Kanika singh(age -27)
Abhishek singh (age-32) height (5.9)
Rudra singh(age-26) (height -6"3)
1989 mein, Singh Haveli ke andher prangan mein ek aadmi aur ek aurat khade hain, unke pareechoon ka saya purani deewar par faila hua hai. Mahaul mein ek bechaini aur pareshani hai.
Aurat halki si ghabrahat mein fuskti hai, “Hum yahan hone chahiye?”
“Sab afwaayein hain,” aadmi bolta hai.
“Hum din mein aana chahiye tha. Yeh raat... bohot darawni hai,” aurat dheere se bolti hai.
Aadmi thoda zyada confident hai, "Raat ko chupna asaan hota hai. Kya tum sure ho ke khazana sach mein yahan hai?"
Woh jhijakti hai, idhar-udhar dekhti hai, “Par kaha jata hai ispe shraap hai. Jo bhi khazana dhoondhne gaya, uska ajeeb ant hua.”
Woh haste hue bolta hai, “Sirf ek afwaa ke karan itna sona aur khazana chhodna bewakoofi hoti. Mere pitaji kehte the ke yahan ka sona hamare villa, property aur paison se tees guna zyada keemat ka hai.”
Dono chup khade rehte hain, unke shabdon ka bojh hawa mein latka jaise haveli ki purani deewarein bhi dhyaan se sun rahi ho.
Dono dheere-dheere Singh Haveli ke andar kadam rakhte hain, ek waqt ka shandaar makaan ab andhera aur jhar-jhar sa ho gaya hai. Andar ki hawa thodi thandi hai, aur purani cheezon ki ek khas boo hai. Har kadam par purani lakdi ki farsh ki cheekh haveli mein goonjti hai jab woh chhupi hui secret room ko dhoondhne lagte hain.
Lambi dhoondhne ke baad, unhe ek chhupi hui deewar ke peeche secret room milta hai. Jaise hi aadmi usse kholta hai, ek jhund chamgadaroon ka ghabrahat mein bahar nikalta hai. Aurat ek pal ke liye ghabra jati hai, lekin dono apni talash jaari rakhte hain.
Room mein, chand ki halke roshni tootay hue sheeshe se andar aa rahi thi, purani furniture aur makdi ke jaale sab kuch dhaak rahe the. Aadmi ka haath ek thandi aur majboot cheez par padta hai - ek purana box, jo waqt ke saath ghis gaya hai. Uska dil tez dhadakta hai, kya yeh sach mein khazana hai?
Achanak ek halki awaz sannate ko todti hai. Jaise koi chal raha ho, ya koi cheez hil rahi ho.
Woh ruka. Aankhein dark room mein idhar-udhar daudati hain. "Meri patni kahan gayi?" uske zehan mein ek achanak thandak fail gayi.
Woh jaldi se palta, lekin uski patni gayab thi.
Uske andar ghabrahat phail gayi jab usne uska naam pukara, uska awaaz deewaron mein goonj uthi. Koi jawab nahi aaya, sirf ek ajeeb sannata. Woh dark mein ladkhadaate hue dhoondhne laga. Jab woh upar ke quarter mein pahuncha, usse faint awazein sunayi di—kadmon ki? Ya koi fuskta awaaz?
Seediyaan chadhte waqt, uska dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha, jab usne dekha—uski patni ki saree zameen par padi thi.
Uska dil dhak se reh gaya. Usne daud lagai, phir se uska naam pukara, lekin jab woh kona modta hai, ek kaala saya achanak se andhere se bahar nikalta hai, asamaan raghtaar se uski taraf aate hue.
Uski cheekh raat ko cheer gayi, ek thandi awaz jo haveli ke bahar tak goonj uthi, jahan raat ka sannata use nigal gaya.
Aaj ka samay---
Rudra, jo Pune mein family business sambhal raha tha, pichhle do saal mein zyada nahi aaya tha jab se Abhishek ki shadi Kanika se hui thi. Bhaiyon ke beech doori sirf doori hi nahi thi, balki unke rishte mein bhi thoda gap aagaya tha. Rudra ka business par focus bana raha, lekin Abhishek ke saath unka rishta thoda tanav bhara lag raha tha.
Unka chhota bhai abhi padhai kar raha tha, aur usne family business mein ab tak join nahi kiya tha. Mumbai mein, Abhishek apni patni Kanika ke saath rehta tha, jabki unki maa Rudra ke saath Pune mein thi, jisse Abhishek thoda akela mehsoos karta tha.
Rudra ne business ke baare mein kuch madad di, lekin dono bhaiyon ke beech ka asamjhauta mahaul mein tha, par unki financial problems ne unhe ek baar fir ek saath le aaya tha.
Ek raat, jab Abhishek aur Rudra sharab pee rahe the aur apni pareshaaniyon par baat kar rahe the, unka dhyaan unke purkho ke haveli par gaya, jo kab se khaali pada tha, apni rahasymayi kahaniyon ke saath.
Abhishek apni drink ko ghoomte hue casually bola, “Kyun na haveli ko bech dein? Hume paise mil jayenge.”
Rudra ne thoughtful tareeke se sir hilaya, lekin fir kaha, “Main agree karta hoon, lekin tumhe yaad hai jo maa khazane ke baare mein kehti thi.”
Abhishek haste hue bola, "Woh purani kahani? Sirf bakwaas hai."
Rudra muskuraya, lekin uski awaaz mein ek sachchai thi. "Ho sakta hai, lekin agar sach ho toh? Aur agar na bhi ho, toh kyun na hum ise ek hotel bana dein?"
Abhishek ne eyebrow uthaya. "Paisa kahan se aayega?"
Rudra bola, “Zyada paisa nahi lagega. Mera ek dost hotelier hai. Usne haveli dekhi hai aur kehta hai ke hum pehle sirf ek hissa renovate kar sakte hain. Phases mein open karte hain.”
Abhishek ne socha, aur yeh idea bura nahi laga.
Agle din, usne yeh idea Kanika ke samne rakha. Kanika, jo ab housewife thi, lekin hotel business ka anubhav rakhti thi, dhyan se suni aur fir sir hilaya. “Yeh ho sakta hai. Agar hum ise hotel banayein, toh property ki keemat bahut badh jayegi. Phir agar bechna chahein, toh zyada paise milenge.”
Kanika ki haami ke baad, plan utna impossible nahi laga. Abhishek jaanta tha
ki haveli ko transform karna unke liye ek lifeline ho sakta hai.
The next morning, Abhishek ne Kanika ko apna idea bataya. Bhale hi Kanika ab ek housewife thi, lekin hotel business mein uska experience invaluable tha. Usne dhyan se suna aur phir sir hila diya. "Yeh ho sakta hai. Agar hum ise hotel mein badal dein, toh property ki value kaafi badh jaayegi. Phir agar hum ise bechna chahein, toh humein zyada paisa mil sakta hai."
Kanika ki approval milne ke baad, yeh plan utna door ka sapna nahi lag raha tha. Abhishek ko yakin tha ki haveli ko transform karna unke liye ek lifeline sabit ho sakta hai jo unhe zarurat thi.
Do mahine baad, Abhishek aur Rudra ka business finally stabilize ho gaya tha, lekin haveli ko renovate karne ka idea Abhishek ke dimaag se jaane ka naam hi nahi le raha tha. Pratapgarh ek tourist hotspot tha, aur usne socha ke haveli ko ek profitable venture mein badalne ka immense potential tha.
Ek shaam, Abhishek ne phir se Rudra se baat ki, aur haveli ka discussion dobara shuru kiya. "Maine south wing ko saaf karwa liya hai," Abhishek ne kaha, "lekin gaon walon ko ab bhi is jagah se dar lagta hai. Main waha kuch din rukne wala hoon, takhi unka dar khatam ho sake."
Agle kuch hafte, Abhishek ne akela haveli mein waqt guzaara, ek bold move jo locals ko dikhana tha ki waha darne wali koi baat nahi thi. Purani haveli ki eeriness usse pareshaan nahi karti thi—uska focus sirf project ko aage badhane par tha.
Ab Kanika ko waha join karna tha. Uske paas bhi haveli ke liye apne khud ke plans the, hotel business mein apne expertise ke sath. Sab kuch set hone ke baad, Abhishek ne Rudra ko kuch din ke liye unke sath rukne ke liye bulaya. Rudra, jo ek architect hai, renovation mein valuable input de sakta tha, lekin uska dimaag ab bhi us khazane ki kahani mein atka tha jo unki maa ne bachpan se sunai thi.
Singh bhai aur Kanika ab next steps lene ke liye ready the, aur Pratapgarh ke badhte tourism ke sath, potential seem limitless tha. Lekin jaise-jaise parivaar haveli ko ek naye roop mein laney ki tayyari kar raha tha, uska purana raaz ab bhi unke aas paas mandra raha tha.
**Day 2**
Doosre din, Rudra sheher gaya tha apne kaam ke silsile mein, aur Kanika ka excitement haveli ke liye aur badh gaya. Usse purani architecture mein bahut interest tha, aur wo apne aap ko puri haveli explore karne se rok nahi pai. "Abhi, mere sath chalo," usne kaha, uski aankhon mein curiosity chamak rahi thi. Lekin Abhishek, jo doosri baaton mein busy tha, sirf apna sar hila kar mana kar diya.
"Tu ja, main nahi aa raha," usne halka sa muskurate hue kaha.
Kanika, bina kisi hesitation ke, akeli nikal padi, purani haveli ke raaz khojne ke liye.
Kanika dheere dheere haveli ke andheray corridors mein chal rahi thi, uske kadmon ki aawaz patthar ke thande farsh par goonj rahi thi. Poora structure puri tarah se history se jeevit lag raha tha, har kone mein koi na koi chhupi hui kahani thi. Chhat se guzarti roshni ki dhundhli kiranen dararo se andar aa rahi thi, purani haveli ke faded grandeur ko roshan kar rahi thi. Deewar par purani tasveerein lagi thi, jinki aankhen Kanika ka peecha kar rahi thi jaise hi wo haveli ke andar aur gehrai mein gayi.
Wo ek neglected library mein pahunch gayi, jahan purani kitaaben dhool se dhaki hui thi. Wahan ki hawa mein purane kagazon ki musty smell thi, aur bookshelf ke kone mein makri ke jaale latak rahe the. Jaise hi usne apni ungliyo se ek kitaab ka spine chhua, ek moti leather-bound kitaab ne uska dhyaan kheench liya. Wo baaki kitaabon se zyada badi aur ornate thi, uske cover par intricate patterns bane the jo ab dhundhla gaye the.
Kanika ne curious hokar wo kitaab nikaali, aur dhool hataa kar usse dheere se khola. Purani pages ke shabda crackle kar rahe the jaise hi usne unhe palta. Kitaab handwritten notes aur diagrams se bhari thi, kuch to haveli ke blueprints jaise lag rahe the.
Jaise hi usne pages palte, ek unusual cheez uske dhyaan mein aayi—ek purani parchhayi jo pages ke beech chipki thi. Kanika ne usse carefully nikaala aur ek table par fold khol diya. Parchment bohot purani thi, aur sookhi hui thi, lekin markings kaafi clear thi. Yeh ek map tha—simple lekin pehchanne layak. Lines aise lag rahi thi jaise haveli ke andar ke hidden passages aur rooms ko dikhate ho.
Map ke neeche ek symbol tha—ek ajeeb aur cryptic marking jo kuch familiar lag rahi thi. Uska dil tez tez dhadakne laga jab usne socha ki ye shayad us khazane se connected ho sakta hai, jo Rudra ne uski maa ki kahaniyon mein suna tha.
Itni hi der mein, ek halka sa awaaz sunayi di—jaise koi darwaza khul raha ho. Kanika ruki, uski aankhen as-paas ke shadowy room mein chakkar laga rahi thi. Haveli ab aur bhi badi aur zyada ominous lag rahi thi.
Kanika, jo curiosity se bhari thi, us kitaab aur map ko le kar wapas Abhishek ke paas gayi, jo ab bhi apni soch mein laga tha.
"Yeh dekh!" usne excited hokar kaha, kitaab ke kuch pages aur map ko dikhate hue. Lekin Abhishek ne sirf ek nazar daali aur interest nahi dikhaya.
"Yeh bas ek purani kitaab hai, Kanika," usne thoda dismissive tone mein kaha. "Ismein koi khaas baat nahi hogi."
Abhishek ke lack of interest ke bawajood, Kanika ka mann nahi maan raha tha ki ye map aur kitaab ke khali pages kuch zyada significant nahi the. Kuch toh aisa tha jo usse kheench raha tha, jaise wo usse zyada jaanne ke liye wait kar raha ho.
Usne Rudra ko iske baare mein bataya, aur usne zyada curiosity dikhayi, jo Abhishek mein nahi thi.
Agle din, Kanika aur Rudra ne haveli ke unexplored parts ko aur deeply explore karna shuru kiya, excitement ke saath ek tension bhi tha. Ghanton tak wo purane hallways mein ghoomte rahe jab tak unhone ek deewar dekhi jo kisi purani aur anjaani script se likhi gayi thi. Markings thodi familiar si lag rahi thi, jo Kanika ke mann mein ek pehchan si jagah rahi thi.
"Yeh dekh," usne ek kitaab ki taraf ishara kiya jo nearby padhi thi, usi mysterious symbol ke saath jo usne ek din pehle dekha tha.
Jaise hi wo usse padhne wale the, ek ajeeb si halki awaaz hallway mein goonj gayi. Us awaaz ke peeche wo ek andheri aur khali room tak gaye. Andhere ke bawajood, ek patli si roshni ki kiran chhat ke ek chhote se crack se aayi, jo ek table ko roshan kar rahi thi jo beech mein pada tha. Us table par wahi symbol tha, aur saath mein kuch cryptic instructions bhi the.
Unhone instructions ko follow kiya, jo unhe ek concealed box tak le gaye. Jaise hi Kanika ne us box ko kholne ki koshish ki, Rudra, jo doosri awaaz se kheench gaya tha, ek alag kamre mein chala gaya. Achaanak ek tez scream gunji.
"Rudra!" Kanika ka dil zor se dhadakne laga jab wo uski taraf daudi, lekin usne Rudra ko behosh pada hua paaya. Pareshan hokar, wo Abhishek ko bulaane ke liye daudi.