Chapter....14
Tessa & Standing Up to William
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Vihaan ne chup - chap sir hila diya
lekin uska dimaag abhi bhi kuch der pehle
hui cheezon se buri tarah chakara raha tha.
Tessa ka chehra halka sa laal pad gaya sharm se...
jab uski aankhe Vihaan ki aankhon se mili.
Uski aankhen halki si badi hui thi, aur unmein saaf sharmindagi dikh rahi thi.
Muze....muze nahi pata ki muze kya hogaya tha ...
Woh haklate huye boli, uski awaaz itni dheemi thi ki mushkil se sunai de rahi thi.
Woh… jo abhi hua, woh nahi hona chahiye tha.
Woh sharmindagi se nazrein jhuka kar niche ki taraf dekhne lagi.
I'm sorry... agar maine tumhe uncomfortable feel karaya ho....Mera aisa koi intention nahi tha.
(Kitni pyari hai yaar yeh ...baki Class ki ladkiyon ki tarah bilkul bhi nahi hai.)
Vihaan ne halka sa sir hila kar usse tasalli(reassure karne ki) dene ki koshish ki.
Nahi koi baat nahi ...mera matlb hai‚tumne kuch galat nahi kiya...ham dono hi bhawnao mai beh gaye thye...
asal mai yeh itana bhi bura nahi tha ..Balki mere liye toh acha experience tha .
Dekho, main… main us gesture ki appreciate karti hoon,"
woh dheere se boli.
Lekin hum dobara aisa nahi hone de sakte.
Yeh professional nahi hai… aur isse hamari training affect ho sakti hai.
Vihaan ne dheere se sir hila diya, jaise woh situation ki seriousness samajh gaya ho.
Haa… tum sahi keh rahi ho, usne halki saans chhodte hue kaha.
Main bas… khud ko rok nahi paaya. Tum bahot attractive ho.
Vihaan ki baat sunte hi Tessa ka chehra aur sharm se laal ho gaya.
Woh sharmate hue nazrein jhuka kar dheere se boli.
Thank you…
lekin abhi humein apni sparring par focus karna chahiye.
Selene dobara un dono ke paas aayi, uski bahein cross thi jab woh unke beech ke awkward interaction ko gaur se dekh rahi thi.
"Alright, tum dono," woh sakht awaaz mein boli.
"Ab cool down karo aur training par wapas focus karo. Abhi kaafi kaam baaki hai."
Tessa ne dobara attack kiya, lekin iss baar Vihaan pehle se tayyar tha.
Jaise hi uska punch uski taraf aaya, Vihaan turant neeche jhuk gaya aur ek smooth movement mein uske bachav ke andar ghus gaya.
Tessa react kar pati, usse pehle hi Vihaan ne apni hatheli seedha uski chhati par tikayi aur poori taakat se usse peeche dhakel diya.
Agle tees seconds tak dono lagataar ek dusre par attacks exchange karte rahe.
Tessa ke heavy strikes baar-baar Vihaan par toot padte, jabki Vihaan unhe quick dodges aur sharp counters se handle karta raha.
Woh clearly outmatched tha.
Uska body thak chuka tha, saansein bhaari ho rahi thi, aur uske andar ki energy bhi lagbhag khatam hone lagi thi…
Phir bhi…
Woh kisi tarah fight mein tika hua tha.
Jab Tessa aakhirkaar uska ankle hook kar ke usse dobara zor se ground par patakne mein successful hui, tab Vihaan uth hi nahi paaya.
Uske haath-pair jaise jawab de chuke the.
Selene khud unke paas aayi aur apni whistle baja di.
"Yield."
Vihaan ne kuch bolne ke liye muh khola, lekin uske lips se sirf ek tooti hui bhaari saans nikli.
"…yield."
Tessa tez saansein lete hue uske paas ghutno ke bal baith gayi.
"Hey, sorry… woh last wala thoda—"
"Tumne acha kiya,"
Vihaan ne mushkil se hosh mein rehte hue dheemi awaaz mein kaha.
Selene bhi neeche jhuk kar usse gaur se dekhne lagi.
"Iss feeling ko yaad rakhna,"
Selene ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha, itni dheemi ki woh sirf Vihaan tak hi pahunchi.
"Zyadaatar log yahin toot jaate hain."
"Yahi woh edge hai."
"Lekin agar tumne iss point par tikna seekh liya… toh tum sabse zyada tezi se grow karoge."
Vihaan ki nazar dhundhli si hone lagi.
Damn… kitna thak gaya hoon.
Itna exhausted hone ke baad bhi…
Andar hi andar woh muskurra raha tha.
Usne acha waqt guzara tha.
Vihaan ki nazar dhundhli si ghoomne lagi.
Aankhen band hone se pehle usne jo aakhri cheez dekhi, woh Selene ki halki si approving smile thi…
Rare.
Sharp.
Aur ajeeb tareeke se warm.
Agle hi pal sab kuch andhere meim doob gaya.
Session ke end tak aadhi class mats par bikhri padi thi, poori tarah thak kar toot chuki.
Poora hall students ki karahati saanson aur beech-beech mein sunai dene wali dheemi gaaliyon se bhar gaya tha...
Jo Selene ko hi galiya de rahe thye..bass usko sunai na de aise.
Selene ne ek baar zor se taali bajayi.
Uski awaaz poore hall mein gunshot ki tarah gunj uthi.
"Dhyaan se suno, tum thake-haare nalayako!" woh zor se garji.
"Duniya ko farq nahi padta tum kitne thak chuke ho."
"Ya toh apni limits ke aage dhakelna seekho… ya kamzor bankar mar jao."
"Yaad rakhna yeh baat."
Kisi ki himmat nahi hui usse argue karne ki.
"Class dismissed."
Selene ke
"Class dismissed" bolte hi poore gym mein relief bhari saans gunj uthi.
Vihaan ne apne maathe se paseena saaf kiya, uski chest abhi bhi heavy saanson ke saath upar-neeche ho rahi thi.
Uske badan ka har muscle dard kar raha tha.
Har haath-pair jaise protest kar raha ho.
Phir bhi…
Uske andar jalti hui woh aag abhi bujhi nahi thi.
Jaise hi woh baaki students ke saath bahar nikalne ke liye muda, Selene ki nazar ek baar phir us par tik gayi.
Usne dheere se halka sa sir hilaaya.
"Aaj acha kiya tumne vihaan."
Vihaan ek pal ke liye blink kar gaya, jaise usse yakeen hi na hua ho ki usne sahi suna.
Phir usne bhi chup-chaap sir hila diya aur baaki students ke saath aage badh gaya.
Jaise hi sab showers ki taraf ladkhadate hue chalne lage, gym mein phir se wahi usual complaints aur thaki hui awaazein gunjne lagi.
"Woh ek monster hai."
"Meri taangein bilkul jelly ban chuki hain."
"Mujhe apne haath tak feel nahi ho rahe."
"Koi mujhe utha kar le chalo…"
Gym mein phir se wahi usual complaints gunjne lagi.
Lekin Vihaan unmein shamil nahi hua.
Woh bas chup-chaap apne aap se halki si smile karne laga.
Chahe woh Monster ho ya na ho parr…
Selene ne usse woh cheez di thi jo usse kisi aur ne nahi di thi.
Acknowledgment.
(Svikruti.. acceptance)
Aur kaafi lambe waqt baad…
Usse sach mein zinda hone ka ehsaas ho raha tha.
Gym dheere-dheere khaali hone laga, lekin Selene wahi peeche khadi rahi.
Uski bahein cross thi, aur uski aankhen soch mein halki si sikud gayi thi.
Uski tail ek baar dheere se hili..
Slow.
"Woh ladka…"
Selene ne dheemi awaaz mein budbudaaya.
"Woh badal raha hai."
Purana Vihaan uske dimaag mein ubhar aaya...
Woh chup rehne wala ladka jo mushkil se kisi ki aankhon mein dekhta tha.
Jiski movements dheemi aur bejaan hua karti thi.
Jaise zindagi ne usse pehle hi tod diya ho.
Ab?
Ab uski nazron mein steel jaisi sakhti thi.
Aur uske har kadam mein saaf resolve dikhne laga tha.
Selene ke lips par dheere se ek asli smile ubhri—
Halki si fanged smile…
Jo uski predatory satisfaction ko saaf dikha rahi thi.
"Mera student bilkul aisa hi hona chahiye."
Gymnasium ke bahar ki hawa paseene aur disinfectant (cleaning chemical) ki smell se bhari hui thi.
Students double doors se ladkhadate hue bahar nikal rahe the—
Koi apna towel pakde hue tha, koi bhaari saansein le raha tha, toh koi dheemi awaaz mein gaaliyan bak raha tha.
Selene ki brutal drills ki goonj abhi bhi unke kaano mein gunj rahi thi.
Vihaan un aakhri students mein se tha jo bahar nikla.
Woh apni shirt ke kone se chehra saaf kar raha tha.
Uske pair lohe ki rods ki tarah bhaari aur dard se bhari lag rahi thi, har kadam ke saath uska badan protest kar raha tha.
Lekin uska dil ajeeb tareeke se shaant tha.
Kaafi time baad…
Woh sirf exhausted nahi tha.
Woh satisfied bhi tha.
Bas…
Woh feeling sirf paanch seconds tak hi tik paayi.
"Well, well… yeh dekho yahan kaun hai."
Awaaz smooth thi…
lekin usmein saaf mazaak aur arrogance tapak raha tha.
Vihaan ko upar dekhne ki bhi zarurat nahi padi.
Woh pehle hi samajh gaya tha ki yeh awaaz kisa chutiye ki hai.
William
Vihaan ke life ka sabse bada Chutiya.
Woh corridor ke corner wali wall se aalsi andaaz mein tika khada tha.
Ek towel uski gardan par latak raha tha, aur paseene ki wajah se uske baal peeche ki taraf slick ho chuke the.
Uske chehre par wahi usual smug grin chipki hui thi.
Uske paas uske chhote chamchon ka group bhi khada tha...
Kane, Dru aur Farris.
Teeno hyenas ki tarah dabi hansi hasa rahe the.
Aur William ke baazu se chipki hui khadi thi Mira.
Training ke baad uske perfectly styled baal halki si nami se bheeg gaye the, lekin phir bhi woh hamesha ki tarah flawless lag rahi thi.
"Vihaan‚William ne aankhen sikodte hue dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
"Night dinner ke baad apna job mat bhoolna, samjha?"
Iske baad jo hasi gunji ...usse vihaan ka jabada(jaw) kas gaya gusse se.
Woh achhi tarah jaanta tha William kis "Job" ki baat kar raha tha.
Unka target dummy banne ki job .
Has lo jitna hasna hai…
Tumhara waqt ab zyada door nahi hai, William.
Bahut jald…
Tum har us cheez par regret karoge jo tumne mere saath ki har cheez ka return milega bohot jald.
Vihaan ne man mai bola.
Mahino tak woh bullies usse apni combat practice ka moving target bana kar rakhte rahe the.
Punches
Kicks
Mock duels
Kabhi sabke saamne…
toh kabhi andhere corners mein.
Aur Vihaan yeh sab sehata raha tha.
Kyunki uss waqt na uske paas ladne ki taakat thi …
Aur na hi wapas khade hone ki himmat....aur na system owner tha woh....
woh sab dungeon se pehle ki baat thi...jabh uske pass kuch bhi nahi tha ...
Us aag ke jagne se pehle ke baat thi woh …
Jo ab uske andar bujhne ka naam hi nahi le rahi thi.
par abh sabh badal chuka hai .
Vihaan ne dheere se apni nazar uthayi aur William ki grin ka saamna ek shaant, unreadable expression ke saath kiya.
Jaise uske dimaag mein kya chal raha hai, koi samajh hi na paaye.
Mira ki nazar bhi us par padi.
Aur Agle hi pal uska chehra ghin se sikud gaya.
"Meri taraf mat dekho, you creep!"
Mira tez awaaz mein bhadki.
Uski awaaz itni sharp thi ki aas-paas khade students ka bhi dhyaan unki taraf chala gaya.
Kuch log dheemi awaaz mein hans pade.
William ki grin aur chaudi ho gayi.
"Suna na tumne woh kya boli?" woh mazaak udaate hue bola.
"Jab real logon ke saamne khade ho, toh apni nazrein neeche rakha karo, Trash."
Uske chamche turant usa par has na suru kar diya, unke hasne ki awaazein poore corridor mein gunj uthi.
Vihaan ne bas dheere se softly apni saans
(breath) chhodi.
Uske andar kuch tha…
Wahi cheez jisne usse do ghante bina ruke daudaya tha.
Wahi cheez jisne usse dungeon mein, maut se ghire hone ke baad bhi khade rehne ki himmat di thi.
Aur ussi pal...
Woh cheez jaise poori tarah focus mein aa gayi.
Vihaan ne dobara William ki aankhon mein dekha.
Is baar uski nazar bilkul steady And Cold thi.
"Apni target practice ke liye tumhe ab kisi aur ko dhoondhna padega, William."
Poora corridor ekdum shaant ho gaya.
Har hansi.
Har dheemi fusfusaahat.
Sab kuch ek pal mein ruk gaya.
Ek heartbeat ke liye toh corridor mein chal rahe dusre students ke footsteps ki awaaz tak gayab ho gayi.
William ke chehre par jammi hui grin wahi ki wahi reh gayi.
"I'm sorry,"
William bola, uski awaaz mein mazaak aur disbelief ka dangerous mix tha.
"Abhi tumne kya kaha? Shayad maine galat suna."
Vihaan ki awaaz zara bhi nahi hili.
"Maine kaha… kisi aur ko dhoondho."
Uski awaaz zyada loud nahi thi…
Lekin uske words corridor ko blade ki tarah cheer gaye.
Kane confused hokar blink karne laga.
Dru ki hansi beech mein hi atak gayi.
Aur Mira tak disbelief mein uski taraf mud kar dekhne lagi, uski aankhen halki si sikud gayi thi.
Vihaan wahi khada raha....Uska chehra shaant tha…
Lekin uski aankhon mein kuch jal raha tha.
Kuch aisa jo unmein se kisi ne pehle kabhi nahi dekha tha.
Resolve
William dheere se wall se hata, uski grin ab sneer mein badal chuki thi.
"Badi himmat aa gayi hai tum mein, gutter rat," woh thandi awaaz mein bola.
"Kya sirf isliye kyunki Selene ne tumhare liye do ache words bol diye, tumhe lagne laga hai ki ab tum kisi layak ho?"
Tum sirf ek Trash ho aur kuch bhi nahi...
Woh ek kadam aur aage badha.
Uske chamche bhi turant uske peeche aa khade hue.
"Tum mujhe 'no nahi keh sakte kabhi."
"Aur tumne kabhi no kaha hi nahi tha ."
Vihaan ki nazar zara bhi nahi hilli.
"Toh phir disappointment ke saath jeena seekh lo William."
Uske words sunte hi aas-paas khade students ke beech ek gehari saans(breath) ki awaaz gunj uthi.
William ka haath uske side par jhatke se hila.
Uska chehra gusse se dark ho gaya, aur uski gardan ki nerves tak ubhar aayi.
"Tum...."
Vihaan ne usse apni peeth dikha di.
Aur chal diya.
William ke words jo uske gale se gatar ki tarah nikalne wale thye..gale mein hi atak gaye, unki jagah ab sirf gusse se bhari awaaz nikal rahi thi.
Lekin Vihaan ne piche mudh kar nahi dekha.
Woh bas shaant kadmon se aage badhta raha, uske footsteps corridor mein calmly gunj rahe the.
"Tumhe lagta hai yeh khatam ho gaya?! Tumhe lagta hai tum bas.... HEY! MAIN TUMSE BAAT KAR RAHA HOON!"
Lekin Vihaan ne ek baar bhi peeche mud kar nahi dekha.
Gaaliyan aur gusse bhari awaazein uske peeche pattharon (stone) ki tarah pheki ja rahi thi…
Lekin Vihaan zara bhi nahi hila....na kamzor hua unke samne...
Uske kandhe seedhe the.
Aur uska sir pehle ki tarah uncha.
Corridor mein khade students usse wide eyes ke saath dekh rahe the.
Kuch log toh disbelief mein dheemi awaaz mein aapas mein fusfusaane bhi lage the.
"Abhi usne seriously...?"
"Usne William ko seedha mana kar diya?"
"Holy crap…"
Mira ke lips ghin se sikud gaye jab usne tez awaaz mein William par jhadka.
"Tum seriously usse aise hi jaane doge?"
William ne gusse mein apni mutthi wall par de maari.
Thak!
Impact se plaster tak halka sa crack ho gaya.
"Chup raho!"
Lekin uski awaaz halki si kaamp rahi thi.
Gusse se…
Ya disbelief se…
Yeh koi samajh nahi paaya.
Jab tak Vihaan dorm building tak pahucha, uske andar daud raha adrenaline dheere-dheere shaant hone laga tha, aur uski jagah ek ajeeb sa sukoon le raha tha.
Woh chupchaap seedhiyan chadhne laga.
Raste mein kuch students abhi bhi gym session aur dinner plans ke baare mein baatein kar rahe the.
Zyadatar logon ne uspar dhyaan bhi nahi diya ... aur honestly, yeh uske liye koi nayi baat nahi thi.
Lekin ek-do students ne usse thodi curiosity ke saath zaroor dekha.
Jaise aaj unhe usmein kuch alag mehsoos hua ho.
Upper floor par pahunchkar woh apne room ke saamne ruk gaya.
Room zyada bada nahi tha, lekin private tha…
aur academy mein yeh ek luxury jaisi cheez thi, jiske liye woh andar hi andar thankful tha.
Hall halka andhera tha, bas diwaron mein lage runestones ki soft roshni wahan faint sa glow faila rahi thi.
Vihaan ne pocket se apni key nikali, lock mein ghumayi, aur dheere se door khol diya.
Jaise hi woh andar ghusa, ek gehri khamoshi ne usse turant gher liya.
Woh andar aaya, peeche se door band kiya, aur phir shayad poore din mein pehli baar usne properly saans chhodi.
Uska chhota sa dorm room kaafi saaf-suthra tha — ek bed, notebooks aur mana-crystal lamps se bhara hua desk, ek wardrobe, aur ek patli si khidki jo seedha training grounds ki taraf khulti thi.
Baahar dhalti shaam ki halki narangi roshni glass se andar aa rahi thi, poore room ko warm sa glow de rahi thi.
Vihaan dheere se bed par gir sa gaya. Mattress uske weight se halki si cheekh uthi.
Woh kaafi der tak bas wahi pada raha, chupchaap ceiling ko dekhta hua.
"Lagta hai un system points ke liye mujhe abhi thoda aur wait karna padega," usne dheere se khud se kaha.
Uske honton se ek halki, bina kisi asli khushi wali hansi nikal gayi.
Tabhi usse Tessa ke saath hua woh chhota sa scene yaad aa gaya.
Woh uske original plans ka hissa nahi tha… lekin bura bhi nahi tha.
'Agar main usse apna bana paaya… toh woh bhi ek aur system point farm ban sakti hai.'
Ek aur baat uske dimaag (brain) mein ghoom rahi thi.
William ke saamne khade hone ke baad bhi System ne usse koi reward nahi diya tha.
Waise usne expect bhi nahi kiya tha… lekin andar kahin na kahin usse thodi umeed zaroor thi.
Maybe courage (Sahas)bhi kisi cheez ke liye maayne rakhti ho.
Shayad yeh System sirf ek harem system se zyada tha.
Aakhir, isme ek store bhi toh hona chahiye.
Ho sakta hai iske aur bhi functions ho… bas abhi tak usse unke baare mein pata na ho.
“Mujhe nahi pata tha main exactly kya expect kar raha tha… lekin agar reward milta, toh bura nahi hota.”
Phir bhi, uss tarah saamne khade hone ka jo satisfaction tha…
woh apne aap mein ek reward jaisa tha.
Usse khud ehsaas bhi nahi hua tha ki chup rehne ki zanjeerein uspar kitni bhaari ho chuki thi…
jab tak usne unhe tod nahi diya.
Ab tujhe apni target practice ke liye koi aur dhoondhna padega William chutiye ko.’
Woh shabd abhi bhi uske dimaag mein saaf aur tez awaaz ki tarah goonj rahe the.
Usne unhe bolne ka plan nahi banaya tha.
Woh bas… muh se nikal gaye the.
Aur shayad ab zyada waqt nahi lagega jab iska backlash us tak pahunch jaaye.
William un logon mein se nahi tha jo chupchaap baith jaate hain.
“Ab shayad cheezein aur buri hone wali hain…” usne dheere se saans (breath) chhodte hue socha.
Lekin usse koi regret nahi tha.
Bilkul bhi nahi.
(Smile karke )
Chapter....14.... End
Word count....:-13k
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NEXT: CHAPTER 14 ◈━◈━◈━◈━◈━◈━◈━◈
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Friend's wohi like thokne ka aur review rakhne ka...aur chapters thoda late hogaya ....busy tha toh chapter late aagaya ....aur isse pehle ke jo chapters padhe hai toh like aur review dedo ..taki jaldi-jaldi chapter de saku ....aur aapko chapter time pe chahiye toh 2 days choose kijiye par usmai 2 days ka gap hona chahiye soch kar likh saku uske liye ...soch kar bata dena ...thoda late hosakta hai...mtlb late night tak ya morning mai hi de dunga par chapter aayega...soch kar bata dena...
