Kuch lamhe…
Sirf khamoshi.
Ayan ke pairon ke neeche…
Neeli satah par paani ki halki lehrein ab bhi aahista aahista phail rahi thin.
Ayan wahi khada tha.
Uski nazar us andhere hisse par tiki hui thi…
Jahan kuch der pehle usne ek saya dekha tha.
Ab wahan kuch bhi nahi tha.
Na saya.
Na harkat.
Na koi awaaz.
Usne dheere se gardan jhukai.
"...Haan..."
"...Mujhe bhi na."
"...Do minute mein hi bhooton ka wehm hone laga."
Usne apne hi mazaak par halka sa muskurane ki koshish ki.
Lekin dil ke kisi kone mein…
Ek ajeeb si bechaini ab bhi baqi thi.
Usne ek baar phir us andhere ki taraf dekha.
Phir khud hi sir hila diya.
"...Nahi."
"...Bas dimagh ka khel hai."
Woh mud kar mahal ki taraf chal diya.
Tap…
Har qadam ke saath uske paon ke neeche neeli lehrein phailti gayin.
Tap…
Tap…
Paani bilkul shaant tha.
Itna shaant…
Ke uske qadam ki awaaz bhi ajeeb lag rahi thi.
Tabhi…
Uske saamne ki hawa mein ek bareek si neeli lakeer chamki.
Ayan ruk gaya.
Lakeer gayab nahi hui.
Balke uske saath ek aur lakeer jud gayi.
Phir teesri.
Phir chauthi.
Kuch hi palon mein darjanon neeli lakeerein hawa mein tair rahi thin.
Jaise kisi ne hawa ko hi sheeshe ki screen bana diya ho…
Aur us par roshni se kuch likhna shuru kar diya ho.
Ayan chup chaap dekhta raha.
"...Accha..."
"...Yeh naya tamasha kis cheez ka hai?"
Lakeerein ek doosre ke gird ghoomne lagin.
Kabhi toot'tin.
Kabhi judtin.
Kabhi ajeeb se nishaan banatin…
Jo dekhte hi dekhte badal jaate.
Aakhir…
Saari lakeerein ek jagah aa kar ruk gayin.
Aur ek chamakta hua panel uske saamne ban gaya.
Us panel ki satah bilkul saaf thi.
Magar uske andar neeli roshni kisi dhadkan ki tarah chal rahi thi.
Jaise kisi cheez ka intezar kar rahi ho.
Panel par dheere dheere alfaaz ubharne lage.
Ayan kuch second tak bas panel ko dekhta raha.
Phir dheere se uske qareeb gaya.
Ek baar daayein taraf se dekha.
Phir baayein taraf se.
Usne ungli badha kar uski satah ko chhua.
Thandi.
Bilkul sheeshe ki tarah.
Lekin uske andar chalti roshni ko dekh kar aisa lag raha tha…
Jaise woh zinda ho.
Usne do baar halki si ungli se thap thapaya.
Tok…
Tok…
"...Hello?"
Koi jawab nahi aaya.
Ayan ne hont bhinch liye.
"...Theek hai."
"...Main bhi kis kis se baatein karne lag gaya hoon."
Woh mud kar chalne hi wala tha…
Ke uske peeche se ek halki si electronic ping ki awaaz gunji.
Ping…
Uske qadam wahi jam gaye.
Dheere se usne gardan modhi.
Panel badal chuka tha.
Ayan kuch pal tak us line ko ghurta raha.
Usne do baar aankhen jhapkain.
Phir dheere se bola,
"...Abey..."
"...Tu waqai jawab de raha hai?"
Do second guzre.
Panel par sirf ek lafz ubhra.
Ayan ke chehre par hairani dheere dheere muskurahat mein badalne lagi.
"...Achha..."
"...Toh matlab main pagal nahi hoon."
Woh panel ke aur qareeb aa gaya.
"...Ya phir..."
"... Main sach main pagal hoon???"
Is baar panel ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Sirf uski neeli roshni ek baar halki si chamki…
Jaise usne baat suni ho…
Magar usse zaroori na samjha ho.
Ayan hans pada.
"...Theek hai."
"...Kam bolte ho."
"...Lekin attitude poora hai."
Ayan kuch der tak us panel ko dekhta raha.
Uski neeli roshni bilkul saabit thi.
Na koi animation.
Na koi dramatic effect.
Bas...
Khamosh.
Jaise usse koi jaldi hi na ho.
Ayan ne halka sa sir tedha kiya.
"...Waise."
"...Tum ho kya?"
Kuch lamhe guzar gaye.
Phir panel par naye alfaaz ubhre.
"...Bas?"
Ayan ne bhawein chadhayi.
"...Naam bhi bata diya."
"...Kaam bhi bata diya."
"...Ab thoda apne baare mein bhi bata do."
Do second.
Phir...
Ayan ki hansi nikal gayi.
"...Tumhare jawab dekh kar lagta hai tum bachpan se hi exam mein sirf point likh kar aa jaate the."
Panel ne koi reaction nahi diya.
Khamoshi.
Ayan ne dono haath jeb mein daalne ki koshish ki...
Phir yaad aaya ke uske kapdon mein jeb hi nahi thi.
"...Achha."
"...Ek aur sawaal."
"...Mere paas hi kyun aaye ho?"
Is baar panel ne foran jawab nahi diya.
Jaise kuch calculate kar raha ho.
Phir...
"...Wah."
"...Matlab tum bhi un teachers ki tarah nikle."
"'Abhi nahi bataunga.'"
"'Bade ho jao phir samajh aa jayega.'"
Koi jawab nahi.
Sirf panel ki halki si neeli chamak.
Ayan ne saamne phaile hue us neele jahaan ki taraf dekha.
Door woh shahi mahal ab bhi bilkul waise hi khamosh khada tha.
Aur us se bhi door...
Woh andhera hissa.
Pata nahi kyun...
Us taraf dekhte hi uske dil mein phir wahi ajeeb si bechaini uthne lagi.
Usne nazar hata li.
"...Ek baat bata."
"...Ye jagah hai kya?"
"...Mujhe bas itna yaad hai..."
"...Main kisi hospital jaisi jagah mein tha."
"...Phir aankh band hui..."
"...Aur ab main yahan hoon."
Is baar panel ka jawab thoda lamba tha.
Ayan kuch pal chup raha.
Usne apne dono haath dekhe.
Phir dheere se apni ungliyan hila kar dekhin.
"...Matlab..."
"...Body udhar padi hai..."
"...Aur main idhar ghoom raha hoon?"
╔════════════╗ SYSTEM RESPONSE ╠═══════════╣
Correct.
╚═══════════╝
"...Ye toh had ho gayi."
"...Insaan ki body alag..."
"...Aur owner alag."
"...Rental service chal rahi hai kya?"
System ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Khamoshi.
Ayan ne halka sa kandha uchkaya.
Uske dimagh mein achanak hospital ki ek dhundli si tasveer ubhri.
Safed lights...
Doctors...
Aur nurse ka chehra...
Usne aankhen sikod di.
"...Waise..."
"...Hospital mein nurse bohot kamal ki thi."
"...kitne bade bade boobs the."
"...Aur kya figure thi.”
"...huh.”
Jaise hi ye khayal uske zehan se guzra...
Panel blink hua.
Ayan jam gaya.
"...Ek minute."
"...Maine bola kab?"
Do second tak...
Sirf khamoshi rahi.
Phir dheere dheere Ayan ke honton par ek shararti muskurahat ubhri.
"...Achha..."
"...Toh matlab..."
"...Agar main kuch sochun..."
"...Tum sun loge?"
Ayan ke honton par dheere dheere ek shararti muskurahat phail gayi.
"...Achha..."
"...Toh matlab tum meri har soch sun sakte ho."
Usne thoda sa sir jhukaya.
"...Phir toh tumhari duty bohot mushkil hone wali hai."
"...Main aisi aisi ulti seedhi fantasies socha karunga..."
"...Ke shayad tum bhi garam ho jao."
Do second…
Khamoshi.
Phir panel par naye alfaaz ubhre.
Ayan hans pada.
"...Accha?"
"...Matlab tumhein kisi baat se sharam bhi nahi aati?"
"...Hairani bhi nahi hoti?"
"...Ya mujhe karte huwe kabhi awkward bhi feel nahi karoge?"
Panel ne foran jawab diya.
"...Yaar..."
Ayan ne maatha pakad liya.
"...Tum toh bilkul hi thande nikle."
"...Main soch raha tha thoda tang karunga..."
"...thoda garam karunga..."
"...Lekin tum par toh koi asar hi nahi hota."
System ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Jaise uske liye ye guftagu khatam ho chuki ho.
Ayan ne muskurate hue kandhe uchka diye.
"...Chalo koi baat nahi."
"...Maza toh phir bhi aayega."
"...Kam az kam mujhe hamesha pata rahega ke koi meri performance dekh raha hai..."
"...Aur uske paas ignore karne ke ilawa koi option bhi nahi."
Panel ki neeli roshni ek baar phir halki si chamki.
╔════════════╗ SYSTEM RESPONSE
╠════════════╣ Observation….
Is not optional.
Monitoring…
Will continue.
╚═══════════╝
Ayan zor se hans pada.
"...Haan..."
"...Ab baat bani."
"...Lagta hai hum dono ki lambi chalne wali hai."
Phir Ayan ki nazar dobara usi taraf chali gayi...
Jahan kuch der pehle...
Woh saya khada tha.
Is baar uske chehre par mazaak nahi tha.
Sirf uljhan.
Usne dheere se us andhere ki taraf ungli uthayi.
"...Waise..."
"...Ek baat poochun?"
Panel ne foran jawab diya.
╔═══════════╗
SYSTEM RESPONSE ╠════════════╣ Awaiting query. ╚════════════╝
"...Woh."
"...Udhar."
"...Jahan poora andhera hai."
"...Woh jagah kya hai?"
"...Aur maine wahan ek saya dekha tha."
"...Bilkul meri tarah."
"...Woh kaun tha?"
Kuch lamhon tak...
Panel bilkul khamosh raha.
Neeli roshni halki si dhadakti rahi.
Jaise jawab dene se pehle...
Kuch verify kar raha ho.
Phir dheere dheere naye alfaaz ubharne lage.
╔════════════╗
SYSTEM RESPONSE ╠════════════╣
Query acknowledged.
Information...
Restricted.
╚════════════╝
Ayan ne bhawein chadha di.
"...Phir restricted."
"...Tumhari dictionary mein koi aur word bhi hai?"
Koi jawab nahi.
Usne hansi daba kar phir kaha,
"...Achha ye batao."
"...Itna andhera kyun hai?"
"...Bulb fuse ho gaya?"
"...Ya bijli ka bill nahi bhara?"
Is baar...
Do second baad jawab aaya.
Ayan ki muskurahat dheere dheere ghaib ho gayi.
"...Capability?"
"...Matlab agar main udhar chala jaata toh?"
Panel ki roshni ek pal ke liye tez chamki.
Ayan ne us andhere ko dobara dekha.
Is baar...
Pata nahi kyun...
Uske seene mein wohi ajeeb sa bojh mehsoos hua.
Jaise us siyah khamoshi ke peeche...
Koi intezar kar raha ho.
Usne dheere se nazar hata li.
"...Theek hai."
"...Abhi nahi jaata."
"...Lekin ek din zaroor dekhunga."
Panel ne foran jawab diya.
╔════════════╗ SYSTEM RESPONSE ╠════════════╣
Confirmed.
You will.
Soon.
╚════════════╝
Ayan ne hairani se panel ki taraf dekha.
"...'Soon' ka matlab?"
Is baar...
Koi jawab nahi aaya.
Sirf kuch lamhon ki khamoshi.
Phir...
Poora panel ekdum se badal gaya.
Neeli roshni tez ho gayi.
Purana interface gayab ho gaya.
Uski jagah laal aur neeli lakeerein ek doosre mein ghulne lagin.
Ek tez electronic tone gunji.
PING...
Ayan seedha khada ho gaya.
"...Ab kya hua?"
Panel par bade alfaaz ubharne lage.
Ayan ne aankhen sikod di.
"...Directive?"
"...Ab ye naya lafz kya hai?"
Neeli roshni aur tez ho gayi.
Jaise poora Inner Nexus...
Usi panel ke saath saans le raha ho.
Ayan ne idhar udhar dekha.
Uske pairon ke neeche phaili neeli satah mein halki halki lehrein uthne lagi thin.
Door khada safed mahal...
Ab pehle se zyada roshan lag raha tha.
Aur us se bhi door...
Woh siyah andhera.
Ab pehle se bhi zyada gehra mehsoos ho raha tha.
Jaise poori duniya do hisson mein bat gayi ho.
Ek taraf sukoon.
Doosri taraf...
Khauf.
Ayan ne halka sa gala saaf kiya.
"...Mujhe bilkul pasand nahi aa raha."
"...Tumhare panel ka is tarah chamakna..."
"...Kuch na kuch ulta hone ki taraf ishara kar raha hai."
System ne foran jawab diya.
╔════════════╗ SYSTEM RESPONSE ╠════════════╣
Statement...
Accurate.
╚════════════╝
"...Kam az kam imaandaar toh ho."
Ayan ne halki si hansi ke saath kaha.
"...Ab bata bhi do."
"...Ye Primary Directive kya hai?"
Is baar panel par alfaaz dheere dheere ubharne lage.
Har lafz ke saath aas-paas ki neeli roshni bhi tez hoti ja rahi thi.
Ayan kuch pal tak panel ko ghurta raha.
Phir uske chehre par uljhan bhari muskurahat aa gayi.
"...Oye..."
"...Ek minute."
"...Ye marne maarne ki baatein achanak kahan se shuru ho gayin?"
Usne hansi dabaate hue panel ki taraf ungli uthayi.
"...Aur mere zinda rehne ke liye zaroori ka kya matlab?"
"...Ek minute."
"...Main hospital mein tha..."
"...Lekin itna bhi bura nahi tha."
"...Tum seedha maut tak kaise pahunch gaye?”
"...Abhi toh meri life properly shuru bhi nahi hui."
"...Itni jaldi marne ka koi mood nahi hai.”
System ne ek pal bhi zaya nahi kiya.
Ayan ke honton ki muskurahat dheere dheere halki pad gayi.
"...Kya matlab?"
Panel ki neeli roshni ek martaba tez chamki.
Is baar...
Ayan foran nahi bola.
Usne bas panel ko dekha.
Jaise dimagh us baat ko qabool karne se inkaar kar raha ho.
"...Nahi."
Usne dheere se sir hila diya.
"...Kahin na kahin tum calculation mein galti kar rahe ho."
"...Main itni aasani se marne walon mein se nahi lagta."
Panel par foran naye alfaaz ubhre.
╔════════════╗
SYSTEM RESPONSE
╠════════════╣
Correction.
You have already died.
Twice.
╚════════════╝
Khamoshi.
Is baar...
Ayan hasa nahi.
Uske honton par jami muskurahat...
Khud ba khud ghaib ho gayi.
Uski saans ek pal ke liye ruk si gayi.
"...Kya?”
Uski awaaz dheemi pad gayi.
"...Dobara bolo."
Panel ne wahi jawab dohra diya.
Ayan ka gala sookh gaya.
“Recovery...
Occurred through an unregistered exception. “
"...Matlab koi loophole tha?”?"
"...Aur do baar kab?"
Uske zehan mein dhundhli tasveerein chamak kar gaayab hone lagin...
Machine ki tez beep...
Safed roshni...
Kisi ki ghabrahat bhari awaaz...
Aur phir...
Andhera.
Usne bechaini se panel ki taraf dekha.
"...Jawab do."
"...Main kab mara tha?"
"...Aur woh loophole kya tha?"
Kuch lamhon tak...
Sirf neeli roshni dhadakti rahi.
Phir...
╔════════════╗
SYSTEM RESPONSE
╠════════════╣
Information...
Restricted.
Authorization...
Insufficient.
╚════════════╝
Ayan ne gehri saans chhodi.
"...Phir se restricted..."
"...Lagta hai tumhari dictionary ka aadha hissa sirf isi lafz ne gher rakha hai.”
System ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Poora panel achanak kaanp utha.
PING...
Ek tez electronic tone poore Inner Nexus mein goonj uthi.
Ayan ne foran idhar udhar dekha.
Hawa mein neeli lakeerein ubharne lagin.
Neeche paani ki satah zor zor se larazne lagi.
Door khada safed mahal pehle se zyada roshan ho gaya...
Aur uske muqable mein...
Woh siyah andhera aur bhi gehra.
Jaise dono kisi cheez ka intezar kar rahe hon.
Purana panel dheere dheere toot kar roshni ke zarraat mein bikharne laga.
Uski jagah...
Ek naya panel shakal lene laga.
Pehle se kahin bada.
Pehle se kahin zyada bhaari.
╔════════════╗
Primary Directive accepted...
Pending.
Mission required...
For survival.
╚════════════╝
Phir uske beechon beech...
Sirf ek hi jumla chamak raha tha.
