki ghadi bahut mehngi thi. Isliye, ki Kaera ne pehli baar use koi tohfa iss tarah se diya tha. Iska matlab ek cheez spasht thi. Woh yeh ki ab woh inn chhoti-chhoti baaton par dhyaan dene lagi thi. Uske emotions ahista-ahista hi sahi, magar baahar aa rahe the.

Table ke uss paar se Karan itni zorr se khaansa ki sabki nazar uss par pad gayi. Usne apni khud ki ek mehngi ghadi ki taraf dekha, jo kareeban 60-70 lakh ki thi, lekin ab Veer ki ghadi ke saamne pheeki lag rahi thi.

Woh muh bana ke dheere-se budbudaya.

"Di ne mujhe aaj tak kabhi aisa gift nahi diya. Hmph!"

Ruchika ne ye sunn apni muskaan chhupaayi. Ve sabhi phir baaton me lag gaye jab-

Kaera ki maujoodgi ke baad hall abhi theek tarah se shaant bhi nahi hua tha ki ek baar phir se shor machna shuru ho gaya, pehle ki hi tarah tez. Logon ke sirr ghoom gaye, aapas me ve phus-phusaane lage.

Karan : Damn! Shayad Sonia di aa gayi. *smiles*

Kaera : Sonia… di???

Karan : Umm, yeah! Mere liye toh di hi hai na.

Kaera : You are that close with her?

Karan : Umm, nahi! Lekin, competition toh humesha se aap dono ke beech raha hai toh bhala mein kyu beech me pisu? Mere liye toh woh wahi Sonia di hai.

Kaera : No. You just want to be on good terms with her because she’s beautiful.

Karan (coughs) : Wh-Whattt??? *blushes* A-Aisa nahi hai-

Kaera : Shut up!

Karan : Ugh…!

Veer ne shor ka peechha kiya. Sonia. Woh aa chuki thi.




Par, dikkat ki baat yeh thi ki-

Woh bhi Kaera ki hi tarah, ek chamakdar laal dress me thi. Uske aate hi kamre me har kisi ka dhyaan uski orr chala gaya. Uski secretary, Suchika uske peechhe-peechhe chal rahi thi, muh par usne mask pehna hua tha, jis se keval uski aankhein hi nazar aa rahi thi.

Saath hi saath Prakash Uncle, Sonia ki family ke advisor bhi saath me the. Photographers phir se tasveerein kheechne lage.

Kaera ne apni aankhein uthaayi. Sonia ne bhi andar aate hi pehle Kaera ko dekha.

Aur, jaise hi dono ki nazrein mili, mahaul tanaav se bhar gaya. Dono shaant thi magar dono ke beech ek maun dabaav tha. Do top queens ek dusre ko naap rahi thi. Kaera ki nazrein Sonia ki dress par padi aur Sonia ki Kaera pe…

Ek andhruni chidh unn dono ke andar jaagi. Tabhi, Sonia ne Kaera ke bagal se baithe shaks ko dekha aur use dekhte hi woh achambhit reh gayi. Woh lagbhag aage badhne hi wali thi, uske honth khule, lekin usne apna muh band kar khud ko sambhaala.

Veer…

Bahut si galat-fehmiyo ko use mitaana tha. Magar, yeh sahi samay nahi tha. Ek gehri saans lete hue woh apni table ki orr mud gayi.

Suchika ek pal ke liye ruki, uski nigaahein Kaera ki table ke paas baithi Ruchika par tiki. Ruchika ne bhi nazar mehsoos kar use dekha aur apni bauhe chadhaayi.

Kaun thi bhala yeh ladki? Sonia ki secretary… Dhaka hua chehra… Ye lambaayi… Ye kadd-kaathi… Wo aankhein…

‘Nahi! Mein kuchh zyada hi soch rahi hu.’

Ruchika apne mann me sochte hue sarr hilaayi aur Suchika jaldi-se nazrein pher Sonia ke paas chali gayi. Uske mask ke peechhe uske bhaav samajh se parey the.

Kaera ki table se hi parallel me Sonia ki table thi, magar kuchh qadam ki doorie par.

Isi beech, Suhana daakhil hui, ek sundar, mehngi, designer dress me, uske qadam dheeme the. Uska pati Gaurav bhi uske saath chal raha tha, uska ek haath Suhana ki kamar par-

Lekin, ek videshi parichit mehmaan se milte hue ve dono turant hi alag ho gaye. Suhana aage badh gayi, jabki Gaurav wahi ruk gaya.




Suhana apna clutch kass kar thaame Sonia ke peechhe waali table ki orr badhi. Woh naazuk lag rahi thi. Muskaan nakli thi. Aur, tabhi uski aankhon ne Veer ko dhoondhna chaaha.

Aur, usne use paaya bhi-

Veer!

Kaera ke bagal se baitha hua tha.

Suhana ki saansein tez thi. Dono ki nazrein mili aur bhavnao ka sailaab ek saath Suhana ke andar umad pada. Ghabrahat, ummeed, darr, laalsa, jalan, sab kuchh. Par, sab uljha hua.

Veer ne jaise hi use dekha toh uske chehre par bhaav thode naram pad gaye. Bas, usne ek halki haami se uski orr ishaara kiya.

Aur, Suhana ne ishaara paate hi nazrein hata li, ek darr ki kahi Gaurav ne use dekh liya toh? Magar, Gaurav pehle se hi videshi doston me vyast tha, hass raha tha, humesha ki tarah bekhabar.




Suhana Sonia se jaa kar mili aur phir uske peechhe ki table par baith gayi, apne mann me vichaar liye-

‘Akhir… kaise kar paayega, Veer? Maine bina soche-samjhe uss se madad maang toh li, magar-!’




Lekin, woh yeh jaanti thi ki Veer aam vyakti ki tarah nahi tha. Aatish. Slogan. Las Vegas me Nightwalker, Pitcher. Na jaane kaise-kaise logon se paala pada tha uska aur usne humesha hi vijay haasil ki thi.

Toh, ek deal lena-

Uske liye toh baaye haath ka kaam hona chaahiye, hai na? Kuchh yahi soch thi Suhana ki.

Agar, woh nahi… toh bhala aur kaun?

Iss orr Kaera Veer ko dekhi aur poochhi.

Kaera : Tell me! Kiski dress zyada achhi lag rahi hai? Meri… ya uski?

Veer, jo paani pee raha tha, use yeh sawaal sunte hi phanda lag gaya.

*Cough* *Cough*

Karan (laughs) : Ye phans gaya!

Kaera (glances) : Hmm?

Karan : Ugh! N-Nothing! Haha!

Karan ne Veer ke kandhe par maara.

Karan : Bhai jawab do! Kya hua? Saans nahi aa rahi kya?

Veer (mutters) : You fucking-

Karan : Huh? Kya bola? Sonia di ki-?

Kaera : What?

Veer ne ek chamaat mazakiya dhang se Karan ki peeth par lagaayi, jo itni zorr se lagi ki bechaara Karan wahi chup ho gaya, zaahir taur se dard bardaasht karne ke liye.

Karan (grits) : Motherfu-

Veer : Achhi hai! Definitely! Yours is much more beautiful.

Kaera : Mein yahi baithi hu isliye bol rahe ho ya waqai me?

Veer (smiles) : Waqai me…! No doubt Miss Sonia ki dress bhi bahut achhi hai, lekin aapki dress ki fitting unse zyada behtar hai. Not to mention… It’s YOU, who’s making the dress even more beautiful.

Uttar sunn na jaane Kaera ko kya hua par uske gaal pehli baar aaj kuchh sunn halke laal pad gaye. Woh achanak hi muh pher li.

Kaera : Okay! I’ll... I'll believe that…!

Peechhe khadi jab Julia ne yeh drishya dekha toh woh hairat me reh gayi. Uski aankhon me chamak daud gayi. Uski Young Miss sharma rahi thi? Woh bhi ek ladke ke compliment par? Uske honthon se muskaan gaayab hone ka naam hi nahi le rahi thi.

---

Achanak hi hall ka shor dheema pad gaya, security aur welcoming staff turant hi entrance ki orr daud ke bhaage.

ICONGLOBE aa chuki thi.

Logo ke sirr entrance ki orr mud gaye. Aur, andar company ko represent kar rahe uske representative ne andar qadam rakha.

Mr. Benjamin Ward, ICONGLOBE International ke Chief Global Investment Officer. Aur, unke saath thi unki team, ek female Head of Strategic Partnerships, India ke Operations Director jo khud bhi Indian hi the, zaahir taur se. Teen senior financial analysts aur unke saath chal rahi unki apni security team.

Koi bekaar ka naatak nahi. Koi phaaltu ka taam-jhaam nahi. Koi bagairat nahi. Bas, business power ka maun shor.

Hall ke upar maujood gallery par Aadesh ne apne qadam badhaaye. Uski nigaahein neeche baithe tamaam logon par ghoom rahi thi. Uske bagal se uska event manager, Kumar khada hua tha.

Aadesh : Details?

Kumar : Sab badhiya dhang se chal raha hai, Sir.

Aadesh (nods) : Good!

Akasmat hi uski aankhein Veer se bhidi, Veer pehle se hi use ghoor raha tha. Aadesh ke badan me ek sihran daud gayi.

Achanak-

Woh drishya uske zehen me daud gaya. Uska chandelier se ulta latakna aur phir Veer ki woh laal aankhein. Aur, phir uski woh maar-!

Yaad kar Aadesh ne apne chehre par haath phera. Ek aabhaas ki Veer ke sang use laparwaahi se kabhi bhi pesh nahi aana chaahiye.

Aadesh : Dhyaan rahe ki kisi bhi haalat me-

Kumar : ??

Aadesh : Veer Singh ko koi dikkat na aane paaye.

Kumar : Huh?

Aadesh : Tumne suna nahi?

Kumar : J-Ji, Sir! Samajh gaya! Mein dhyaan rakhunga.

Hotel ke management staff ne traditional namaste aur phool malao ke saath company ke logo ka swagat kiya. Koi gifts nahi , kuchh bhi personal nahi.

Yeh corporate gala tha, na ki party. Aur, ek corporate gala etiquette aur neutrality ki maang rakhta tha.

Kaera aur Sonia, dono hi peeth seedhi kar chaukanni ho gayi. Photographers daudate hue andar aaye, flashes chamakne lage. Ek lady host ne stage par khade hoke unka swaagat kiya.




Mr. Ward stage par pahuche aur podium par jaate hue woh badi hi khushi se bole.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the warm and exceptional welcome. ICONGLOBE is honored to be in Mumbai tonight. We are here for one reason, to finalize the most significant investment initiative of the year for us.”

Logo me khus-pusaahat shuru ho gayi. Baaki sabhi companies bhi badi hi jigyasa se sab dekh rahi thi. Tabhi, Mr. Ward punaah bole.

“A partnership worth ten billion dollars.”

Taaliyaan goonj uthi. Billions of dollars ki deals roz-roz nahi hoti thi. Aur, aise hallroom me toh bilkul bhi nahi. Lekin, ghoshnaaye zaroor hoti thi. Baaki, baat-cheet toh humesha hi niji taur par ki jaati thi.

“We will begin discussions tonight with two of India’s most influential market leaders : Nexacom and Elite Motors of… of the Elite Group.”

Kaera murti ki tarah sthir baithi hui thi. Toh, wahi Sonia ke hontho par ek halki-si vijayi ki muskaan thi.

Protocol ke anusaar ICONGLOBE ki team pehle automobiles se judi anya companies ke paas jaa kar unka abhivaadan kari, unse thodi-bahut baat-cheet kari, haath milaaye gaye aur unke products dekhe gaye. Yeh aam prakriya thi.

Aur, uske baad ve seedhe Elite Motors ki orr badh gaye, jise dekh Ruchika thitak ke reh gayi. Udhar, Sonia ki aankhein jeet se chamak uthi jaise soch rahi ho ki-

Beshaq, unhe yaha pehle aana hi tha.

Akhirkar, Elite Motors India me automobiles sector me pioneer tha. Ek top leading company. Unki cars jaise ki Elite Magnus (SUV), Elite Flux (Hatchback), Elite Tracer (Sedan), wagarah wagarah… poore India me sabse zyada bikne waali cars me se ek thi.

Veer : You’re not bothered? Wo pehle Elite Motors ke paas chale gaye.

Kaera : No. Elite Motors uss sector ki top giant hai. Humari Nexacom ne abhi uss sector me theek tarah se qadam bhi nahi rakha hai. It would be unrealistic to demand they come to us first. I understand the power mechanics.

Veer use gaur se dekhta raha. Woh shaant rehne ka dikhaava nahi kar rahi thi. Woh waqai logically soch leke chal rahi thi. Koi insecurity nahi. Sirf clarity.

Karan : Yeah, but damn… could they be more obvious?

Veer ne table ke neeche se Karan ko perr maara aur Karan khaaste hue chup ho gaya, kyunki Kaera ki nazrein uss par hi mandra rahi thi.

Ruchika apna folder baar-baar khol sab kuchh rattne me lagi hui thi. Beshaq, woh kaanp rahi thi, lekin woh koi bhi chook nahi kar sakti thi.

---

Kareeban 25 minutes guzar gaye aur ICONGLOBE aur ELITE MOTORS ke beech vartalap chalti rahi. Sonia badi hi khushi se unse baatein kar rahi thi. Akhirkar, woh pal aa hi gaya jab ICONGLOBE ne haath milaaya aur woh Sonia ki table chhorte hue Kaera ki table ki orr badhe.

Ruchika ka tablet lagbhag uske haatho se girte-girte bacha. Uske dil ki dhadkane tez ho gayi.

Ruchika : Ahh! M-Miss, wo aa rahe hai. Wo log sach-much aa rahe hai. What if I say something stupid? What if I faint-? What if-

Kaera : Ruchika! If you faint, fall backwards. Saamne girna thoda unprofessional lagega.

Ruchika : Aaaaaa! How is that helpful, MISSSSS??? Oh my god!

Kaera : Kam se kam tum mujhpe girogi, unn par nahi. I think that’s a plus, right?

Ruchika : Oh god, Miss!!!

ICONGLOBE unke paas pahuchi. Mr. Ward ne Kaera, Karan, Suchika aur yaha tak ki Veer se bhi haath milaaya.

Kaera (smiles) : Nexacom welcomes you to India, Mr. Ward.

Mr. Ward : Miss Kaera! *smiles* We’ve heard quite a lot about Nexacom and especially you.

Kaera (smiles) : All good things, I suppose?

Mr. Ward muskuraaye. Ve sab baithe aur apni baat shuru karne ke liye taiyaar hi the ki-

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Entrance ke paas cameramen baukhla gaye. Yaha tak ki halka background music bhi band ho gaya.

Sabke sirr mudte chale gaye. Black dress me ek behad khubsoorat mahila waha padhaar chuki thi.




Garofano.

Kaera ki bauhe upar uthi. Sonia bhi akad ke baith gayi. Yaha tak ki-

Karan : Damn! Wow~

Kaera ne use ghoor ke dekha.

Karan : I… I mean… How???

Aur, Veer-?

‘Fuck!!! Garofano? What is she doing here?’




[Master!? Ye plan me nahi tha.]

Usne apne paas rakha glass kass ke pakda.

‘What the hell is she doing here?’

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh samajh paata tabhi-

Garofano ke andar aane ke kuchh kshan baad hi ek lamba-chauda vyakti police wardi me waha andar daakhil hua.

DGP Rohan. Trisha ka pati. Veer seedha hoke baithne par majboor ho gaya.

‘Ye? Ye yaha kyu??’

Par, iske bawajood usne apne aap ko sambhaala. Shayad kisi security purpose ke liye Rohan yaha aaya hoga, lekin jaise aaj Veer ki kismat me chenn lena nahi likha tha.

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Ek baar phir cameras ki awaazein goonj uthi. Veer, jo paani pee raha tha, paani uske galey me galat samay par phansa aur lagbhag use phanda lagte lagte bacha.

Kyunki, andar aane waala agla vyakti aisa prateet ho raha tha jaise seedhe swarg se apsara ko neeche laa diya ho.




Erica.

Behad hi khubsoorat si dress me, chamakti hui, jagmagati hui, reporters, cameramen ke jhund se hote hue guzri. Aur, cameramen use jaise dekh ke photos lena hi bhool gaye the.

Kuchh chinese delegates jo videshi companies me kaam kar rahe the, woh Erica ko dekh achambhit reh gaye. China ka lagbhag har aadmi ‘Renshu’ naam ko jaanta tha. Aur, aise me uski beti ke baare me pata na ho? Ye kaise ho sakta tha?

Ve sab chinese uss par toot pade. Erica kisi khush tourist ki tarah unke saath chali bhi gayi.

Itna hi nahi, usko stage par pahucha diya gaya? Kaaran? Kyunki, woh bahut zyada sundar lag rahi thi. Zaahir hai woh kisi bade gharaane se hogi.





“Umm… Hello everyone!”

Usne bolna shuru kiya. Uski nazrein? Seedhe Veer par!

‘Fucccckkkkk!’

Veer ne kass kar table pakdi. Agar, iss Erica ne uske liye kuchh kaha toh woh kisi galat paristhiti me bhi phans sakta tha. Aur, Erica?




Woh yahi kar rahi thi. Woh muskura rahi thi.

‘Fuuuccckk! Why the fuck is she smiling at me like that???’




[M-Master, this is bad!]

‘Fuckkk! Wo apna intro kyu de rahi hai, udhar? Who the fuck invited her? Aur, mujhe kyu dekh rahi hai? Fuck no!!!’

Idhar Erica mic par bad-badaate hue baar-baar Veer ko dekhe jaa rahi thi.




Veer behosh hone se bas kuchh hi seconds dur tha. Kaera Erica ko aise dekh rahi thi jaise maano uski list me koi naya dushman add ho chuka tha.

Toh wahi, Erica?

Apni pyaari si muskaan diye, logon ke beech baith kar Veer ko taadne lagi.




Mr. Ward : Haha! Quite a show there. Phew! Shall we continue, Miss Kaera?

Kaera (nods) : Yes, please!

Lekin, Veer?

Veer ko paseena aana shuru ho chuka tha. Yeh sab plan me nahi tha. Usne kisi ko yaha aane ka nahi kaha tha. Na hi kisi ka mission tha yaha par aake kuchh bhi karne ke liye. Phir, kyu?

Par, bechaara Veer yeh nahi jaanta tha ki uski sabse badi aafat toh uska hotel ke baahar intezar kar rahi thi.




Ava!!!

Mask pehne woh baahar khadi hui thi. Casa Belle me aise ghusne ka plan… Garofano ka tha. Erica khushi-khushi raazi ho gayi thi, magar Ava thodi hich-kicha rahi thi. Sirf aur sirf Veer ke liye. Kya andar jaana sahi tha?

Aur, tabhi-

[Go inside dear.]

‘Par, kya ye sahi hai, Lily? Veer ne kisi ko invite nahi kia tha. Iska matlab woh definitely kisi personal kaam se yaha aaya hoga, aur aise me-’

[Garofano aur Erica, dono andar jaa chuki hai.]

‘Yeah but-’

[Kya tum chaahti ho ki ve dono Veer ke dil me jagah bana le?]

‘NOOOOOO!!!’

[*smiles* Toh, phir jao dear. Go and show your charisma.]

‘But andar… Kaera… Sonia…’

[Mask pehna hai tumne, dear.]

‘Fine then-!’

Veer jo yaha andar rumaal se paseena pochh raha tha achanak hi naye shor ko sunn wahi jamm gaya. Iss baar mahaul alag tha.

Mask lagaane ke bawajood, Ava ki khubsoorti ko chhipaaya nahi jaa sakta tha. Woh andar padhaar chuki thi.

Photographers bhi kuchh kshan ke liye bas ghoorte reh gaye aur phir ek baar phir-

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Veer ki aatma jaise maano uske shareer se nikal gayi.

[That’s… ugh… Master! Enjoy your night.]

*Ding*

[The system has gone into sleep mode.]

‘Huh? Pari??? Pariiii? Fuuuuckkkk!’

Veer Ava ko dekh itni zorr se khaansa ki Kaera Ava se nazrein hataaye bina apna paani ka glass Veer ke muh ki orr badha di.

Karan : Huh? Bhai? Kya hua? Tumhare chehre ka rang kyu uda hua hai?

Veer : N-Nothing! *cough*

Usne keh toh diya, magar mann me-

‘WHY IS SHE HERE?????’

Yeh koi mazak nahi tha. Ava. Garofano. Erica. Ye teeno worldwide sirf famous hi nahi thi, sundar hi nahi thi. Ye sab ki sab system holders bhi thi.

Aur, teeno? Ek hi jagah par? Aur, inn sab ke beech me? Ek bechaara Veer!

Kaera ne notice kiye ki teen aayi khubsoorat haseenaaye Veer ko dekh rahi thi. Aur, usne Veer ki orr apna chehra moda.

Kaera : Are they looking at… YOU? You know them?

Veer ne apna thook nigla.

Veer : I… Ahem…

Kaera : That Garofano… She was there last time. Mein jaanti hu wo tumhe shayad jaanti hai. Kaise? No! Who are those two?

Karan : Bhai! Washroom left side hai, udhar andar pe-

Veer ne ek aur laat table ke neeche se Karan ko maari toh Karan apne daant meeste hue shaant ho gaya.

Tabhi, Veer ko ek aur cheez ka ehsaas hua-

‘Wait a minute-!’

Agar, Ava bhi yahi toh toh iska matlab tha-

TRINITY… ek saath ek hi jagah par itne saalo baad thi.

Aur, woh jaan gaya ki uske laude… lag chuke the.

Tabhi-

*Ding*

[System is up from the sleep mode.]

‘Huh? Pari? Tum aa gayi? Thank god! Mein jaanta tha tum meri madad zaroor karogi. Quick! What’s the plan?’

[...]

‘Bolo bolo! Sharmaane ki zaroorat nahi hai, Pari! Don’t worry! Maine tumhe maaf kiya. Quick!’

[I-]

‘Haan haan! Bolo!’

[Mein bas ye bataane ke liye aayi thi ki-]

‘??’

[Ava ne bhi Kaera aur Sonia ki tarah red dress pehni hai. Good luck.]

*Ding*

[The system has gone into sleep mode.]

‘Fuuuuuucccckkkkkkk!!’
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Aaj ke itna hi guys.
This update consists of 9k words. Iske do update rahenge, iss poore corporate gala ke. Ye pehla tha. Next one me ye event khatam ho jaayega. Iss par kaafi mehnat lagi hai. Images dhundhne me aur ek bade level ka corporate gala kaise hota hai uske baare me research karne me. Mein specifically zyada details me nahi gaya Sonia aur ICONGLOBE ke beech ki conversation ko lekar kyunki, I thought wo bahut hi business terms waali talk thi. Aur, plot ke hisaab se koi zaroorat bhi nahi thi. So, I only showed the 'what's happening around' scenes. The humor is back again in this update. Chhota sa hi tha but let me know ye achha laga ya nahi. Target apna wahi 250 hi hai. Par, aur upar pahucha diyo. Bahut mehnat lagi hai isme. Milte hai agle bhaag me jald hi.
Dhanyavad.

Pari so funny at the end! Pity on veer’s situation.

I know this was a build up chapter, but still good one. Nice images too!

Let’s see how it goes forward in the next update.
Interesting situation with the trinity. Will we see something happen on that front? Questions that hopefully get answered in next update!

 

[kumar change]

interesting part tha ye maja a Gaya Veer ki aisi Halat Dekhkar

Update - 208 ~ The Corporate Gala — ICONGLOBE (1)​

Ab tak...

10 billion dollars ki deal.

Jise haasil karne ke liye kataar me log toh bahut the, magar do hi sabse mazboot pratidwandi the : NEXACOM aur ELITE MOTORS.

Aur, Prestige ke reparation ke chalte, ye corporate gala ki hosting jaa chuki thi : Casa Belle ko.

Kyunki, ICONGLOBE-

Kal hi apne qadam Bharat par rakhne waali thi.

Ab aage...

Mid-January,
Casa Belle, Mumbai,
Evening - 7:15 PM ~

Hotel ka driveway raushni se jagmaga raha tha, luxury sedan cars bhavya hotel ke parking area me pravesh karti jaa rahi thi. Casa Belle aaj shaan se chamak rahi thi. Orchid, lavendar ke phool jagah-jagah par lage apni khushboo bikher rahe the.

Raat me halki-si thandak bhi maujood thi. Aane waale ek se badh ke ek VIPs ke liye photographers bhi apni kataar lagaaye khade hue the. Baahar ka ilaaka unki flash lights se chamak raha tha.

Inn VIPs me na keval businessmen aur badi-badi companies ke log, balki celebrities bhi shaamil the.

Aur, Veer...

Woh thodi dur khada tha, uski nigaahein sateek, adh khuli aankhein, shaant, veh iss drishya ko aise dekh raha tha maano jaise wo inn sab cheezon se anjaan ho.

Use ab bhi yaad tha ki pichhli baar woh kab yaha aaya tha. Aadesh Jaisinghani ki hasi isi hotel ke hall me goonj rahi thi kabhi, aur uske dwara woh apmaan. Use sab yaad tha.

Kintu, woh aaj shauharat paane nahi aaya tha. Woh yaha tha sirf ek vyakti ki wajah se : Suhana!

"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?"

Yahi shabd the Suhana ke. Agar, Suhana ne na kaha hota, toh aaj woh yaha aaya hi na hota. Par, uss ladki ne uske liye jo kuchh bhi kiya tha, uske saamne itni-si madad kuchh bhi nahi thi.

[Master! Kya plan hai aapka? Kaise aap Kaera ke against jaa kar ye deal Sonia ko dilwaoge? Bhale hi mujhe Sonia pasand nahi, lekin-! Suhana ne maang ki hai aur mein jaanti hu ki aap use mana nahi karoge.]

Pari chaahti toh Veer ke mann ko padh sakti thi. Lekin, bina anumati ke woh ab yeh kaarya nahi karti thi aur na hi karna chaahti thi.

'I don't know!'

Veer ne sarr hilaate hue jawaab diya.

[What? I... I thought aapne kuchh plan kar ke rakha hoga.]

'Dekhte hai! Genuinely dekha jaaye toh mujhe yaha hona hi nahi chahiye. I'm not invited after all.'

[So, what? Aap- Ek din dekhna sab aapke aage-peechhe ghoomenge. Beetein palon ko dekhiye, Master. Aap kaha se kaha aa gaye. Humein aur aage badhna hai. Don't get disheartened. Our journey has just begun.]

Veer dheere-se muskuraya. Woh jaanta tha ki Pari uska dil behlaane ke liye yeh sab keh rahi thi.

Usne dekha...

Kaise Casa Belle ke ird-gird hawa aiyyaashi, vilaasita aur ahankar se gulzar thi. Tuxedo aur suits pehne purush apni ghadiya dekh rahe the, aage badh rahe the, haath mila rahe the.

Toh wahi, chaandi, sone, heere, aur makhmali reshmi kapdo me lipti mahilaaye apni muskaan sawaar rahi thi, photos click karwa rahi thi.

Usne dekha ki foreign delegates aur vibhinn CEOs bhi apni-apni mehngi gaadiyon se utar rahe the, ek-dusre ka abhivadan sirr hila kar aur idhar-udhar ki baatein kar rahe the. Harr kuchh kshano me cameras click ho rahe the aur inn palo ko qaid kar rahe the.

Usne ek gehri saans li aur aage badha.

Navy blue suit uss par aise janch raha tha jaise maano uske liye hi bana ho aur ek prakaar se bana bhi tha. Yeh Yarnia ki Louis dwara ek khaas peshkash thi. Bhale hi bahut kuchh dhwast ho chuka tha, lekin abhi bhi kuchh resources storage me bache hue the.

White shirt ke saath pair kar ke uska suit uss par aaj bahut lubha raha tha. Crisp and clean. Apne jeb me haath daale, nishchint, woh aise aage badh raha tha jaise raat maano uski hi ho.

Usne dekha, apni daayi orr, ek chhote start-up company ke kuchh log display table par apne eco-engine ka ek prototype dikha rahe the. Sirf wahi nahi, aur bhi chhoti companies isi tarah apne-apne prototypes ko baahar gallery me saaj-sajja aur naveenta ke tehet prastut kar rahi thi. Ye corporate gala ke anokhe aakarshano me se ek tha.

Woh VIP logon ke jhund ke beech se guzra. Kuchh ne mudkar uski taraf dekha, yeh soch kar ki kya ve use jaante the? Toh, kuchh ne dekhne ki zehmat hi na uthaayi. Kintu, use iss se koi farq nahi pada.

Woh aaj pehchaane jaane ke liye nahi chal raha tha. Woh aise chal raha tha jaise use pata tha ki ek na ek din use pehchaan to milegi hi... Ek din, jab duniya ghutne tekne ko taiyyar rahegi.

Jaise hi woh mukhya dwaar ke paas pahucha, kaale suit pehne do security guards scanner ke paas khade the. Veer dheere-se ruka, ummeed thi ki humesha ki tarah koi sawaal poochhega.

Usne apni jeb se Suhana dwara diya gaya ek card nikaala, jo ki Casa Belle ka Unicard tha, lekin-

Uski zaroorat hi na padi. Koi aage hi nahi aaya. Scanner se nikli laal kiran uski chhaati par se guzri aur phir hari ho gayi.

Veer ne bauhe chadhaate hue unn gaurds ko dekha.

Veer : Oh? Kya rokna nahi hai mujhe?

Usne chidhaate hue poochha. Tabhi, ek guard aage badha aur ahista se jawab diya.

Guard : Aapko entry allowed hai, Sir!

Veer ke honth halke se mude.

Veer (smirks) : Bina invitation ke?

Guard (nods) : Humaare Sir ka order hai. Aap andar jaa sakte hai.

Usne nazrein neeche karte hue jawab diya.

Ek pal ke liye Veer kuchh nahi bola. Uske chehre par ek halki muskaan thi. Lagta hai uske dwara Aadesh ko diya gaya wo dose kaafi prabhavshali tha. Usne dheere-se sarr hilaaya aur Unicard ko apni jeb me daalte hue aage badh gaya.

Woh mukhya dwaar se andar pravesh kiya. Sangeet, hasi, baaton ka halka shor, kaanch ke pyaalo ke takraane ki khan-khan ki dhwaniyaan mil kar bhavyata ka saboot de rahi thi.

Uski aakriti neeche cham-chamaate polished floor par reflect ho rahi thi. Aur, uski nazrein apne kaam par lag gayi.

'Check!'

*Ding*

'Check'

*Ding*

Filhaal, aam aadmiyo ke alawa udhar koi na tha. Usne ye jaan ek raahat ki saans li.

***

Wahi iss orr ghar par mahaul thoda garm tha. Pratyek kshan dhadkan ki tarah prateet ho raha tha jaise kisi hone waali ghatna ki orr ulti ginti gin raha ho.

Kamre me Tej murti ki tarah jami hui baithi thi, aankhein pheli, saansein tez.

"K-Kya kaha aapne??"

Uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi. Avishwas se nahi, balki kisi aparichit vishvasghaat se.

Bhavna : Shh! Dheere-!

Bhavna ne dheere-se aah bhari. Uski shaant aankhon me bhi kahi na kahi ashaanti jhalak rahi thi.

Bhavna : Dekh ke yahi lag raha hai, Tej. Ragini Veer se pyaar karti hai. Pata nahi ye sab kab aur kaise hua- kahi na kahi mujhe thoda shaq toh tha, lekin-

Tej ki chhaati ekdum se phooli maano jaise uska dum ghut raha ho.

Tej : -Aur, aap mujhe yeh ab bata rahi ho? Aapne mujhe yeh sab usi waqt kyu nahi bataaya? Itna intezar kyu-!?

Wahi kamre ke dusri orr Bhumika bhi khadi hui thi, baahein dheeli magar dimaag vichlit. Bhavna aur Shweta ne unn dono ko abhi-abhi sab kuchh bata diya tha. Uski bauhe apne vichaaro ko soch sikudi, usne mann hi mann kuchh drishya daudaaye.

Veer ki taraf dekhte hue Ragini ki wo aankhein, usne unn par dhyaan diya tha magar nazarandaz bhi kar diya tha. Lekin, ab ye sab saamne aane ke baad-

Use apne seene me ek bhaaripann sa mehsoos hua.

Ragini kyu??? Aur, abhi hi kyu?

Tej ekdum se khadi hui, uski kursi zameen par zorr se ragad kar peechhe dhakil gayi.

Tej : N-Nahi!

Usne sirr hilaate hue budbudaya.

Tej : A-Aisa nahi ho sakta. Mein aisa nahi hone dungi.

Bhavna : Tej...

Lekin, Tej ka gussa bhala kaha shaant hone waala tha.

Tej (yells) : Woh uski BHABHI hai mom!!! Aur, ab... ab woh Veer se pyaar-!?

Uski awaaz beech me hi toot gayi, dard chhalak utha.

Tej : A-Aapko pata bhi hai na ki iska kya matlab hai, mom?

Kintu, Bhavna ki khamoshi hi uska jawab thi.

Shweta : Yahi sach hai. Jitna hairan tum ho uss se kayi zyada hairan mein hu, kyunki mein Ragini ko kaafi samay se jaanti hu.

Tej (grits teeth) : Tch!

Shweta : Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki- *frowns* Ragini aisa kuchh karegi. Ye delicate matter hai. Thoda sambhal ke iss par discuss karna hoga.

Tej : Sambhal ke? Toh, aap kya karengi? Unhe pyaar se samjhayengi? Ki beta ye sab galat hai! Aur, wo maan jaayengi?

Shweta : Jo bhi ho, lekin zorr se cheenkh ke, chillaa ke iss topic par baat karna iska solution toh nahi na.

Bhumika (nods) : Tejal! Shaant ho jao!

Tej : Mujhe shaant hone ke liye mat kahiye aap!

Bhumika kuchh na boli. Woh abhi bhi apni soch me doobi hui thi.

"I don't understand..." Woh budbudayi. "Ragini bhabhi ko itne saalo me maine kabhi kisi aadmi se easily judte dekha nahi. Woh toh humesha se ek deewar bana ke rakhti thi apne beech. Aur, ab wo-!? Veer se pyaar kar baithi-?"

Par, tabhi use dhyaan aaya ki shayad-

Ragini akeli nahi thi. Inn beetein dino me wo bhi toh thi, jo Veer ko lekar pareshaan thi. Uske dil me na jaane kaisi-kaisi tarangein uth rahi thi.

Bhumika ne sheeshe me se apna chehra pher liya, uski dhadkan tez thi. Uska mann bhi toh hafto se chup-chap ladd raha tha. Veer se harr churaayi gayi nazar, uske nazdeek hone se uske dil me paida ho rahi halchalein, usne unn bhavnao ko tarq ki parto ke saath neeche daba diya tha.

Lekin, ab Ragini ki bhavnao ke khulaase ke baad, wo dabi hui bhavnaaye phir se bechain aur binn bulaaye ubhar rahi thi.

Toh wahi Tej ka gussa alag tha. Uska krodh tezi se bhadak raha tha. Irshya ne uske dil me gehrayi tak pakad bana li thi, aur usne iss baar use chhipaane ki koshish bhi nahi ki. Ya yu kahe ki uska dhyaan hi nahi gaya.

Tej : Veer!!! Kaha hai, Veeru???

Bhavna : Pata nahi. Keh ke gaya ki kuchh zaroori kaam hai. Raat me derr se aayega.

Tej : Aur, aapne poochha bhi nahi ki kaha jaa rahe ho??? OH GOOODD!!

Woh achanak mudi, uske baal lehraaye, aur seedhe wo Ragini ke kamre ki orr chal padi.

Bhavna (yells) : TEJ-!!!

Parantu, Tej ne ek na suni. Uske qadam bhaari the, goonj rahe the jab tak ki woh Ragini ke kamre ke paas tak nahi pahuch gayi.

*Thud*

Darwaaze ko usne dhadam se khola aur dekha ki-

Ragini bistar par takiye se tek lagaaye laiti hui thi, uski wheelchair uske bistar ke bagal se rakhi hui thi, aur Kavya uske bagal se laiti, uss se chipki hui thi.

Dono ne chaukte hue upar dekha. Ve dono uth baithi.

Tej khud bhi stabdh thi. Drishya dekh woh yeh bhool gayi ki woh yaha kisliye aayi thi. Ragini, bhramit aur shaant, Kavya jigyasu magar kisi suraksha kavach ki tarah Ragini ke saamne baithi hui.

Tej ke honth bolne ke liye khule, lekin ek bhi shabd nikalne se pehle hi ek haath ne uski kalaayi pakad li.

“Idhar aao-”

Bhumika ki awaaz peechhe se aayi. Tej ne mud apne kandhe ke upar se use dekha.

“Ch-Chhorro-!”

“Nahi!” Lekin, Bhumika ne dridhta se use waha se kheencha aur le gayi. Darwaza band ho gaya.

Kamre ke andar, Kavya ne apni bauhe sikod aashcharya prakat kiya.

Kavya : K-Kya hua?

Ragini : Pata nahi!

Kavya : Umm… Bhabhi, shayad Tejal didi ko bhi wo baat pata lag gayi. Isliye, woh aayi hongi.

Ragini : Oh!? Shayad… Tumne theek kaha.

Baahar, Tej zorr-zorr se saans le rahi thi. Bhumika se baat karte hue uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.

Tej : Chhoriye, mujhe! Mein- Mein ise bardaasht nahi kar sakti. Hargiz nahi! Woh… Woh Veeru ko nahi rakh sakti. B-Bilkul bhi nahi.

Bhumika ki pakad uske haath par thodi aur mazboot ho gayi.

Bhumika : Toh, phir hungama mat karo. Kyunki, iss se baat aur bhi bigad jayegi.

Tej ke honth aapas me chipak gaye, uska gala bhavnao se bhar gaya. Uski aankhein bhaavuk ho uthi, lekin usne aansu girne nahi diye.

Bhumika : Akhir, tumhe ho kya gaya hai? Tum waha andar jaa kar ladaayi shuru karne waali thi, tumhe pata hai?

Tej : Ladaayi? You think I care about that right now? Look at her. Kaise innocent bann rahi hai woh. She’s lying there, crying… and all he can think of is running to her every time she falls apart. Every single time.

Bhumika : Veer bas unki madad kar raha tha, Tejal. Ragini bhabhi injured hai, bhulo mat. Unhe chot lagi hai.

Tej ne halki-si hasi chhori. Thodi kadwi aur thodi ladkhadati hui.

Tej : Bilkul! Zaahir hai woh unki madad kar raha tha. Veeru aisa hi toh hai. Woh unki madad sabse pehle karta hai jo sabse zyada zorr se rote hai. Jo khud ko khoob lachaar dikhaate hai. Mein galat nahi hu, hai na? See, I get it ki wo injured hai par ye pyaar vyaar? Isme kiski galti hai?

Gusse aur niraasha ke beech kaanpti uski awaaz phus-phusahat me badal gayi.

Tej : He never sees what’s right in front of him.

Bhumika (frowns) : Kya matlab?

Tej ne nazrein pher li, apne baalo me haath pherte hue, bhaari saansein lete hue woh boli.

Tej : K-Kuchh nahi…!

Magar, uski bud-budahat phir se Bhumika ne sunn li.

Tej (mutters) : Woh Veeru ke laayak nahi hai. Woh kabhi thi hi nahi. Koi bhi nahi.

Bhumika thitak ke reh gayi. Woh dheere-se Tej ki orr mudi aur use gaur se dekhne lagi. Tej ne dhyaan hi nahi diya, woh apni hi uljhan me khoyi hui thi, halke-halke hil rahi thi aur uski ungliyaan kaanp rahi thi.

Tej (mutters) : Woh unhe ek baar dekhta hai aur sab kuchh bhool jaata hai. Hmph! Kya mein notice nahi karti? Sab dikhta hai mujhe bhi. As if she’s the only one that matters. As if she’s the only one he’s ever cared for…

Uski awaaz bud-budaate hue toot gayi aur phir woh achanak hi chup ho gayi. Uske baad jo sannaata chhaaya, woh gehra tha.

Bhumika ki aankhein kuchh jaan ke chaudi ho gayi. Tej ka yeh lehza, ye shabd, ye kadwahat, sab kuchh ek hi cheez ki orr ishaara kar raha tha. Jis tarah Tej kabhi-kabhi Veer ko dekhti hai, kaise woh humesha uske prati kuchh protective si rehti hai, kuchh zyada hi protective. Yeh sab kuchh ek hi cheez batla raha tha.

Bhumika ke chehre par hairat bhare bhaav dekh Tej uski orr mudi.

Tej : What?

Bhumika ne dheere-se apna sirr hilaaya aur ek halki, bechain muskaan bikher boli.

Bhumika : N-Nothing!

Usne dheere-se kaha, halanki uska mann bilkul bhi shaant nahi tha.

Jaise ve dono khadi thi, ek gusse me, dusri shaant aur hairaan. Bhumika ko kuchh naya pata lag chuka tha. Tej sirf gusse me hi nahi thi. Woh shayad… kisi aur cheez me bhi thi. Jo ki bahut galat tha. Ragini ke Veer ko pyaar karne se bhi zyada galat.

Aur, woh tha-

Sage bhai behan ka mard-aurat waala pyaar.

---

Toh wahi, idhar andar Kavya aur Ragini poori tarah se anjaan thi ki Bhumika aur Tej ke beech akhir kya baatein hui.

Unhe woh kshan yaad aaya jab Veer Ragini ko goad me utha ke uske room me le gaya tha aur do ghante tak Kavya, woh aur Veer andar maujood the.

Tab, kamre me hawa bhaari thi. Na gussa, na hasi, bas shabdo ke bole jaane ki deri thi.

Kavya ne akhirkar sannaata toda, uski awaaz dheemi aur jhijhak bhari thi.

Kavya : Umm- Bh-Bhabhi? Y-Ye sab kab hua? Kya waqai aap Veer bhaiya se-?

Ragini ne sharmindagi aur ek ajeeb-si raahat ke beech fasi apni palkein jhapkayi. Uske honth ek halki, thaki hui muskaan me khule.

Ragini : H-Haan! *blushes* Y-Ye kab hua? Ye pehle se toh tay nahi tha, Kavya. Ye bas… *Veer ko dekhte hue* ho gaya.

Veer ki nazar ek pal Ragini se mili aur woh dheere-se muskuraaya.

Kavya : Umm… phir bhi- I mean, koi aisa moment toh raha hoga na jaha aapko realise hua hoga ki aap bhaiya se-

Ragini : Moment ki baat karu toh- uss raat, tumhe yaad hai jab mere mummy papa kidnap ho gaye the? Mein bhi fass gayi thi? Tumhara bada bhai Vivek bhi tha. Yaad hai na?

Kavya (nods) : H-Haan! Uske baad se hi aap aur Vivek bhaiya ka divorce-

Ragini : Right! Uss raat, unn aadmiyon ne humein bandhi bana kar rakha tha. Unhone Vivek ke saamne ek choice rakhi thi. Ya toh apni jaan bacha lo, ya phir apni biwi ki, aur tumhare bhai ne-

Kavya (neeche sarr karte hue) : Unhone apni jaan ki parvah ki thi.

Ragini : Hmm! Aur, tabhi Veer aaya tha. Jab maine saari ummeedein chhor di thi. Tab, woh aaya tha. Uss raat se hi mere andar uske liye sab kuchh badal chuka tha. Shayad tab se hi mein-

Usne phir se Veer ko dekha aur uske gaal par haath phera.

Ragini : Tab se mein Veer ko aur bhi zyada notice karne lagi aur dheere-dheere ye kab pyaar me badal gaya, mujhe khud bhi pata nahi chala.

Kavya sunti rahi, honth bhinche hue, dil ajeeb tarah se dhadak raha tha.

Ragini : Uske baad se hi, maine Veer ko alag nazariye se dekhna shuru kar diya tha. Har baar jab-jab woh bolta tha, har baar jab woh muskuraata tha, aisa lagta tha jaise mein use pehli baar dekh rahi hu. Woh wo insaan bann gaya jis par mein bharosa karne lagi, jab mujhe khud apne par bharosa nahi rehta tha. And, I knew… I have fallen for him.

Kavya ki mutthi kasi, woh muskurana chaahti thi, apni bhabhi ke liye khush hona chaahti thi, lekin uske andar kuchh dard kar raha tha. Ek shaant anjaan dard.

Usne Veer ki taraf dekha jo abhi bhi shaant tha.

Kavya : So… So, you really love him huh!?

Woh lagbhag khudse hi budbudaayi. Ragini ka jawab bhi seedha tha.

Ragini : Yes! I love him! I do! A lot!

Ek halki-si khamoshi chhaa gayi.

Veer : Aur, mein bhi nahi chaahta tha ki kisi ko bhi koi bhi prakaar ki thes pahuche.

Woh jaanta tha ki Kavya iss waqt kaisa mehsoos kar rahi thi. Akhir, Kavya ne apne dil ka haal bhi use bataaya hua tha. Kavya ki nazrein uss par padi. Ek pal ke liye usne socha ki kuchh kahe, shayad unhe bataaye ki uske andar bhi kuchh feelings hai, ya yeh ki wo bhi Veer se-

-Lekin, uski awaaz hi nahi nikli. Usne bas sirr hilaaya. Ragini ne uska haath thaama.

Ragini : Tumhe toh koi dikkat nahi na, Kavya? I’m sorry. Tumhe lag raha hoga ki kaisi bhabhi hai ye. Pehle mere bade bhaiya ke saath shadi rachaayi aur ab mere Veer bhaiya ke saath-

Kavya : N-Nahi! Aisa nahi hai, bhabhi. I- I understand. Balki, aapki jagah mein bhi hoti toh yahi karti.

Ragini : Oh thank you so much, dear~ Baaki log jo bhi maane mujhe farq nahi padta, Lekin, tum bura maanti toh- I would have been affected, you know. Thank you dear~

Kavya ne jhatse sarr hilaaya aur halki-si muskaan bikheri.

Kavya : Nahi! Mujhe pareshani nahi, bhabhi! Mein toh bas- bas surprised hu. I didn’t think…

Woh ruki aur dheere-se hasi.

Kavya : It’s weird, you know? Ki ab meri bhabhi… mere cousin bhaiya se pyaar karti hai. It feels unreal.

Ragini dheere-se hasi aur apne gaal se aansu pochhi.

Ragini : It feels unreal for me too, dear!

Kavya muskura zaroor rahi thi par andar hi andar wahi jaanti thi ki use ye baat kitni chubh rahi thi.

Isne Veer aur Ragini ko gaur se dekha. Veer ki khamoshi me shaant nishchay, Ragini ki aankhon me aseem pyaar, aur use kuchh ehsaas hua.

Shayad pyaar kabhi sahi ya galat ke baare me tha hi nahi. Veer aur Ragini dono devar aur bhabhi the, uske bawajood unme pyaar ho gaya aur sab saamne bhi aa gaya aur abhi bhi ve dono ek dusre ke paas the.

Toh, kya iska matlab woh bhi-!? Ek behan hone ke baad bhi Veer se-!?

Uski aankhein ye sab soch ke hairat me phel gayi. Usne Ragini ki orr dekha, uske hontho par ek halki, sacchi muskaan tair gayi.

Kavya (nods) : Haan! Shayad... Shayad yahi sahi hai. Shayad kabhi mein bhi-

Ragini ne uska haath haule se dabaya.

Ragini : Oh thank you Kavya~ Kya hua? Tum bhi kya, Kavya?

Kavya : Kuchh nahi, bhabhi!

Ghadi chalti rahi, baahar iss ghoshna ke baad mahaul garm tha aur baatein dabi awaazon me ho rahi thi, lekin idhar kamre ke andar samay tham sa gaya tha.

Kavya peechhe jhuki, uska dil ajeeb tarah se tarangein fela raha tha. Kabhi shaant toh kabhi vichlit. Uske mann me darjano vichaar umad rahe the. Uski apni bhavnaaye, apni uljhan, lekin abhi usne unhe daba kar rakh rakha tha. Shayad kisi din, woh unhe bataaye. Shayad kisi din, Ragini samajh jaaye.

Magar, aaj ke liye, woh unn dono ki baatein sunti rahi, unhe dekhti rahi, jinhe wo cheez mil chuki thi jiski talaash me woh khud bhi thi.

Pyaar.

***

Wapas, idhar hotel me, Veer ki nazar andar aate hue upar lage jhoomaro par padi, bade-bade, haath se taraashe hue crystals, latke hue taramandal ki tarah jhilmila rahe the. Shayad Aadesh ne aaj koi kami nahi chhori thi saaj-sajja me.




Casa Belle humesha se hi aalishaan raha tha, lekin aaj raat wo poora daulat se nahaaya hua lag raha tha. Har kona chamak raha tha. Har sateh par kisi taqatvar insaan ki jhalak dikh rahi thi.

Woh wahi ek pillar ke paas khada hua tha, haath jebo me daale, bina kisi se mile bas dekh raha tha. Suhana ka anurodh uske mann me kisi kone me goonj raha tha, use yaad dila raha tha ki usne iss jagah par qadam kyu rakha tha jisne kabhi use apmaanit kiya tha. Woh yaha tha. Apne liye nahi. Sonia ke liye nahi. Suhana ke liye.

Uske chaaro orr alag-alag companies ke prototypes lage hue the. AI driven chassis models, micro engine blocks, next-gen battery casings aur wagarah wagarah.

Chhoti se lekar badi companies apne-apne products ki pratibha ka pradarshan kar rahi thi. Unki bhookhi nigaahein har dilchaspi dikhaane waali companies par nazar rakh rahi thi.

Deals me mol-bhaav kiya jaa raha tha, baat-cheet chal rahi thi, alag-alag vartalap jaise equity, timelines, patents par na jaane kitne samooh aapas me charcha kar rahe the. Kinhi ko deals mil rahi thi toh kuchh the jo khaali haath bas kisi partner ka intezar kar rahe the.

Veer shaant bhaav se sab dekh raha tha, apne mann me kuchh potential companies ko rakh raha tha. Kuchh businessmen ne use guzarte hue dekha. Kisi ne use pehchaana nahi. Kisi ne koshish bhi nahi ki.

Ghadi me shaam ke 7:45 baje.

Aur, tabhi-

Hall ka shor badal gaya. Pehle thoda-sa, phir samudra me aayi leher ki tarah badhta chala gaya.

*Click* *Click* *Click*

Tasveerein dhadalle se khichne lagi. Janta ke beech apne aap hi ek raasta khul gaya.

Kaera... aa chuki thi.




Lag raha tha jaise woh khud Casa Belle ki maalkin thi. Aatmvishvas uske chaaro orr aise lipta hua tha jaise maano kisi ne use saleeke se silvaaya ho.

Uske theek peechhe Ruchika bhi ek kaale blazer me chal rahi thi. Aur, wahi nahi, yaha tak ki uski maid, Julia bhi ek designer dress me maujood thi. Aur, akhir me, Karan apni tie ko theek karte hue, andar daakhil hua.




Kaera photographs khichwaane me lagi hui thi. Usne paparazzi ko kuchh samay diya aur phir andar daakhil ho gayi. Uska swagat badi hi sehejta ke saath hua, usne business giants se haath milaaya aur nakli muskaan liye woh unse baaton me lag gayi.

Rupaya. Dollar. Desi. Videshi. Sab uski orr jhuke hue the.




Laal dress me aaj woh alag hi qayamat dha rahi thi. Use andar aate hue Veer ne dekha. Ek pal ke liye uski dhadkane ruk gayi. Woh jaha tha wahi khada raha.

Karan ne sabse pehle nazrein ghumaate hue use dekha. Uski aankhein aashcharya me chaudi ho gayi.

Woh turant hi bheed me se nikalte hue uske paas aaya jaise usne maano itni janta ke beech koi apna dhundh liya ho.

Karan : What the hell, Veer!? Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?

Veer (smiles) : Sightseeing!

Karan : Hey! Tumhe nahi bataana toh seedhe-seedhe keh do, man.

Veer (smiles) : Mein waqai sightseeing ke liye aaya hu.

Karan : Like hell I'll believe that...!

Veer bas badle me muskuraaya.

Karan : Tum bhi kisi deal ke liye aaye ho kya? Looking for business partners?

Veer ne na toh pushti ki aur na hi inkaar kiya aur Karan ne iss sannaate ko achhi tarah se samajh liya.

Phir, woh glaani ke bhaav liye dheere-se bola.

Karan : H-Hey! I'm... I'm sorry. Mein tumhare dada ji ki terhvi me nahi aa paaya. Dad ne kaafi dino tak-

Veer : It's okay! I understand!

Karan : Nahi, par mujhe waha-

Veer : It's okay! Koi baat nahi!

Veer ne uska kandha thap-thapaya. Karan ne ek lambi saans li aur thodi raahat mehsoos ki.

Karan : Well, thank god! Mujhe laga tha kahi tum mere khilaaf badle ki planning vlanning toh nahi banaane lage.

Veer (smiles) : Ho bhi sakta hai!

Karan : Huh? Wait! You serious dude? Fucking hell Veer-

Veer : Hahaha!

Badle me Karan bhi muskuraya.

Karan : Hotel kaisa chal raha hai? Recovery abhi bhi ho rahi hai?

Veer (nods) : Hmm! Thoda time lagega.

Karan : As expected.

Tabhi, Kaera jo baat karne ke baad apni seat tak pahuchi, uski nazrein apne bhai ko dhundh rahi thi. Usne aas-paas dekha aur tabhi, use Karan nazar aaya.

Magar-

Uske theek bagal se khade hue ek aur shaks ki orr uski nigaahein daudi.

Veer.

Jab Karan ne bhi apni nazrein daudaayi toh usne dekha ki uski behan janta se hatt kar jaa chuki thi. Usne dekha ki-




Woh unhe hi ghoor rahi thi. Uski nazar sirf aur sirf Veer par tiki hui thi.

'Huh!?'

Dono me se koi bhi nahi hila. Aur, agle hi pal-

Kaera ne uski orr ek qadam badhaaya. Phir, dusra aur woh seedhe unki orr aane lagi.

Veer ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Karan bhi apni behan ko iss orr aata dekha thoda thitak gaya.

Karan : Huh? Why is she-

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh bol paata, Kaera unke saamne thi. Woh unke saamne ruki aur ek pal ke liye Veer saans lena bhool gaya.

Nazdeek se, Kaera ki maujoodgi raushniyo se bhi zyada raushan, hall me goonjte shor aur Casa Belle ki daulat se bhi zyada zordaar lag rahi thi. Dhyaan aakarshit karne ke liye use bolne ki zaroorat nahi thi.

Kaera ke perfume ki sugandh uss tak pahuchi. Manmohak, sundar aur mehngi. Ek nayi khushbu.

Uski aankhein Veer par tiki rahi, bina palak jhapkaaye, use padhna mushqil tha. Usne Karan ki taraf ek baar bhi nahi dekha.

Kaera : This suit... looks good on you.

Veer : Oh!? Thanks!

Kaera : Why are you here?

Usne poochha. Saral, seedha sawaal.

Ruchika uske peechhe-peechhe parchhaayi ki tarah aayi, jigyasu aankhein liye Veer ko dekhne lagi.

Julia bhi unke paas aayi, Veer ko dekhte hi uski muskurahat sharaarat se khil uthi.

Kaera : Tell me! Why are you here?

Veer : Mein- Mein yaha kisi zaroori kaam se tha.

Kaera : Kaun sa zaroori kaam?

Veer be-mann se muskuraaya. Ab kaise bataata ki woh yaha uski hi deal cancel karwa ke Sonia ko deal dilwane ke liye aaya tha.

Iske pehle ki woh jawab de paata, Julia ne halke-se Kaera ki baah thaami aur uske kaan me phus-phusate hue boli.

Julia : Young Miss, it's rude to ask someone something they don't want to tell you.

Kaera ne iss nayi jaankaari ko kisi formulae ki tarah samajhte hue haami bhari.

Kaera : Oh!?

Julia : Yes!

Magar, woh phir Veer ki orr mudi aur poochhi.

Kaera : Then, what is it that you're hiding from me?

Julia ne apna chehra sharm se dhak liya. Toh wahi, Ruchika sharmindagi me idhar-udhar dekhne lagi. Karan hassne laga. Veer ki bauhein Karan ki hasi sunn fadki. Usne Veer ki peeth thap-thapayi.

Karan : Hahaha! Di, yeh baat toh ye mujhe bhi nahi bata raha, lekin it's evident ki Veer yaha kisi invitation ki wajah se aaya hai, right? After all, without invitation entry allowed nahi hai. Maybe some secret deal? Hehe!

Veer ne Karan ko khaa jaane waali nazro se taada. Aur, Karan iska poora lutf utha raha tha.

Aur, ab tak, kayi mehmaan waha unki orr dekhne lage the. Akhir, Kaera kis se baat kar rahi thi? Kaun tha yeh naujavan? Bas, yahi utsukta jagaane ke liye kaafi tha. Phones pehle se hi aadhe uthe hue the, besharmi se recording karte hue messages dekhne ka naatak kar rahe the.

Kaera ne na hi dhyaan diya aur na hi parvah ki. Uski nazar Veer par hi thi.

Kaera : What is it? Tell me!

Veer ne apna muh khola, kuchh aisa soch raha tha jo sach ki tarah prateet ho sake. Iske pehle ki woh kuchh bol paata, Kaera phir bol padi.

Kaera : If there's nothing to tell. Come and sit with ME.

Karan ne use dekha. Hairaan.

Karan : Excuse me, di? Umm, Veer mera friend hai. Obviously, woh mere saath baithega. Kyu hai na, Veer?

Parantu, Kaera ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh mudi aur apni seat ki orr chal padi, bheed uske saamne paani ki tarah chhat gayi.

Veer ne ek aah chhori. Aur, woh uske peechhe-peechhe chal pada. Julia uske bagal se chalte hue uske qareeb aayi.

Julia (smiles) : Good evening young master, Veer!

Veer : Huh? *glances* Good evening!

Julia (smiles) : You look great today.

Veer : Oh? Thank you! You are looking wonderful yourself.

Jaise hi ve Kaera ka nazdeek pahuche, Julia muskuraati hui Veer se peechhe ho gayi. Karan uske bagal se chalta hua dheere-se budbudaya.

Karan : Di is insane, you know. Mujhe baithne ke liye poochha tak nahi aur tumhe VIP treatment? Waah! Someone tell her that I'm her brother.

Veer khamosh raha. Uska dhyaan Kaera par tha jo pehle se hi baithi hui thi. Woh Karan ke bagal waali seat ki orr badha, usme baithne ke liye taiyaar ki-

"Veer???"

Kaera ki awaaz ne use tok diya. Usne apne bagal ki seat par haath thap-thapaya. Aankhein poori tarah se Veer par kendrit.

Kaera : Maine tumse kya kaha?

Veer : !!?

Kaera : Idhar! *Pats* Idhar baitho!

Uski awaaz tez nahi thi, lekin samjhaute ki bhi koi gunjaish nahi thi.

Veer ek kshan ke liye stabdh reh gaya. Karan ka haal bhi yahi tha. Julia mand-mand muskuraayi toh wahi Ruchika bhi hairani me Veer ko ab dekh rahi thi.

Aur, Veer majbooran, uljhan aur bechaini bhari dhadkan ke beech fasa, akhirkar uss seat ki orr badha jaha Kaera ne use baithne ke liye kaha tha.

Woh uske bagal se baith gaya.

Kaera ki nazrein thodi narm pad gayi. Lekin, woh muskuraayi nahi. Usne bas iss prakaar se dekha jaise maano usne koi cheez theek usi jagah rakh di ho jaha woh honi chaahiye.

Aur, samast log unhe bas dekhte rahe.

Tabhi, Julia Kaera ki orr jhuki aur uske kaan me dheere-se boli.

Julia : Yahi sahi time hai, miss.

Kaera achanak hi tann gayi. Usne apna ek haath peechhe kiya, hatheli kholi. Julia ne ek chhota-sa, badi hi sundarta se pack kiya gaya box uske haath me thama diya.

Kaera ne box ko table ke upar unke saamne rakha. Veer, Ruchika aur Karan sabhi ne ek hi bhaav se uski orr dekha. Bhramit aur utsuk.

Veer toh pehle hi check kar chuka tha. Aur, woh jaan gaya tha ki andar kya tha.

Kaera uski taraf mudi, apna muh kholi, phir thitak ke band kar li. Uski ungliyaan box ke kinaare par kasi hui thi.

Veer uske bolne ka intezar karta raha. Julia ek baar phir jhuki aur ahista se Kaera se boli.

Julia (mutters) : Sorry se start kijiye, miss.

Kaera (nods) : Right! Veer...!

Veer : Hmm?

Kaera : I'm... I'm sorry! Mein uss din tumhare dada ji ki ceremony me nahi aa paayi. Terhvi waale din.

Veer : Oh? *smiles* It's fine, miss Kaera. I don't mind.

Kaera : BUT I DO MIND! And, call me... Kaera!

Veer : Huh???

Kaera ne woh box Veer ki orr khiskaaya. Jab Veer maun bana raha toh usne khud Veer ka haath pakadte hue woh box uske haath me hi thama diya.

Kaera : It's an apology gift. Take it. Open it.

Uske tohfe dene ka tareeka vichitra tha. Na koi 'please' na 'thank you'.

Bas, seedhe-

Rakhne ka aadesh. Aur, kholne ka aadesh.

Veer ne akhirkar uss box ko khola aur dhakkan hataaya. Andar ek Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G, white gold, deep blue dial ke saath maujood thi, jiski keemat lagbhag ₹1.5 crore thi.

Veer jaanta toh tha ki andar kya tha, magar uska dimaag ghadi ke daam ko check karne ke baad chakraaya. Usne Kaera ko tezi se mud ke dekha.

Jaise hi usne muh kholna chaaha, mana karne ke liye, Kaera ne ghadi uthaayi aur khud hi uski kalaayi par baandh di.

Kaera : Mujhe naa sunana pasand nahi, Veer.

Veer : This... Itna mehnga gift?

Kaera : Mehnga? Hmm? I didn't check the price. Mujhe bas ye dikhne me achhi lagi. I thought it would look good on your wrist. So, I bought it.

Veer use dekhta raha. Woh yeh bhala kaise le sakta tha? Yeh jaante hue ki woh yaha deal cancel karwaane ke liye aaya tha.

[Master?]

'Nahi! Mujhse ye nahi ho paayega, Pari!'

[??]

'Na hi mein Kaera ko mana kar sakta hu. Aur, na hi uske saath vishvasghat kar sakta hu.'

[Then?]

'I... I won't act.'

[Toh, phir? Aap Suhana ki madad nahi karenge?]

'Not like this. Mein Suhana se baad me baat kar lunga. But I can't betray Kaera.'

Veer ghadi dekh dheere-se muskuraaya. Isliye, nahi ki ghadi bahut mehngi thi. Isliye, ki Kaera ne pehli baar use koi tohfa iss tarah se diya tha. Iska matlab ek cheez spasht thi. Woh yeh ki ab woh inn chhoti-chhoti baaton par dhyaan dene lagi thi. Uske emotions ahista-ahista hi sahi, magar baahar aa rahe the.

Table ke uss paar se Karan itni zorr se khaansa ki sabki nazar uss par pad gayi. Usne apni khud ki ek mehngi ghadi ki taraf dekha, jo kareeban 60-70 lakh ki thi, lekin ab Veer ki ghadi ke saamne pheeki lag rahi thi.

Woh muh bana ke dheere-se budbudaya.

"Di ne mujhe aaj tak kabhi aisa gift nahi diya. Hmph!"

Ruchika ne ye sunn apni muskaan chhupaayi. Ve sabhi phir baaton me lag gaye jab-

Kaera ki maujoodgi ke baad hall abhi theek tarah se shaant bhi nahi hua tha ki ek baar phir se shor machna shuru ho gaya, pehle ki hi tarah tez. Logon ke sirr ghoom gaye, aapas me ve phus-phusaane lage.

Karan : Damn! Shayad Sonia di aa gayi. *smiles*

Kaera : Sonia… di???

Karan : Umm, yeah! Mere liye toh di hi hai na.

Kaera : You are that close with her?

Karan : Umm, nahi! Lekin, competition toh humesha se aap dono ke beech raha hai toh bhala mein kyu beech me pisu? Mere liye toh woh wahi Sonia di hai.

Kaera : No. You just want to be on good terms with her because she’s beautiful.

Karan (coughs) : Wh-Whattt??? *blushes* A-Aisa nahi hai-

Kaera : Shut up!

Karan : Ugh…!

Veer ne shor ka peechha kiya. Sonia. Woh aa chuki thi.




Par, dikkat ki baat yeh thi ki-

Woh bhi Kaera ki hi tarah, ek chamakdar laal dress me thi. Uske aate hi kamre me har kisi ka dhyaan uski orr chala gaya. Uski secretary, Suchika uske peechhe-peechhe chal rahi thi, muh par usne mask pehna hua tha, jis se keval uski aankhein hi nazar aa rahi thi.

Saath hi saath Prakash Uncle, Sonia ki family ke advisor bhi saath me the. Photographers phir se tasveerein kheechne lage.

Kaera ne apni aankhein uthaayi. Sonia ne bhi andar aate hi pehle Kaera ko dekha.

Aur, jaise hi dono ki nazrein mili, mahaul tanaav se bhar gaya. Dono shaant thi magar dono ke beech ek maun dabaav tha. Do top queens ek dusre ko naap rahi thi. Kaera ki nazrein Sonia ki dress par padi aur Sonia ki Kaera pe…

Ek andhruni chidh unn dono ke andar jaagi. Tabhi, Sonia ne Kaera ke bagal se baithe shaks ko dekha aur use dekhte hi woh achambhit reh gayi. Woh lagbhag aage badhne hi wali thi, uske honth khule, lekin usne apna muh band kar khud ko sambhaala.

Veer…

Bahut si galat-fehmiyo ko use mitaana tha. Magar, yeh sahi samay nahi tha. Ek gehri saans lete hue woh apni table ki orr mud gayi.

Suchika ek pal ke liye ruki, uski nigaahein Kaera ki table ke paas baithi Ruchika par tiki. Ruchika ne bhi nazar mehsoos kar use dekha aur apni bauhe chadhaayi.

Kaun thi bhala yeh ladki? Sonia ki secretary… Dhaka hua chehra… Ye lambaayi… Ye kadd-kaathi… Wo aankhein…

‘Nahi! Mein kuchh zyada hi soch rahi hu.’

Ruchika apne mann me sochte hue sarr hilaayi aur Suchika jaldi-se nazrein pher Sonia ke paas chali gayi. Uske mask ke peechhe uske bhaav samajh se parey the.

Kaera ki table se hi parallel me Sonia ki table thi, magar kuchh qadam ki doorie par.

Isi beech, Suhana daakhil hui, ek sundar, mehngi, designer dress me, uske qadam dheeme the. Uska pati Gaurav bhi uske saath chal raha tha, uska ek haath Suhana ki kamar par-

Lekin, ek videshi parichit mehmaan se milte hue ve dono turant hi alag ho gaye. Suhana aage badh gayi, jabki Gaurav wahi ruk gaya.




Suhana apna clutch kass kar thaame Sonia ke peechhe waali table ki orr badhi. Woh naazuk lag rahi thi. Muskaan nakli thi. Aur, tabhi uski aankhon ne Veer ko dhoondhna chaaha.

Aur, usne use paaya bhi-

Veer!

Kaera ke bagal se baitha hua tha.

Suhana ki saansein tez thi. Dono ki nazrein mili aur bhavnao ka sailaab ek saath Suhana ke andar umad pada. Ghabrahat, ummeed, darr, laalsa, jalan, sab kuchh. Par, sab uljha hua.

Veer ne jaise hi use dekha toh uske chehre par bhaav thode naram pad gaye. Bas, usne ek halki haami se uski orr ishaara kiya.

Aur, Suhana ne ishaara paate hi nazrein hata li, ek darr ki kahi Gaurav ne use dekh liya toh? Magar, Gaurav pehle se hi videshi doston me vyast tha, hass raha tha, humesha ki tarah bekhabar.




Suhana Sonia se jaa kar mili aur phir uske peechhe ki table par baith gayi, apne mann me vichaar liye-

‘Akhir… kaise kar paayega, Veer? Maine bina soche-samjhe uss se madad maang toh li, magar-!’




Lekin, woh yeh jaanti thi ki Veer aam vyakti ki tarah nahi tha. Aatish. Slogan. Las Vegas me Nightwalker, Pitcher. Na jaane kaise-kaise logon se paala pada tha uska aur usne humesha hi vijay haasil ki thi.

Toh, ek deal lena-

Uske liye toh baaye haath ka kaam hona chaahiye, hai na? Kuchh yahi soch thi Suhana ki.

Agar, woh nahi… toh bhala aur kaun?

Iss orr Kaera Veer ko dekhi aur poochhi.

Kaera : Tell me! Kiski dress zyada achhi lag rahi hai? Meri… ya uski?

Veer, jo paani pee raha tha, use yeh sawaal sunte hi phanda lag gaya.

*Cough* *Cough*

Karan (laughs) : Ye phans gaya!

Kaera (glances) : Hmm?

Karan : Ugh! N-Nothing! Haha!

Karan ne Veer ke kandhe par maara.

Karan : Bhai jawab do! Kya hua? Saans nahi aa rahi kya?

Veer (mutters) : You fucking-

Karan : Huh? Kya bola? Sonia di ki-?

Kaera : What?

Veer ne ek chamaat mazakiya dhang se Karan ki peeth par lagaayi, jo itni zorr se lagi ki bechaara Karan wahi chup ho gaya, zaahir taur se dard bardaasht karne ke liye.

Karan (grits) : Motherfu-

Veer : Achhi hai! Definitely! Yours is much more beautiful.

Kaera : Mein yahi baithi hu isliye bol rahe ho ya waqai me?

Veer (smiles) : Waqai me…! No doubt Miss Sonia ki dress bhi bahut achhi hai, lekin aapki dress ki fitting unse zyada behtar hai. Not to mention… It’s YOU, who’s making the dress even more beautiful.

Uttar sunn na jaane Kaera ko kya hua par uske gaal pehli baar aaj kuchh sunn halke laal pad gaye. Woh achanak hi muh pher li.

Kaera : Okay! I’ll... I'll believe that…!

Peechhe khadi jab Julia ne yeh drishya dekha toh woh hairat me reh gayi. Uski aankhon me chamak daud gayi. Uski Young Miss sharma rahi thi? Woh bhi ek ladke ke compliment par? Uske honthon se muskaan gaayab hone ka naam hi nahi le rahi thi.

---

Achanak hi hall ka shor dheema pad gaya, security aur welcoming staff turant hi entrance ki orr daud ke bhaage.

ICONGLOBE aa chuki thi.

Logo ke sirr entrance ki orr mud gaye. Aur, andar company ko represent kar rahe uske representative ne andar qadam rakha.

Mr. Benjamin Ward, ICONGLOBE International ke Chief Global Investment Officer. Aur, unke saath thi unki team, ek female Head of Strategic Partnerships, India ke Operations Director jo khud bhi Indian hi the, zaahir taur se. Teen senior financial analysts aur unke saath chal rahi unki apni security team.

Koi bekaar ka naatak nahi. Koi phaaltu ka taam-jhaam nahi. Koi bagairat nahi. Bas, business power ka maun shor.

Hall ke upar maujood gallery par Aadesh ne apne qadam badhaaye. Uski nigaahein neeche baithe tamaam logon par ghoom rahi thi. Uske bagal se uska event manager, Kumar khada hua tha.

Aadesh : Details?

Kumar : Sab badhiya dhang se chal raha hai, Sir.

Aadesh (nods) : Good!

Akasmat hi uski aankhein Veer se bhidi, Veer pehle se hi use ghoor raha tha. Aadesh ke badan me ek sihran daud gayi.

Achanak-

Woh drishya uske zehen me daud gaya. Uska chandelier se ulta latakna aur phir Veer ki woh laal aankhein. Aur, phir uski woh maar-!

Yaad kar Aadesh ne apne chehre par haath phera. Ek aabhaas ki Veer ke sang use laparwaahi se kabhi bhi pesh nahi aana chaahiye.

Aadesh : Dhyaan rahe ki kisi bhi haalat me-

Kumar : ??

Aadesh : Veer Singh ko koi dikkat na aane paaye.

Kumar : Huh?

Aadesh : Tumne suna nahi?

Kumar : J-Ji, Sir! Samajh gaya! Mein dhyaan rakhunga.

Hotel ke management staff ne traditional namaste aur phool malao ke saath company ke logo ka swagat kiya. Koi gifts nahi , kuchh bhi personal nahi.

Yeh corporate gala tha, na ki party. Aur, ek corporate gala etiquette aur neutrality ki maang rakhta tha.

Kaera aur Sonia, dono hi peeth seedhi kar chaukanni ho gayi. Photographers daudate hue andar aaye, flashes chamakne lage. Ek lady host ne stage par khade hoke unka swaagat kiya.




Mr. Ward stage par pahuche aur podium par jaate hue woh badi hi khushi se bole.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the warm and exceptional welcome. ICONGLOBE is honored to be in Mumbai tonight. We are here for one reason, to finalize the most significant investment initiative of the year for us.”

Logo me khus-pusaahat shuru ho gayi. Baaki sabhi companies bhi badi hi jigyasa se sab dekh rahi thi. Tabhi, Mr. Ward punaah bole.

“A partnership worth ten billion dollars.”

Taaliyaan goonj uthi. Billions of dollars ki deals roz-roz nahi hoti thi. Aur, aise hallroom me toh bilkul bhi nahi. Lekin, ghoshnaaye zaroor hoti thi. Baaki, baat-cheet toh humesha hi niji taur par ki jaati thi.

“We will begin discussions tonight with two of India’s most influential market leaders : Nexacom and Elite Motors of… of the Elite Group.”

Kaera murti ki tarah sthir baithi hui thi. Toh, wahi Sonia ke hontho par ek halki-si vijayi ki muskaan thi.

Protocol ke anusaar ICONGLOBE ki team pehle automobiles se judi anya companies ke paas jaa kar unka abhivaadan kari, unse thodi-bahut baat-cheet kari, haath milaaye gaye aur unke products dekhe gaye. Yeh aam prakriya thi.

Aur, uske baad ve seedhe Elite Motors ki orr badh gaye, jise dekh Ruchika thitak ke reh gayi. Udhar, Sonia ki aankhein jeet se chamak uthi jaise soch rahi ho ki-

Beshaq, unhe yaha pehle aana hi tha.

Akhirkar, Elite Motors India me automobiles sector me pioneer tha. Ek top leading company. Unki cars jaise ki Elite Magnus (SUV), Elite Flux (Hatchback), Elite Tracer (Sedan), wagarah wagarah… poore India me sabse zyada bikne waali cars me se ek thi.

Veer : You’re not bothered? Wo pehle Elite Motors ke paas chale gaye.

Kaera : No. Elite Motors uss sector ki top giant hai. Humari Nexacom ne abhi uss sector me theek tarah se qadam bhi nahi rakha hai. It would be unrealistic to demand they come to us first. I understand the power mechanics.

Veer use gaur se dekhta raha. Woh shaant rehne ka dikhaava nahi kar rahi thi. Woh waqai logically soch leke chal rahi thi. Koi insecurity nahi. Sirf clarity.

Karan : Yeah, but damn… could they be more obvious?

Veer ne table ke neeche se Karan ko perr maara aur Karan khaaste hue chup ho gaya, kyunki Kaera ki nazrein uss par hi mandra rahi thi.

Ruchika apna folder baar-baar khol sab kuchh rattne me lagi hui thi. Beshaq, woh kaanp rahi thi, lekin woh koi bhi chook nahi kar sakti thi.

---

Kareeban 25 minutes guzar gaye aur ICONGLOBE aur ELITE MOTORS ke beech vartalap chalti rahi. Sonia badi hi khushi se unse baatein kar rahi thi. Akhirkar, woh pal aa hi gaya jab ICONGLOBE ne haath milaaya aur woh Sonia ki table chhorte hue Kaera ki table ki orr badhe.

Ruchika ka tablet lagbhag uske haatho se girte-girte bacha. Uske dil ki dhadkane tez ho gayi.

Ruchika : Ahh! M-Miss, wo aa rahe hai. Wo log sach-much aa rahe hai. What if I say something stupid? What if I faint-? What if-

Kaera : Ruchika! If you faint, fall backwards. Saamne girna thoda unprofessional lagega.

Ruchika : Aaaaaa! How is that helpful, MISSSSS??? Oh my god!

Kaera : Kam se kam tum mujhpe girogi, unn par nahi. I think that’s a plus, right?

Ruchika : Oh god, Miss!!!

ICONGLOBE unke paas pahuchi. Mr. Ward ne Kaera, Karan, Suchika aur yaha tak ki Veer se bhi haath milaaya.

Kaera (smiles) : Nexacom welcomes you to India, Mr. Ward.

Mr. Ward : Miss Kaera! *smiles* We’ve heard quite a lot about Nexacom and especially you.

Kaera (smiles) : All good things, I suppose?

Mr. Ward muskuraaye. Ve sab baithe aur apni baat shuru karne ke liye taiyaar hi the ki-

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Entrance ke paas cameramen baukhla gaye. Yaha tak ki halka background music bhi band ho gaya.

Sabke sirr mudte chale gaye. Black dress me ek behad khubsoorat mahila waha padhaar chuki thi.




Garofano.

Kaera ki bauhe upar uthi. Sonia bhi akad ke baith gayi. Yaha tak ki-

Karan : Damn! Wow~

Kaera ne use ghoor ke dekha.

Karan : I… I mean… How???

Aur, Veer-?

‘Fuck!!! Garofano? What is she doing here?’




[Master!? Ye plan me nahi tha.]

Usne apne paas rakha glass kass ke pakda.

‘What the hell is she doing here?’

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh samajh paata tabhi-

Garofano ke andar aane ke kuchh kshan baad hi ek lamba-chauda vyakti police wardi me waha andar daakhil hua.

DGP Rohan. Trisha ka pati. Veer seedha hoke baithne par majboor ho gaya.

‘Ye? Ye yaha kyu??’

Par, iske bawajood usne apne aap ko sambhaala. Shayad kisi security purpose ke liye Rohan yaha aaya hoga, lekin jaise aaj Veer ki kismat me chenn lena nahi likha tha.

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Ek baar phir cameras ki awaazein goonj uthi. Veer, jo paani pee raha tha, paani uske galey me galat samay par phansa aur lagbhag use phanda lagte lagte bacha.

Kyunki, andar aane waala agla vyakti aisa prateet ho raha tha jaise seedhe swarg se apsara ko neeche laa diya ho.




Erica.

Behad hi khubsoorat si dress me, chamakti hui, jagmagati hui, reporters, cameramen ke jhund se hote hue guzri. Aur, cameramen use jaise dekh ke photos lena hi bhool gaye the.

Kuchh chinese delegates jo videshi companies me kaam kar rahe the, woh Erica ko dekh achambhit reh gaye. China ka lagbhag har aadmi ‘Renshu’ naam ko jaanta tha. Aur, aise me uski beti ke baare me pata na ho? Ye kaise ho sakta tha?

Ve sab chinese uss par toot pade. Erica kisi khush tourist ki tarah unke saath chali bhi gayi.

Itna hi nahi, usko stage par pahucha diya gaya? Kaaran? Kyunki, woh bahut zyada sundar lag rahi thi. Zaahir hai woh kisi bade gharaane se hogi.





“Umm… Hello everyone!”

Usne bolna shuru kiya. Uski nazrein? Seedhe Veer par!

‘Fucccckkkkk!’

Veer ne kass kar table pakdi. Agar, iss Erica ne uske liye kuchh kaha toh woh kisi galat paristhiti me bhi phans sakta tha. Aur, Erica?




Woh yahi kar rahi thi. Woh muskura rahi thi.

‘Fuuuccckk! Why the fuck is she smiling at me like that???’




[M-Master, this is bad!]

‘Fuckkk! Wo apna intro kyu de rahi hai, udhar? Who the fuck invited her? Aur, mujhe kyu dekh rahi hai? Fuck no!!!’

Idhar Erica mic par bad-badaate hue baar-baar Veer ko dekhe jaa rahi thi.




Veer behosh hone se bas kuchh hi seconds dur tha. Kaera Erica ko aise dekh rahi thi jaise maano uski list me koi naya dushman add ho chuka tha.

Toh wahi, Erica?

Apni pyaari si muskaan diye, logon ke beech baith kar Veer ko taadne lagi.




Mr. Ward : Haha! Quite a show there. Phew! Shall we continue, Miss Kaera?

Kaera (nods) : Yes, please!

Lekin, Veer?

Veer ko paseena aana shuru ho chuka tha. Yeh sab plan me nahi tha. Usne kisi ko yaha aane ka nahi kaha tha. Na hi kisi ka mission tha yaha par aake kuchh bhi karne ke liye. Phir, kyu?

Par, bechaara Veer yeh nahi jaanta tha ki uski sabse badi aafat toh uska hotel ke baahar intezar kar rahi thi.




Ava!!!

Mask pehne woh baahar khadi hui thi. Casa Belle me aise ghusne ka plan… Garofano ka tha. Erica khushi-khushi raazi ho gayi thi, magar Ava thodi hich-kicha rahi thi. Sirf aur sirf Veer ke liye. Kya andar jaana sahi tha?

Aur, tabhi-

[Go inside dear.]

‘Par, kya ye sahi hai, Lily? Veer ne kisi ko invite nahi kia tha. Iska matlab woh definitely kisi personal kaam se yaha aaya hoga, aur aise me-’

[Garofano aur Erica, dono andar jaa chuki hai.]

‘Yeah but-’

[Kya tum chaahti ho ki ve dono Veer ke dil me jagah bana le?]

‘NOOOOOO!!!’

[*smiles* Toh, phir jao dear. Go and show your charisma.]

‘But andar… Kaera… Sonia…’

[Mask pehna hai tumne, dear.]

‘Fine then-!’

Veer jo yaha andar rumaal se paseena pochh raha tha achanak hi naye shor ko sunn wahi jamm gaya. Iss baar mahaul alag tha.

Mask lagaane ke bawajood, Ava ki khubsoorti ko chhipaaya nahi jaa sakta tha. Woh andar padhaar chuki thi.

Photographers bhi kuchh kshan ke liye bas ghoorte reh gaye aur phir ek baar phir-

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Veer ki aatma jaise maano uske shareer se nikal gayi.

[That’s… ugh… Master! Enjoy your night.]

*Ding*

[The system has gone into sleep mode.]

‘Huh? Pari??? Pariiii? Fuuuuckkkk!’

Veer Ava ko dekh itni zorr se khaansa ki Kaera Ava se nazrein hataaye bina apna paani ka glass Veer ke muh ki orr badha di.

Karan : Huh? Bhai? Kya hua? Tumhare chehre ka rang kyu uda hua hai?

Veer : N-Nothing! *cough*

Usne keh toh diya, magar mann me-

‘WHY IS SHE HERE?????’

Yeh koi mazak nahi tha. Ava. Garofano. Erica. Ye teeno worldwide sirf famous hi nahi thi, sundar hi nahi thi. Ye sab ki sab system holders bhi thi.

Aur, teeno? Ek hi jagah par? Aur, inn sab ke beech me? Ek bechaara Veer!

Kaera ne notice kiye ki teen aayi khubsoorat haseenaaye Veer ko dekh rahi thi. Aur, usne Veer ki orr apna chehra moda.

Kaera : Are they looking at… YOU? You know them?

Veer ne apna thook nigla.

Veer : I… Ahem…

Kaera : That Garofano… She was there last time. Mein jaanti hu wo tumhe shayad jaanti hai. Kaise? No! Who are those two?

Karan : Bhai! Washroom left side hai, udhar andar pe-

Veer ne ek aur laat table ke neeche se Karan ko maari toh Karan apne daant meeste hue shaant ho gaya.

Tabhi, Veer ko ek aur cheez ka ehsaas hua-

‘Wait a minute-!’

Agar, Ava bhi yahi toh toh iska matlab tha-

TRINITY… ek saath ek hi jagah par itne saalo baad thi.

Aur, woh jaan gaya ki uske laude… lag chuke the.

Tabhi-

*Ding*

[System is up from the sleep mode.]

‘Huh? Pari? Tum aa gayi? Thank god! Mein jaanta tha tum meri madad zaroor karogi. Quick! What’s the plan?’

[...]

‘Bolo bolo! Sharmaane ki zaroorat nahi hai, Pari! Don’t worry! Maine tumhe maaf kiya. Quick!’

[I-]

‘Haan haan! Bolo!’

[Mein bas ye bataane ke liye aayi thi ki-]

‘??’

[Ava ne bhi Kaera aur Sonia ki tarah red dress pehni hai. Good luck.]

*Ding*

[The system has gone into sleep mode.]

‘Fuuuuuucccckkkkkkk!!’
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Aaj ke itna hi guys.
This update consists of 9k words. Iske do update rahenge, iss poore corporate gala ke. Ye pehla tha. Next one me ye event khatam ho jaayega. Iss par kaafi mehnat lagi hai. Images dhundhne me aur ek bade level ka corporate gala kaise hota hai uske baare me research karne me. Mein specifically zyada details me nahi gaya Sonia aur ICONGLOBE ke beech ki conversation ko lekar kyunki, I thought wo bahut hi business terms waali talk thi. Aur, plot ke hisaab se koi zaroorat bhi nahi thi. So, I only showed the 'what's happening around' scenes. The humor is back again in this update. Chhota sa hi tha but let me know ye achha laga ya nahi. Target apna wahi 250 hi hai. Par, aur upar pahucha diyo. Bahut mehnat lagi hai isme. Milte hai agle bhaag me jald hi.
Dhanyavad.

 

[Iron Man]

Shaandar update

 

[lovfrnd4u]

Gajab,dhamakedar update world level ke corporate event, deals…ko shabdo me itna jeevant utaarna bahut hi jyada sukad , viswaas hi nahi ho raha jaise lag raha hai kisi piller ke peeche hum bhi hai… agle update ki utsukta bahut jyada badh gayi hai, agar sambhav ho jald se de de aap…. Dubara se badhai

 

[Xkingthakur]

Update - 208 ~ The Corporate Gala — ICONGLOBE (1)​

Ab tak...

10 billion dollars ki deal.

Jise haasil karne ke liye kataar me log toh bahut the, magar do hi sabse mazboot pratidwandi the : NEXACOM aur ELITE MOTORS.

Aur, Prestige ke reparation ke chalte, ye corporate gala ki hosting jaa chuki thi : Casa Belle ko.

Kyunki, ICONGLOBE-

Kal hi apne qadam Bharat par rakhne waali thi.

Ab aage...

Mid-January,
Casa Belle, Mumbai,
Evening - 7:15 PM ~

Hotel ka driveway raushni se jagmaga raha tha, luxury sedan cars bhavya hotel ke parking area me pravesh karti jaa rahi thi. Casa Belle aaj shaan se chamak rahi thi. Orchid, lavendar ke phool jagah-jagah par lage apni khushboo bikher rahe the.

Raat me halki-si thandak bhi maujood thi. Aane waale ek se badh ke ek VIPs ke liye photographers bhi apni kataar lagaaye khade hue the. Baahar ka ilaaka unki flash lights se chamak raha tha.

Inn VIPs me na keval businessmen aur badi-badi companies ke log, balki celebrities bhi shaamil the.

Aur, Veer...

Woh thodi dur khada tha, uski nigaahein sateek, adh khuli aankhein, shaant, veh iss drishya ko aise dekh raha tha maano jaise wo inn sab cheezon se anjaan ho.

Use ab bhi yaad tha ki pichhli baar woh kab yaha aaya tha. Aadesh Jaisinghani ki hasi isi hotel ke hall me goonj rahi thi kabhi, aur uske dwara woh apmaan. Use sab yaad tha.

Kintu, woh aaj shauharat paane nahi aaya tha. Woh yaha tha sirf ek vyakti ki wajah se : Suhana!

"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?"

Yahi shabd the Suhana ke. Agar, Suhana ne na kaha hota, toh aaj woh yaha aaya hi na hota. Par, uss ladki ne uske liye jo kuchh bhi kiya tha, uske saamne itni-si madad kuchh bhi nahi thi.

[Master! Kya plan hai aapka? Kaise aap Kaera ke against jaa kar ye deal Sonia ko dilwaoge? Bhale hi mujhe Sonia pasand nahi, lekin-! Suhana ne maang ki hai aur mein jaanti hu ki aap use mana nahi karoge.]

Pari chaahti toh Veer ke mann ko padh sakti thi. Lekin, bina anumati ke woh ab yeh kaarya nahi karti thi aur na hi karna chaahti thi.

'I don't know!'

Veer ne sarr hilaate hue jawaab diya.

[What? I... I thought aapne kuchh plan kar ke rakha hoga.]

'Dekhte hai! Genuinely dekha jaaye toh mujhe yaha hona hi nahi chahiye. I'm not invited after all.'

[So, what? Aap- Ek din dekhna sab aapke aage-peechhe ghoomenge. Beetein palon ko dekhiye, Master. Aap kaha se kaha aa gaye. Humein aur aage badhna hai. Don't get disheartened. Our journey has just begun.]

Veer dheere-se muskuraya. Woh jaanta tha ki Pari uska dil behlaane ke liye yeh sab keh rahi thi.

Usne dekha...

Kaise Casa Belle ke ird-gird hawa aiyyaashi, vilaasita aur ahankar se gulzar thi. Tuxedo aur suits pehne purush apni ghadiya dekh rahe the, aage badh rahe the, haath mila rahe the.

Toh wahi, chaandi, sone, heere, aur makhmali reshmi kapdo me lipti mahilaaye apni muskaan sawaar rahi thi, photos click karwa rahi thi.

Usne dekha ki foreign delegates aur vibhinn CEOs bhi apni-apni mehngi gaadiyon se utar rahe the, ek-dusre ka abhivadan sirr hila kar aur idhar-udhar ki baatein kar rahe the. Harr kuchh kshano me cameras click ho rahe the aur inn palo ko qaid kar rahe the.

Usne ek gehri saans li aur aage badha.

Navy blue suit uss par aise janch raha tha jaise maano uske liye hi bana ho aur ek prakaar se bana bhi tha. Yeh Yarnia ki Louis dwara ek khaas peshkash thi. Bhale hi bahut kuchh dhwast ho chuka tha, lekin abhi bhi kuchh resources storage me bache hue the.

White shirt ke saath pair kar ke uska suit uss par aaj bahut lubha raha tha. Crisp and clean. Apne jeb me haath daale, nishchint, woh aise aage badh raha tha jaise raat maano uski hi ho.

Usne dekha, apni daayi orr, ek chhote start-up company ke kuchh log display table par apne eco-engine ka ek prototype dikha rahe the. Sirf wahi nahi, aur bhi chhoti companies isi tarah apne-apne prototypes ko baahar gallery me saaj-sajja aur naveenta ke tehet prastut kar rahi thi. Ye corporate gala ke anokhe aakarshano me se ek tha.

Woh VIP logon ke jhund ke beech se guzra. Kuchh ne mudkar uski taraf dekha, yeh soch kar ki kya ve use jaante the? Toh, kuchh ne dekhne ki zehmat hi na uthaayi. Kintu, use iss se koi farq nahi pada.

Woh aaj pehchaane jaane ke liye nahi chal raha tha. Woh aise chal raha tha jaise use pata tha ki ek na ek din use pehchaan to milegi hi... Ek din, jab duniya ghutne tekne ko taiyyar rahegi.

Jaise hi woh mukhya dwaar ke paas pahucha, kaale suit pehne do security guards scanner ke paas khade the. Veer dheere-se ruka, ummeed thi ki humesha ki tarah koi sawaal poochhega.

Usne apni jeb se Suhana dwara diya gaya ek card nikaala, jo ki Casa Belle ka Unicard tha, lekin-

Uski zaroorat hi na padi. Koi aage hi nahi aaya. Scanner se nikli laal kiran uski chhaati par se guzri aur phir hari ho gayi.

Veer ne bauhe chadhaate hue unn gaurds ko dekha.

Veer : Oh? Kya rokna nahi hai mujhe?

Usne chidhaate hue poochha. Tabhi, ek guard aage badha aur ahista se jawab diya.

Guard : Aapko entry allowed hai, Sir!

Veer ke honth halke se mude.

Veer (smirks) : Bina invitation ke?

Guard (nods) : Humaare Sir ka order hai. Aap andar jaa sakte hai.

Usne nazrein neeche karte hue jawab diya.

Ek pal ke liye Veer kuchh nahi bola. Uske chehre par ek halki muskaan thi. Lagta hai uske dwara Aadesh ko diya gaya wo dose kaafi prabhavshali tha. Usne dheere-se sarr hilaaya aur Unicard ko apni jeb me daalte hue aage badh gaya.

Woh mukhya dwaar se andar pravesh kiya. Sangeet, hasi, baaton ka halka shor, kaanch ke pyaalo ke takraane ki khan-khan ki dhwaniyaan mil kar bhavyata ka saboot de rahi thi.

Uski aakriti neeche cham-chamaate polished floor par reflect ho rahi thi. Aur, uski nazrein apne kaam par lag gayi.

'Check!'

*Ding*

'Check'

*Ding*

Filhaal, aam aadmiyo ke alawa udhar koi na tha. Usne ye jaan ek raahat ki saans li.

***

Wahi iss orr ghar par mahaul thoda garm tha. Pratyek kshan dhadkan ki tarah prateet ho raha tha jaise kisi hone waali ghatna ki orr ulti ginti gin raha ho.

Kamre me Tej murti ki tarah jami hui baithi thi, aankhein pheli, saansein tez.

"K-Kya kaha aapne??"

Uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi. Avishwas se nahi, balki kisi aparichit vishvasghaat se.

Bhavna : Shh! Dheere-!

Bhavna ne dheere-se aah bhari. Uski shaant aankhon me bhi kahi na kahi ashaanti jhalak rahi thi.

Bhavna : Dekh ke yahi lag raha hai, Tej. Ragini Veer se pyaar karti hai. Pata nahi ye sab kab aur kaise hua- kahi na kahi mujhe thoda shaq toh tha, lekin-

Tej ki chhaati ekdum se phooli maano jaise uska dum ghut raha ho.

Tej : -Aur, aap mujhe yeh ab bata rahi ho? Aapne mujhe yeh sab usi waqt kyu nahi bataaya? Itna intezar kyu-!?

Wahi kamre ke dusri orr Bhumika bhi khadi hui thi, baahein dheeli magar dimaag vichlit. Bhavna aur Shweta ne unn dono ko abhi-abhi sab kuchh bata diya tha. Uski bauhe apne vichaaro ko soch sikudi, usne mann hi mann kuchh drishya daudaaye.

Veer ki taraf dekhte hue Ragini ki wo aankhein, usne unn par dhyaan diya tha magar nazarandaz bhi kar diya tha. Lekin, ab ye sab saamne aane ke baad-

Use apne seene me ek bhaaripann sa mehsoos hua.

Ragini kyu??? Aur, abhi hi kyu?

Tej ekdum se khadi hui, uski kursi zameen par zorr se ragad kar peechhe dhakil gayi.

Tej : N-Nahi!

Usne sirr hilaate hue budbudaya.

Tej : A-Aisa nahi ho sakta. Mein aisa nahi hone dungi.

Bhavna : Tej...

Lekin, Tej ka gussa bhala kaha shaant hone waala tha.

Tej (yells) : Woh uski BHABHI hai mom!!! Aur, ab... ab woh Veer se pyaar-!?

Uski awaaz beech me hi toot gayi, dard chhalak utha.

Tej : A-Aapko pata bhi hai na ki iska kya matlab hai, mom?

Kintu, Bhavna ki khamoshi hi uska jawab thi.

Shweta : Yahi sach hai. Jitna hairan tum ho uss se kayi zyada hairan mein hu, kyunki mein Ragini ko kaafi samay se jaanti hu.

Tej (grits teeth) : Tch!

Shweta : Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki- *frowns* Ragini aisa kuchh karegi. Ye delicate matter hai. Thoda sambhal ke iss par discuss karna hoga.

Tej : Sambhal ke? Toh, aap kya karengi? Unhe pyaar se samjhayengi? Ki beta ye sab galat hai! Aur, wo maan jaayengi?

Shweta : Jo bhi ho, lekin zorr se cheenkh ke, chillaa ke iss topic par baat karna iska solution toh nahi na.

Bhumika (nods) : Tejal! Shaant ho jao!

Tej : Mujhe shaant hone ke liye mat kahiye aap!

Bhumika kuchh na boli. Woh abhi bhi apni soch me doobi hui thi.

"I don't understand..." Woh budbudayi. "Ragini bhabhi ko itne saalo me maine kabhi kisi aadmi se easily judte dekha nahi. Woh toh humesha se ek deewar bana ke rakhti thi apne beech. Aur, ab wo-!? Veer se pyaar kar baithi-?"

Par, tabhi use dhyaan aaya ki shayad-

Ragini akeli nahi thi. Inn beetein dino me wo bhi toh thi, jo Veer ko lekar pareshaan thi. Uske dil me na jaane kaisi-kaisi tarangein uth rahi thi.

Bhumika ne sheeshe me se apna chehra pher liya, uski dhadkan tez thi. Uska mann bhi toh hafto se chup-chap ladd raha tha. Veer se harr churaayi gayi nazar, uske nazdeek hone se uske dil me paida ho rahi halchalein, usne unn bhavnao ko tarq ki parto ke saath neeche daba diya tha.

Lekin, ab Ragini ki bhavnao ke khulaase ke baad, wo dabi hui bhavnaaye phir se bechain aur binn bulaaye ubhar rahi thi.

Toh wahi Tej ka gussa alag tha. Uska krodh tezi se bhadak raha tha. Irshya ne uske dil me gehrayi tak pakad bana li thi, aur usne iss baar use chhipaane ki koshish bhi nahi ki. Ya yu kahe ki uska dhyaan hi nahi gaya.

Tej : Veer!!! Kaha hai, Veeru???

Bhavna : Pata nahi. Keh ke gaya ki kuchh zaroori kaam hai. Raat me derr se aayega.

Tej : Aur, aapne poochha bhi nahi ki kaha jaa rahe ho??? OH GOOODD!!

Woh achanak mudi, uske baal lehraaye, aur seedhe wo Ragini ke kamre ki orr chal padi.

Bhavna (yells) : TEJ-!!!

Parantu, Tej ne ek na suni. Uske qadam bhaari the, goonj rahe the jab tak ki woh Ragini ke kamre ke paas tak nahi pahuch gayi.

*Thud*

Darwaaze ko usne dhadam se khola aur dekha ki-

Ragini bistar par takiye se tek lagaaye laiti hui thi, uski wheelchair uske bistar ke bagal se rakhi hui thi, aur Kavya uske bagal se laiti, uss se chipki hui thi.

Dono ne chaukte hue upar dekha. Ve dono uth baithi.

Tej khud bhi stabdh thi. Drishya dekh woh yeh bhool gayi ki woh yaha kisliye aayi thi. Ragini, bhramit aur shaant, Kavya jigyasu magar kisi suraksha kavach ki tarah Ragini ke saamne baithi hui.

Tej ke honth bolne ke liye khule, lekin ek bhi shabd nikalne se pehle hi ek haath ne uski kalaayi pakad li.

“Idhar aao-”

Bhumika ki awaaz peechhe se aayi. Tej ne mud apne kandhe ke upar se use dekha.

“Ch-Chhorro-!”

“Nahi!” Lekin, Bhumika ne dridhta se use waha se kheencha aur le gayi. Darwaza band ho gaya.

Kamre ke andar, Kavya ne apni bauhe sikod aashcharya prakat kiya.

Kavya : K-Kya hua?

Ragini : Pata nahi!

Kavya : Umm… Bhabhi, shayad Tejal didi ko bhi wo baat pata lag gayi. Isliye, woh aayi hongi.

Ragini : Oh!? Shayad… Tumne theek kaha.

Baahar, Tej zorr-zorr se saans le rahi thi. Bhumika se baat karte hue uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.

Tej : Chhoriye, mujhe! Mein- Mein ise bardaasht nahi kar sakti. Hargiz nahi! Woh… Woh Veeru ko nahi rakh sakti. B-Bilkul bhi nahi.

Bhumika ki pakad uske haath par thodi aur mazboot ho gayi.

Bhumika : Toh, phir hungama mat karo. Kyunki, iss se baat aur bhi bigad jayegi.

Tej ke honth aapas me chipak gaye, uska gala bhavnao se bhar gaya. Uski aankhein bhaavuk ho uthi, lekin usne aansu girne nahi diye.

Bhumika : Akhir, tumhe ho kya gaya hai? Tum waha andar jaa kar ladaayi shuru karne waali thi, tumhe pata hai?

Tej : Ladaayi? You think I care about that right now? Look at her. Kaise innocent bann rahi hai woh. She’s lying there, crying… and all he can think of is running to her every time she falls apart. Every single time.

Bhumika : Veer bas unki madad kar raha tha, Tejal. Ragini bhabhi injured hai, bhulo mat. Unhe chot lagi hai.

Tej ne halki-si hasi chhori. Thodi kadwi aur thodi ladkhadati hui.

Tej : Bilkul! Zaahir hai woh unki madad kar raha tha. Veeru aisa hi toh hai. Woh unki madad sabse pehle karta hai jo sabse zyada zorr se rote hai. Jo khud ko khoob lachaar dikhaate hai. Mein galat nahi hu, hai na? See, I get it ki wo injured hai par ye pyaar vyaar? Isme kiski galti hai?

Gusse aur niraasha ke beech kaanpti uski awaaz phus-phusahat me badal gayi.

Tej : He never sees what’s right in front of him.

Bhumika (frowns) : Kya matlab?

Tej ne nazrein pher li, apne baalo me haath pherte hue, bhaari saansein lete hue woh boli.

Tej : K-Kuchh nahi…!

Magar, uski bud-budahat phir se Bhumika ne sunn li.

Tej (mutters) : Woh Veeru ke laayak nahi hai. Woh kabhi thi hi nahi. Koi bhi nahi.

Bhumika thitak ke reh gayi. Woh dheere-se Tej ki orr mudi aur use gaur se dekhne lagi. Tej ne dhyaan hi nahi diya, woh apni hi uljhan me khoyi hui thi, halke-halke hil rahi thi aur uski ungliyaan kaanp rahi thi.

Tej (mutters) : Woh unhe ek baar dekhta hai aur sab kuchh bhool jaata hai. Hmph! Kya mein notice nahi karti? Sab dikhta hai mujhe bhi. As if she’s the only one that matters. As if she’s the only one he’s ever cared for…

Uski awaaz bud-budaate hue toot gayi aur phir woh achanak hi chup ho gayi. Uske baad jo sannaata chhaaya, woh gehra tha.

Bhumika ki aankhein kuchh jaan ke chaudi ho gayi. Tej ka yeh lehza, ye shabd, ye kadwahat, sab kuchh ek hi cheez ki orr ishaara kar raha tha. Jis tarah Tej kabhi-kabhi Veer ko dekhti hai, kaise woh humesha uske prati kuchh protective si rehti hai, kuchh zyada hi protective. Yeh sab kuchh ek hi cheez batla raha tha.

Bhumika ke chehre par hairat bhare bhaav dekh Tej uski orr mudi.

Tej : What?

Bhumika ne dheere-se apna sirr hilaaya aur ek halki, bechain muskaan bikher boli.

Bhumika : N-Nothing!

Usne dheere-se kaha, halanki uska mann bilkul bhi shaant nahi tha.

Jaise ve dono khadi thi, ek gusse me, dusri shaant aur hairaan. Bhumika ko kuchh naya pata lag chuka tha. Tej sirf gusse me hi nahi thi. Woh shayad… kisi aur cheez me bhi thi. Jo ki bahut galat tha. Ragini ke Veer ko pyaar karne se bhi zyada galat.

Aur, woh tha-

Sage bhai behan ka mard-aurat waala pyaar.

---

Toh wahi, idhar andar Kavya aur Ragini poori tarah se anjaan thi ki Bhumika aur Tej ke beech akhir kya baatein hui.

Unhe woh kshan yaad aaya jab Veer Ragini ko goad me utha ke uske room me le gaya tha aur do ghante tak Kavya, woh aur Veer andar maujood the.

Tab, kamre me hawa bhaari thi. Na gussa, na hasi, bas shabdo ke bole jaane ki deri thi.

Kavya ne akhirkar sannaata toda, uski awaaz dheemi aur jhijhak bhari thi.

Kavya : Umm- Bh-Bhabhi? Y-Ye sab kab hua? Kya waqai aap Veer bhaiya se-?

Ragini ne sharmindagi aur ek ajeeb-si raahat ke beech fasi apni palkein jhapkayi. Uske honth ek halki, thaki hui muskaan me khule.

Ragini : H-Haan! *blushes* Y-Ye kab hua? Ye pehle se toh tay nahi tha, Kavya. Ye bas… *Veer ko dekhte hue* ho gaya.

Veer ki nazar ek pal Ragini se mili aur woh dheere-se muskuraaya.

Kavya : Umm… phir bhi- I mean, koi aisa moment toh raha hoga na jaha aapko realise hua hoga ki aap bhaiya se-

Ragini : Moment ki baat karu toh- uss raat, tumhe yaad hai jab mere mummy papa kidnap ho gaye the? Mein bhi fass gayi thi? Tumhara bada bhai Vivek bhi tha. Yaad hai na?

Kavya (nods) : H-Haan! Uske baad se hi aap aur Vivek bhaiya ka divorce-

Ragini : Right! Uss raat, unn aadmiyon ne humein bandhi bana kar rakha tha. Unhone Vivek ke saamne ek choice rakhi thi. Ya toh apni jaan bacha lo, ya phir apni biwi ki, aur tumhare bhai ne-

Kavya (neeche sarr karte hue) : Unhone apni jaan ki parvah ki thi.

Ragini : Hmm! Aur, tabhi Veer aaya tha. Jab maine saari ummeedein chhor di thi. Tab, woh aaya tha. Uss raat se hi mere andar uske liye sab kuchh badal chuka tha. Shayad tab se hi mein-

Usne phir se Veer ko dekha aur uske gaal par haath phera.

Ragini : Tab se mein Veer ko aur bhi zyada notice karne lagi aur dheere-dheere ye kab pyaar me badal gaya, mujhe khud bhi pata nahi chala.

Kavya sunti rahi, honth bhinche hue, dil ajeeb tarah se dhadak raha tha.

Ragini : Uske baad se hi, maine Veer ko alag nazariye se dekhna shuru kar diya tha. Har baar jab-jab woh bolta tha, har baar jab woh muskuraata tha, aisa lagta tha jaise mein use pehli baar dekh rahi hu. Woh wo insaan bann gaya jis par mein bharosa karne lagi, jab mujhe khud apne par bharosa nahi rehta tha. And, I knew… I have fallen for him.

Kavya ki mutthi kasi, woh muskurana chaahti thi, apni bhabhi ke liye khush hona chaahti thi, lekin uske andar kuchh dard kar raha tha. Ek shaant anjaan dard.

Usne Veer ki taraf dekha jo abhi bhi shaant tha.

Kavya : So… So, you really love him huh!?

Woh lagbhag khudse hi budbudaayi. Ragini ka jawab bhi seedha tha.

Ragini : Yes! I love him! I do! A lot!

Ek halki-si khamoshi chhaa gayi.

Veer : Aur, mein bhi nahi chaahta tha ki kisi ko bhi koi bhi prakaar ki thes pahuche.

Woh jaanta tha ki Kavya iss waqt kaisa mehsoos kar rahi thi. Akhir, Kavya ne apne dil ka haal bhi use bataaya hua tha. Kavya ki nazrein uss par padi. Ek pal ke liye usne socha ki kuchh kahe, shayad unhe bataaye ki uske andar bhi kuchh feelings hai, ya yeh ki wo bhi Veer se-

-Lekin, uski awaaz hi nahi nikli. Usne bas sirr hilaaya. Ragini ne uska haath thaama.

Ragini : Tumhe toh koi dikkat nahi na, Kavya? I’m sorry. Tumhe lag raha hoga ki kaisi bhabhi hai ye. Pehle mere bade bhaiya ke saath shadi rachaayi aur ab mere Veer bhaiya ke saath-

Kavya : N-Nahi! Aisa nahi hai, bhabhi. I- I understand. Balki, aapki jagah mein bhi hoti toh yahi karti.

Ragini : Oh thank you so much, dear~ Baaki log jo bhi maane mujhe farq nahi padta, Lekin, tum bura maanti toh- I would have been affected, you know. Thank you dear~

Kavya ne jhatse sarr hilaaya aur halki-si muskaan bikheri.

Kavya : Nahi! Mujhe pareshani nahi, bhabhi! Mein toh bas- bas surprised hu. I didn’t think…

Woh ruki aur dheere-se hasi.

Kavya : It’s weird, you know? Ki ab meri bhabhi… mere cousin bhaiya se pyaar karti hai. It feels unreal.

Ragini dheere-se hasi aur apne gaal se aansu pochhi.

Ragini : It feels unreal for me too, dear!

Kavya muskura zaroor rahi thi par andar hi andar wahi jaanti thi ki use ye baat kitni chubh rahi thi.

Isne Veer aur Ragini ko gaur se dekha. Veer ki khamoshi me shaant nishchay, Ragini ki aankhon me aseem pyaar, aur use kuchh ehsaas hua.

Shayad pyaar kabhi sahi ya galat ke baare me tha hi nahi. Veer aur Ragini dono devar aur bhabhi the, uske bawajood unme pyaar ho gaya aur sab saamne bhi aa gaya aur abhi bhi ve dono ek dusre ke paas the.

Toh, kya iska matlab woh bhi-!? Ek behan hone ke baad bhi Veer se-!?

Uski aankhein ye sab soch ke hairat me phel gayi. Usne Ragini ki orr dekha, uske hontho par ek halki, sacchi muskaan tair gayi.

Kavya (nods) : Haan! Shayad... Shayad yahi sahi hai. Shayad kabhi mein bhi-

Ragini ne uska haath haule se dabaya.

Ragini : Oh thank you Kavya~ Kya hua? Tum bhi kya, Kavya?

Kavya : Kuchh nahi, bhabhi!

Ghadi chalti rahi, baahar iss ghoshna ke baad mahaul garm tha aur baatein dabi awaazon me ho rahi thi, lekin idhar kamre ke andar samay tham sa gaya tha.

Kavya peechhe jhuki, uska dil ajeeb tarah se tarangein fela raha tha. Kabhi shaant toh kabhi vichlit. Uske mann me darjano vichaar umad rahe the. Uski apni bhavnaaye, apni uljhan, lekin abhi usne unhe daba kar rakh rakha tha. Shayad kisi din, woh unhe bataaye. Shayad kisi din, Ragini samajh jaaye.

Magar, aaj ke liye, woh unn dono ki baatein sunti rahi, unhe dekhti rahi, jinhe wo cheez mil chuki thi jiski talaash me woh khud bhi thi.

Pyaar.

***

Wapas, idhar hotel me, Veer ki nazar andar aate hue upar lage jhoomaro par padi, bade-bade, haath se taraashe hue crystals, latke hue taramandal ki tarah jhilmila rahe the. Shayad Aadesh ne aaj koi kami nahi chhori thi saaj-sajja me.




Casa Belle humesha se hi aalishaan raha tha, lekin aaj raat wo poora daulat se nahaaya hua lag raha tha. Har kona chamak raha tha. Har sateh par kisi taqatvar insaan ki jhalak dikh rahi thi.

Woh wahi ek pillar ke paas khada hua tha, haath jebo me daale, bina kisi se mile bas dekh raha tha. Suhana ka anurodh uske mann me kisi kone me goonj raha tha, use yaad dila raha tha ki usne iss jagah par qadam kyu rakha tha jisne kabhi use apmaanit kiya tha. Woh yaha tha. Apne liye nahi. Sonia ke liye nahi. Suhana ke liye.

Uske chaaro orr alag-alag companies ke prototypes lage hue the. AI driven chassis models, micro engine blocks, next-gen battery casings aur wagarah wagarah.

Chhoti se lekar badi companies apne-apne products ki pratibha ka pradarshan kar rahi thi. Unki bhookhi nigaahein har dilchaspi dikhaane waali companies par nazar rakh rahi thi.

Deals me mol-bhaav kiya jaa raha tha, baat-cheet chal rahi thi, alag-alag vartalap jaise equity, timelines, patents par na jaane kitne samooh aapas me charcha kar rahe the. Kinhi ko deals mil rahi thi toh kuchh the jo khaali haath bas kisi partner ka intezar kar rahe the.

Veer shaant bhaav se sab dekh raha tha, apne mann me kuchh potential companies ko rakh raha tha. Kuchh businessmen ne use guzarte hue dekha. Kisi ne use pehchaana nahi. Kisi ne koshish bhi nahi ki.

Ghadi me shaam ke 7:45 baje.

Aur, tabhi-

Hall ka shor badal gaya. Pehle thoda-sa, phir samudra me aayi leher ki tarah badhta chala gaya.

*Click* *Click* *Click*

Tasveerein dhadalle se khichne lagi. Janta ke beech apne aap hi ek raasta khul gaya.

Kaera... aa chuki thi.




Lag raha tha jaise woh khud Casa Belle ki maalkin thi. Aatmvishvas uske chaaro orr aise lipta hua tha jaise maano kisi ne use saleeke se silvaaya ho.

Uske theek peechhe Ruchika bhi ek kaale blazer me chal rahi thi. Aur, wahi nahi, yaha tak ki uski maid, Julia bhi ek designer dress me maujood thi. Aur, akhir me, Karan apni tie ko theek karte hue, andar daakhil hua.




Kaera photographs khichwaane me lagi hui thi. Usne paparazzi ko kuchh samay diya aur phir andar daakhil ho gayi. Uska swagat badi hi sehejta ke saath hua, usne business giants se haath milaaya aur nakli muskaan liye woh unse baaton me lag gayi.

Rupaya. Dollar. Desi. Videshi. Sab uski orr jhuke hue the.




Laal dress me aaj woh alag hi qayamat dha rahi thi. Use andar aate hue Veer ne dekha. Ek pal ke liye uski dhadkane ruk gayi. Woh jaha tha wahi khada raha.

Karan ne sabse pehle nazrein ghumaate hue use dekha. Uski aankhein aashcharya me chaudi ho gayi.

Woh turant hi bheed me se nikalte hue uske paas aaya jaise usne maano itni janta ke beech koi apna dhundh liya ho.

Karan : What the hell, Veer!? Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?

Veer (smiles) : Sightseeing!

Karan : Hey! Tumhe nahi bataana toh seedhe-seedhe keh do, man.

Veer (smiles) : Mein waqai sightseeing ke liye aaya hu.

Karan : Like hell I'll believe that...!

Veer bas badle me muskuraaya.

Karan : Tum bhi kisi deal ke liye aaye ho kya? Looking for business partners?

Veer ne na toh pushti ki aur na hi inkaar kiya aur Karan ne iss sannaate ko achhi tarah se samajh liya.

Phir, woh glaani ke bhaav liye dheere-se bola.

Karan : H-Hey! I'm... I'm sorry. Mein tumhare dada ji ki terhvi me nahi aa paaya. Dad ne kaafi dino tak-

Veer : It's okay! I understand!

Karan : Nahi, par mujhe waha-

Veer : It's okay! Koi baat nahi!

Veer ne uska kandha thap-thapaya. Karan ne ek lambi saans li aur thodi raahat mehsoos ki.

Karan : Well, thank god! Mujhe laga tha kahi tum mere khilaaf badle ki planning vlanning toh nahi banaane lage.

Veer (smiles) : Ho bhi sakta hai!

Karan : Huh? Wait! You serious dude? Fucking hell Veer-

Veer : Hahaha!

Badle me Karan bhi muskuraya.

Karan : Hotel kaisa chal raha hai? Recovery abhi bhi ho rahi hai?

Veer (nods) : Hmm! Thoda time lagega.

Karan : As expected.

Tabhi, Kaera jo baat karne ke baad apni seat tak pahuchi, uski nazrein apne bhai ko dhundh rahi thi. Usne aas-paas dekha aur tabhi, use Karan nazar aaya.

Magar-

Uske theek bagal se khade hue ek aur shaks ki orr uski nigaahein daudi.

Veer.

Jab Karan ne bhi apni nazrein daudaayi toh usne dekha ki uski behan janta se hatt kar jaa chuki thi. Usne dekha ki-




Woh unhe hi ghoor rahi thi. Uski nazar sirf aur sirf Veer par tiki hui thi.

'Huh!?'

Dono me se koi bhi nahi hila. Aur, agle hi pal-

Kaera ne uski orr ek qadam badhaaya. Phir, dusra aur woh seedhe unki orr aane lagi.

Veer ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Karan bhi apni behan ko iss orr aata dekha thoda thitak gaya.

Karan : Huh? Why is she-

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh bol paata, Kaera unke saamne thi. Woh unke saamne ruki aur ek pal ke liye Veer saans lena bhool gaya.

Nazdeek se, Kaera ki maujoodgi raushniyo se bhi zyada raushan, hall me goonjte shor aur Casa Belle ki daulat se bhi zyada zordaar lag rahi thi. Dhyaan aakarshit karne ke liye use bolne ki zaroorat nahi thi.

Kaera ke perfume ki sugandh uss tak pahuchi. Manmohak, sundar aur mehngi. Ek nayi khushbu.

Uski aankhein Veer par tiki rahi, bina palak jhapkaaye, use padhna mushqil tha. Usne Karan ki taraf ek baar bhi nahi dekha.

Kaera : This suit... looks good on you.

Veer : Oh!? Thanks!

Kaera : Why are you here?

Usne poochha. Saral, seedha sawaal.

Ruchika uske peechhe-peechhe parchhaayi ki tarah aayi, jigyasu aankhein liye Veer ko dekhne lagi.

Julia bhi unke paas aayi, Veer ko dekhte hi uski muskurahat sharaarat se khil uthi.

Kaera : Tell me! Why are you here?

Veer : Mein- Mein yaha kisi zaroori kaam se tha.

Kaera : Kaun sa zaroori kaam?

Veer be-mann se muskuraaya. Ab kaise bataata ki woh yaha uski hi deal cancel karwa ke Sonia ko deal dilwane ke liye aaya tha.

Iske pehle ki woh jawab de paata, Julia ne halke-se Kaera ki baah thaami aur uske kaan me phus-phusate hue boli.

Julia : Young Miss, it's rude to ask someone something they don't want to tell you.

Kaera ne iss nayi jaankaari ko kisi formulae ki tarah samajhte hue haami bhari.

Kaera : Oh!?

Julia : Yes!

Magar, woh phir Veer ki orr mudi aur poochhi.

Kaera : Then, what is it that you're hiding from me?

Julia ne apna chehra sharm se dhak liya. Toh wahi, Ruchika sharmindagi me idhar-udhar dekhne lagi. Karan hassne laga. Veer ki bauhein Karan ki hasi sunn fadki. Usne Veer ki peeth thap-thapayi.

Karan : Hahaha! Di, yeh baat toh ye mujhe bhi nahi bata raha, lekin it's evident ki Veer yaha kisi invitation ki wajah se aaya hai, right? After all, without invitation entry allowed nahi hai. Maybe some secret deal? Hehe!

Veer ne Karan ko khaa jaane waali nazro se taada. Aur, Karan iska poora lutf utha raha tha.

Aur, ab tak, kayi mehmaan waha unki orr dekhne lage the. Akhir, Kaera kis se baat kar rahi thi? Kaun tha yeh naujavan? Bas, yahi utsukta jagaane ke liye kaafi tha. Phones pehle se hi aadhe uthe hue the, besharmi se recording karte hue messages dekhne ka naatak kar rahe the.

Kaera ne na hi dhyaan diya aur na hi parvah ki. Uski nazar Veer par hi thi.

Kaera : What is it? Tell me!

Veer ne apna muh khola, kuchh aisa soch raha tha jo sach ki tarah prateet ho sake. Iske pehle ki woh kuchh bol paata, Kaera phir bol padi.

Kaera : If there's nothing to tell. Come and sit with ME.

Karan ne use dekha. Hairaan.

Karan : Excuse me, di? Umm, Veer mera friend hai. Obviously, woh mere saath baithega. Kyu hai na, Veer?

Parantu, Kaera ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh mudi aur apni seat ki orr chal padi, bheed uske saamne paani ki tarah chhat gayi.

Veer ne ek aah chhori. Aur, woh uske peechhe-peechhe chal pada. Julia uske bagal se chalte hue uske qareeb aayi.

Julia (smiles) : Good evening young master, Veer!

Veer : Huh? *glances* Good evening!

Julia (smiles) : You look great today.

Veer : Oh? Thank you! You are looking wonderful yourself.

Jaise hi ve Kaera ka nazdeek pahuche, Julia muskuraati hui Veer se peechhe ho gayi. Karan uske bagal se chalta hua dheere-se budbudaya.

Karan : Di is insane, you know. Mujhe baithne ke liye poochha tak nahi aur tumhe VIP treatment? Waah! Someone tell her that I'm her brother.

Veer khamosh raha. Uska dhyaan Kaera par tha jo pehle se hi baithi hui thi. Woh Karan ke bagal waali seat ki orr badha, usme baithne ke liye taiyaar ki-

"Veer???"

Kaera ki awaaz ne use tok diya. Usne apne bagal ki seat par haath thap-thapaya. Aankhein poori tarah se Veer par kendrit.

Kaera : Maine tumse kya kaha?

Veer : !!?

Kaera : Idhar! *Pats* Idhar baitho!

Uski awaaz tez nahi thi, lekin samjhaute ki bhi koi gunjaish nahi thi.

Veer ek kshan ke liye stabdh reh gaya. Karan ka haal bhi yahi tha. Julia mand-mand muskuraayi toh wahi Ruchika bhi hairani me Veer ko ab dekh rahi thi.

Aur, Veer majbooran, uljhan aur bechaini bhari dhadkan ke beech fasa, akhirkar uss seat ki orr badha jaha Kaera ne use baithne ke liye kaha tha.

Woh uske bagal se baith gaya.

Kaera ki nazrein thodi narm pad gayi. Lekin, woh muskuraayi nahi. Usne bas iss prakaar se dekha jaise maano usne koi cheez theek usi jagah rakh di ho jaha woh honi chaahiye.

Aur, samast log unhe bas dekhte rahe.

Tabhi, Julia Kaera ki orr jhuki aur uske kaan me dheere-se boli.

Julia : Yahi sahi time hai, miss.

Kaera achanak hi tann gayi. Usne apna ek haath peechhe kiya, hatheli kholi. Julia ne ek chhota-sa, badi hi sundarta se pack kiya gaya box uske haath me thama diya.

Kaera ne box ko table ke upar unke saamne rakha. Veer, Ruchika aur Karan sabhi ne ek hi bhaav se uski orr dekha. Bhramit aur utsuk.

Veer toh pehle hi check kar chuka tha. Aur, woh jaan gaya tha ki andar kya tha.

Kaera uski taraf mudi, apna muh kholi, phir thitak ke band kar li. Uski ungliyaan box ke kinaare par kasi hui thi.

Veer uske bolne ka intezar karta raha. Julia ek baar phir jhuki aur ahista se Kaera se boli.

Julia (mutters) : Sorry se start kijiye, miss.

Kaera (nods) : Right! Veer...!

Veer : Hmm?

Kaera : I'm... I'm sorry! Mein uss din tumhare dada ji ki ceremony me nahi aa paayi. Terhvi waale din.

Veer : Oh? *smiles* It's fine, miss Kaera. I don't mind.

Kaera : BUT I DO MIND! And, call me... Kaera!

Veer : Huh???

Kaera ne woh box Veer ki orr khiskaaya. Jab Veer maun bana raha toh usne khud Veer ka haath pakadte hue woh box uske haath me hi thama diya.

Kaera : It's an apology gift. Take it. Open it.

Uske tohfe dene ka tareeka vichitra tha. Na koi 'please' na 'thank you'.

Bas, seedhe-

Rakhne ka aadesh. Aur, kholne ka aadesh.

Veer ne akhirkar uss box ko khola aur dhakkan hataaya. Andar ek Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G, white gold, deep blue dial ke saath maujood thi, jiski keemat lagbhag ₹1.5 crore thi.

Veer jaanta toh tha ki andar kya tha, magar uska dimaag ghadi ke daam ko check karne ke baad chakraaya. Usne Kaera ko tezi se mud ke dekha.

Jaise hi usne muh kholna chaaha, mana karne ke liye, Kaera ne ghadi uthaayi aur khud hi uski kalaayi par baandh di.

Kaera : Mujhe naa sunana pasand nahi, Veer.

Veer : This... Itna mehnga gift?

Kaera : Mehnga? Hmm? I didn't check the price. Mujhe bas ye dikhne me achhi lagi. I thought it would look good on your wrist. So, I bought it.

Veer use dekhta raha. Woh yeh bhala kaise le sakta tha? Yeh jaante hue ki woh yaha deal cancel karwaane ke liye aaya tha.

[Master?]

'Nahi! Mujhse ye nahi ho paayega, Pari!'

[??]

'Na hi mein Kaera ko mana kar sakta hu. Aur, na hi uske saath vishvasghat kar sakta hu.'

[Then?]

'I... I won't act.'

[Toh, phir? Aap Suhana ki madad nahi karenge?]

'Not like this. Mein Suhana se baad me baat kar lunga. But I can't betray Kaera.'

Veer ghadi dekh dheere-se muskuraaya. Isliye, nahi ki ghadi bahut mehngi thi. Isliye, ki Kaera ne pehli baar use koi tohfa iss tarah se diya tha. Iska matlab ek cheez spasht thi. Woh yeh ki ab woh inn chhoti-chhoti baaton par dhyaan dene lagi thi. Uske emotions ahista-ahista hi sahi, magar baahar aa rahe the.

Table ke uss paar se Karan itni zorr se khaansa ki sabki nazar uss par pad gayi. Usne apni khud ki ek mehngi ghadi ki taraf dekha, jo kareeban 60-70 lakh ki thi, lekin ab Veer ki ghadi ke saamne pheeki lag rahi thi.

Woh muh bana ke dheere-se budbudaya.

"Di ne mujhe aaj tak kabhi aisa gift nahi diya. Hmph!"

Ruchika ne ye sunn apni muskaan chhupaayi. Ve sabhi phir baaton me lag gaye jab-

Kaera ki maujoodgi ke baad hall abhi theek tarah se shaant bhi nahi hua tha ki ek baar phir se shor machna shuru ho gaya, pehle ki hi tarah tez. Logon ke sirr ghoom gaye, aapas me ve phus-phusaane lage.

Karan : Damn! Shayad Sonia di aa gayi. *smiles*

Kaera : Sonia… di???

Karan : Umm, yeah! Mere liye toh di hi hai na.

Kaera : You are that close with her?

Karan : Umm, nahi! Lekin, competition toh humesha se aap dono ke beech raha hai toh bhala mein kyu beech me pisu? Mere liye toh woh wahi Sonia di hai.

Kaera : No. You just want to be on good terms with her because she’s beautiful.

Karan (coughs) : Wh-Whattt??? *blushes* A-Aisa nahi hai-

Kaera : Shut up!

Karan : Ugh…!

Veer ne shor ka peechha kiya. Sonia. Woh aa chuki thi.




Par, dikkat ki baat yeh thi ki-

Woh bhi Kaera ki hi tarah, ek chamakdar laal dress me thi. Uske aate hi kamre me har kisi ka dhyaan uski orr chala gaya. Uski secretary, Suchika uske peechhe-peechhe chal rahi thi, muh par usne mask pehna hua tha, jis se keval uski aankhein hi nazar aa rahi thi.

Saath hi saath Prakash Uncle, Sonia ki family ke advisor bhi saath me the. Photographers phir se tasveerein kheechne lage.

Kaera ne apni aankhein uthaayi. Sonia ne bhi andar aate hi pehle Kaera ko dekha.

Aur, jaise hi dono ki nazrein mili, mahaul tanaav se bhar gaya. Dono shaant thi magar dono ke beech ek maun dabaav tha. Do top queens ek dusre ko naap rahi thi. Kaera ki nazrein Sonia ki dress par padi aur Sonia ki Kaera pe…

Ek andhruni chidh unn dono ke andar jaagi. Tabhi, Sonia ne Kaera ke bagal se baithe shaks ko dekha aur use dekhte hi woh achambhit reh gayi. Woh lagbhag aage badhne hi wali thi, uske honth khule, lekin usne apna muh band kar khud ko sambhaala.

Veer…

Bahut si galat-fehmiyo ko use mitaana tha. Magar, yeh sahi samay nahi tha. Ek gehri saans lete hue woh apni table ki orr mud gayi.

Suchika ek pal ke liye ruki, uski nigaahein Kaera ki table ke paas baithi Ruchika par tiki. Ruchika ne bhi nazar mehsoos kar use dekha aur apni bauhe chadhaayi.

Kaun thi bhala yeh ladki? Sonia ki secretary… Dhaka hua chehra… Ye lambaayi… Ye kadd-kaathi… Wo aankhein…

‘Nahi! Mein kuchh zyada hi soch rahi hu.’

Ruchika apne mann me sochte hue sarr hilaayi aur Suchika jaldi-se nazrein pher Sonia ke paas chali gayi. Uske mask ke peechhe uske bhaav samajh se parey the.

Kaera ki table se hi parallel me Sonia ki table thi, magar kuchh qadam ki doorie par.

Isi beech, Suhana daakhil hui, ek sundar, mehngi, designer dress me, uske qadam dheeme the. Uska pati Gaurav bhi uske saath chal raha tha, uska ek haath Suhana ki kamar par-

Lekin, ek videshi parichit mehmaan se milte hue ve dono turant hi alag ho gaye. Suhana aage badh gayi, jabki Gaurav wahi ruk gaya.




Suhana apna clutch kass kar thaame Sonia ke peechhe waali table ki orr badhi. Woh naazuk lag rahi thi. Muskaan nakli thi. Aur, tabhi uski aankhon ne Veer ko dhoondhna chaaha.

Aur, usne use paaya bhi-

Veer!

Kaera ke bagal se baitha hua tha.

Suhana ki saansein tez thi. Dono ki nazrein mili aur bhavnao ka sailaab ek saath Suhana ke andar umad pada. Ghabrahat, ummeed, darr, laalsa, jalan, sab kuchh. Par, sab uljha hua.

Veer ne jaise hi use dekha toh uske chehre par bhaav thode naram pad gaye. Bas, usne ek halki haami se uski orr ishaara kiya.

Aur, Suhana ne ishaara paate hi nazrein hata li, ek darr ki kahi Gaurav ne use dekh liya toh? Magar, Gaurav pehle se hi videshi doston me vyast tha, hass raha tha, humesha ki tarah bekhabar.




Suhana Sonia se jaa kar mili aur phir uske peechhe ki table par baith gayi, apne mann me vichaar liye-

‘Akhir… kaise kar paayega, Veer? Maine bina soche-samjhe uss se madad maang toh li, magar-!’




Lekin, woh yeh jaanti thi ki Veer aam vyakti ki tarah nahi tha. Aatish. Slogan. Las Vegas me Nightwalker, Pitcher. Na jaane kaise-kaise logon se paala pada tha uska aur usne humesha hi vijay haasil ki thi.

Toh, ek deal lena-

Uske liye toh baaye haath ka kaam hona chaahiye, hai na? Kuchh yahi soch thi Suhana ki.

Agar, woh nahi… toh bhala aur kaun?

Iss orr Kaera Veer ko dekhi aur poochhi.

Kaera : Tell me! Kiski dress zyada achhi lag rahi hai? Meri… ya uski?

Veer, jo paani pee raha tha, use yeh sawaal sunte hi phanda lag gaya.

*Cough* *Cough*

Karan (laughs) : Ye phans gaya!

Kaera (glances) : Hmm?

Karan : Ugh! N-Nothing! Haha!

Karan ne Veer ke kandhe par maara.

Karan : Bhai jawab do! Kya hua? Saans nahi aa rahi kya?

Veer (mutters) : You fucking-

Karan : Huh? Kya bola? Sonia di ki-?

Kaera : What?

Veer ne ek chamaat mazakiya dhang se Karan ki peeth par lagaayi, jo itni zorr se lagi ki bechaara Karan wahi chup ho gaya, zaahir taur se dard bardaasht karne ke liye.

Karan (grits) : Motherfu-

Veer : Achhi hai! Definitely! Yours is much more beautiful.

Kaera : Mein yahi baithi hu isliye bol rahe ho ya waqai me?

Veer (smiles) : Waqai me…! No doubt Miss Sonia ki dress bhi bahut achhi hai, lekin aapki dress ki fitting unse zyada behtar hai. Not to mention… It’s YOU, who’s making the dress even more beautiful.

Uttar sunn na jaane Kaera ko kya hua par uske gaal pehli baar aaj kuchh sunn halke laal pad gaye. Woh achanak hi muh pher li.

Kaera : Okay! I’ll... I'll believe that…!

Peechhe khadi jab Julia ne yeh drishya dekha toh woh hairat me reh gayi. Uski aankhon me chamak daud gayi. Uski Young Miss sharma rahi thi? Woh bhi ek ladke ke compliment par? Uske honthon se muskaan gaayab hone ka naam hi nahi le rahi thi.

---

Achanak hi hall ka shor dheema pad gaya, security aur welcoming staff turant hi entrance ki orr daud ke bhaage.

ICONGLOBE aa chuki thi.

Logo ke sirr entrance ki orr mud gaye. Aur, andar company ko represent kar rahe uske representative ne andar qadam rakha.

Mr. Benjamin Ward, ICONGLOBE International ke Chief Global Investment Officer. Aur, unke saath thi unki team, ek female Head of Strategic Partnerships, India ke Operations Director jo khud bhi Indian hi the, zaahir taur se. Teen senior financial analysts aur unke saath chal rahi unki apni security team.

Koi bekaar ka naatak nahi. Koi phaaltu ka taam-jhaam nahi. Koi bagairat nahi. Bas, business power ka maun shor.

Hall ke upar maujood gallery par Aadesh ne apne qadam badhaaye. Uski nigaahein neeche baithe tamaam logon par ghoom rahi thi. Uske bagal se uska event manager, Kumar khada hua tha.

Aadesh : Details?

Kumar : Sab badhiya dhang se chal raha hai, Sir.

Aadesh (nods) : Good!

Akasmat hi uski aankhein Veer se bhidi, Veer pehle se hi use ghoor raha tha. Aadesh ke badan me ek sihran daud gayi.

Achanak-

Woh drishya uske zehen me daud gaya. Uska chandelier se ulta latakna aur phir Veer ki woh laal aankhein. Aur, phir uski woh maar-!

Yaad kar Aadesh ne apne chehre par haath phera. Ek aabhaas ki Veer ke sang use laparwaahi se kabhi bhi pesh nahi aana chaahiye.

Aadesh : Dhyaan rahe ki kisi bhi haalat me-

Kumar : ??

Aadesh : Veer Singh ko koi dikkat na aane paaye.

Kumar : Huh?

Aadesh : Tumne suna nahi?

Kumar : J-Ji, Sir! Samajh gaya! Mein dhyaan rakhunga.

Hotel ke management staff ne traditional namaste aur phool malao ke saath company ke logo ka swagat kiya. Koi gifts nahi , kuchh bhi personal nahi.

Yeh corporate gala tha, na ki party. Aur, ek corporate gala etiquette aur neutrality ki maang rakhta tha.

Kaera aur Sonia, dono hi peeth seedhi kar chaukanni ho gayi. Photographers daudate hue andar aaye, flashes chamakne lage. Ek lady host ne stage par khade hoke unka swaagat kiya.




Mr. Ward stage par pahuche aur podium par jaate hue woh badi hi khushi se bole.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the warm and exceptional welcome. ICONGLOBE is honored to be in Mumbai tonight. We are here for one reason, to finalize the most significant investment initiative of the year for us.”

Logo me khus-pusaahat shuru ho gayi. Baaki sabhi companies bhi badi hi jigyasa se sab dekh rahi thi. Tabhi, Mr. Ward punaah bole.

“A partnership worth ten billion dollars.”

Taaliyaan goonj uthi. Billions of dollars ki deals roz-roz nahi hoti thi. Aur, aise hallroom me toh bilkul bhi nahi. Lekin, ghoshnaaye zaroor hoti thi. Baaki, baat-cheet toh humesha hi niji taur par ki jaati thi.

“We will begin discussions tonight with two of India’s most influential market leaders : Nexacom and Elite Motors of… of the Elite Group.”

Kaera murti ki tarah sthir baithi hui thi. Toh, wahi Sonia ke hontho par ek halki-si vijayi ki muskaan thi.

Protocol ke anusaar ICONGLOBE ki team pehle automobiles se judi anya companies ke paas jaa kar unka abhivaadan kari, unse thodi-bahut baat-cheet kari, haath milaaye gaye aur unke products dekhe gaye. Yeh aam prakriya thi.

Aur, uske baad ve seedhe Elite Motors ki orr badh gaye, jise dekh Ruchika thitak ke reh gayi. Udhar, Sonia ki aankhein jeet se chamak uthi jaise soch rahi ho ki-

Beshaq, unhe yaha pehle aana hi tha.

Akhirkar, Elite Motors India me automobiles sector me pioneer tha. Ek top leading company. Unki cars jaise ki Elite Magnus (SUV), Elite Flux (Hatchback), Elite Tracer (Sedan), wagarah wagarah… poore India me sabse zyada bikne waali cars me se ek thi.

Veer : You’re not bothered? Wo pehle Elite Motors ke paas chale gaye.

Kaera : No. Elite Motors uss sector ki top giant hai. Humari Nexacom ne abhi uss sector me theek tarah se qadam bhi nahi rakha hai. It would be unrealistic to demand they come to us first. I understand the power mechanics.

Veer use gaur se dekhta raha. Woh shaant rehne ka dikhaava nahi kar rahi thi. Woh waqai logically soch leke chal rahi thi. Koi insecurity nahi. Sirf clarity.

Karan : Yeah, but damn… could they be more obvious?

Veer ne table ke neeche se Karan ko perr maara aur Karan khaaste hue chup ho gaya, kyunki Kaera ki nazrein uss par hi mandra rahi thi.

Ruchika apna folder baar-baar khol sab kuchh rattne me lagi hui thi. Beshaq, woh kaanp rahi thi, lekin woh koi bhi chook nahi kar sakti thi.

---

Kareeban 25 minutes guzar gaye aur ICONGLOBE aur ELITE MOTORS ke beech vartalap chalti rahi. Sonia badi hi khushi se unse baatein kar rahi thi. Akhirkar, woh pal aa hi gaya jab ICONGLOBE ne haath milaaya aur woh Sonia ki table chhorte hue Kaera ki table ki orr badhe.

Ruchika ka tablet lagbhag uske haatho se girte-girte bacha. Uske dil ki dhadkane tez ho gayi.

Ruchika : Ahh! M-Miss, wo aa rahe hai. Wo log sach-much aa rahe hai. What if I say something stupid? What if I faint-? What if-

Kaera : Ruchika! If you faint, fall backwards. Saamne girna thoda unprofessional lagega.

Ruchika : Aaaaaa! How is that helpful, MISSSSS??? Oh my god!

Kaera : Kam se kam tum mujhpe girogi, unn par nahi. I think that’s a plus, right?

Ruchika : Oh god, Miss!!!

ICONGLOBE unke paas pahuchi. Mr. Ward ne Kaera, Karan, Suchika aur yaha tak ki Veer se bhi haath milaaya.

Kaera (smiles) : Nexacom welcomes you to India, Mr. Ward.

Mr. Ward : Miss Kaera! *smiles* We’ve heard quite a lot about Nexacom and especially you.

Kaera (smiles) : All good things, I suppose?

Mr. Ward muskuraaye. Ve sab baithe aur apni baat shuru karne ke liye taiyaar hi the ki-

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Entrance ke paas cameramen baukhla gaye. Yaha tak ki halka background music bhi band ho gaya.

Sabke sirr mudte chale gaye. Black dress me ek behad khubsoorat mahila waha padhaar chuki thi.




Garofano.

Kaera ki bauhe upar uthi. Sonia bhi akad ke baith gayi. Yaha tak ki-

Karan : Damn! Wow~

Kaera ne use ghoor ke dekha.

Karan : I… I mean… How???

Aur, Veer-?

‘Fuck!!! Garofano? What is she doing here?’




[Master!? Ye plan me nahi tha.]

Usne apne paas rakha glass kass ke pakda.

‘What the hell is she doing here?’

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh samajh paata tabhi-

Garofano ke andar aane ke kuchh kshan baad hi ek lamba-chauda vyakti police wardi me waha andar daakhil hua.

DGP Rohan. Trisha ka pati. Veer seedha hoke baithne par majboor ho gaya.

‘Ye? Ye yaha kyu??’

Par, iske bawajood usne apne aap ko sambhaala. Shayad kisi security purpose ke liye Rohan yaha aaya hoga, lekin jaise aaj Veer ki kismat me chenn lena nahi likha tha.

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Ek baar phir cameras ki awaazein goonj uthi. Veer, jo paani pee raha tha, paani uske galey me galat samay par phansa aur lagbhag use phanda lagte lagte bacha.

Kyunki, andar aane waala agla vyakti aisa prateet ho raha tha jaise seedhe swarg se apsara ko neeche laa diya ho.




Erica.

Behad hi khubsoorat si dress me, chamakti hui, jagmagati hui, reporters, cameramen ke jhund se hote hue guzri. Aur, cameramen use jaise dekh ke photos lena hi bhool gaye the.

Kuchh chinese delegates jo videshi companies me kaam kar rahe the, woh Erica ko dekh achambhit reh gaye. China ka lagbhag har aadmi ‘Renshu’ naam ko jaanta tha. Aur, aise me uski beti ke baare me pata na ho? Ye kaise ho sakta tha?

Ve sab chinese uss par toot pade. Erica kisi khush tourist ki tarah unke saath chali bhi gayi.

Itna hi nahi, usko stage par pahucha diya gaya? Kaaran? Kyunki, woh bahut zyada sundar lag rahi thi. Zaahir hai woh kisi bade gharaane se hogi.





“Umm… Hello everyone!”

Usne bolna shuru kiya. Uski nazrein? Seedhe Veer par!

‘Fucccckkkkk!’

Veer ne kass kar table pakdi. Agar, iss Erica ne uske liye kuchh kaha toh woh kisi galat paristhiti me bhi phans sakta tha. Aur, Erica?




Woh yahi kar rahi thi. Woh muskura rahi thi.

‘Fuuuccckk! Why the fuck is she smiling at me like that???’




[M-Master, this is bad!]

‘Fuckkk! Wo apna intro kyu de rahi hai, udhar? Who the fuck invited her? Aur, mujhe kyu dekh rahi hai? Fuck no!!!’

Idhar Erica mic par bad-badaate hue baar-baar Veer ko dekhe jaa rahi thi.




Veer behosh hone se bas kuchh hi seconds dur tha. Kaera Erica ko aise dekh rahi thi jaise maano uski list me koi naya dushman add ho chuka tha.

Toh wahi, Erica?

Apni pyaari si muskaan diye, logon ke beech baith kar Veer ko taadne lagi.




Mr. Ward : Haha! Quite a show there. Phew! Shall we continue, Miss Kaera?

Kaera (nods) : Yes, please!

Lekin, Veer?

Veer ko paseena aana shuru ho chuka tha. Yeh sab plan me nahi tha. Usne kisi ko yaha aane ka nahi kaha tha. Na hi kisi ka mission tha yaha par aake kuchh bhi karne ke liye. Phir, kyu?

Par, bechaara Veer yeh nahi jaanta tha ki uski sabse badi aafat toh uska hotel ke baahar intezar kar rahi thi.




Ava!!!

Mask pehne woh baahar khadi hui thi. Casa Belle me aise ghusne ka plan… Garofano ka tha. Erica khushi-khushi raazi ho gayi thi, magar Ava thodi hich-kicha rahi thi. Sirf aur sirf Veer ke liye. Kya andar jaana sahi tha?

Aur, tabhi-

[Go inside dear.]

‘Par, kya ye sahi hai, Lily? Veer ne kisi ko invite nahi kia tha. Iska matlab woh definitely kisi personal kaam se yaha aaya hoga, aur aise me-’

[Garofano aur Erica, dono andar jaa chuki hai.]

‘Yeah but-’

[Kya tum chaahti ho ki ve dono Veer ke dil me jagah bana le?]

‘NOOOOOO!!!’

[*smiles* Toh, phir jao dear. Go and show your charisma.]

‘But andar… Kaera… Sonia…’

[Mask pehna hai tumne, dear.]

‘Fine then-!’

Veer jo yaha andar rumaal se paseena pochh raha tha achanak hi naye shor ko sunn wahi jamm gaya. Iss baar mahaul alag tha.

Mask lagaane ke bawajood, Ava ki khubsoorti ko chhipaaya nahi jaa sakta tha. Woh andar padhaar chuki thi.

Photographers bhi kuchh kshan ke liye bas ghoorte reh gaye aur phir ek baar phir-

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Veer ki aatma jaise maano uske shareer se nikal gayi.

[That’s… ugh… Master! Enjoy your night.]

*Ding*

[The system has gone into sleep mode.]

‘Huh? Pari??? Pariiii? Fuuuuckkkk!’

Veer Ava ko dekh itni zorr se khaansa ki Kaera Ava se nazrein hataaye bina apna paani ka glass Veer ke muh ki orr badha di.

Karan : Huh? Bhai? Kya hua? Tumhare chehre ka rang kyu uda hua hai?

Veer : N-Nothing! *cough*

Usne keh toh diya, magar mann me-

‘WHY IS SHE HERE?????’

Yeh koi mazak nahi tha. Ava. Garofano. Erica. Ye teeno worldwide sirf famous hi nahi thi, sundar hi nahi thi. Ye sab ki sab system holders bhi thi.

Aur, teeno? Ek hi jagah par? Aur, inn sab ke beech me? Ek bechaara Veer!

Kaera ne notice kiye ki teen aayi khubsoorat haseenaaye Veer ko dekh rahi thi. Aur, usne Veer ki orr apna chehra moda.

Kaera : Are they looking at… YOU? You know them?

Veer ne apna thook nigla.

Veer : I… Ahem…

Kaera : That Garofano… She was there last time. Mein jaanti hu wo tumhe shayad jaanti hai. Kaise? No! Who are those two?

Karan : Bhai! Washroom left side hai, udhar andar pe-

Veer ne ek aur laat table ke neeche se Karan ko maari toh Karan apne daant meeste hue shaant ho gaya.

Tabhi, Veer ko ek aur cheez ka ehsaas hua-

‘Wait a minute-!’

Agar, Ava bhi yahi toh toh iska matlab tha-

TRINITY… ek saath ek hi jagah par itne saalo baad thi.

Aur, woh jaan gaya ki uske laude… lag chuke the.

Tabhi-

*Ding*

[System is up from the sleep mode.]

‘Huh? Pari? Tum aa gayi? Thank god! Mein jaanta tha tum meri madad zaroor karogi. Quick! What’s the plan?’

[...]

‘Bolo bolo! Sharmaane ki zaroorat nahi hai, Pari! Don’t worry! Maine tumhe maaf kiya. Quick!’

[I-]

‘Haan haan! Bolo!’

[Mein bas ye bataane ke liye aayi thi ki-]

‘??’

[Ava ne bhi Kaera aur Sonia ki tarah red dress pehni hai. Good luck.]

*Ding*

[The system has gone into sleep mode.]

‘Fuuuuuucccckkkkkkk!!’
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Aaj ke itna hi guys.
This update consists of 9k words. Iske do update rahenge, iss poore corporate gala ke. Ye pehla tha. Next one me ye event khatam ho jaayega. Iss par kaafi mehnat lagi hai. Images dhundhne me aur ek bade level ka corporate gala kaise hota hai uske baare me research karne me. Mein specifically zyada details me nahi gaya Sonia aur ICONGLOBE ke beech ki conversation ko lekar kyunki, I thought wo bahut hi business terms waali talk thi. Aur, plot ke hisaab se koi zaroorat bhi nahi thi. So, I only showed the 'what's happening around' scenes. The humor is back again in this update. Chhota sa hi tha but let me know ye achha laga ya nahi. Target apna wahi 250 hi hai. Par, aur upar pahucha diyo. Bahut mehnat lagi hai isme. Milte hai agle bhaag me jald hi.
Dhanyavad.

Duniya hasino ka Mela mele veer khada akela bhai mast update hai padkar Maja aa gaya

 

[Utkarsh awasthi]

Update - 208 ~ The Corporate Gala — ICONGLOBE (1)​

Ab tak...

10 billion dollars ki deal.

Jise haasil karne ke liye kataar me log toh bahut the, magar do hi sabse mazboot pratidwandi the : NEXACOM aur ELITE MOTORS.

Aur, Prestige ke reparation ke chalte, ye corporate gala ki hosting jaa chuki thi : Casa Belle ko.

Kyunki, ICONGLOBE-

Kal hi apne qadam Bharat par rakhne waali thi.

Ab aage...

Mid-January,
Casa Belle, Mumbai,
Evening - 7:15 PM ~

Hotel ka driveway raushni se jagmaga raha tha, luxury sedan cars bhavya hotel ke parking area me pravesh karti jaa rahi thi. Casa Belle aaj shaan se chamak rahi thi. Orchid, lavendar ke phool jagah-jagah par lage apni khushboo bikher rahe the.

Raat me halki-si thandak bhi maujood thi. Aane waale ek se badh ke ek VIPs ke liye photographers bhi apni kataar lagaaye khade hue the. Baahar ka ilaaka unki flash lights se chamak raha tha.

Inn VIPs me na keval businessmen aur badi-badi companies ke log, balki celebrities bhi shaamil the.

Aur, Veer...

Woh thodi dur khada tha, uski nigaahein sateek, adh khuli aankhein, shaant, veh iss drishya ko aise dekh raha tha maano jaise wo inn sab cheezon se anjaan ho.

Use ab bhi yaad tha ki pichhli baar woh kab yaha aaya tha. Aadesh Jaisinghani ki hasi isi hotel ke hall me goonj rahi thi kabhi, aur uske dwara woh apmaan. Use sab yaad tha.

Kintu, woh aaj shauharat paane nahi aaya tha. Woh yaha tha sirf ek vyakti ki wajah se : Suhana!

"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?"

Yahi shabd the Suhana ke. Agar, Suhana ne na kaha hota, toh aaj woh yaha aaya hi na hota. Par, uss ladki ne uske liye jo kuchh bhi kiya tha, uske saamne itni-si madad kuchh bhi nahi thi.

[Master! Kya plan hai aapka? Kaise aap Kaera ke against jaa kar ye deal Sonia ko dilwaoge? Bhale hi mujhe Sonia pasand nahi, lekin-! Suhana ne maang ki hai aur mein jaanti hu ki aap use mana nahi karoge.]

Pari chaahti toh Veer ke mann ko padh sakti thi. Lekin, bina anumati ke woh ab yeh kaarya nahi karti thi aur na hi karna chaahti thi.

'I don't know!'

Veer ne sarr hilaate hue jawaab diya.

[What? I... I thought aapne kuchh plan kar ke rakha hoga.]

'Dekhte hai! Genuinely dekha jaaye toh mujhe yaha hona hi nahi chahiye. I'm not invited after all.'

[So, what? Aap- Ek din dekhna sab aapke aage-peechhe ghoomenge. Beetein palon ko dekhiye, Master. Aap kaha se kaha aa gaye. Humein aur aage badhna hai. Don't get disheartened. Our journey has just begun.]

Veer dheere-se muskuraya. Woh jaanta tha ki Pari uska dil behlaane ke liye yeh sab keh rahi thi.

Usne dekha...

Kaise Casa Belle ke ird-gird hawa aiyyaashi, vilaasita aur ahankar se gulzar thi. Tuxedo aur suits pehne purush apni ghadiya dekh rahe the, aage badh rahe the, haath mila rahe the.

Toh wahi, chaandi, sone, heere, aur makhmali reshmi kapdo me lipti mahilaaye apni muskaan sawaar rahi thi, photos click karwa rahi thi.

Usne dekha ki foreign delegates aur vibhinn CEOs bhi apni-apni mehngi gaadiyon se utar rahe the, ek-dusre ka abhivadan sirr hila kar aur idhar-udhar ki baatein kar rahe the. Harr kuchh kshano me cameras click ho rahe the aur inn palo ko qaid kar rahe the.

Usne ek gehri saans li aur aage badha.

Navy blue suit uss par aise janch raha tha jaise maano uske liye hi bana ho aur ek prakaar se bana bhi tha. Yeh Yarnia ki Louis dwara ek khaas peshkash thi. Bhale hi bahut kuchh dhwast ho chuka tha, lekin abhi bhi kuchh resources storage me bache hue the.

White shirt ke saath pair kar ke uska suit uss par aaj bahut lubha raha tha. Crisp and clean. Apne jeb me haath daale, nishchint, woh aise aage badh raha tha jaise raat maano uski hi ho.

Usne dekha, apni daayi orr, ek chhote start-up company ke kuchh log display table par apne eco-engine ka ek prototype dikha rahe the. Sirf wahi nahi, aur bhi chhoti companies isi tarah apne-apne prototypes ko baahar gallery me saaj-sajja aur naveenta ke tehet prastut kar rahi thi. Ye corporate gala ke anokhe aakarshano me se ek tha.

Woh VIP logon ke jhund ke beech se guzra. Kuchh ne mudkar uski taraf dekha, yeh soch kar ki kya ve use jaante the? Toh, kuchh ne dekhne ki zehmat hi na uthaayi. Kintu, use iss se koi farq nahi pada.

Woh aaj pehchaane jaane ke liye nahi chal raha tha. Woh aise chal raha tha jaise use pata tha ki ek na ek din use pehchaan to milegi hi... Ek din, jab duniya ghutne tekne ko taiyyar rahegi.

Jaise hi woh mukhya dwaar ke paas pahucha, kaale suit pehne do security guards scanner ke paas khade the. Veer dheere-se ruka, ummeed thi ki humesha ki tarah koi sawaal poochhega.

Usne apni jeb se Suhana dwara diya gaya ek card nikaala, jo ki Casa Belle ka Unicard tha, lekin-

Uski zaroorat hi na padi. Koi aage hi nahi aaya. Scanner se nikli laal kiran uski chhaati par se guzri aur phir hari ho gayi.

Veer ne bauhe chadhaate hue unn gaurds ko dekha.

Veer : Oh? Kya rokna nahi hai mujhe?

Usne chidhaate hue poochha. Tabhi, ek guard aage badha aur ahista se jawab diya.

Guard : Aapko entry allowed hai, Sir!

Veer ke honth halke se mude.

Veer (smirks) : Bina invitation ke?

Guard (nods) : Humaare Sir ka order hai. Aap andar jaa sakte hai.

Usne nazrein neeche karte hue jawab diya.

Ek pal ke liye Veer kuchh nahi bola. Uske chehre par ek halki muskaan thi. Lagta hai uske dwara Aadesh ko diya gaya wo dose kaafi prabhavshali tha. Usne dheere-se sarr hilaaya aur Unicard ko apni jeb me daalte hue aage badh gaya.

Woh mukhya dwaar se andar pravesh kiya. Sangeet, hasi, baaton ka halka shor, kaanch ke pyaalo ke takraane ki khan-khan ki dhwaniyaan mil kar bhavyata ka saboot de rahi thi.

Uski aakriti neeche cham-chamaate polished floor par reflect ho rahi thi. Aur, uski nazrein apne kaam par lag gayi.

'Check!'

*Ding*

'Check'

*Ding*

Filhaal, aam aadmiyo ke alawa udhar koi na tha. Usne ye jaan ek raahat ki saans li.

***

Wahi iss orr ghar par mahaul thoda garm tha. Pratyek kshan dhadkan ki tarah prateet ho raha tha jaise kisi hone waali ghatna ki orr ulti ginti gin raha ho.

Kamre me Tej murti ki tarah jami hui baithi thi, aankhein pheli, saansein tez.

"K-Kya kaha aapne??"

Uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi. Avishwas se nahi, balki kisi aparichit vishvasghaat se.

Bhavna : Shh! Dheere-!

Bhavna ne dheere-se aah bhari. Uski shaant aankhon me bhi kahi na kahi ashaanti jhalak rahi thi.

Bhavna : Dekh ke yahi lag raha hai, Tej. Ragini Veer se pyaar karti hai. Pata nahi ye sab kab aur kaise hua- kahi na kahi mujhe thoda shaq toh tha, lekin-

Tej ki chhaati ekdum se phooli maano jaise uska dum ghut raha ho.

Tej : -Aur, aap mujhe yeh ab bata rahi ho? Aapne mujhe yeh sab usi waqt kyu nahi bataaya? Itna intezar kyu-!?

Wahi kamre ke dusri orr Bhumika bhi khadi hui thi, baahein dheeli magar dimaag vichlit. Bhavna aur Shweta ne unn dono ko abhi-abhi sab kuchh bata diya tha. Uski bauhe apne vichaaro ko soch sikudi, usne mann hi mann kuchh drishya daudaaye.

Veer ki taraf dekhte hue Ragini ki wo aankhein, usne unn par dhyaan diya tha magar nazarandaz bhi kar diya tha. Lekin, ab ye sab saamne aane ke baad-

Use apne seene me ek bhaaripann sa mehsoos hua.

Ragini kyu??? Aur, abhi hi kyu?

Tej ekdum se khadi hui, uski kursi zameen par zorr se ragad kar peechhe dhakil gayi.

Tej : N-Nahi!

Usne sirr hilaate hue budbudaya.

Tej : A-Aisa nahi ho sakta. Mein aisa nahi hone dungi.

Bhavna : Tej...

Lekin, Tej ka gussa bhala kaha shaant hone waala tha.

Tej (yells) : Woh uski BHABHI hai mom!!! Aur, ab... ab woh Veer se pyaar-!?

Uski awaaz beech me hi toot gayi, dard chhalak utha.

Tej : A-Aapko pata bhi hai na ki iska kya matlab hai, mom?

Kintu, Bhavna ki khamoshi hi uska jawab thi.

Shweta : Yahi sach hai. Jitna hairan tum ho uss se kayi zyada hairan mein hu, kyunki mein Ragini ko kaafi samay se jaanti hu.

Tej (grits teeth) : Tch!

Shweta : Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki- *frowns* Ragini aisa kuchh karegi. Ye delicate matter hai. Thoda sambhal ke iss par discuss karna hoga.

Tej : Sambhal ke? Toh, aap kya karengi? Unhe pyaar se samjhayengi? Ki beta ye sab galat hai! Aur, wo maan jaayengi?

Shweta : Jo bhi ho, lekin zorr se cheenkh ke, chillaa ke iss topic par baat karna iska solution toh nahi na.

Bhumika (nods) : Tejal! Shaant ho jao!

Tej : Mujhe shaant hone ke liye mat kahiye aap!

Bhumika kuchh na boli. Woh abhi bhi apni soch me doobi hui thi.

"I don't understand..." Woh budbudayi. "Ragini bhabhi ko itne saalo me maine kabhi kisi aadmi se easily judte dekha nahi. Woh toh humesha se ek deewar bana ke rakhti thi apne beech. Aur, ab wo-!? Veer se pyaar kar baithi-?"

Par, tabhi use dhyaan aaya ki shayad-

Ragini akeli nahi thi. Inn beetein dino me wo bhi toh thi, jo Veer ko lekar pareshaan thi. Uske dil me na jaane kaisi-kaisi tarangein uth rahi thi.

Bhumika ne sheeshe me se apna chehra pher liya, uski dhadkan tez thi. Uska mann bhi toh hafto se chup-chap ladd raha tha. Veer se harr churaayi gayi nazar, uske nazdeek hone se uske dil me paida ho rahi halchalein, usne unn bhavnao ko tarq ki parto ke saath neeche daba diya tha.

Lekin, ab Ragini ki bhavnao ke khulaase ke baad, wo dabi hui bhavnaaye phir se bechain aur binn bulaaye ubhar rahi thi.

Toh wahi Tej ka gussa alag tha. Uska krodh tezi se bhadak raha tha. Irshya ne uske dil me gehrayi tak pakad bana li thi, aur usne iss baar use chhipaane ki koshish bhi nahi ki. Ya yu kahe ki uska dhyaan hi nahi gaya.

Tej : Veer!!! Kaha hai, Veeru???

Bhavna : Pata nahi. Keh ke gaya ki kuchh zaroori kaam hai. Raat me derr se aayega.

Tej : Aur, aapne poochha bhi nahi ki kaha jaa rahe ho??? OH GOOODD!!

Woh achanak mudi, uske baal lehraaye, aur seedhe wo Ragini ke kamre ki orr chal padi.

Bhavna (yells) : TEJ-!!!

Parantu, Tej ne ek na suni. Uske qadam bhaari the, goonj rahe the jab tak ki woh Ragini ke kamre ke paas tak nahi pahuch gayi.

*Thud*

Darwaaze ko usne dhadam se khola aur dekha ki-

Ragini bistar par takiye se tek lagaaye laiti hui thi, uski wheelchair uske bistar ke bagal se rakhi hui thi, aur Kavya uske bagal se laiti, uss se chipki hui thi.

Dono ne chaukte hue upar dekha. Ve dono uth baithi.

Tej khud bhi stabdh thi. Drishya dekh woh yeh bhool gayi ki woh yaha kisliye aayi thi. Ragini, bhramit aur shaant, Kavya jigyasu magar kisi suraksha kavach ki tarah Ragini ke saamne baithi hui.

Tej ke honth bolne ke liye khule, lekin ek bhi shabd nikalne se pehle hi ek haath ne uski kalaayi pakad li.

“Idhar aao-”

Bhumika ki awaaz peechhe se aayi. Tej ne mud apne kandhe ke upar se use dekha.

“Ch-Chhorro-!”

“Nahi!” Lekin, Bhumika ne dridhta se use waha se kheencha aur le gayi. Darwaza band ho gaya.

Kamre ke andar, Kavya ne apni bauhe sikod aashcharya prakat kiya.

Kavya : K-Kya hua?

Ragini : Pata nahi!

Kavya : Umm… Bhabhi, shayad Tejal didi ko bhi wo baat pata lag gayi. Isliye, woh aayi hongi.

Ragini : Oh!? Shayad… Tumne theek kaha.

Baahar, Tej zorr-zorr se saans le rahi thi. Bhumika se baat karte hue uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.

Tej : Chhoriye, mujhe! Mein- Mein ise bardaasht nahi kar sakti. Hargiz nahi! Woh… Woh Veeru ko nahi rakh sakti. B-Bilkul bhi nahi.

Bhumika ki pakad uske haath par thodi aur mazboot ho gayi.

Bhumika : Toh, phir hungama mat karo. Kyunki, iss se baat aur bhi bigad jayegi.

Tej ke honth aapas me chipak gaye, uska gala bhavnao se bhar gaya. Uski aankhein bhaavuk ho uthi, lekin usne aansu girne nahi diye.

Bhumika : Akhir, tumhe ho kya gaya hai? Tum waha andar jaa kar ladaayi shuru karne waali thi, tumhe pata hai?

Tej : Ladaayi? You think I care about that right now? Look at her. Kaise innocent bann rahi hai woh. She’s lying there, crying… and all he can think of is running to her every time she falls apart. Every single time.

Bhumika : Veer bas unki madad kar raha tha, Tejal. Ragini bhabhi injured hai, bhulo mat. Unhe chot lagi hai.

Tej ne halki-si hasi chhori. Thodi kadwi aur thodi ladkhadati hui.

Tej : Bilkul! Zaahir hai woh unki madad kar raha tha. Veeru aisa hi toh hai. Woh unki madad sabse pehle karta hai jo sabse zyada zorr se rote hai. Jo khud ko khoob lachaar dikhaate hai. Mein galat nahi hu, hai na? See, I get it ki wo injured hai par ye pyaar vyaar? Isme kiski galti hai?

Gusse aur niraasha ke beech kaanpti uski awaaz phus-phusahat me badal gayi.

Tej : He never sees what’s right in front of him.

Bhumika (frowns) : Kya matlab?

Tej ne nazrein pher li, apne baalo me haath pherte hue, bhaari saansein lete hue woh boli.

Tej : K-Kuchh nahi…!

Magar, uski bud-budahat phir se Bhumika ne sunn li.

Tej (mutters) : Woh Veeru ke laayak nahi hai. Woh kabhi thi hi nahi. Koi bhi nahi.

Bhumika thitak ke reh gayi. Woh dheere-se Tej ki orr mudi aur use gaur se dekhne lagi. Tej ne dhyaan hi nahi diya, woh apni hi uljhan me khoyi hui thi, halke-halke hil rahi thi aur uski ungliyaan kaanp rahi thi.

Tej (mutters) : Woh unhe ek baar dekhta hai aur sab kuchh bhool jaata hai. Hmph! Kya mein notice nahi karti? Sab dikhta hai mujhe bhi. As if she’s the only one that matters. As if she’s the only one he’s ever cared for…

Uski awaaz bud-budaate hue toot gayi aur phir woh achanak hi chup ho gayi. Uske baad jo sannaata chhaaya, woh gehra tha.

Bhumika ki aankhein kuchh jaan ke chaudi ho gayi. Tej ka yeh lehza, ye shabd, ye kadwahat, sab kuchh ek hi cheez ki orr ishaara kar raha tha. Jis tarah Tej kabhi-kabhi Veer ko dekhti hai, kaise woh humesha uske prati kuchh protective si rehti hai, kuchh zyada hi protective. Yeh sab kuchh ek hi cheez batla raha tha.

Bhumika ke chehre par hairat bhare bhaav dekh Tej uski orr mudi.

Tej : What?

Bhumika ne dheere-se apna sirr hilaaya aur ek halki, bechain muskaan bikher boli.

Bhumika : N-Nothing!

Usne dheere-se kaha, halanki uska mann bilkul bhi shaant nahi tha.

Jaise ve dono khadi thi, ek gusse me, dusri shaant aur hairaan. Bhumika ko kuchh naya pata lag chuka tha. Tej sirf gusse me hi nahi thi. Woh shayad… kisi aur cheez me bhi thi. Jo ki bahut galat tha. Ragini ke Veer ko pyaar karne se bhi zyada galat.

Aur, woh tha-

Sage bhai behan ka mard-aurat waala pyaar.

---

Toh wahi, idhar andar Kavya aur Ragini poori tarah se anjaan thi ki Bhumika aur Tej ke beech akhir kya baatein hui.

Unhe woh kshan yaad aaya jab Veer Ragini ko goad me utha ke uske room me le gaya tha aur do ghante tak Kavya, woh aur Veer andar maujood the.

Tab, kamre me hawa bhaari thi. Na gussa, na hasi, bas shabdo ke bole jaane ki deri thi.

Kavya ne akhirkar sannaata toda, uski awaaz dheemi aur jhijhak bhari thi.

Kavya : Umm- Bh-Bhabhi? Y-Ye sab kab hua? Kya waqai aap Veer bhaiya se-?

Ragini ne sharmindagi aur ek ajeeb-si raahat ke beech fasi apni palkein jhapkayi. Uske honth ek halki, thaki hui muskaan me khule.

Ragini : H-Haan! *blushes* Y-Ye kab hua? Ye pehle se toh tay nahi tha, Kavya. Ye bas… *Veer ko dekhte hue* ho gaya.

Veer ki nazar ek pal Ragini se mili aur woh dheere-se muskuraaya.

Kavya : Umm… phir bhi- I mean, koi aisa moment toh raha hoga na jaha aapko realise hua hoga ki aap bhaiya se-

Ragini : Moment ki baat karu toh- uss raat, tumhe yaad hai jab mere mummy papa kidnap ho gaye the? Mein bhi fass gayi thi? Tumhara bada bhai Vivek bhi tha. Yaad hai na?

Kavya (nods) : H-Haan! Uske baad se hi aap aur Vivek bhaiya ka divorce-

Ragini : Right! Uss raat, unn aadmiyon ne humein bandhi bana kar rakha tha. Unhone Vivek ke saamne ek choice rakhi thi. Ya toh apni jaan bacha lo, ya phir apni biwi ki, aur tumhare bhai ne-

Kavya (neeche sarr karte hue) : Unhone apni jaan ki parvah ki thi.

Ragini : Hmm! Aur, tabhi Veer aaya tha. Jab maine saari ummeedein chhor di thi. Tab, woh aaya tha. Uss raat se hi mere andar uske liye sab kuchh badal chuka tha. Shayad tab se hi mein-

Usne phir se Veer ko dekha aur uske gaal par haath phera.

Ragini : Tab se mein Veer ko aur bhi zyada notice karne lagi aur dheere-dheere ye kab pyaar me badal gaya, mujhe khud bhi pata nahi chala.

Kavya sunti rahi, honth bhinche hue, dil ajeeb tarah se dhadak raha tha.

Ragini : Uske baad se hi, maine Veer ko alag nazariye se dekhna shuru kar diya tha. Har baar jab-jab woh bolta tha, har baar jab woh muskuraata tha, aisa lagta tha jaise mein use pehli baar dekh rahi hu. Woh wo insaan bann gaya jis par mein bharosa karne lagi, jab mujhe khud apne par bharosa nahi rehta tha. And, I knew… I have fallen for him.

Kavya ki mutthi kasi, woh muskurana chaahti thi, apni bhabhi ke liye khush hona chaahti thi, lekin uske andar kuchh dard kar raha tha. Ek shaant anjaan dard.

Usne Veer ki taraf dekha jo abhi bhi shaant tha.

Kavya : So… So, you really love him huh!?

Woh lagbhag khudse hi budbudaayi. Ragini ka jawab bhi seedha tha.

Ragini : Yes! I love him! I do! A lot!

Ek halki-si khamoshi chhaa gayi.

Veer : Aur, mein bhi nahi chaahta tha ki kisi ko bhi koi bhi prakaar ki thes pahuche.

Woh jaanta tha ki Kavya iss waqt kaisa mehsoos kar rahi thi. Akhir, Kavya ne apne dil ka haal bhi use bataaya hua tha. Kavya ki nazrein uss par padi. Ek pal ke liye usne socha ki kuchh kahe, shayad unhe bataaye ki uske andar bhi kuchh feelings hai, ya yeh ki wo bhi Veer se-

-Lekin, uski awaaz hi nahi nikli. Usne bas sirr hilaaya. Ragini ne uska haath thaama.

Ragini : Tumhe toh koi dikkat nahi na, Kavya? I’m sorry. Tumhe lag raha hoga ki kaisi bhabhi hai ye. Pehle mere bade bhaiya ke saath shadi rachaayi aur ab mere Veer bhaiya ke saath-

Kavya : N-Nahi! Aisa nahi hai, bhabhi. I- I understand. Balki, aapki jagah mein bhi hoti toh yahi karti.

Ragini : Oh thank you so much, dear~ Baaki log jo bhi maane mujhe farq nahi padta, Lekin, tum bura maanti toh- I would have been affected, you know. Thank you dear~

Kavya ne jhatse sarr hilaaya aur halki-si muskaan bikheri.

Kavya : Nahi! Mujhe pareshani nahi, bhabhi! Mein toh bas- bas surprised hu. I didn’t think…

Woh ruki aur dheere-se hasi.

Kavya : It’s weird, you know? Ki ab meri bhabhi… mere cousin bhaiya se pyaar karti hai. It feels unreal.

Ragini dheere-se hasi aur apne gaal se aansu pochhi.

Ragini : It feels unreal for me too, dear!

Kavya muskura zaroor rahi thi par andar hi andar wahi jaanti thi ki use ye baat kitni chubh rahi thi.

Isne Veer aur Ragini ko gaur se dekha. Veer ki khamoshi me shaant nishchay, Ragini ki aankhon me aseem pyaar, aur use kuchh ehsaas hua.

Shayad pyaar kabhi sahi ya galat ke baare me tha hi nahi. Veer aur Ragini dono devar aur bhabhi the, uske bawajood unme pyaar ho gaya aur sab saamne bhi aa gaya aur abhi bhi ve dono ek dusre ke paas the.

Toh, kya iska matlab woh bhi-!? Ek behan hone ke baad bhi Veer se-!?

Uski aankhein ye sab soch ke hairat me phel gayi. Usne Ragini ki orr dekha, uske hontho par ek halki, sacchi muskaan tair gayi.

Kavya (nods) : Haan! Shayad... Shayad yahi sahi hai. Shayad kabhi mein bhi-

Ragini ne uska haath haule se dabaya.

Ragini : Oh thank you Kavya~ Kya hua? Tum bhi kya, Kavya?

Kavya : Kuchh nahi, bhabhi!

Ghadi chalti rahi, baahar iss ghoshna ke baad mahaul garm tha aur baatein dabi awaazon me ho rahi thi, lekin idhar kamre ke andar samay tham sa gaya tha.

Kavya peechhe jhuki, uska dil ajeeb tarah se tarangein fela raha tha. Kabhi shaant toh kabhi vichlit. Uske mann me darjano vichaar umad rahe the. Uski apni bhavnaaye, apni uljhan, lekin abhi usne unhe daba kar rakh rakha tha. Shayad kisi din, woh unhe bataaye. Shayad kisi din, Ragini samajh jaaye.

Magar, aaj ke liye, woh unn dono ki baatein sunti rahi, unhe dekhti rahi, jinhe wo cheez mil chuki thi jiski talaash me woh khud bhi thi.

Pyaar.

***

Wapas, idhar hotel me, Veer ki nazar andar aate hue upar lage jhoomaro par padi, bade-bade, haath se taraashe hue crystals, latke hue taramandal ki tarah jhilmila rahe the. Shayad Aadesh ne aaj koi kami nahi chhori thi saaj-sajja me.




Casa Belle humesha se hi aalishaan raha tha, lekin aaj raat wo poora daulat se nahaaya hua lag raha tha. Har kona chamak raha tha. Har sateh par kisi taqatvar insaan ki jhalak dikh rahi thi.

Woh wahi ek pillar ke paas khada hua tha, haath jebo me daale, bina kisi se mile bas dekh raha tha. Suhana ka anurodh uske mann me kisi kone me goonj raha tha, use yaad dila raha tha ki usne iss jagah par qadam kyu rakha tha jisne kabhi use apmaanit kiya tha. Woh yaha tha. Apne liye nahi. Sonia ke liye nahi. Suhana ke liye.

Uske chaaro orr alag-alag companies ke prototypes lage hue the. AI driven chassis models, micro engine blocks, next-gen battery casings aur wagarah wagarah.

Chhoti se lekar badi companies apne-apne products ki pratibha ka pradarshan kar rahi thi. Unki bhookhi nigaahein har dilchaspi dikhaane waali companies par nazar rakh rahi thi.

Deals me mol-bhaav kiya jaa raha tha, baat-cheet chal rahi thi, alag-alag vartalap jaise equity, timelines, patents par na jaane kitne samooh aapas me charcha kar rahe the. Kinhi ko deals mil rahi thi toh kuchh the jo khaali haath bas kisi partner ka intezar kar rahe the.

Veer shaant bhaav se sab dekh raha tha, apne mann me kuchh potential companies ko rakh raha tha. Kuchh businessmen ne use guzarte hue dekha. Kisi ne use pehchaana nahi. Kisi ne koshish bhi nahi ki.

Ghadi me shaam ke 7:45 baje.

Aur, tabhi-

Hall ka shor badal gaya. Pehle thoda-sa, phir samudra me aayi leher ki tarah badhta chala gaya.

*Click* *Click* *Click*

Tasveerein dhadalle se khichne lagi. Janta ke beech apne aap hi ek raasta khul gaya.

Kaera... aa chuki thi.




Lag raha tha jaise woh khud Casa Belle ki maalkin thi. Aatmvishvas uske chaaro orr aise lipta hua tha jaise maano kisi ne use saleeke se silvaaya ho.

Uske theek peechhe Ruchika bhi ek kaale blazer me chal rahi thi. Aur, wahi nahi, yaha tak ki uski maid, Julia bhi ek designer dress me maujood thi. Aur, akhir me, Karan apni tie ko theek karte hue, andar daakhil hua.




Kaera photographs khichwaane me lagi hui thi. Usne paparazzi ko kuchh samay diya aur phir andar daakhil ho gayi. Uska swagat badi hi sehejta ke saath hua, usne business giants se haath milaaya aur nakli muskaan liye woh unse baaton me lag gayi.

Rupaya. Dollar. Desi. Videshi. Sab uski orr jhuke hue the.




Laal dress me aaj woh alag hi qayamat dha rahi thi. Use andar aate hue Veer ne dekha. Ek pal ke liye uski dhadkane ruk gayi. Woh jaha tha wahi khada raha.

Karan ne sabse pehle nazrein ghumaate hue use dekha. Uski aankhein aashcharya me chaudi ho gayi.

Woh turant hi bheed me se nikalte hue uske paas aaya jaise usne maano itni janta ke beech koi apna dhundh liya ho.

Karan : What the hell, Veer!? Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?

Veer (smiles) : Sightseeing!

Karan : Hey! Tumhe nahi bataana toh seedhe-seedhe keh do, man.

Veer (smiles) : Mein waqai sightseeing ke liye aaya hu.

Karan : Like hell I'll believe that...!

Veer bas badle me muskuraaya.

Karan : Tum bhi kisi deal ke liye aaye ho kya? Looking for business partners?

Veer ne na toh pushti ki aur na hi inkaar kiya aur Karan ne iss sannaate ko achhi tarah se samajh liya.

Phir, woh glaani ke bhaav liye dheere-se bola.

Karan : H-Hey! I'm... I'm sorry. Mein tumhare dada ji ki terhvi me nahi aa paaya. Dad ne kaafi dino tak-

Veer : It's okay! I understand!

Karan : Nahi, par mujhe waha-

Veer : It's okay! Koi baat nahi!

Veer ne uska kandha thap-thapaya. Karan ne ek lambi saans li aur thodi raahat mehsoos ki.

Karan : Well, thank god! Mujhe laga tha kahi tum mere khilaaf badle ki planning vlanning toh nahi banaane lage.

Veer (smiles) : Ho bhi sakta hai!

Karan : Huh? Wait! You serious dude? Fucking hell Veer-

Veer : Hahaha!

Badle me Karan bhi muskuraya.

Karan : Hotel kaisa chal raha hai? Recovery abhi bhi ho rahi hai?

Veer (nods) : Hmm! Thoda time lagega.

Karan : As expected.

Tabhi, Kaera jo baat karne ke baad apni seat tak pahuchi, uski nazrein apne bhai ko dhundh rahi thi. Usne aas-paas dekha aur tabhi, use Karan nazar aaya.

Magar-

Uske theek bagal se khade hue ek aur shaks ki orr uski nigaahein daudi.

Veer.

Jab Karan ne bhi apni nazrein daudaayi toh usne dekha ki uski behan janta se hatt kar jaa chuki thi. Usne dekha ki-




Woh unhe hi ghoor rahi thi. Uski nazar sirf aur sirf Veer par tiki hui thi.

'Huh!?'

Dono me se koi bhi nahi hila. Aur, agle hi pal-

Kaera ne uski orr ek qadam badhaaya. Phir, dusra aur woh seedhe unki orr aane lagi.

Veer ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Karan bhi apni behan ko iss orr aata dekha thoda thitak gaya.

Karan : Huh? Why is she-

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh bol paata, Kaera unke saamne thi. Woh unke saamne ruki aur ek pal ke liye Veer saans lena bhool gaya.

Nazdeek se, Kaera ki maujoodgi raushniyo se bhi zyada raushan, hall me goonjte shor aur Casa Belle ki daulat se bhi zyada zordaar lag rahi thi. Dhyaan aakarshit karne ke liye use bolne ki zaroorat nahi thi.

Kaera ke perfume ki sugandh uss tak pahuchi. Manmohak, sundar aur mehngi. Ek nayi khushbu.

Uski aankhein Veer par tiki rahi, bina palak jhapkaaye, use padhna mushqil tha. Usne Karan ki taraf ek baar bhi nahi dekha.

Kaera : This suit... looks good on you.

Veer : Oh!? Thanks!

Kaera : Why are you here?

Usne poochha. Saral, seedha sawaal.

Ruchika uske peechhe-peechhe parchhaayi ki tarah aayi, jigyasu aankhein liye Veer ko dekhne lagi.

Julia bhi unke paas aayi, Veer ko dekhte hi uski muskurahat sharaarat se khil uthi.

Kaera : Tell me! Why are you here?

Veer : Mein- Mein yaha kisi zaroori kaam se tha.

Kaera : Kaun sa zaroori kaam?

Veer be-mann se muskuraaya. Ab kaise bataata ki woh yaha uski hi deal cancel karwa ke Sonia ko deal dilwane ke liye aaya tha.

Iske pehle ki woh jawab de paata, Julia ne halke-se Kaera ki baah thaami aur uske kaan me phus-phusate hue boli.

Julia : Young Miss, it's rude to ask someone something they don't want to tell you.

Kaera ne iss nayi jaankaari ko kisi formulae ki tarah samajhte hue haami bhari.

Kaera : Oh!?

Julia : Yes!

Magar, woh phir Veer ki orr mudi aur poochhi.

Kaera : Then, what is it that you're hiding from me?

Julia ne apna chehra sharm se dhak liya. Toh wahi, Ruchika sharmindagi me idhar-udhar dekhne lagi. Karan hassne laga. Veer ki bauhein Karan ki hasi sunn fadki. Usne Veer ki peeth thap-thapayi.

Karan : Hahaha! Di, yeh baat toh ye mujhe bhi nahi bata raha, lekin it's evident ki Veer yaha kisi invitation ki wajah se aaya hai, right? After all, without invitation entry allowed nahi hai. Maybe some secret deal? Hehe!

Veer ne Karan ko khaa jaane waali nazro se taada. Aur, Karan iska poora lutf utha raha tha.

Aur, ab tak, kayi mehmaan waha unki orr dekhne lage the. Akhir, Kaera kis se baat kar rahi thi? Kaun tha yeh naujavan? Bas, yahi utsukta jagaane ke liye kaafi tha. Phones pehle se hi aadhe uthe hue the, besharmi se recording karte hue messages dekhne ka naatak kar rahe the.

Kaera ne na hi dhyaan diya aur na hi parvah ki. Uski nazar Veer par hi thi.

Kaera : What is it? Tell me!

Veer ne apna muh khola, kuchh aisa soch raha tha jo sach ki tarah prateet ho sake. Iske pehle ki woh kuchh bol paata, Kaera phir bol padi.

Kaera : If there's nothing to tell. Come and sit with ME.

Karan ne use dekha. Hairaan.

Karan : Excuse me, di? Umm, Veer mera friend hai. Obviously, woh mere saath baithega. Kyu hai na, Veer?

Parantu, Kaera ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh mudi aur apni seat ki orr chal padi, bheed uske saamne paani ki tarah chhat gayi.

Veer ne ek aah chhori. Aur, woh uske peechhe-peechhe chal pada. Julia uske bagal se chalte hue uske qareeb aayi.

Julia (smiles) : Good evening young master, Veer!

Veer : Huh? *glances* Good evening!

Julia (smiles) : You look great today.

Veer : Oh? Thank you! You are looking wonderful yourself.

Jaise hi ve Kaera ka nazdeek pahuche, Julia muskuraati hui Veer se peechhe ho gayi. Karan uske bagal se chalta hua dheere-se budbudaya.

Karan : Di is insane, you know. Mujhe baithne ke liye poochha tak nahi aur tumhe VIP treatment? Waah! Someone tell her that I'm her brother.

Veer khamosh raha. Uska dhyaan Kaera par tha jo pehle se hi baithi hui thi. Woh Karan ke bagal waali seat ki orr badha, usme baithne ke liye taiyaar ki-

"Veer???"

Kaera ki awaaz ne use tok diya. Usne apne bagal ki seat par haath thap-thapaya. Aankhein poori tarah se Veer par kendrit.

Kaera : Maine tumse kya kaha?

Veer : !!?

Kaera : Idhar! *Pats* Idhar baitho!

Uski awaaz tez nahi thi, lekin samjhaute ki bhi koi gunjaish nahi thi.

Veer ek kshan ke liye stabdh reh gaya. Karan ka haal bhi yahi tha. Julia mand-mand muskuraayi toh wahi Ruchika bhi hairani me Veer ko ab dekh rahi thi.

Aur, Veer majbooran, uljhan aur bechaini bhari dhadkan ke beech fasa, akhirkar uss seat ki orr badha jaha Kaera ne use baithne ke liye kaha tha.

Woh uske bagal se baith gaya.

Kaera ki nazrein thodi narm pad gayi. Lekin, woh muskuraayi nahi. Usne bas iss prakaar se dekha jaise maano usne koi cheez theek usi jagah rakh di ho jaha woh honi chaahiye.

Aur, samast log unhe bas dekhte rahe.

Tabhi, Julia Kaera ki orr jhuki aur uske kaan me dheere-se boli.

Julia : Yahi sahi time hai, miss.

Kaera achanak hi tann gayi. Usne apna ek haath peechhe kiya, hatheli kholi. Julia ne ek chhota-sa, badi hi sundarta se pack kiya gaya box uske haath me thama diya.

Kaera ne box ko table ke upar unke saamne rakha. Veer, Ruchika aur Karan sabhi ne ek hi bhaav se uski orr dekha. Bhramit aur utsuk.

Veer toh pehle hi check kar chuka tha. Aur, woh jaan gaya tha ki andar kya tha.

Kaera uski taraf mudi, apna muh kholi, phir thitak ke band kar li. Uski ungliyaan box ke kinaare par kasi hui thi.

Veer uske bolne ka intezar karta raha. Julia ek baar phir jhuki aur ahista se Kaera se boli.

Julia (mutters) : Sorry se start kijiye, miss.

Kaera (nods) : Right! Veer...!

Veer : Hmm?

Kaera : I'm... I'm sorry! Mein uss din tumhare dada ji ki ceremony me nahi aa paayi. Terhvi waale din.

Veer : Oh? *smiles* It's fine, miss Kaera. I don't mind.

Kaera : BUT I DO MIND! And, call me... Kaera!

Veer : Huh???

Kaera ne woh box Veer ki orr khiskaaya. Jab Veer maun bana raha toh usne khud Veer ka haath pakadte hue woh box uske haath me hi thama diya.

Kaera : It's an apology gift. Take it. Open it.

Uske tohfe dene ka tareeka vichitra tha. Na koi 'please' na 'thank you'.

Bas, seedhe-

Rakhne ka aadesh. Aur, kholne ka aadesh.

Veer ne akhirkar uss box ko khola aur dhakkan hataaya. Andar ek Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G, white gold, deep blue dial ke saath maujood thi, jiski keemat lagbhag ₹1.5 crore thi.

Veer jaanta toh tha ki andar kya tha, magar uska dimaag ghadi ke daam ko check karne ke baad chakraaya. Usne Kaera ko tezi se mud ke dekha.

Jaise hi usne muh kholna chaaha, mana karne ke liye, Kaera ne ghadi uthaayi aur khud hi uski kalaayi par baandh di.

Kaera : Mujhe naa sunana pasand nahi, Veer.

Veer : This... Itna mehnga gift?

Kaera : Mehnga? Hmm? I didn't check the price. Mujhe bas ye dikhne me achhi lagi. I thought it would look good on your wrist. So, I bought it.

Veer use dekhta raha. Woh yeh bhala kaise le sakta tha? Yeh jaante hue ki woh yaha deal cancel karwaane ke liye aaya tha.

[Master?]

'Nahi! Mujhse ye nahi ho paayega, Pari!'

[??]

'Na hi mein Kaera ko mana kar sakta hu. Aur, na hi uske saath vishvasghat kar sakta hu.'

[Then?]

'I... I won't act.'

[Toh, phir? Aap Suhana ki madad nahi karenge?]

'Not like this. Mein Suhana se baad me baat kar lunga. But I can't betray Kaera.'

Veer ghadi dekh dheere-se muskuraaya. Isliye, nahi ki ghadi bahut mehngi thi. Isliye, ki Kaera ne pehli baar use koi tohfa iss tarah se diya tha. Iska matlab ek cheez spasht thi. Woh yeh ki ab woh inn chhoti-chhoti baaton par dhyaan dene lagi thi. Uske emotions ahista-ahista hi sahi, magar baahar aa rahe the.

Table ke uss paar se Karan itni zorr se khaansa ki sabki nazar uss par pad gayi. Usne apni khud ki ek mehngi ghadi ki taraf dekha, jo kareeban 60-70 lakh ki thi, lekin ab Veer ki ghadi ke saamne pheeki lag rahi thi.

Woh muh bana ke dheere-se budbudaya.

"Di ne mujhe aaj tak kabhi aisa gift nahi diya. Hmph!"

Ruchika ne ye sunn apni muskaan chhupaayi. Ve sabhi phir baaton me lag gaye jab-

Kaera ki maujoodgi ke baad hall abhi theek tarah se shaant bhi nahi hua tha ki ek baar phir se shor machna shuru ho gaya, pehle ki hi tarah tez. Logon ke sirr ghoom gaye, aapas me ve phus-phusaane lage.

Karan : Damn! Shayad Sonia di aa gayi. *smiles*

Kaera : Sonia… di???

Karan : Umm, yeah! Mere liye toh di hi hai na.

Kaera : You are that close with her?

Karan : Umm, nahi! Lekin, competition toh humesha se aap dono ke beech raha hai toh bhala mein kyu beech me pisu? Mere liye toh woh wahi Sonia di hai.

Kaera : No. You just want to be on good terms with her because she’s beautiful.

Karan (coughs) : Wh-Whattt??? *blushes* A-Aisa nahi hai-

Kaera : Shut up!

Karan : Ugh…!

Veer ne shor ka peechha kiya. Sonia. Woh aa chuki thi.




Par, dikkat ki baat yeh thi ki-

Woh bhi Kaera ki hi tarah, ek chamakdar laal dress me thi. Uske aate hi kamre me har kisi ka dhyaan uski orr chala gaya. Uski secretary, Suchika uske peechhe-peechhe chal rahi thi, muh par usne mask pehna hua tha, jis se keval uski aankhein hi nazar aa rahi thi.

Saath hi saath Prakash Uncle, Sonia ki family ke advisor bhi saath me the. Photographers phir se tasveerein kheechne lage.

Kaera ne apni aankhein uthaayi. Sonia ne bhi andar aate hi pehle Kaera ko dekha.

Aur, jaise hi dono ki nazrein mili, mahaul tanaav se bhar gaya. Dono shaant thi magar dono ke beech ek maun dabaav tha. Do top queens ek dusre ko naap rahi thi. Kaera ki nazrein Sonia ki dress par padi aur Sonia ki Kaera pe…

Ek andhruni chidh unn dono ke andar jaagi. Tabhi, Sonia ne Kaera ke bagal se baithe shaks ko dekha aur use dekhte hi woh achambhit reh gayi. Woh lagbhag aage badhne hi wali thi, uske honth khule, lekin usne apna muh band kar khud ko sambhaala.

Veer…

Bahut si galat-fehmiyo ko use mitaana tha. Magar, yeh sahi samay nahi tha. Ek gehri saans lete hue woh apni table ki orr mud gayi.

Suchika ek pal ke liye ruki, uski nigaahein Kaera ki table ke paas baithi Ruchika par tiki. Ruchika ne bhi nazar mehsoos kar use dekha aur apni bauhe chadhaayi.

Kaun thi bhala yeh ladki? Sonia ki secretary… Dhaka hua chehra… Ye lambaayi… Ye kadd-kaathi… Wo aankhein…

‘Nahi! Mein kuchh zyada hi soch rahi hu.’

Ruchika apne mann me sochte hue sarr hilaayi aur Suchika jaldi-se nazrein pher Sonia ke paas chali gayi. Uske mask ke peechhe uske bhaav samajh se parey the.

Kaera ki table se hi parallel me Sonia ki table thi, magar kuchh qadam ki doorie par.

Isi beech, Suhana daakhil hui, ek sundar, mehngi, designer dress me, uske qadam dheeme the. Uska pati Gaurav bhi uske saath chal raha tha, uska ek haath Suhana ki kamar par-

Lekin, ek videshi parichit mehmaan se milte hue ve dono turant hi alag ho gaye. Suhana aage badh gayi, jabki Gaurav wahi ruk gaya.




Suhana apna clutch kass kar thaame Sonia ke peechhe waali table ki orr badhi. Woh naazuk lag rahi thi. Muskaan nakli thi. Aur, tabhi uski aankhon ne Veer ko dhoondhna chaaha.

Aur, usne use paaya bhi-

Veer!

Kaera ke bagal se baitha hua tha.

Suhana ki saansein tez thi. Dono ki nazrein mili aur bhavnao ka sailaab ek saath Suhana ke andar umad pada. Ghabrahat, ummeed, darr, laalsa, jalan, sab kuchh. Par, sab uljha hua.

Veer ne jaise hi use dekha toh uske chehre par bhaav thode naram pad gaye. Bas, usne ek halki haami se uski orr ishaara kiya.

Aur, Suhana ne ishaara paate hi nazrein hata li, ek darr ki kahi Gaurav ne use dekh liya toh? Magar, Gaurav pehle se hi videshi doston me vyast tha, hass raha tha, humesha ki tarah bekhabar.




Suhana Sonia se jaa kar mili aur phir uske peechhe ki table par baith gayi, apne mann me vichaar liye-

‘Akhir… kaise kar paayega, Veer? Maine bina soche-samjhe uss se madad maang toh li, magar-!’




Lekin, woh yeh jaanti thi ki Veer aam vyakti ki tarah nahi tha. Aatish. Slogan. Las Vegas me Nightwalker, Pitcher. Na jaane kaise-kaise logon se paala pada tha uska aur usne humesha hi vijay haasil ki thi.

Toh, ek deal lena-

Uske liye toh baaye haath ka kaam hona chaahiye, hai na? Kuchh yahi soch thi Suhana ki.

Agar, woh nahi… toh bhala aur kaun?

Iss orr Kaera Veer ko dekhi aur poochhi.

Kaera : Tell me! Kiski dress zyada achhi lag rahi hai? Meri… ya uski?

Veer, jo paani pee raha tha, use yeh sawaal sunte hi phanda lag gaya.

*Cough* *Cough*

Karan (laughs) : Ye phans gaya!

Kaera (glances) : Hmm?

Karan : Ugh! N-Nothing! Haha!

Karan ne Veer ke kandhe par maara.

Karan : Bhai jawab do! Kya hua? Saans nahi aa rahi kya?

Veer (mutters) : You fucking-

Karan : Huh? Kya bola? Sonia di ki-?

Kaera : What?

Veer ne ek chamaat mazakiya dhang se Karan ki peeth par lagaayi, jo itni zorr se lagi ki bechaara Karan wahi chup ho gaya, zaahir taur se dard bardaasht karne ke liye.

Karan (grits) : Motherfu-

Veer : Achhi hai! Definitely! Yours is much more beautiful.

Kaera : Mein yahi baithi hu isliye bol rahe ho ya waqai me?

Veer (smiles) : Waqai me…! No doubt Miss Sonia ki dress bhi bahut achhi hai, lekin aapki dress ki fitting unse zyada behtar hai. Not to mention… It’s YOU, who’s making the dress even more beautiful.

Uttar sunn na jaane Kaera ko kya hua par uske gaal pehli baar aaj kuchh sunn halke laal pad gaye. Woh achanak hi muh pher li.

Kaera : Okay! I’ll... I'll believe that…!

Peechhe khadi jab Julia ne yeh drishya dekha toh woh hairat me reh gayi. Uski aankhon me chamak daud gayi. Uski Young Miss sharma rahi thi? Woh bhi ek ladke ke compliment par? Uske honthon se muskaan gaayab hone ka naam hi nahi le rahi thi.

---

Achanak hi hall ka shor dheema pad gaya, security aur welcoming staff turant hi entrance ki orr daud ke bhaage.

ICONGLOBE aa chuki thi.

Logo ke sirr entrance ki orr mud gaye. Aur, andar company ko represent kar rahe uske representative ne andar qadam rakha.

Mr. Benjamin Ward, ICONGLOBE International ke Chief Global Investment Officer. Aur, unke saath thi unki team, ek female Head of Strategic Partnerships, India ke Operations Director jo khud bhi Indian hi the, zaahir taur se. Teen senior financial analysts aur unke saath chal rahi unki apni security team.

Koi bekaar ka naatak nahi. Koi phaaltu ka taam-jhaam nahi. Koi bagairat nahi. Bas, business power ka maun shor.

Hall ke upar maujood gallery par Aadesh ne apne qadam badhaaye. Uski nigaahein neeche baithe tamaam logon par ghoom rahi thi. Uske bagal se uska event manager, Kumar khada hua tha.

Aadesh : Details?

Kumar : Sab badhiya dhang se chal raha hai, Sir.

Aadesh (nods) : Good!

Akasmat hi uski aankhein Veer se bhidi, Veer pehle se hi use ghoor raha tha. Aadesh ke badan me ek sihran daud gayi.

Achanak-

Woh drishya uske zehen me daud gaya. Uska chandelier se ulta latakna aur phir Veer ki woh laal aankhein. Aur, phir uski woh maar-!

Yaad kar Aadesh ne apne chehre par haath phera. Ek aabhaas ki Veer ke sang use laparwaahi se kabhi bhi pesh nahi aana chaahiye.

Aadesh : Dhyaan rahe ki kisi bhi haalat me-

Kumar : ??

Aadesh : Veer Singh ko koi dikkat na aane paaye.

Kumar : Huh?

Aadesh : Tumne suna nahi?

Kumar : J-Ji, Sir! Samajh gaya! Mein dhyaan rakhunga.

Hotel ke management staff ne traditional namaste aur phool malao ke saath company ke logo ka swagat kiya. Koi gifts nahi , kuchh bhi personal nahi.

Yeh corporate gala tha, na ki party. Aur, ek corporate gala etiquette aur neutrality ki maang rakhta tha.

Kaera aur Sonia, dono hi peeth seedhi kar chaukanni ho gayi. Photographers daudate hue andar aaye, flashes chamakne lage. Ek lady host ne stage par khade hoke unka swaagat kiya.




Mr. Ward stage par pahuche aur podium par jaate hue woh badi hi khushi se bole.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the warm and exceptional welcome. ICONGLOBE is honored to be in Mumbai tonight. We are here for one reason, to finalize the most significant investment initiative of the year for us.”

Logo me khus-pusaahat shuru ho gayi. Baaki sabhi companies bhi badi hi jigyasa se sab dekh rahi thi. Tabhi, Mr. Ward punaah bole.

“A partnership worth ten billion dollars.”

Taaliyaan goonj uthi. Billions of dollars ki deals roz-roz nahi hoti thi. Aur, aise hallroom me toh bilkul bhi nahi. Lekin, ghoshnaaye zaroor hoti thi. Baaki, baat-cheet toh humesha hi niji taur par ki jaati thi.

“We will begin discussions tonight with two of India’s most influential market leaders : Nexacom and Elite Motors of… of the Elite Group.”

Kaera murti ki tarah sthir baithi hui thi. Toh, wahi Sonia ke hontho par ek halki-si vijayi ki muskaan thi.

Protocol ke anusaar ICONGLOBE ki team pehle automobiles se judi anya companies ke paas jaa kar unka abhivaadan kari, unse thodi-bahut baat-cheet kari, haath milaaye gaye aur unke products dekhe gaye. Yeh aam prakriya thi.

Aur, uske baad ve seedhe Elite Motors ki orr badh gaye, jise dekh Ruchika thitak ke reh gayi. Udhar, Sonia ki aankhein jeet se chamak uthi jaise soch rahi ho ki-

Beshaq, unhe yaha pehle aana hi tha.

Akhirkar, Elite Motors India me automobiles sector me pioneer tha. Ek top leading company. Unki cars jaise ki Elite Magnus (SUV), Elite Flux (Hatchback), Elite Tracer (Sedan), wagarah wagarah… poore India me sabse zyada bikne waali cars me se ek thi.

Veer : You’re not bothered? Wo pehle Elite Motors ke paas chale gaye.

Kaera : No. Elite Motors uss sector ki top giant hai. Humari Nexacom ne abhi uss sector me theek tarah se qadam bhi nahi rakha hai. It would be unrealistic to demand they come to us first. I understand the power mechanics.

Veer use gaur se dekhta raha. Woh shaant rehne ka dikhaava nahi kar rahi thi. Woh waqai logically soch leke chal rahi thi. Koi insecurity nahi. Sirf clarity.

Karan : Yeah, but damn… could they be more obvious?

Veer ne table ke neeche se Karan ko perr maara aur Karan khaaste hue chup ho gaya, kyunki Kaera ki nazrein uss par hi mandra rahi thi.

Ruchika apna folder baar-baar khol sab kuchh rattne me lagi hui thi. Beshaq, woh kaanp rahi thi, lekin woh koi bhi chook nahi kar sakti thi.

---

Kareeban 25 minutes guzar gaye aur ICONGLOBE aur ELITE MOTORS ke beech vartalap chalti rahi. Sonia badi hi khushi se unse baatein kar rahi thi. Akhirkar, woh pal aa hi gaya jab ICONGLOBE ne haath milaaya aur woh Sonia ki table chhorte hue Kaera ki table ki orr badhe.

Ruchika ka tablet lagbhag uske haatho se girte-girte bacha. Uske dil ki dhadkane tez ho gayi.

Ruchika : Ahh! M-Miss, wo aa rahe hai. Wo log sach-much aa rahe hai. What if I say something stupid? What if I faint-? What if-

Kaera : Ruchika! If you faint, fall backwards. Saamne girna thoda unprofessional lagega.

Ruchika : Aaaaaa! How is that helpful, MISSSSS??? Oh my god!

Kaera : Kam se kam tum mujhpe girogi, unn par nahi. I think that’s a plus, right?

Ruchika : Oh god, Miss!!!

ICONGLOBE unke paas pahuchi. Mr. Ward ne Kaera, Karan, Suchika aur yaha tak ki Veer se bhi haath milaaya.

Kaera (smiles) : Nexacom welcomes you to India, Mr. Ward.

Mr. Ward : Miss Kaera! *smiles* We’ve heard quite a lot about Nexacom and especially you.

Kaera (smiles) : All good things, I suppose?

Mr. Ward muskuraaye. Ve sab baithe aur apni baat shuru karne ke liye taiyaar hi the ki-

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Entrance ke paas cameramen baukhla gaye. Yaha tak ki halka background music bhi band ho gaya.

Sabke sirr mudte chale gaye. Black dress me ek behad khubsoorat mahila waha padhaar chuki thi.




Garofano.

Kaera ki bauhe upar uthi. Sonia bhi akad ke baith gayi. Yaha tak ki-

Karan : Damn! Wow~

Kaera ne use ghoor ke dekha.

Karan : I… I mean… How???

Aur, Veer-?

‘Fuck!!! Garofano? What is she doing here?’




[Master!? Ye plan me nahi tha.]

Usne apne paas rakha glass kass ke pakda.

‘What the hell is she doing here?’

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh samajh paata tabhi-

Garofano ke andar aane ke kuchh kshan baad hi ek lamba-chauda vyakti police wardi me waha andar daakhil hua.

DGP Rohan. Trisha ka pati. Veer seedha hoke baithne par majboor ho gaya.

‘Ye? Ye yaha kyu??’

Par, iske bawajood usne apne aap ko sambhaala. Shayad kisi security purpose ke liye Rohan yaha aaya hoga, lekin jaise aaj Veer ki kismat me chenn lena nahi likha tha.

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Ek baar phir cameras ki awaazein goonj uthi. Veer, jo paani pee raha tha, paani uske galey me galat samay par phansa aur lagbhag use phanda lagte lagte bacha.

Kyunki, andar aane waala agla vyakti aisa prateet ho raha tha jaise seedhe swarg se apsara ko neeche laa diya ho.




Erica.

Behad hi khubsoorat si dress me, chamakti hui, jagmagati hui, reporters, cameramen ke jhund se hote hue guzri. Aur, cameramen use jaise dekh ke photos lena hi bhool gaye the.

Kuchh chinese delegates jo videshi companies me kaam kar rahe the, woh Erica ko dekh achambhit reh gaye. China ka lagbhag har aadmi ‘Renshu’ naam ko jaanta tha. Aur, aise me uski beti ke baare me pata na ho? Ye kaise ho sakta tha?

Ve sab chinese uss par toot pade. Erica kisi khush tourist ki tarah unke saath chali bhi gayi.

Itna hi nahi, usko stage par pahucha diya gaya? Kaaran? Kyunki, woh bahut zyada sundar lag rahi thi. Zaahir hai woh kisi bade gharaane se hogi.





“Umm… Hello everyone!”

Usne bolna shuru kiya. Uski nazrein? Seedhe Veer par!

‘Fucccckkkkk!’

Veer ne kass kar table pakdi. Agar, iss Erica ne uske liye kuchh kaha toh woh kisi galat paristhiti me bhi phans sakta tha. Aur, Erica?




Woh yahi kar rahi thi. Woh muskura rahi thi.

‘Fuuuccckk! Why the fuck is she smiling at me like that???’




[M-Master, this is bad!]

‘Fuckkk! Wo apna intro kyu de rahi hai, udhar? Who the fuck invited her? Aur, mujhe kyu dekh rahi hai? Fuck no!!!’

Idhar Erica mic par bad-badaate hue baar-baar Veer ko dekhe jaa rahi thi.




Veer behosh hone se bas kuchh hi seconds dur tha. Kaera Erica ko aise dekh rahi thi jaise maano uski list me koi naya dushman add ho chuka tha.

Toh wahi, Erica?

Apni pyaari si muskaan diye, logon ke beech baith kar Veer ko taadne lagi.




Mr. Ward : Haha! Quite a show there. Phew! Shall we continue, Miss Kaera?

Kaera (nods) : Yes, please!

Lekin, Veer?

Veer ko paseena aana shuru ho chuka tha. Yeh sab plan me nahi tha. Usne kisi ko yaha aane ka nahi kaha tha. Na hi kisi ka mission tha yaha par aake kuchh bhi karne ke liye. Phir, kyu?

Par, bechaara Veer yeh nahi jaanta tha ki uski sabse badi aafat toh uska hotel ke baahar intezar kar rahi thi.




Ava!!!

Mask pehne woh baahar khadi hui thi. Casa Belle me aise ghusne ka plan… Garofano ka tha. Erica khushi-khushi raazi ho gayi thi, magar Ava thodi hich-kicha rahi thi. Sirf aur sirf Veer ke liye. Kya andar jaana sahi tha?

Aur, tabhi-

[Go inside dear.]

‘Par, kya ye sahi hai, Lily? Veer ne kisi ko invite nahi kia tha. Iska matlab woh definitely kisi personal kaam se yaha aaya hoga, aur aise me-’

[Garofano aur Erica, dono andar jaa chuki hai.]

‘Yeah but-’

[Kya tum chaahti ho ki ve dono Veer ke dil me jagah bana le?]

‘NOOOOOO!!!’

[*smiles* Toh, phir jao dear. Go and show your charisma.]

‘But andar… Kaera… Sonia…’

[Mask pehna hai tumne, dear.]

‘Fine then-!’

Veer jo yaha andar rumaal se paseena pochh raha tha achanak hi naye shor ko sunn wahi jamm gaya. Iss baar mahaul alag tha.

Mask lagaane ke bawajood, Ava ki khubsoorti ko chhipaaya nahi jaa sakta tha. Woh andar padhaar chuki thi.

Photographers bhi kuchh kshan ke liye bas ghoorte reh gaye aur phir ek baar phir-

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Veer ki aatma jaise maano uske shareer se nikal gayi.

[That’s… ugh… Master! Enjoy your night.]

*Ding*

[The system has gone into sleep mode.]

‘Huh? Pari??? Pariiii? Fuuuuckkkk!’

Veer Ava ko dekh itni zorr se khaansa ki Kaera Ava se nazrein hataaye bina apna paani ka glass Veer ke muh ki orr badha di.

Karan : Huh? Bhai? Kya hua? Tumhare chehre ka rang kyu uda hua hai?

Veer : N-Nothing! *cough*

Usne keh toh diya, magar mann me-

‘WHY IS SHE HERE?????’

Yeh koi mazak nahi tha. Ava. Garofano. Erica. Ye teeno worldwide sirf famous hi nahi thi, sundar hi nahi thi. Ye sab ki sab system holders bhi thi.

Aur, teeno? Ek hi jagah par? Aur, inn sab ke beech me? Ek bechaara Veer!

Kaera ne notice kiye ki teen aayi khubsoorat haseenaaye Veer ko dekh rahi thi. Aur, usne Veer ki orr apna chehra moda.

Kaera : Are they looking at… YOU? You know them?

Veer ne apna thook nigla.

Veer : I… Ahem…

Kaera : That Garofano… She was there last time. Mein jaanti hu wo tumhe shayad jaanti hai. Kaise? No! Who are those two?

Karan : Bhai! Washroom left side hai, udhar andar pe-

Veer ne ek aur laat table ke neeche se Karan ko maari toh Karan apne daant meeste hue shaant ho gaya.

Tabhi, Veer ko ek aur cheez ka ehsaas hua-

‘Wait a minute-!’

Agar, Ava bhi yahi toh toh iska matlab tha-

TRINITY… ek saath ek hi jagah par itne saalo baad thi.

Aur, woh jaan gaya ki uske laude… lag chuke the.

Tabhi-

*Ding*

[System is up from the sleep mode.]

‘Huh? Pari? Tum aa gayi? Thank god! Mein jaanta tha tum meri madad zaroor karogi. Quick! What’s the plan?’

[...]

‘Bolo bolo! Sharmaane ki zaroorat nahi hai, Pari! Don’t worry! Maine tumhe maaf kiya. Quick!’

[I-]

‘Haan haan! Bolo!’

[Mein bas ye bataane ke liye aayi thi ki-]

‘??’

[Ava ne bhi Kaera aur Sonia ki tarah red dress pehni hai. Good luck.]

*Ding*

[The system has gone into sleep mode.]

‘Fuuuuuucccckkkkkkk!!’
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Aaj ke itna hi guys.
This update consists of 9k words. Iske do update rahenge, iss poore corporate gala ke. Ye pehla tha. Next one me ye event khatam ho jaayega. Iss par kaafi mehnat lagi hai. Images dhundhne me aur ek bade level ka corporate gala kaise hota hai uske baare me research karne me. Mein specifically zyada details me nahi gaya Sonia aur ICONGLOBE ke beech ki conversation ko lekar kyunki, I thought wo bahut hi business terms waali talk thi. Aur, plot ke hisaab se koi zaroorat bhi nahi thi. So, I only showed the 'what's happening around' scenes. The humor is back again in this update. Chhota sa hi tha but let me know ye achha laga ya nahi. Target apna wahi 250 hi hai. Par, aur upar pahucha diyo. Bahut mehnat lagi hai isme. Milte hai agle bhaag me jald hi.
Dhanyavad.

Nice update
Last mein pari mein sirf yeh Btane ayi thi Ava ne bhi Keara ki tarah red dress pehni hai

 

[Manjeet Bhandari]

Bhai update ek dum jabardast hai bhai jaldi se ek aur update dedo yrr please

 

[sam21003]

Waiting for next update bro

 

[ayush01111]

Update - 208 ~ The Corporate Gala — ICONGLOBE (1)​

Ab tak...

10 billion dollars ki deal.

Jise haasil karne ke liye kataar me log toh bahut the, magar do hi sabse mazboot pratidwandi the : NEXACOM aur ELITE MOTORS.

Aur, Prestige ke reparation ke chalte, ye corporate gala ki hosting jaa chuki thi : Casa Belle ko.

Kyunki, ICONGLOBE-

Kal hi apne qadam Bharat par rakhne waali thi.

Ab aage...

Mid-January,
Casa Belle, Mumbai,
Evening - 7:15 PM ~

Hotel ka driveway raushni se jagmaga raha tha, luxury sedan cars bhavya hotel ke parking area me pravesh karti jaa rahi thi. Casa Belle aaj shaan se chamak rahi thi. Orchid, lavendar ke phool jagah-jagah par lage apni khushboo bikher rahe the.

Raat me halki-si thandak bhi maujood thi. Aane waale ek se badh ke ek VIPs ke liye photographers bhi apni kataar lagaaye khade hue the. Baahar ka ilaaka unki flash lights se chamak raha tha.

Inn VIPs me na keval businessmen aur badi-badi companies ke log, balki celebrities bhi shaamil the.

Aur, Veer...

Woh thodi dur khada tha, uski nigaahein sateek, adh khuli aankhein, shaant, veh iss drishya ko aise dekh raha tha maano jaise wo inn sab cheezon se anjaan ho.

Use ab bhi yaad tha ki pichhli baar woh kab yaha aaya tha. Aadesh Jaisinghani ki hasi isi hotel ke hall me goonj rahi thi kabhi, aur uske dwara woh apmaan. Use sab yaad tha.

Kintu, woh aaj shauharat paane nahi aaya tha. Woh yaha tha sirf ek vyakti ki wajah se : Suhana!

"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?"

Yahi shabd the Suhana ke. Agar, Suhana ne na kaha hota, toh aaj woh yaha aaya hi na hota. Par, uss ladki ne uske liye jo kuchh bhi kiya tha, uske saamne itni-si madad kuchh bhi nahi thi.

[Master! Kya plan hai aapka? Kaise aap Kaera ke against jaa kar ye deal Sonia ko dilwaoge? Bhale hi mujhe Sonia pasand nahi, lekin-! Suhana ne maang ki hai aur mein jaanti hu ki aap use mana nahi karoge.]

Pari chaahti toh Veer ke mann ko padh sakti thi. Lekin, bina anumati ke woh ab yeh kaarya nahi karti thi aur na hi karna chaahti thi.

'I don't know!'

Veer ne sarr hilaate hue jawaab diya.

[What? I... I thought aapne kuchh plan kar ke rakha hoga.]

'Dekhte hai! Genuinely dekha jaaye toh mujhe yaha hona hi nahi chahiye. I'm not invited after all.'

[So, what? Aap- Ek din dekhna sab aapke aage-peechhe ghoomenge. Beetein palon ko dekhiye, Master. Aap kaha se kaha aa gaye. Humein aur aage badhna hai. Don't get disheartened. Our journey has just begun.]

Veer dheere-se muskuraya. Woh jaanta tha ki Pari uska dil behlaane ke liye yeh sab keh rahi thi.

Usne dekha...

Kaise Casa Belle ke ird-gird hawa aiyyaashi, vilaasita aur ahankar se gulzar thi. Tuxedo aur suits pehne purush apni ghadiya dekh rahe the, aage badh rahe the, haath mila rahe the.

Toh wahi, chaandi, sone, heere, aur makhmali reshmi kapdo me lipti mahilaaye apni muskaan sawaar rahi thi, photos click karwa rahi thi.

Usne dekha ki foreign delegates aur vibhinn CEOs bhi apni-apni mehngi gaadiyon se utar rahe the, ek-dusre ka abhivadan sirr hila kar aur idhar-udhar ki baatein kar rahe the. Harr kuchh kshano me cameras click ho rahe the aur inn palo ko qaid kar rahe the.

Usne ek gehri saans li aur aage badha.

Navy blue suit uss par aise janch raha tha jaise maano uske liye hi bana ho aur ek prakaar se bana bhi tha. Yeh Yarnia ki Louis dwara ek khaas peshkash thi. Bhale hi bahut kuchh dhwast ho chuka tha, lekin abhi bhi kuchh resources storage me bache hue the.

White shirt ke saath pair kar ke uska suit uss par aaj bahut lubha raha tha. Crisp and clean. Apne jeb me haath daale, nishchint, woh aise aage badh raha tha jaise raat maano uski hi ho.

Usne dekha, apni daayi orr, ek chhote start-up company ke kuchh log display table par apne eco-engine ka ek prototype dikha rahe the. Sirf wahi nahi, aur bhi chhoti companies isi tarah apne-apne prototypes ko baahar gallery me saaj-sajja aur naveenta ke tehet prastut kar rahi thi. Ye corporate gala ke anokhe aakarshano me se ek tha.

Woh VIP logon ke jhund ke beech se guzra. Kuchh ne mudkar uski taraf dekha, yeh soch kar ki kya ve use jaante the? Toh, kuchh ne dekhne ki zehmat hi na uthaayi. Kintu, use iss se koi farq nahi pada.

Woh aaj pehchaane jaane ke liye nahi chal raha tha. Woh aise chal raha tha jaise use pata tha ki ek na ek din use pehchaan to milegi hi... Ek din, jab duniya ghutne tekne ko taiyyar rahegi.

Jaise hi woh mukhya dwaar ke paas pahucha, kaale suit pehne do security guards scanner ke paas khade the. Veer dheere-se ruka, ummeed thi ki humesha ki tarah koi sawaal poochhega.

Usne apni jeb se Suhana dwara diya gaya ek card nikaala, jo ki Casa Belle ka Unicard tha, lekin-

Uski zaroorat hi na padi. Koi aage hi nahi aaya. Scanner se nikli laal kiran uski chhaati par se guzri aur phir hari ho gayi.

Veer ne bauhe chadhaate hue unn gaurds ko dekha.

Veer : Oh? Kya rokna nahi hai mujhe?

Usne chidhaate hue poochha. Tabhi, ek guard aage badha aur ahista se jawab diya.

Guard : Aapko entry allowed hai, Sir!

Veer ke honth halke se mude.

Veer (smirks) : Bina invitation ke?

Guard (nods) : Humaare Sir ka order hai. Aap andar jaa sakte hai.

Usne nazrein neeche karte hue jawab diya.

Ek pal ke liye Veer kuchh nahi bola. Uske chehre par ek halki muskaan thi. Lagta hai uske dwara Aadesh ko diya gaya wo dose kaafi prabhavshali tha. Usne dheere-se sarr hilaaya aur Unicard ko apni jeb me daalte hue aage badh gaya.

Woh mukhya dwaar se andar pravesh kiya. Sangeet, hasi, baaton ka halka shor, kaanch ke pyaalo ke takraane ki khan-khan ki dhwaniyaan mil kar bhavyata ka saboot de rahi thi.

Uski aakriti neeche cham-chamaate polished floor par reflect ho rahi thi. Aur, uski nazrein apne kaam par lag gayi.

'Check!'

*Ding*

'Check'

*Ding*

Filhaal, aam aadmiyo ke alawa udhar koi na tha. Usne ye jaan ek raahat ki saans li.

***

Wahi iss orr ghar par mahaul thoda garm tha. Pratyek kshan dhadkan ki tarah prateet ho raha tha jaise kisi hone waali ghatna ki orr ulti ginti gin raha ho.

Kamre me Tej murti ki tarah jami hui baithi thi, aankhein pheli, saansein tez.

"K-Kya kaha aapne??"

Uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi. Avishwas se nahi, balki kisi aparichit vishvasghaat se.

Bhavna : Shh! Dheere-!

Bhavna ne dheere-se aah bhari. Uski shaant aankhon me bhi kahi na kahi ashaanti jhalak rahi thi.

Bhavna : Dekh ke yahi lag raha hai, Tej. Ragini Veer se pyaar karti hai. Pata nahi ye sab kab aur kaise hua- kahi na kahi mujhe thoda shaq toh tha, lekin-

Tej ki chhaati ekdum se phooli maano jaise uska dum ghut raha ho.

Tej : -Aur, aap mujhe yeh ab bata rahi ho? Aapne mujhe yeh sab usi waqt kyu nahi bataaya? Itna intezar kyu-!?

Wahi kamre ke dusri orr Bhumika bhi khadi hui thi, baahein dheeli magar dimaag vichlit. Bhavna aur Shweta ne unn dono ko abhi-abhi sab kuchh bata diya tha. Uski bauhe apne vichaaro ko soch sikudi, usne mann hi mann kuchh drishya daudaaye.

Veer ki taraf dekhte hue Ragini ki wo aankhein, usne unn par dhyaan diya tha magar nazarandaz bhi kar diya tha. Lekin, ab ye sab saamne aane ke baad-

Use apne seene me ek bhaaripann sa mehsoos hua.

Ragini kyu??? Aur, abhi hi kyu?

Tej ekdum se khadi hui, uski kursi zameen par zorr se ragad kar peechhe dhakil gayi.

Tej : N-Nahi!

Usne sirr hilaate hue budbudaya.

Tej : A-Aisa nahi ho sakta. Mein aisa nahi hone dungi.

Bhavna : Tej...

Lekin, Tej ka gussa bhala kaha shaant hone waala tha.

Tej (yells) : Woh uski BHABHI hai mom!!! Aur, ab... ab woh Veer se pyaar-!?

Uski awaaz beech me hi toot gayi, dard chhalak utha.

Tej : A-Aapko pata bhi hai na ki iska kya matlab hai, mom?

Kintu, Bhavna ki khamoshi hi uska jawab thi.

Shweta : Yahi sach hai. Jitna hairan tum ho uss se kayi zyada hairan mein hu, kyunki mein Ragini ko kaafi samay se jaanti hu.

Tej (grits teeth) : Tch!

Shweta : Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki- *frowns* Ragini aisa kuchh karegi. Ye delicate matter hai. Thoda sambhal ke iss par discuss karna hoga.

Tej : Sambhal ke? Toh, aap kya karengi? Unhe pyaar se samjhayengi? Ki beta ye sab galat hai! Aur, wo maan jaayengi?

Shweta : Jo bhi ho, lekin zorr se cheenkh ke, chillaa ke iss topic par baat karna iska solution toh nahi na.

Bhumika (nods) : Tejal! Shaant ho jao!

Tej : Mujhe shaant hone ke liye mat kahiye aap!

Bhumika kuchh na boli. Woh abhi bhi apni soch me doobi hui thi.

"I don't understand..." Woh budbudayi. "Ragini bhabhi ko itne saalo me maine kabhi kisi aadmi se easily judte dekha nahi. Woh toh humesha se ek deewar bana ke rakhti thi apne beech. Aur, ab wo-!? Veer se pyaar kar baithi-?"

Par, tabhi use dhyaan aaya ki shayad-

Ragini akeli nahi thi. Inn beetein dino me wo bhi toh thi, jo Veer ko lekar pareshaan thi. Uske dil me na jaane kaisi-kaisi tarangein uth rahi thi.

Bhumika ne sheeshe me se apna chehra pher liya, uski dhadkan tez thi. Uska mann bhi toh hafto se chup-chap ladd raha tha. Veer se harr churaayi gayi nazar, uske nazdeek hone se uske dil me paida ho rahi halchalein, usne unn bhavnao ko tarq ki parto ke saath neeche daba diya tha.

Lekin, ab Ragini ki bhavnao ke khulaase ke baad, wo dabi hui bhavnaaye phir se bechain aur binn bulaaye ubhar rahi thi.

Toh wahi Tej ka gussa alag tha. Uska krodh tezi se bhadak raha tha. Irshya ne uske dil me gehrayi tak pakad bana li thi, aur usne iss baar use chhipaane ki koshish bhi nahi ki. Ya yu kahe ki uska dhyaan hi nahi gaya.

Tej : Veer!!! Kaha hai, Veeru???

Bhavna : Pata nahi. Keh ke gaya ki kuchh zaroori kaam hai. Raat me derr se aayega.

Tej : Aur, aapne poochha bhi nahi ki kaha jaa rahe ho??? OH GOOODD!!

Woh achanak mudi, uske baal lehraaye, aur seedhe wo Ragini ke kamre ki orr chal padi.

Bhavna (yells) : TEJ-!!!

Parantu, Tej ne ek na suni. Uske qadam bhaari the, goonj rahe the jab tak ki woh Ragini ke kamre ke paas tak nahi pahuch gayi.

*Thud*

Darwaaze ko usne dhadam se khola aur dekha ki-

Ragini bistar par takiye se tek lagaaye laiti hui thi, uski wheelchair uske bistar ke bagal se rakhi hui thi, aur Kavya uske bagal se laiti, uss se chipki hui thi.

Dono ne chaukte hue upar dekha. Ve dono uth baithi.

Tej khud bhi stabdh thi. Drishya dekh woh yeh bhool gayi ki woh yaha kisliye aayi thi. Ragini, bhramit aur shaant, Kavya jigyasu magar kisi suraksha kavach ki tarah Ragini ke saamne baithi hui.

Tej ke honth bolne ke liye khule, lekin ek bhi shabd nikalne se pehle hi ek haath ne uski kalaayi pakad li.

“Idhar aao-”

Bhumika ki awaaz peechhe se aayi. Tej ne mud apne kandhe ke upar se use dekha.

“Ch-Chhorro-!”

“Nahi!” Lekin, Bhumika ne dridhta se use waha se kheencha aur le gayi. Darwaza band ho gaya.

Kamre ke andar, Kavya ne apni bauhe sikod aashcharya prakat kiya.

Kavya : K-Kya hua?

Ragini : Pata nahi!

Kavya : Umm… Bhabhi, shayad Tejal didi ko bhi wo baat pata lag gayi. Isliye, woh aayi hongi.

Ragini : Oh!? Shayad… Tumne theek kaha.

Baahar, Tej zorr-zorr se saans le rahi thi. Bhumika se baat karte hue uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.

Tej : Chhoriye, mujhe! Mein- Mein ise bardaasht nahi kar sakti. Hargiz nahi! Woh… Woh Veeru ko nahi rakh sakti. B-Bilkul bhi nahi.

Bhumika ki pakad uske haath par thodi aur mazboot ho gayi.

Bhumika : Toh, phir hungama mat karo. Kyunki, iss se baat aur bhi bigad jayegi.

Tej ke honth aapas me chipak gaye, uska gala bhavnao se bhar gaya. Uski aankhein bhaavuk ho uthi, lekin usne aansu girne nahi diye.

Bhumika : Akhir, tumhe ho kya gaya hai? Tum waha andar jaa kar ladaayi shuru karne waali thi, tumhe pata hai?

Tej : Ladaayi? You think I care about that right now? Look at her. Kaise innocent bann rahi hai woh. She’s lying there, crying… and all he can think of is running to her every time she falls apart. Every single time.

Bhumika : Veer bas unki madad kar raha tha, Tejal. Ragini bhabhi injured hai, bhulo mat. Unhe chot lagi hai.

Tej ne halki-si hasi chhori. Thodi kadwi aur thodi ladkhadati hui.

Tej : Bilkul! Zaahir hai woh unki madad kar raha tha. Veeru aisa hi toh hai. Woh unki madad sabse pehle karta hai jo sabse zyada zorr se rote hai. Jo khud ko khoob lachaar dikhaate hai. Mein galat nahi hu, hai na? See, I get it ki wo injured hai par ye pyaar vyaar? Isme kiski galti hai?

Gusse aur niraasha ke beech kaanpti uski awaaz phus-phusahat me badal gayi.

Tej : He never sees what’s right in front of him.

Bhumika (frowns) : Kya matlab?

Tej ne nazrein pher li, apne baalo me haath pherte hue, bhaari saansein lete hue woh boli.

Tej : K-Kuchh nahi…!

Magar, uski bud-budahat phir se Bhumika ne sunn li.

Tej (mutters) : Woh Veeru ke laayak nahi hai. Woh kabhi thi hi nahi. Koi bhi nahi.

Bhumika thitak ke reh gayi. Woh dheere-se Tej ki orr mudi aur use gaur se dekhne lagi. Tej ne dhyaan hi nahi diya, woh apni hi uljhan me khoyi hui thi, halke-halke hil rahi thi aur uski ungliyaan kaanp rahi thi.

Tej (mutters) : Woh unhe ek baar dekhta hai aur sab kuchh bhool jaata hai. Hmph! Kya mein notice nahi karti? Sab dikhta hai mujhe bhi. As if she’s the only one that matters. As if she’s the only one he’s ever cared for…

Uski awaaz bud-budaate hue toot gayi aur phir woh achanak hi chup ho gayi. Uske baad jo sannaata chhaaya, woh gehra tha.

Bhumika ki aankhein kuchh jaan ke chaudi ho gayi. Tej ka yeh lehza, ye shabd, ye kadwahat, sab kuchh ek hi cheez ki orr ishaara kar raha tha. Jis tarah Tej kabhi-kabhi Veer ko dekhti hai, kaise woh humesha uske prati kuchh protective si rehti hai, kuchh zyada hi protective. Yeh sab kuchh ek hi cheez batla raha tha.

Bhumika ke chehre par hairat bhare bhaav dekh Tej uski orr mudi.

Tej : What?

Bhumika ne dheere-se apna sirr hilaaya aur ek halki, bechain muskaan bikher boli.

Bhumika : N-Nothing!

Usne dheere-se kaha, halanki uska mann bilkul bhi shaant nahi tha.

Jaise ve dono khadi thi, ek gusse me, dusri shaant aur hairaan. Bhumika ko kuchh naya pata lag chuka tha. Tej sirf gusse me hi nahi thi. Woh shayad… kisi aur cheez me bhi thi. Jo ki bahut galat tha. Ragini ke Veer ko pyaar karne se bhi zyada galat.

Aur, woh tha-

Sage bhai behan ka mard-aurat waala pyaar.

---

Toh wahi, idhar andar Kavya aur Ragini poori tarah se anjaan thi ki Bhumika aur Tej ke beech akhir kya baatein hui.

Unhe woh kshan yaad aaya jab Veer Ragini ko goad me utha ke uske room me le gaya tha aur do ghante tak Kavya, woh aur Veer andar maujood the.

Tab, kamre me hawa bhaari thi. Na gussa, na hasi, bas shabdo ke bole jaane ki deri thi.

Kavya ne akhirkar sannaata toda, uski awaaz dheemi aur jhijhak bhari thi.

Kavya : Umm- Bh-Bhabhi? Y-Ye sab kab hua? Kya waqai aap Veer bhaiya se-?

Ragini ne sharmindagi aur ek ajeeb-si raahat ke beech fasi apni palkein jhapkayi. Uske honth ek halki, thaki hui muskaan me khule.

Ragini : H-Haan! *blushes* Y-Ye kab hua? Ye pehle se toh tay nahi tha, Kavya. Ye bas… *Veer ko dekhte hue* ho gaya.

Veer ki nazar ek pal Ragini se mili aur woh dheere-se muskuraaya.

Kavya : Umm… phir bhi- I mean, koi aisa moment toh raha hoga na jaha aapko realise hua hoga ki aap bhaiya se-

Ragini : Moment ki baat karu toh- uss raat, tumhe yaad hai jab mere mummy papa kidnap ho gaye the? Mein bhi fass gayi thi? Tumhara bada bhai Vivek bhi tha. Yaad hai na?

Kavya (nods) : H-Haan! Uske baad se hi aap aur Vivek bhaiya ka divorce-

Ragini : Right! Uss raat, unn aadmiyon ne humein bandhi bana kar rakha tha. Unhone Vivek ke saamne ek choice rakhi thi. Ya toh apni jaan bacha lo, ya phir apni biwi ki, aur tumhare bhai ne-

Kavya (neeche sarr karte hue) : Unhone apni jaan ki parvah ki thi.

Ragini : Hmm! Aur, tabhi Veer aaya tha. Jab maine saari ummeedein chhor di thi. Tab, woh aaya tha. Uss raat se hi mere andar uske liye sab kuchh badal chuka tha. Shayad tab se hi mein-

Usne phir se Veer ko dekha aur uske gaal par haath phera.

Ragini : Tab se mein Veer ko aur bhi zyada notice karne lagi aur dheere-dheere ye kab pyaar me badal gaya, mujhe khud bhi pata nahi chala.

Kavya sunti rahi, honth bhinche hue, dil ajeeb tarah se dhadak raha tha.

Ragini : Uske baad se hi, maine Veer ko alag nazariye se dekhna shuru kar diya tha. Har baar jab-jab woh bolta tha, har baar jab woh muskuraata tha, aisa lagta tha jaise mein use pehli baar dekh rahi hu. Woh wo insaan bann gaya jis par mein bharosa karne lagi, jab mujhe khud apne par bharosa nahi rehta tha. And, I knew… I have fallen for him.

Kavya ki mutthi kasi, woh muskurana chaahti thi, apni bhabhi ke liye khush hona chaahti thi, lekin uske andar kuchh dard kar raha tha. Ek shaant anjaan dard.

Usne Veer ki taraf dekha jo abhi bhi shaant tha.

Kavya : So… So, you really love him huh!?

Woh lagbhag khudse hi budbudaayi. Ragini ka jawab bhi seedha tha.

Ragini : Yes! I love him! I do! A lot!

Ek halki-si khamoshi chhaa gayi.

Veer : Aur, mein bhi nahi chaahta tha ki kisi ko bhi koi bhi prakaar ki thes pahuche.

Woh jaanta tha ki Kavya iss waqt kaisa mehsoos kar rahi thi. Akhir, Kavya ne apne dil ka haal bhi use bataaya hua tha. Kavya ki nazrein uss par padi. Ek pal ke liye usne socha ki kuchh kahe, shayad unhe bataaye ki uske andar bhi kuchh feelings hai, ya yeh ki wo bhi Veer se-

-Lekin, uski awaaz hi nahi nikli. Usne bas sirr hilaaya. Ragini ne uska haath thaama.

Ragini : Tumhe toh koi dikkat nahi na, Kavya? I’m sorry. Tumhe lag raha hoga ki kaisi bhabhi hai ye. Pehle mere bade bhaiya ke saath shadi rachaayi aur ab mere Veer bhaiya ke saath-

Kavya : N-Nahi! Aisa nahi hai, bhabhi. I- I understand. Balki, aapki jagah mein bhi hoti toh yahi karti.

Ragini : Oh thank you so much, dear~ Baaki log jo bhi maane mujhe farq nahi padta, Lekin, tum bura maanti toh- I would have been affected, you know. Thank you dear~

Kavya ne jhatse sarr hilaaya aur halki-si muskaan bikheri.

Kavya : Nahi! Mujhe pareshani nahi, bhabhi! Mein toh bas- bas surprised hu. I didn’t think…

Woh ruki aur dheere-se hasi.

Kavya : It’s weird, you know? Ki ab meri bhabhi… mere cousin bhaiya se pyaar karti hai. It feels unreal.

Ragini dheere-se hasi aur apne gaal se aansu pochhi.

Ragini : It feels unreal for me too, dear!

Kavya muskura zaroor rahi thi par andar hi andar wahi jaanti thi ki use ye baat kitni chubh rahi thi.

Isne Veer aur Ragini ko gaur se dekha. Veer ki khamoshi me shaant nishchay, Ragini ki aankhon me aseem pyaar, aur use kuchh ehsaas hua.

Shayad pyaar kabhi sahi ya galat ke baare me tha hi nahi. Veer aur Ragini dono devar aur bhabhi the, uske bawajood unme pyaar ho gaya aur sab saamne bhi aa gaya aur abhi bhi ve dono ek dusre ke paas the.

Toh, kya iska matlab woh bhi-!? Ek behan hone ke baad bhi Veer se-!?

Uski aankhein ye sab soch ke hairat me phel gayi. Usne Ragini ki orr dekha, uske hontho par ek halki, sacchi muskaan tair gayi.

Kavya (nods) : Haan! Shayad... Shayad yahi sahi hai. Shayad kabhi mein bhi-

Ragini ne uska haath haule se dabaya.

Ragini : Oh thank you Kavya~ Kya hua? Tum bhi kya, Kavya?

Kavya : Kuchh nahi, bhabhi!

Ghadi chalti rahi, baahar iss ghoshna ke baad mahaul garm tha aur baatein dabi awaazon me ho rahi thi, lekin idhar kamre ke andar samay tham sa gaya tha.

Kavya peechhe jhuki, uska dil ajeeb tarah se tarangein fela raha tha. Kabhi shaant toh kabhi vichlit. Uske mann me darjano vichaar umad rahe the. Uski apni bhavnaaye, apni uljhan, lekin abhi usne unhe daba kar rakh rakha tha. Shayad kisi din, woh unhe bataaye. Shayad kisi din, Ragini samajh jaaye.

Magar, aaj ke liye, woh unn dono ki baatein sunti rahi, unhe dekhti rahi, jinhe wo cheez mil chuki thi jiski talaash me woh khud bhi thi.

Pyaar.

***

Wapas, idhar hotel me, Veer ki nazar andar aate hue upar lage jhoomaro par padi, bade-bade, haath se taraashe hue crystals, latke hue taramandal ki tarah jhilmila rahe the. Shayad Aadesh ne aaj koi kami nahi chhori thi saaj-sajja me.




Casa Belle humesha se hi aalishaan raha tha, lekin aaj raat wo poora daulat se nahaaya hua lag raha tha. Har kona chamak raha tha. Har sateh par kisi taqatvar insaan ki jhalak dikh rahi thi.

Woh wahi ek pillar ke paas khada hua tha, haath jebo me daale, bina kisi se mile bas dekh raha tha. Suhana ka anurodh uske mann me kisi kone me goonj raha tha, use yaad dila raha tha ki usne iss jagah par qadam kyu rakha tha jisne kabhi use apmaanit kiya tha. Woh yaha tha. Apne liye nahi. Sonia ke liye nahi. Suhana ke liye.

Uske chaaro orr alag-alag companies ke prototypes lage hue the. AI driven chassis models, micro engine blocks, next-gen battery casings aur wagarah wagarah.

Chhoti se lekar badi companies apne-apne products ki pratibha ka pradarshan kar rahi thi. Unki bhookhi nigaahein har dilchaspi dikhaane waali companies par nazar rakh rahi thi.

Deals me mol-bhaav kiya jaa raha tha, baat-cheet chal rahi thi, alag-alag vartalap jaise equity, timelines, patents par na jaane kitne samooh aapas me charcha kar rahe the. Kinhi ko deals mil rahi thi toh kuchh the jo khaali haath bas kisi partner ka intezar kar rahe the.

Veer shaant bhaav se sab dekh raha tha, apne mann me kuchh potential companies ko rakh raha tha. Kuchh businessmen ne use guzarte hue dekha. Kisi ne use pehchaana nahi. Kisi ne koshish bhi nahi ki.

Ghadi me shaam ke 7:45 baje.

Aur, tabhi-

Hall ka shor badal gaya. Pehle thoda-sa, phir samudra me aayi leher ki tarah badhta chala gaya.

*Click* *Click* *Click*

Tasveerein dhadalle se khichne lagi. Janta ke beech apne aap hi ek raasta khul gaya.

Kaera... aa chuki thi.




Lag raha tha jaise woh khud Casa Belle ki maalkin thi. Aatmvishvas uske chaaro orr aise lipta hua tha jaise maano kisi ne use saleeke se silvaaya ho.

Uske theek peechhe Ruchika bhi ek kaale blazer me chal rahi thi. Aur, wahi nahi, yaha tak ki uski maid, Julia bhi ek designer dress me maujood thi. Aur, akhir me, Karan apni tie ko theek karte hue, andar daakhil hua.




Kaera photographs khichwaane me lagi hui thi. Usne paparazzi ko kuchh samay diya aur phir andar daakhil ho gayi. Uska swagat badi hi sehejta ke saath hua, usne business giants se haath milaaya aur nakli muskaan liye woh unse baaton me lag gayi.

Rupaya. Dollar. Desi. Videshi. Sab uski orr jhuke hue the.




Laal dress me aaj woh alag hi qayamat dha rahi thi. Use andar aate hue Veer ne dekha. Ek pal ke liye uski dhadkane ruk gayi. Woh jaha tha wahi khada raha.

Karan ne sabse pehle nazrein ghumaate hue use dekha. Uski aankhein aashcharya me chaudi ho gayi.

Woh turant hi bheed me se nikalte hue uske paas aaya jaise usne maano itni janta ke beech koi apna dhundh liya ho.

Karan : What the hell, Veer!? Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?

Veer (smiles) : Sightseeing!

Karan : Hey! Tumhe nahi bataana toh seedhe-seedhe keh do, man.

Veer (smiles) : Mein waqai sightseeing ke liye aaya hu.

Karan : Like hell I'll believe that...!

Veer bas badle me muskuraaya.

Karan : Tum bhi kisi deal ke liye aaye ho kya? Looking for business partners?

Veer ne na toh pushti ki aur na hi inkaar kiya aur Karan ne iss sannaate ko achhi tarah se samajh liya.

Phir, woh glaani ke bhaav liye dheere-se bola.

Karan : H-Hey! I'm... I'm sorry. Mein tumhare dada ji ki terhvi me nahi aa paaya. Dad ne kaafi dino tak-

Veer : It's okay! I understand!

Karan : Nahi, par mujhe waha-

Veer : It's okay! Koi baat nahi!

Veer ne uska kandha thap-thapaya. Karan ne ek lambi saans li aur thodi raahat mehsoos ki.

Karan : Well, thank god! Mujhe laga tha kahi tum mere khilaaf badle ki planning vlanning toh nahi banaane lage.

Veer (smiles) : Ho bhi sakta hai!

Karan : Huh? Wait! You serious dude? Fucking hell Veer-

Veer : Hahaha!

Badle me Karan bhi muskuraya.

Karan : Hotel kaisa chal raha hai? Recovery abhi bhi ho rahi hai?

Veer (nods) : Hmm! Thoda time lagega.

Karan : As expected.

Tabhi, Kaera jo baat karne ke baad apni seat tak pahuchi, uski nazrein apne bhai ko dhundh rahi thi. Usne aas-paas dekha aur tabhi, use Karan nazar aaya.

Magar-

Uske theek bagal se khade hue ek aur shaks ki orr uski nigaahein daudi.

Veer.

Jab Karan ne bhi apni nazrein daudaayi toh usne dekha ki uski behan janta se hatt kar jaa chuki thi. Usne dekha ki-




Woh unhe hi ghoor rahi thi. Uski nazar sirf aur sirf Veer par tiki hui thi.

'Huh!?'

Dono me se koi bhi nahi hila. Aur, agle hi pal-

Kaera ne uski orr ek qadam badhaaya. Phir, dusra aur woh seedhe unki orr aane lagi.

Veer ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Karan bhi apni behan ko iss orr aata dekha thoda thitak gaya.

Karan : Huh? Why is she-

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh bol paata, Kaera unke saamne thi. Woh unke saamne ruki aur ek pal ke liye Veer saans lena bhool gaya.

Nazdeek se, Kaera ki maujoodgi raushniyo se bhi zyada raushan, hall me goonjte shor aur Casa Belle ki daulat se bhi zyada zordaar lag rahi thi. Dhyaan aakarshit karne ke liye use bolne ki zaroorat nahi thi.

Kaera ke perfume ki sugandh uss tak pahuchi. Manmohak, sundar aur mehngi. Ek nayi khushbu.

Uski aankhein Veer par tiki rahi, bina palak jhapkaaye, use padhna mushqil tha. Usne Karan ki taraf ek baar bhi nahi dekha.

Kaera : This suit... looks good on you.

Veer : Oh!? Thanks!

Kaera : Why are you here?

Usne poochha. Saral, seedha sawaal.

Ruchika uske peechhe-peechhe parchhaayi ki tarah aayi, jigyasu aankhein liye Veer ko dekhne lagi.

Julia bhi unke paas aayi, Veer ko dekhte hi uski muskurahat sharaarat se khil uthi.

Kaera : Tell me! Why are you here?

Veer : Mein- Mein yaha kisi zaroori kaam se tha.

Kaera : Kaun sa zaroori kaam?

Veer be-mann se muskuraaya. Ab kaise bataata ki woh yaha uski hi deal cancel karwa ke Sonia ko deal dilwane ke liye aaya tha.

Iske pehle ki woh jawab de paata, Julia ne halke-se Kaera ki baah thaami aur uske kaan me phus-phusate hue boli.

Julia : Young Miss, it's rude to ask someone something they don't want to tell you.

Kaera ne iss nayi jaankaari ko kisi formulae ki tarah samajhte hue haami bhari.

Kaera : Oh!?

Julia : Yes!

Magar, woh phir Veer ki orr mudi aur poochhi.

Kaera : Then, what is it that you're hiding from me?

Julia ne apna chehra sharm se dhak liya. Toh wahi, Ruchika sharmindagi me idhar-udhar dekhne lagi. Karan hassne laga. Veer ki bauhein Karan ki hasi sunn fadki. Usne Veer ki peeth thap-thapayi.

Karan : Hahaha! Di, yeh baat toh ye mujhe bhi nahi bata raha, lekin it's evident ki Veer yaha kisi invitation ki wajah se aaya hai, right? After all, without invitation entry allowed nahi hai. Maybe some secret deal? Hehe!

Veer ne Karan ko khaa jaane waali nazro se taada. Aur, Karan iska poora lutf utha raha tha.

Aur, ab tak, kayi mehmaan waha unki orr dekhne lage the. Akhir, Kaera kis se baat kar rahi thi? Kaun tha yeh naujavan? Bas, yahi utsukta jagaane ke liye kaafi tha. Phones pehle se hi aadhe uthe hue the, besharmi se recording karte hue messages dekhne ka naatak kar rahe the.

Kaera ne na hi dhyaan diya aur na hi parvah ki. Uski nazar Veer par hi thi.

Kaera : What is it? Tell me!

Veer ne apna muh khola, kuchh aisa soch raha tha jo sach ki tarah prateet ho sake. Iske pehle ki woh kuchh bol paata, Kaera phir bol padi.

Kaera : If there's nothing to tell. Come and sit with ME.

Karan ne use dekha. Hairaan.

Karan : Excuse me, di? Umm, Veer mera friend hai. Obviously, woh mere saath baithega. Kyu hai na, Veer?

Parantu, Kaera ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh mudi aur apni seat ki orr chal padi, bheed uske saamne paani ki tarah chhat gayi.

Veer ne ek aah chhori. Aur, woh uske peechhe-peechhe chal pada. Julia uske bagal se chalte hue uske qareeb aayi.

Julia (smiles) : Good evening young master, Veer!

Veer : Huh? *glances* Good evening!

Julia (smiles) : You look great today.

Veer : Oh? Thank you! You are looking wonderful yourself.

Jaise hi ve Kaera ka nazdeek pahuche, Julia muskuraati hui Veer se peechhe ho gayi. Karan uske bagal se chalta hua dheere-se budbudaya.

Karan : Di is insane, you know. Mujhe baithne ke liye poochha tak nahi aur tumhe VIP treatment? Waah! Someone tell her that I'm her brother.

Veer khamosh raha. Uska dhyaan Kaera par tha jo pehle se hi baithi hui thi. Woh Karan ke bagal waali seat ki orr badha, usme baithne ke liye taiyaar ki-

"Veer???"

Kaera ki awaaz ne use tok diya. Usne apne bagal ki seat par haath thap-thapaya. Aankhein poori tarah se Veer par kendrit.

Kaera : Maine tumse kya kaha?

Veer : !!?

Kaera : Idhar! *Pats* Idhar baitho!

Uski awaaz tez nahi thi, lekin samjhaute ki bhi koi gunjaish nahi thi.

Veer ek kshan ke liye stabdh reh gaya. Karan ka haal bhi yahi tha. Julia mand-mand muskuraayi toh wahi Ruchika bhi hairani me Veer ko ab dekh rahi thi.

Aur, Veer majbooran, uljhan aur bechaini bhari dhadkan ke beech fasa, akhirkar uss seat ki orr badha jaha Kaera ne use baithne ke liye kaha tha.

Woh uske bagal se baith gaya.

Kaera ki nazrein thodi narm pad gayi. Lekin, woh muskuraayi nahi. Usne bas iss prakaar se dekha jaise maano usne koi cheez theek usi jagah rakh di ho jaha woh honi chaahiye.

Aur, samast log unhe bas dekhte rahe.

Tabhi, Julia Kaera ki orr jhuki aur uske kaan me dheere-se boli.

Julia : Yahi sahi time hai, miss.

Kaera achanak hi tann gayi. Usne apna ek haath peechhe kiya, hatheli kholi. Julia ne ek chhota-sa, badi hi sundarta se pack kiya gaya box uske haath me thama diya.

Kaera ne box ko table ke upar unke saamne rakha. Veer, Ruchika aur Karan sabhi ne ek hi bhaav se uski orr dekha. Bhramit aur utsuk.

Veer toh pehle hi check kar chuka tha. Aur, woh jaan gaya tha ki andar kya tha.

Kaera uski taraf mudi, apna muh kholi, phir thitak ke band kar li. Uski ungliyaan box ke kinaare par kasi hui thi.

Veer uske bolne ka intezar karta raha. Julia ek baar phir jhuki aur ahista se Kaera se boli.

Julia (mutters) : Sorry se start kijiye, miss.

Kaera (nods) : Right! Veer...!

Veer : Hmm?

Kaera : I'm... I'm sorry! Mein uss din tumhare dada ji ki ceremony me nahi aa paayi. Terhvi waale din.

Veer : Oh? *smiles* It's fine, miss Kaera. I don't mind.

Kaera : BUT I DO MIND! And, call me... Kaera!

Veer : Huh???

Kaera ne woh box Veer ki orr khiskaaya. Jab Veer maun bana raha toh usne khud Veer ka haath pakadte hue woh box uske haath me hi thama diya.

Kaera : It's an apology gift. Take it. Open it.

Uske tohfe dene ka tareeka vichitra tha. Na koi 'please' na 'thank you'.

Bas, seedhe-

Rakhne ka aadesh. Aur, kholne ka aadesh.

Veer ne akhirkar uss box ko khola aur dhakkan hataaya. Andar ek Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G, white gold, deep blue dial ke saath maujood thi, jiski keemat lagbhag ₹1.5 crore thi.

Veer jaanta toh tha ki andar kya tha, magar uska dimaag ghadi ke daam ko check karne ke baad chakraaya. Usne Kaera ko tezi se mud ke dekha.

Jaise hi usne muh kholna chaaha, mana karne ke liye, Kaera ne ghadi uthaayi aur khud hi uski kalaayi par baandh di.

Kaera : Mujhe naa sunana pasand nahi, Veer.

Veer : This... Itna mehnga gift?

Kaera : Mehnga? Hmm? I didn't check the price. Mujhe bas ye dikhne me achhi lagi. I thought it would look good on your wrist. So, I bought it.

Veer use dekhta raha. Woh yeh bhala kaise le sakta tha? Yeh jaante hue ki woh yaha deal cancel karwaane ke liye aaya tha.

[Master?]

'Nahi! Mujhse ye nahi ho paayega, Pari!'

[??]

'Na hi mein Kaera ko mana kar sakta hu. Aur, na hi uske saath vishvasghat kar sakta hu.'

[Then?]

'I... I won't act.'

[Toh, phir? Aap Suhana ki madad nahi karenge?]

'Not like this. Mein Suhana se baad me baat kar lunga. But I can't betray Kaera.'

Veer ghadi dekh dheere-se muskuraaya. Isliye, nahi ki ghadi bahut mehngi thi. Isliye, ki Kaera ne pehli baar use koi tohfa iss tarah se diya tha. Iska matlab ek cheez spasht thi. Woh yeh ki ab woh inn chhoti-chhoti baaton par dhyaan dene lagi thi. Uske emotions ahista-ahista hi sahi, magar baahar aa rahe the.

Table ke uss paar se Karan itni zorr se khaansa ki sabki nazar uss par pad gayi. Usne apni khud ki ek mehngi ghadi ki taraf dekha, jo kareeban 60-70 lakh ki thi, lekin ab Veer ki ghadi ke saamne pheeki lag rahi thi.

Woh muh bana ke dheere-se budbudaya.

"Di ne mujhe aaj tak kabhi aisa gift nahi diya. Hmph!"

Ruchika ne ye sunn apni muskaan chhupaayi. Ve sabhi phir baaton me lag gaye jab-

Kaera ki maujoodgi ke baad hall abhi theek tarah se shaant bhi nahi hua tha ki ek baar phir se shor machna shuru ho gaya, pehle ki hi tarah tez. Logon ke sirr ghoom gaye, aapas me ve phus-phusaane lage.

Karan : Damn! Shayad Sonia di aa gayi. *smiles*

Kaera : Sonia… di???

Karan : Umm, yeah! Mere liye toh di hi hai na.

Kaera : You are that close with her?

Karan : Umm, nahi! Lekin, competition toh humesha se aap dono ke beech raha hai toh bhala mein kyu beech me pisu? Mere liye toh woh wahi Sonia di hai.

Kaera : No. You just want to be on good terms with her because she’s beautiful.

Karan (coughs) : Wh-Whattt??? *blushes* A-Aisa nahi hai-

Kaera : Shut up!

Karan : Ugh…!

Veer ne shor ka peechha kiya. Sonia. Woh aa chuki thi.




Par, dikkat ki baat yeh thi ki-

Woh bhi Kaera ki hi tarah, ek chamakdar laal dress me thi. Uske aate hi kamre me har kisi ka dhyaan uski orr chala gaya. Uski secretary, Suchika uske peechhe-peechhe chal rahi thi, muh par usne mask pehna hua tha, jis se keval uski aankhein hi nazar aa rahi thi.

Saath hi saath Prakash Uncle, Sonia ki family ke advisor bhi saath me the. Photographers phir se tasveerein kheechne lage.

Kaera ne apni aankhein uthaayi. Sonia ne bhi andar aate hi pehle Kaera ko dekha.

Aur, jaise hi dono ki nazrein mili, mahaul tanaav se bhar gaya. Dono shaant thi magar dono ke beech ek maun dabaav tha. Do top queens ek dusre ko naap rahi thi. Kaera ki nazrein Sonia ki dress par padi aur Sonia ki Kaera pe…

Ek andhruni chidh unn dono ke andar jaagi. Tabhi, Sonia ne Kaera ke bagal se baithe shaks ko dekha aur use dekhte hi woh achambhit reh gayi. Woh lagbhag aage badhne hi wali thi, uske honth khule, lekin usne apna muh band kar khud ko sambhaala.

Veer…

Bahut si galat-fehmiyo ko use mitaana tha. Magar, yeh sahi samay nahi tha. Ek gehri saans lete hue woh apni table ki orr mud gayi.

Suchika ek pal ke liye ruki, uski nigaahein Kaera ki table ke paas baithi Ruchika par tiki. Ruchika ne bhi nazar mehsoos kar use dekha aur apni bauhe chadhaayi.

Kaun thi bhala yeh ladki? Sonia ki secretary… Dhaka hua chehra… Ye lambaayi… Ye kadd-kaathi… Wo aankhein…

‘Nahi! Mein kuchh zyada hi soch rahi hu.’

Ruchika apne mann me sochte hue sarr hilaayi aur Suchika jaldi-se nazrein pher Sonia ke paas chali gayi. Uske mask ke peechhe uske bhaav samajh se parey the.

Kaera ki table se hi parallel me Sonia ki table thi, magar kuchh qadam ki doorie par.

Isi beech, Suhana daakhil hui, ek sundar, mehngi, designer dress me, uske qadam dheeme the. Uska pati Gaurav bhi uske saath chal raha tha, uska ek haath Suhana ki kamar par-

Lekin, ek videshi parichit mehmaan se milte hue ve dono turant hi alag ho gaye. Suhana aage badh gayi, jabki Gaurav wahi ruk gaya.




Suhana apna clutch kass kar thaame Sonia ke peechhe waali table ki orr badhi. Woh naazuk lag rahi thi. Muskaan nakli thi. Aur, tabhi uski aankhon ne Veer ko dhoondhna chaaha.

Aur, usne use paaya bhi-

Veer!

Kaera ke bagal se baitha hua tha.

Suhana ki saansein tez thi. Dono ki nazrein mili aur bhavnao ka sailaab ek saath Suhana ke andar umad pada. Ghabrahat, ummeed, darr, laalsa, jalan, sab kuchh. Par, sab uljha hua.

Veer ne jaise hi use dekha toh uske chehre par bhaav thode naram pad gaye. Bas, usne ek halki haami se uski orr ishaara kiya.

Aur, Suhana ne ishaara paate hi nazrein hata li, ek darr ki kahi Gaurav ne use dekh liya toh? Magar, Gaurav pehle se hi videshi doston me vyast tha, hass raha tha, humesha ki tarah bekhabar.




Suhana Sonia se jaa kar mili aur phir uske peechhe ki table par baith gayi, apne mann me vichaar liye-

‘Akhir… kaise kar paayega, Veer? Maine bina soche-samjhe uss se madad maang toh li, magar-!’




Lekin, woh yeh jaanti thi ki Veer aam vyakti ki tarah nahi tha. Aatish. Slogan. Las Vegas me Nightwalker, Pitcher. Na jaane kaise-kaise logon se paala pada tha uska aur usne humesha hi vijay haasil ki thi.

Toh, ek deal lena-

Uske liye toh baaye haath ka kaam hona chaahiye, hai na? Kuchh yahi soch thi Suhana ki.

Agar, woh nahi… toh bhala aur kaun?

Iss orr Kaera Veer ko dekhi aur poochhi.

Kaera : Tell me! Kiski dress zyada achhi lag rahi hai? Meri… ya uski?

Veer, jo paani pee raha tha, use yeh sawaal sunte hi phanda lag gaya.

*Cough* *Cough*

Karan (laughs) : Ye phans gaya!

Kaera (glances) : Hmm?

Karan : Ugh! N-Nothing! Haha!

Karan ne Veer ke kandhe par maara.

Karan : Bhai jawab do! Kya hua? Saans nahi aa rahi kya?

Veer (mutters) : You fucking-

Karan : Huh? Kya bola? Sonia di ki-?

Kaera : What?

Veer ne ek chamaat mazakiya dhang se Karan ki peeth par lagaayi, jo itni zorr se lagi ki bechaara Karan wahi chup ho gaya, zaahir taur se dard bardaasht karne ke liye.

Karan (grits) : Motherfu-

Veer : Achhi hai! Definitely! Yours is much more beautiful.

Kaera : Mein yahi baithi hu isliye bol rahe ho ya waqai me?

Veer (smiles) : Waqai me…! No doubt Miss Sonia ki dress bhi bahut achhi hai, lekin aapki dress ki fitting unse zyada behtar hai. Not to mention… It’s YOU, who’s making the dress even more beautiful.

Uttar sunn na jaane Kaera ko kya hua par uske gaal pehli baar aaj kuchh sunn halke laal pad gaye. Woh achanak hi muh pher li.

Kaera : Okay! I’ll... I'll believe that…!

Peechhe khadi jab Julia ne yeh drishya dekha toh woh hairat me reh gayi. Uski aankhon me chamak daud gayi. Uski Young Miss sharma rahi thi? Woh bhi ek ladke ke compliment par? Uske honthon se muskaan gaayab hone ka naam hi nahi le rahi thi.

---

Achanak hi hall ka shor dheema pad gaya, security aur welcoming staff turant hi entrance ki orr daud ke bhaage.

ICONGLOBE aa chuki thi.

Logo ke sirr entrance ki orr mud gaye. Aur, andar company ko represent kar rahe uske representative ne andar qadam rakha.

Mr. Benjamin Ward, ICONGLOBE International ke Chief Global Investment Officer. Aur, unke saath thi unki team, ek female Head of Strategic Partnerships, India ke Operations Director jo khud bhi Indian hi the, zaahir taur se. Teen senior financial analysts aur unke saath chal rahi unki apni security team.

Koi bekaar ka naatak nahi. Koi phaaltu ka taam-jhaam nahi. Koi bagairat nahi. Bas, business power ka maun shor.

Hall ke upar maujood gallery par Aadesh ne apne qadam badhaaye. Uski nigaahein neeche baithe tamaam logon par ghoom rahi thi. Uske bagal se uska event manager, Kumar khada hua tha.

Aadesh : Details?

Kumar : Sab badhiya dhang se chal raha hai, Sir.

Aadesh (nods) : Good!

Akasmat hi uski aankhein Veer se bhidi, Veer pehle se hi use ghoor raha tha. Aadesh ke badan me ek sihran daud gayi.

Achanak-

Woh drishya uske zehen me daud gaya. Uska chandelier se ulta latakna aur phir Veer ki woh laal aankhein. Aur, phir uski woh maar-!

Yaad kar Aadesh ne apne chehre par haath phera. Ek aabhaas ki Veer ke sang use laparwaahi se kabhi bhi pesh nahi aana chaahiye.

Aadesh : Dhyaan rahe ki kisi bhi haalat me-

Kumar : ??

Aadesh : Veer Singh ko koi dikkat na aane paaye.

Kumar : Huh?

Aadesh : Tumne suna nahi?

Kumar : J-Ji, Sir! Samajh gaya! Mein dhyaan rakhunga.

Hotel ke management staff ne traditional namaste aur phool malao ke saath company ke logo ka swagat kiya. Koi gifts nahi , kuchh bhi personal nahi.

Yeh corporate gala tha, na ki party. Aur, ek corporate gala etiquette aur neutrality ki maang rakhta tha.

Kaera aur Sonia, dono hi peeth seedhi kar chaukanni ho gayi. Photographers daudate hue andar aaye, flashes chamakne lage. Ek lady host ne stage par khade hoke unka swaagat kiya.




Mr. Ward stage par pahuche aur podium par jaate hue woh badi hi khushi se bole.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the warm and exceptional welcome. ICONGLOBE is honored to be in Mumbai tonight. We are here for one reason, to finalize the most significant investment initiative of the year for us.”

Logo me khus-pusaahat shuru ho gayi. Baaki sabhi companies bhi badi hi jigyasa se sab dekh rahi thi. Tabhi, Mr. Ward punaah bole.

“A partnership worth ten billion dollars.”

Taaliyaan goonj uthi. Billions of dollars ki deals roz-roz nahi hoti thi. Aur, aise hallroom me toh bilkul bhi nahi. Lekin, ghoshnaaye zaroor hoti thi. Baaki, baat-cheet toh humesha hi niji taur par ki jaati thi.

“We will begin discussions tonight with two of India’s most influential market leaders : Nexacom and Elite Motors of… of the Elite Group.”

Kaera murti ki tarah sthir baithi hui thi. Toh, wahi Sonia ke hontho par ek halki-si vijayi ki muskaan thi.

Protocol ke anusaar ICONGLOBE ki team pehle automobiles se judi anya companies ke paas jaa kar unka abhivaadan kari, unse thodi-bahut baat-cheet kari, haath milaaye gaye aur unke products dekhe gaye. Yeh aam prakriya thi.

Aur, uske baad ve seedhe Elite Motors ki orr badh gaye, jise dekh Ruchika thitak ke reh gayi. Udhar, Sonia ki aankhein jeet se chamak uthi jaise soch rahi ho ki-

Beshaq, unhe yaha pehle aana hi tha.

Akhirkar, Elite Motors India me automobiles sector me pioneer tha. Ek top leading company. Unki cars jaise ki Elite Magnus (SUV), Elite Flux (Hatchback), Elite Tracer (Sedan), wagarah wagarah… poore India me sabse zyada bikne waali cars me se ek thi.

Veer : You’re not bothered? Wo pehle Elite Motors ke paas chale gaye.

Kaera : No. Elite Motors uss sector ki top giant hai. Humari Nexacom ne abhi uss sector me theek tarah se qadam bhi nahi rakha hai. It would be unrealistic to demand they come to us first. I understand the power mechanics.

Veer use gaur se dekhta raha. Woh shaant rehne ka dikhaava nahi kar rahi thi. Woh waqai logically soch leke chal rahi thi. Koi insecurity nahi. Sirf clarity.

Karan : Yeah, but damn… could they be more obvious?

Veer ne table ke neeche se Karan ko perr maara aur Karan khaaste hue chup ho gaya, kyunki Kaera ki nazrein uss par hi mandra rahi thi.

Ruchika apna folder baar-baar khol sab kuchh rattne me lagi hui thi. Beshaq, woh kaanp rahi thi, lekin woh koi bhi chook nahi kar sakti thi.

---

Kareeban 25 minutes guzar gaye aur ICONGLOBE aur ELITE MOTORS ke beech vartalap chalti rahi. Sonia badi hi khushi se unse baatein kar rahi thi. Akhirkar, woh pal aa hi gaya jab ICONGLOBE ne haath milaaya aur woh Sonia ki table chhorte hue Kaera ki table ki orr badhe.

Ruchika ka tablet lagbhag uske haatho se girte-girte bacha. Uske dil ki dhadkane tez ho gayi.

Ruchika : Ahh! M-Miss, wo aa rahe hai. Wo log sach-much aa rahe hai. What if I say something stupid? What if I faint-? What if-

Kaera : Ruchika! If you faint, fall backwards. Saamne girna thoda unprofessional lagega.

Ruchika : Aaaaaa! How is that helpful, MISSSSS??? Oh my god!

Kaera : Kam se kam tum mujhpe girogi, unn par nahi. I think that’s a plus, right?

Ruchika : Oh god, Miss!!!

ICONGLOBE unke paas pahuchi. Mr. Ward ne Kaera, Karan, Suchika aur yaha tak ki Veer se bhi haath milaaya.

Kaera (smiles) : Nexacom welcomes you to India, Mr. Ward.

Mr. Ward : Miss Kaera! *smiles* We’ve heard quite a lot about Nexacom and especially you.

Kaera (smiles) : All good things, I suppose?

Mr. Ward muskuraaye. Ve sab baithe aur apni baat shuru karne ke liye taiyaar hi the ki-

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Entrance ke paas cameramen baukhla gaye. Yaha tak ki halka background music bhi band ho gaya.

Sabke sirr mudte chale gaye. Black dress me ek behad khubsoorat mahila waha padhaar chuki thi.




Garofano.

Kaera ki bauhe upar uthi. Sonia bhi akad ke baith gayi. Yaha tak ki-

Karan : Damn! Wow~

Kaera ne use ghoor ke dekha.

Karan : I… I mean… How???

Aur, Veer-?

‘Fuck!!! Garofano? What is she doing here?’




[Master!? Ye plan me nahi tha.]

Usne apne paas rakha glass kass ke pakda.

‘What the hell is she doing here?’

Iske pehle ki woh kuchh samajh paata tabhi-

Garofano ke andar aane ke kuchh kshan baad hi ek lamba-chauda vyakti police wardi me waha andar daakhil hua.

DGP Rohan. Trisha ka pati. Veer seedha hoke baithne par majboor ho gaya.

‘Ye? Ye yaha kyu??’

Par, iske bawajood usne apne aap ko sambhaala. Shayad kisi security purpose ke liye Rohan yaha aaya hoga, lekin jaise aaj Veer ki kismat me chenn lena nahi likha tha.

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Ek baar phir cameras ki awaazein goonj uthi. Veer, jo paani pee raha tha, paani uske galey me galat samay par phansa aur lagbhag use phanda lagte lagte bacha.

Kyunki, andar aane waala agla vyakti aisa prateet ho raha tha jaise seedhe swarg se apsara ko neeche laa diya ho.




Erica.

Behad hi khubsoorat si dress me, chamakti hui, jagmagati hui, reporters, cameramen ke jhund se hote hue guzri. Aur, cameramen use jaise dekh ke photos lena hi bhool gaye the.

Kuchh chinese delegates jo videshi companies me kaam kar rahe the, woh Erica ko dekh achambhit reh gaye. China ka lagbhag har aadmi ‘Renshu’ naam ko jaanta tha. Aur, aise me uski beti ke baare me pata na ho? Ye kaise ho sakta tha?

Ve sab chinese uss par toot pade. Erica kisi khush tourist ki tarah unke saath chali bhi gayi.

Itna hi nahi, usko stage par pahucha diya gaya? Kaaran? Kyunki, woh bahut zyada sundar lag rahi thi. Zaahir hai woh kisi bade gharaane se hogi.





“Umm… Hello everyone!”

Usne bolna shuru kiya. Uski nazrein? Seedhe Veer par!

‘Fucccckkkkk!’

Veer ne kass kar table pakdi. Agar, iss Erica ne uske liye kuchh kaha toh woh kisi galat paristhiti me bhi phans sakta tha. Aur, Erica?




Woh yahi kar rahi thi. Woh muskura rahi thi.

‘Fuuuccckk! Why the fuck is she smiling at me like that???’




[M-Master, this is bad!]

‘Fuckkk! Wo apna intro kyu de rahi hai, udhar? Who the fuck invited her? Aur, mujhe kyu dekh rahi hai? Fuck no!!!’

Idhar Erica mic par bad-badaate hue baar-baar Veer ko dekhe jaa rahi thi.




Veer behosh hone se bas kuchh hi seconds dur tha. Kaera Erica ko aise dekh rahi thi jaise maano uski list me koi naya dushman add ho chuka tha.

Toh wahi, Erica?

Apni pyaari si muskaan diye, logon ke beech baith kar Veer ko taadne lagi.




Mr. Ward : Haha! Quite a show there. Phew! Shall we continue, Miss Kaera?

Kaera (nods) : Yes, please!

Lekin, Veer?

Veer ko paseena aana shuru ho chuka tha. Yeh sab plan me nahi tha. Usne kisi ko yaha aane ka nahi kaha tha. Na hi kisi ka mission tha yaha par aake kuchh bhi karne ke liye. Phir, kyu?

Par, bechaara Veer yeh nahi jaanta tha ki uski sabse badi aafat toh uska hotel ke baahar intezar kar rahi thi.




Ava!!!

Mask pehne woh baahar khadi hui thi. Casa Belle me aise ghusne ka plan… Garofano ka tha. Erica khushi-khushi raazi ho gayi thi, magar Ava thodi hich-kicha rahi thi. Sirf aur sirf Veer ke liye. Kya andar jaana sahi tha?

Aur, tabhi-

[Go inside dear.]

‘Par, kya ye sahi hai, Lily? Veer ne kisi ko invite nahi kia tha. Iska matlab woh definitely kisi personal kaam se yaha aaya hoga, aur aise me-’

[Garofano aur Erica, dono andar jaa chuki hai.]

‘Yeah but-’

[Kya tum chaahti ho ki ve dono Veer ke dil me jagah bana le?]

‘NOOOOOO!!!’

[*smiles* Toh, phir jao dear. Go and show your charisma.]

‘But andar… Kaera… Sonia…’

[Mask pehna hai tumne, dear.]

‘Fine then-!’

Veer jo yaha andar rumaal se paseena pochh raha tha achanak hi naye shor ko sunn wahi jamm gaya. Iss baar mahaul alag tha.

Mask lagaane ke bawajood, Ava ki khubsoorti ko chhipaaya nahi jaa sakta tha. Woh andar padhaar chuki thi.

Photographers bhi kuchh kshan ke liye bas ghoorte reh gaye aur phir ek baar phir-

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Veer ki aatma jaise maano uske shareer se nikal gayi.

[That’s… ugh… Master! Enjoy your night.]

*Ding*

[The system has gone into sleep mode.]

‘Huh? Pari??? Pariiii? Fuuuuckkkk!’

Veer Ava ko dekh itni zorr se khaansa ki Kaera Ava se nazrein hataaye bina apna paani ka glass Veer ke muh ki orr badha di.

Karan : Huh? Bhai? Kya hua? Tumhare chehre ka rang kyu uda hua hai?

Veer : N-Nothing! *cough*

Usne keh toh diya, magar mann me-

‘WHY IS SHE HERE?????’

Yeh koi mazak nahi tha. Ava. Garofano. Erica. Ye teeno worldwide sirf famous hi nahi thi, sundar hi nahi thi. Ye sab ki sab system holders bhi thi.

Aur, teeno? Ek hi jagah par? Aur, inn sab ke beech me? Ek bechaara Veer!

Kaera ne notice kiye ki teen aayi khubsoorat haseenaaye Veer ko dekh rahi thi. Aur, usne Veer ki orr apna chehra moda.

Kaera : Are they looking at… YOU? You know them?

Veer ne apna thook nigla.

Veer : I… Ahem…

Kaera : That Garofano… She was there last time. Mein jaanti hu wo tumhe shayad jaanti hai. Kaise? No! Who are those two?

Karan : Bhai! Washroom left side hai, udhar andar pe-

Veer ne ek aur laat table ke neeche se Karan ko maari toh Karan apne daant meeste hue shaant ho gaya.

Tabhi, Veer ko ek aur cheez ka ehsaas hua-

‘Wait a minute-!’

Agar, Ava bhi yahi toh toh iska matlab tha-

TRINITY… ek saath ek hi jagah par itne saalo baad thi.

Aur, woh jaan gaya ki uske laude… lag chuke the.

Tabhi-

*Ding*

[System is up from the sleep mode.]

‘Huh? Pari? Tum aa gayi? Thank god! Mein jaanta tha tum meri madad zaroor karogi. Quick! What’s the plan?’

[...]

‘Bolo bolo! Sharmaane ki zaroorat nahi hai, Pari! Don’t worry! Maine tumhe maaf kiya. Quick!’

[I-]

‘Haan haan! Bolo!’

[Mein bas ye bataane ke liye aayi thi ki-]

‘??’

[Ava ne bhi Kaera aur Sonia ki tarah red dress pehni hai. Good luck.]

*Ding*

[The system has gone into sleep mode.]

‘Fuuuuuucccckkkkkkk!!’
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Aaj ke itna hi guys.
This update consists of 9k words. Iske do update rahenge, iss poore corporate gala ke. Ye pehla tha. Next one me ye event khatam ho jaayega. Iss par kaafi mehnat lagi hai. Images dhundhne me aur ek bade level ka corporate gala kaise hota hai uske baare me research karne me. Mein specifically zyada details me nahi gaya Sonia aur ICONGLOBE ke beech ki conversation ko lekar kyunki, I thought wo bahut hi business terms waali talk thi. Aur, plot ke hisaab se koi zaroorat bhi nahi thi. So, I only showed the 'what's happening around' scenes. The humor is back again in this update. Chhota sa hi tha but let me know ye achha laga ya nahi. Target apna wahi 250 hi hai. Par, aur upar pahucha diyo. Bahut mehnat lagi hai isme. Milte hai agle bhaag me jald hi.
Dhanyavad.

Bhai 3 squre padha tha bachpan me par yaha to 5 square hai or ye 5 sqiare khud me bahut valuable hai ab agar veer in 5 square ko khud me desolve kar le to uski value to pure hall me baithe bar bande se 4 times ho jaygi par maza ane wala hai soniya abhi bhi veer se door ho kar ek galti kar chuki hai par kaera vo na jane deni wali veer ko kahi yaha tej ko hona tha vo to pagal hi ho jati